praying for your family - part seven

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:18)

“In Jesus Name, I ask for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues to be manifested in (and then I speak each family member’s name), that they may pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests; and as their heavenly prayer language rises before your throne, their enemy’s plans are thwarted because he becomes confused and disoriented and flees from them in a thousand directions.”

Before we pursue the strategies contained in this particular portion of the prayer for our families, I want to take a few moments to share the clarification God has given me over the years concerning one of the most controversial aspects of our spiritual walk – the baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the supernatural ability to speak - both in an unknown (heavenly) tongue (or language) or in another tongue (a known language you have never previously learned, i.e., you are able to speak French when you have never before studied the French language).

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit which is described in detail in Acts 2 has been a controversial subject within the body of Christ. The root source of the controversy seems to be fear, and since God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7) – that means the fear has to be the supernatural manipulation of our minds by guess who – the devil.  He is also the author of controversy, strife, quarreling and insults which explains why this topic has received such negative press. He doesn’t WANT you to acquire this power.

“The baptism of the Holy Spirit imparts a supernatural ability to the Believer that empowers them to effectively witness to the lost, to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, to understand the Scriptures, to pray in the Spirit, to praise God in the Spirit, to recognize and understand the voice of God as our spiritual ears are opened, and to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”  (Gruits, Patricia Beall, Understanding God, PeterPat Publishers, LLC, Rochester, Michigan,48308-1816, ©2006, pgs 222-224)

In short, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a power transfer without which we would not be able to do the works Jesus did nor would we be able to destroy all the works of the devil.  

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is intended for EVERY ONE WHO BELIEVES IN JESUS AS THE ANOINTED ONE THROUGH WHOM WE RECEIVE SALVATION.  “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” (Acts 2:17) “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39, NIV)

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not the same as water baptism. Water baptism is necessary because it is a step of obedience that follows our conversion.  We are water baptized to identify with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is another baptism that does not necessarily occur in conjunction with water baptism – in other words, it can take place before or after water baptism.  “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers (believing Jews) who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” (Acts 10:44-48, NIV)

If you are in the camp of those who say they don’t believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for our time – remember, God’s Word is living and active; it is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  There is no place in God’s word that says the baptism of the Holy Spirit was a one-time event that is no longer necessary.

If you are in the camp of those who say they don’t need the baptism of the Holy Spirit because they believe that they already pray effectively – remember, it is God who has made this power available to you because He intended for you to take full advantage of every opportunity He brings to you.

If you are in the camp of those who say supernaturally speaking in a spirit inspired language is not for them - remember, it’s not a good thing for you to pick and choose which parts of God’s word you want to agree with and those you want to refuse. God’s word is clear: the spiritual realm is actually more real than anything we can see, feel, hear, taste or touch in the physical realm.  Remember, we are a spirit being, with a soul, housed in a physical body. The spirit realm is our natural habitat, and we need to accept the truth that we have available to us a spiritual language.

The only prerequisite to receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to believe in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. If you are a Believer, but you have never received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and you desire to receive this gift God has made available for all who earnestly seek Him, ask Him for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Begin by submitting your will, your rights and all control to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ask the Lord to show you if there is anything in your mind or heart that would hinder the Holy Spirit.  As He reveals those things to you, confess them as sin and repent.  “Then enter into praise, thanksgiving and worship through psalms and hymns until an atmosphere is created for the presence of the Spirit of God. When you become aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit, there will be a breaking in you as your spirit springs up to respond to the Spirit of God. When the Spirit of God fills you, your own words are not adequate to praise God. The Holy Spirit stimulates our organs of speech, prompting us to form new words of praise unto God. These words will not be understandable to us, because they are spirit inspired. The Holy Spirit leads us, encourages us and prompts us, but does not force us to speak.” (Gruits, Patricia Beall, Understanding God, PeterPat Publishers, LLC, Rochester, Michigan,48308-1816, ©2006, pgs 229-231)

There are several ways God baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit.  The way I have just described above is identified as a sovereign act of the will of God.  This is how I experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  I had made a public profession of Jesus as my Savior when I was 11 years old.  When I was 38 years old, the Lord impressed upon me that I did not know Him, and the only way to get to know Him was by reading His word.  Then He put a passion in me to read His word just like I had read countless novels in my life.  I pursued this passion with great earnestness and a sense of Divine timing in my life.  Several years later, I realized that I had not experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. That’s when I began to ask Him for the baptism of the Holy Spirit because I wanted everything God had for me, everything He had shown me was available to me in His Word. He was faithful to answer my heartfelt prayer.  While sitting in my car one Sunday morning before the church service began, as I prayed and praised God, I received my prayer language.  The first thought that went through my mind was “that wasn’t God, you did that”.  Fortunately, I had a friend who was Spirit filled, and she assured me that I had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and that the enemy just wanted to discourage me so I wouldn’t use the gift and become proficient in it.

The other way God uses to baptize believers in the Holy Spirit is by the laying on of hands.  When the Apostles came to a city where the believers had not yet received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they laid their hands on them and prayed for them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-19)

Speaking in Tongues
I believe that the phrase “speaking in tongues” actually describes two different spiritual realities: the first reality is what happened to the 120 gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (or languages) as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.” (Acts 2:4-6)

This description is pretty clear.  One hundred twenty Believers spoke by the supernatural enabling of the Holy Spirit in languages they had never learned.  Their speech was empowered by the Holy Spirit to draw the attention of the visitors in Jerusalem, who confirmed the known languages these 120 Believers were speaking because they said, “How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?” (Acts 2: 8).  The result of this empowerment by the Holy Spirit is that 3,000 people gave their hearts to Jesus as their Savior. All of this is evidence that speaking in a language you have never studied is possible through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. 

The second spiritual reality is identified and explained by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:26 “And in the same way…the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray as we should; but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words.” (TLB)

 “For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit…He who speaks in a tongue edifies (builds up) himself.” 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4 (NRSV) 

“The Apostles taught when we pray and praise in tongues (spirit language), (1) we are empowered to communicate with God; (2) we are spiritually strengthened when we pray in tongues; (3) we are able to make intercession to God for the needs of others.  Even when we do not know the specifics, the Holy Spirit can pray through us according to God’s will, empowering our prayer.  When we pray according to God’s will, we know with confidence that God hears and will answer our prayers. (4) We can offer ‘high praises’ to God. ‘High praises’ are weapons for spiritual warfare.  In times of trouble, the Holy Spirit will give us this supernatural ability to knock down the Devil’s strongholds with God’s mighty weapons.” (Gruits, Patricia Beall, Understanding God, PeterPat Publishers, LLC, Rochester, Michigan,48308-1816, ©2006, pgs 232-234)

For these reasons, I daily ask the Father for the baptism of the Holy Spirit for every member of my family with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  This is about leaving a spiritual legacy. This is about empowering every member of my family. This is about exercising our authority and expanding our territory in the spiritual realm, walking in the fullness of our identity in Christ and fulfilling the destiny God designed us for. I want every member of my family to receive all God has for them.  I want every member of my family to be able to pray effectively and powerfully for the matters God brings to each of them. I am only one person, but if all in my family pray in the Spirit, can you get the picture of how the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is increased, enabling us to dislodge the enemy combatants we face every day in every situation in our lives? That is how we bring glory to God in the earth. 

How often should we pray in the Spirit (tongues)? Ephesians 6:18 says “on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” We should pray in tongues every day.  God loves it when we praise Him in our spiritual language.  How often do you want to show God your love for Him? Additionally, the supernatural ability given to us by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit is a powerful weapon in our war against the unseen forces of wickedness that daily bombard our lives and the lives of our families. 

If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. (1 Corinthians 14:14-15)  Satan cannot read our minds.  He is not omniscient.  But he is described as “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Ephesians 2:2, NIV) That means the atmosphere is his kingdom.  When we pray silently with our mind, the enemy does not know what we are asking God; our requests are considered as highly classified information and are marked “top secret - for your ears only”.  Unfortunately, if our desire is to change the atmosphere around us (i.e., we walk into a room where anger is definitely at work and is affecting everyone in that room) silent prayers do not necessarily impact the atmosphere around us. 

We need to understand that as Believers, our words have authority and power.  We can and should be changing the atmosphere everywhere we go by what we speak out loud.   When we pray out loud in our native language, the enemy can hear what we are asking God, so he gets a clue regarding our strategies, but our words directed by the Holy Spirit are also powerfully impacting the atmosphere around us and that can send him packing.  When we pray out loud in our spirit language, we are communicating in a secret code that only the Holy Spirit understands, and even though the enemy can hear us, he becomes confused and disoriented, forcefully slapping his hands over his ears shouting “no, no, not that!”

Now do you understand why he has fostered an atmosphere of fear and confusion surrounding this all important weapon of praying in the Spirit?  Now do you understand why the devil does not want you to receive this anointing? He does not want you to acknowledge this weapon exists, he doesn’t want you to pick this weapon up, nor does he want you to practice every day with this weapon.  He knows that when you pick up this weapon and start using it in your prayers, you will become proficient and powerful against him, your faith will grow, you will thwart his plans, he will become confused and disoriented, and he will have no choice but to flee from you in a thousand directions.

That is the kind of power our Mighty God has lovingly conveyed to us through His Holy Spirit.  Take hold of this truth, let your heavenly language rise before the throne of God, and watch the schemes of your enemy come unraveled.  Then praise God for His Mighty Power and His Goodness towards you!

Next: Binding and Loosing
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Blessings,
Linda
 
© Linda Sue Harper 2018