ROMANS
Study of the Books of Romans.
Romans 1:8 (NLT) Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in Him is being talked about all over the world.
What's My Prayer Life Look Like? IV
enMarch 29, 2021
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About this Episode
- Over the years, something I've recognized is that many wonderfully born again Christians are simply not comfortable praying. Especially publicly.
- And until we take some steps of faith and try, not only prayer, but anything pertaining to the world of the Spirit is something we'll always be uncomfortable with.
- In its simplest form, prayer is fellowship with the Almighty, our Father. But at a closer look, it’s how a human, born of the spirit, navigates that world.
- So, wherever you're at currently in your faith journey, wouldn't you agree we should all stay open to what God has for us?
- And because God designed us to believe, faith has to be at the center of everything we do, especially in the area of prayer. Hebrews make it clear, it’s really the only way we can even come to God. According to Jesus, Moses, and Paul, it’s how we’re built to live our new lives in Him.
- I’m talking about functioning in a world beyond our natural one. The just shall live by faith.
- 1 John 5:14-15,NKJV- “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
- John 15:7,MSG- If you make yourselves at home with Me and My words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.
- And a big part of our prayer life is learning how to navigate the world of the spirit. A world you and I have been born into. This is why Paul tells us in Romans that those who live according to the spirit set their mind on things of the spirit.
- Hebrews 3:12,MSG- Watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God.
- Remember these words from Jesus, “All things are possible to him that believes.”
- I know I probably come back to this point in almost every sermon, but if faith isn't a functioning part of our Christianity, chances are, our Christianity is pretty shallow.
- I can promise you this, you will continue being uncomfortable with a world you constantly question the realities of.
- Not to mention the fact that human nature can't help but fight against the things of God. The NT reminds us that they actually war against each other.
- This is why Hebrews tells us that our faith in God is the foundation under everything that makes life worth living.
- Proverbs 3:5-6,MSG- Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to GOD!
- A big part of a life of faith is accepting the fact that God's never going to ask us to do something we can't, or that He hasn’t already grace us to do.
- This is Paul's point to us from Galatians, "I live my new life, still in my humanity, by the faith in Christ."
- And the more we keep our eyes on Jesus, the more we are transformed into His image.
- Here's a revelation, what if we asked God to help us with our prayer life?
- And just like we develop natural communication skills, Christians can develop spiritual communication skills. To the point of spiritual language.
- But because of false teaching, unbelief, religious opinion, not to mention the stereotypes that exists, there is so much confusion on this subject. So talking about spiritual language is something we’ve got to get into.
- Here’s something to keep in mind, God is not a God of confusion.
- So when it comes to any biblical truth that we're unsure of, here’s God’s basic rule;
- 1 Corinthians 13:1,NKJV- Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
- And when it comes to spiritual language, unfortunately there is so much confusing on the subject, that a big part of the body of Christ simply neglects its realities.
- Here’s the thing, as the born again, we are a new creation, a speaking spirit, currently confined to our humanity.
- At the end of the day, it's just like any other truth from God; it can only be appropriated by faith.
- Think about it, God is the designer and creator of His church. And I find it interesting that on its birth, He introduced spiritual language at the same time.
- And from that point there's not one scripture indicating that He changed His purpose for spiritual language, or that it's no longer necessary.
- The same Holy Spirit that came to empower The Church at its birth is still here and hasn't changed.
- Spiritual language is simply another dimension of communion with God and His creation.
- The Holy Spirit doesn't speak through you. You speak, inspired.
- Understand this, spiritual language is voluntary participation with the Holy Spirit. Every biblical account of tongues was done through the cooperation of believers.
- But for the sceptic, even if you refuse to put away the religious unbelief; listens to Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 14:39, So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.
- If you think about it, spiritual language is just as scriptural as John 3:16, or Romans 10:13, "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
- So as we dig into this subject of spiritual language, the overwhelming majority of everything around it comes out of the Apostle Paul's writings.
- He graduated from one of the most recognized universities of his day.
- An elite Pharisee. One of history's most respected and quoted thinkers. And second only to Jesus in establishing Christianity globally.
- 1 Corinthians 14:18,NIV- I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
- What's really sad is that most of the people that so strongly appose speaking a spiritual language, quote Paul's writings in all their other Christian beliefs and teachings.
- Every biblical account of tongues was done through the cooperation of believers.
- Mark 9:23,NIV- “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
- The same Holy Spirit that came to empower The Church at its birth is still here and hasn't changed.
- Acts 2:4,NKJV- And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- Peters first sermon was to a group of confused people who just witnessed spiritual language. And the first thing he does is take them back to the Word.
- Always remember, any spiritual reality will always be proven through God's Word.
- Here's the thing, after God introduces this spiritual reality, there's not one scripture suggestion it was only for a season, or that it wasn't to continue until He returns for His church.
- If you think about it, spiritual language is just as scriptural as everything else we've discussed concerning prayer.
- Now 10 years after Acts 2
- Acts 9:17-18,NKJV- And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
- Acts 10:44-46,NKJV- While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
- 20 years later
- Acts 19:1-6,NKJV- And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
- It's interesting that after God introduced spiritual language it continued throughout the entire book at Acts. So regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1-2,NIV- Follow the way of love and eagerly desire (NKJV, pursue) gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
- A few purposes of a spiritual language:
- 1. Personal praise and worship.
- 2. Self-edification. (Jude 20, Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.)
- 3. Praying out divine secrets.
- 4. Public exhortation.
- 1 Corinthians 14:4-5,NIV- Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
- This passage simply distinguishes the public and private application of a spiritual language.
- 1 Corinthians 14:14-15,NIV- For 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 understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
- Paul makes it very clear that praying in his spiritual language is simply praying from his spirit, not his intellect.
- Something else I would point out here, individually or corporately, we see no signs of hysteria or abnormalities.
- Let me also add this; spiritual language is not an escape from reality, or some self-induced state of mind. As with any other spiritual reality, our God given will is something He will never override.
- Remember, Paul makes it very clear, “If I pray in tongues, my spirit prays.” Then he says, :I will pray with my spirit and my understanding.”
- 1 Corinthians 14:18-19,NIV- I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
- 1 Corinthians 14:31-33, NIV- For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
- MSG- If you choose to speak, you’re also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn’t stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches—no exceptions.
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