"in the Spirit"

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

How could you intellectually discuss "praying in the Spirit" if you didn't go to the exact literal scripture that discussed the issue?

More can be done in the Spirit than "praying in the Spirit" as is being focused upon.

One can be pressed in the Spirit to testify:

Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

One can teach in the Spirit:

Acts 18:25
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Choices and decisions can be made in the Spirit:

Acts 19:21
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

One can be bound to a specific task in the Spirit:

Acts 20:22
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

So much can transpire and be experienced while being in the Spirit. Tongues are not all that transpire in the Spirit. That was the primary point.

[Aquila]

Often what I love to do is simply sit and wait upon the Lord in silence. When the Spirit moves, God often gives visions, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, tongues, interpretation of tongues, discernment of spirits, etc. God also might challenge our traditional interpretations of Scripture, opening up new dimensions to spiritual realities previously unknown. Sometimes the understandings are timely. Sometimes they are understandings that many are not be ready to receive.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

More can be done in the Spirit than "praying in the Spirit" as is being focused upon.

You keep exchanging the human spirit for God's Spirit in the context we dealt with in Paul's words.

We agree things can be done in God's Spirit as you list them. You seem to keep forgetting that when you protested the issue we raised we were referring to Paul's context of the human spirit. Which is it you wish to deal with? You initially wrote as though Paul was speaking of God's Spirit, though, when you first responded to our notes.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

More can be done in the Spirit than "praying in the Spirit" as is being focused upon.

One can be pressed in the Spirit to testify:

Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

One can teach in the Spirit:

Acts 18:25
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Choices and decisions can be made in the Spirit:

Acts 19:21
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

One can be bound to a specific task in the Spirit:

Acts 20:22
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

So much can transpire and be experienced while being in the Spirit. Tongues are not all that transpire in the Spirit. That was the primary point.

We weren't discussing "more can be done". We were discussing Mizpeh's particular questions concerning "praying in the spirit".

Originally Posted by mizpeh

What does it mean to be "praying in the Spirit"?

Is "praying in the Spirit" the exact same thing as praying in tongues?

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day" Revelation 1:10

"praying in the Holy Spirit" Jude 1:20

"Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?" 1Corinthians 14: 13-16

[mfblume]

What happened was Aquila did not think of Paul referring to the human spirit whereby we pray without understanding, and assumed, like most people, it is the Spirit of God Paul referred to. And when we clarified that, he backpeddled a little.

[Esaias]

So now praying in tongues is an action of the human spirit and NOT by the Spirit of God????

No wonder Pentecost is in the mess it's in nowadays.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

We weren't discussing "more can be done". We were discussing Mizpeh's particular questions concerning "praying in the spirit".

And praying in the Spirit doesn't require "tongues" per Mizpeh's question.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by mfblume

What happened was Aquila did not think of Paul referring to the human spirit whereby we pray without understanding, and assumed, like most people, it is the Spirit of God Paul referred to. And when we clarified that, he backpeddled a little.

If I understand you correctly, this is a false dichotomy. The born again believer is one spirit with the Lord. The abiding Holy Spirit moves through and speaks through what many call the "human spirit".

Where did I backpeddle?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

And praying in the Spirit doesn't require "tongues" per Mizpeh's question.

It doesn't exclude it, which Mizpeh also didn't disagree on that point.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Esaias

So now praying in tongues is an action of the human spirit and NOT by the Spirit of God????

No wonder Pentecost is in the mess it's in nowadays.

I believe it would be both, we being the vessel - God working through us.

There are times, if you have experienced this, that my thoughts know what I am trying to say to God, but I have no human words to express myself adequately, that is when I am praying in the spirit via tongues.

And there are times, I am so burdened I pray in tongues and/or groaning knowing the Spirit is making intercession for me. In those times, I don't worry that I don't have the understanding as to what I am asking for or interceding about. I am allowing God to use me for whatever purpose He has in that prayer. This, IMO, is what I Cor 14:14 is referring to. Again, Paul in I Corinthians 14 is instructing the church on proper operation in a church setting. Knowing that he "speaks in tongues more than ye all", you know he is not excluding the speaking in tongues in church. He just doesn't want that to be our only function in edification.

There have also been times that I have sung a song in tongues, and then sung that same song in my own language. That is what I believe I Cor 14:15 is referring to - "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." I have been mightily blessed by those words that always sing of the power, glory and grace of God and His care toward us, His people.

I think I Corinthians 14 makes it hard for some us to believe tongues is not praying in the spirit, and really that it doesn't follow closely after groaning.