"in the Spirit"

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by mfblume

1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (15) What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

The context shows praying with understanding to be prayer in native language. it's a contrast from native language to tongues respectively when it says with understanding and in the spirit.

You folks are mistaking him to say it is a contrast between being in the Spirit OF GOD or in the flesh. In the spirit here is not IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD. It does not mean not in the flesh. It simply means not with understanding. MY HUMAN SPIRIT prays when I pray in tongues. It is a lower case "S" in English to indicate human spirit.

Paul said MY SPIRIT prayeth.

1Co 14:14 KJV For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

It isn't strictly one's own spirit that is praying. In fact, the Holy Spirit is also interceding.

Romans 8:25-27 King James Version (KJV)
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

How is it that it is considered to be our spirit praying, yet the Holy Spirit may also make intercession through us and our prayers? We read...

1 Corinthians 6:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

He is truly the Vine... and we are the branches. Living extensions of Him. The Spirit prays and speaks through our spirit when tongues are taking place. This is also seen when coupled with interpretation. It is the Spirit that is speaking through His abiding presence in our spirit, our inner man. This realization broke upon me after God began using me with regards to tongues and interpretation.

That being said, even when we pray with understanding (as the Spirit leads), we are praying "in the Spirit".

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

It isn't strictly one's own spirit that is praying. In fact, the Holy Spirit is also interceding.

Romans 8:25-27 King James Version (KJV)
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

True but that was not what Paul was referring to by IN THE SPIRIT.

he was simply referring to the human spirit being in activity towards God's Spirit. You are speaking of the spirit in 1 Cor 14:14 in a context Paul was not. Which is fine and true.

How is it that it is considered to be our spirit praying, yet the Holy Spirit may also make intercession through us and our prayers? We read...

1 Corinthians 6:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

He is truly the Vine... and we are the branches. Living extensions of Him. The Spirit prays and speaks through our spirit when tongues are taking place. This is also seen when coupled with interpretation. It is the Spirit that is speaking through His abiding presence in our spirit, our inner man. This realization broke upon me after God began using me with regards to tongues and interpretation.

That being said, even when we pray with understanding (as the Spirit leads), we are praying "in the Spirit".

But that IN THE SPIRIT is not what Paul meant in 1 Cor 14:14. I agree we are IN THE SPIRIT when we pray in native language by knowing what to pray for an what God hears. But in the context of 1 Cor 14:14, the only reference in the bible that says PRAY IN THE SPIRIT it is not speaking about what you are speaking about. That's all that I am saying.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by mfblume

True but that was not what Paul was referring to by IN THE SPIRIT.

he was simply referring to the human spirit being in activity towards God's Spirit. You are speaking of the spirit in 1 Cor 14:14 in a context Paul was not. Which is fine and true.



But that IN THE SPIRIT is not what Paul meant in 1 Cor 14:14. I agree we are IN THE SPIRIT when we pray in native language by knowing what to pray for an what God hears. But in the context of 1 Cor 14:14, the only reference in the bible that says PRAY IN THE SPIRIT it is not speaking about what you are speaking about. That's all that I am saying.

Why are you narrowing the entire question to I Corinthians 14?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Why are you narrowing the entire question to I Corinthians 14?

because it's the only verse in the entire bible that mentions prayer in the spirit and that's what the original poster asked about.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by mfblume

because it's the only verse in the entire bible that mentions prayer in the spirit and that's what the original poster asked about.

lol!

Literalists can be so funny. If something isn't mentioned word for word... they spin their wheels, failing to see what else is there. Some things are spiritually discerned I guess.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

lol!

Literalists can be so funny. If something isn't mentioned word for word... they spin their wheels, failing to see what else is there. Some things are spiritually discerned I guess.

It has nothing to do with literalism. When the original poster mentioned praying in the spirit, this is the scripture that came to me. So I simply explained what Paul meant in that verse. Go figure. I already said I agreed with your thoughts but just that the verse I dealt with was not dealing with them. Did you forget I agreed? You laugh at me as though I am literalist and cannot accept prayer in spirit can refer to other things after I agreed it can.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

lol!

Literalists can be so funny. If something isn't mentioned word for word... they spin their wheels, failing to see what else is there. Some things are spiritually discerned I guess.

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

[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.