Pentecostals often mix up 'praying in the Spirit' with
'praying with the spirit'. Note the lower caps in the latter 'spirit'. Compare
1 Corinthians 14:15 with Ephesians 6:18. The Greek word or phrase translated “pray in”
can have several different meanings. It can mean “by means of,” “with the help
of,” “in the sphere of,” and “in connection to.” Praying in the Spirit does not
refer to the words we are saying. Rather, it refers to how we are praying.
Praying in the Spirit is praying according to the Spirit’s leading. It is
praying for things the Spirit leads us to pray for.
Some Christians, often equate praying in the Spirit with
praying in tongues. This is a misinterpretation. This is why Jude 20 is severally quoted
wrongly in support of the view that “speaking in tongue is what builds our
faith”. How mistaken! Discussing the
gift of tongues, Paul mentions “pray with my spirit.” First Corinthians 14:14
states that when a person prays in tongues, he does not know what he is saying,
since it is spoken in a language he does not know, except of course there is an
interpreter. In Ephesians 6:18, Paul instructs us to “pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” How are we to pray with all
kinds of prayers and requests and pray for the saints, if no one, including the
person praying, understands what is being said? Therefore, praying in the
Spirit should be understood as praying in the power of the Spirit, by the
leading of the Spirit, and according to His will, not as merely praying in
tongues.
Christians can speak in tongues and still be carnal. In fact
they do speak in tongues out of carnality. I remember those days in campus
fellowship when we'll try to outdo one another by showing off whose tongue was
more 'spiritual' or deeper. It used to be a real show in the flesh. Corinthian
Christians were like this - they manifested the gifts for show, they were the
most carnal of saints. You may want to ask, “Can a true Christian be carnal?” In answering this question, let’s first define
the term “carnal.” The word “carnal” is translated from the Greek word sarkikos, which literally means “fleshly”.
It refers to that which pertains to or is
characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; its
tendencies or leanings.
This descriptive word is seen in the context of Christians
in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. In this passage, the apostle Paul was addressing the
readers as “brethren,” a term he uses almost exclusively to refer to other Christians;
he then goes on to describe them as “carnal.” Therefore, we can conclude that
Christians can be carnal. Tongue
blasters can be given to appetites and passions of the flesh. They can rap in
tongues, but they still get bitter, jealous, they lie or scheme, they are
malicious, they gossip, They are proud—proud they can speak in tongues better
than others; proud that they can pray and fast longer than others; proud that
they are more humble than others; proud that they are more spiritual than
others. These are some the manifestations of carnality.
Life in the Spirit is not determined by how well we can
speak in tongues. When we become born again we receive the Spirit within. Our
lives in the Spirit begin. We receive the Spirit upon us when we are baptized
with the Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. As we go
through the process of sanctification, by the Word and by the Spirit, we
increase our infilling.
The life of the Christian is transformed by the renewing of
the mind by the Word- not by speaking in tongues. The Word of His grace is what
builds us and gives us an inheritance among the sanctified- not speaking in
tongues. Faith is ignited and built up in the believer by the hearing and
application of the Word- not speaking in tongues. The believer grows into
maturity by engaging the strong meat of the word and in continuous exercise or
practice to distinguish between good and evil- not by blasting tongues. It is
the continuous application of truth that leads to maturity.
God’s desire in saving us is that we would progressively
grow closer to the image of Christ (Romans 12:1-2), becoming increasingly
spiritual and decreasingly carnal, a process known as sanctification. Until we
are delivered (ultimately) from our sinful flesh, there will be outbreaks of
carnality. However, for a genuine believer in Christ, these outbreaks of
carnality will be the exception, not the rule.
Life in the Spirit is cultivated in the place of fellowship-
in Spirit influenced and empowered prayer and the Word, and in continued
obedience to the dictates of the Spirit and the counsel of God’s word. Paul
says, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God”. Rom
8:14 The idea of being ‘led by the Spirit’ reinforces the metaphor of walking
or living in the Spirit. The imagery of the Spirit’s leading refers to being
carried along as one walks side by side with the one who is leading.
