Wednesday Service | Strengthen Yourself | Part 4: Pray in the Spirit

[1] The bible us to build ourselves up by praying in the

Jude 20 New English Translation
²⁰ But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit…

Jude 16-21 New International Reader’s Version
¹⁶ These people complain and find fault with others. They follow their own evil desires. They brag about themselves. They praise others to get what they want.¹⁷ Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said would happen. ¹⁸ They told you, “In the last days, some people will make fun of the truth. They will follow their own ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ They are the people who separate you from one another. They do only what comes naturally. They are not led by the Holy Spirit.
²⁰ But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Let the Holy Spirit guide and help you when you pray. ²¹ And by doing these things, remain in God’s love as you wait. You are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.

[2] Praying in the Spirit is a special gift to strengthen me when I am

Romans 8:26-27 New International Reader’s Version
²⁶ In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don’t know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays through groans too deep for words. ²⁷ God, who looks into our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit. And the Spirit prays for God’s people just as God wants him to pray.

[3] Praying in the Spirit gives the spiritual nature greater over our sinful nature

Ephesians 3:16-19 New International Version
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Galatians 5:17-18 New Living Translation
¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸ But when you are directed by [led by] the Spirit…

[4] The birth of the church was at the of the Holy Spirit

John 20:21-22 New Living Translation
²¹ Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” ²² Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:1-14 New International Version
2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

[5] Praying in the Spirit will be if we care about the way we look or sound

Acts 2:13
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Jude 18
¹⁸ They told you, “In the last days, some people will make fun of the truth.

[6] There is a to the gift of tongues we do not understand… and that’s okay

1 Corinthians 14:4, 14-15 New Living Translation
⁴ A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church…
¹⁴ For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.¹⁵ Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

[7] When I pray in the Spirit… fear of man goes down and and goes up

Ephesians 6:18-20 New International Version
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Acts 19:11-12 New International Reader’s Version
¹¹ God did amazing miracles through Paul. ¹² Even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to those who were sick. When this happened, their sicknesses were healed and evil spirits left them.