The Holy Spirit – Part 5

1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV (1) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

The word “gifts was added by the translators. This verse actually says,

1 Corinthians 12:1 BBE But about the things of the spirit, my brothers, it is not right for you to be without teaching.

The Benefits of Praying in Other Tongues

Tongues is primarily for a believer’s own personal, spiritual edification.

1 Corinthians 14:4 NKJV (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Tongues is the initial evidence of one having been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

God has given us a divine means by which we can speak to Him supernaturally.

1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV (2) For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].

Moffat’s Translation: “…in the spirit he speaketh divine secrets.”

1 Corinthians 14:14 NIV (14) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

There is praying in other tongues and then there is praying in the Spirit. They can be one in the same but praying in the Spirit can also be praying with the spirit of prophecy.

Prophecy is a divinely inspired utterance. You can be praying in the Spirit in your known tongue and your mind still not be fruitful because the words are coming out of your spirit by the Holy Spirit.

Tongues is a means of building yourself up spiritually.

1 Corinthians 14:4 AMP He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies [interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies and improves the church and promotes growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness].

The actual Greek word for “edify” more accurately means to “charge up”. In other words, as we pray in tongues, we are charging up our spirits by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jude 1:20 NKJV But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

You can’t edify people unless you have first been edified.

The Holy Spirit can lead us to pray in other tongues to build us up spiritually for something He know is coming.

Ephesians 3:14-16 NKJV For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (15) from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (16) that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

These were Spirit-filled people that needed to be strengthened with might by the Holy Spirit in the inner man. How? By praying in other tongues.

Praying in other tongues is praying in line with God’s perfect will.

Romans 8:19 NKJV For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Romans 8:22 NKJV For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Romans 8:26-27 KJV 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.

Underline or circle “helpeth”, “infirmities”, “what”, “ought”, “intercession”.

Helpeth – sunantilambano – three separate words

Sun – partnership and cooperation, this verse is not what the Holy Ghost does for us, but does in conjunction and partnership with us, side by side with us

2 Cor. 6:1 co-laborers together with God.

Anti – against, not just positionally against, but a person filled with rage.

Lambanomai – to take something to yourself, forcibly seize something

Infirmities (asthenios) – generic which embraces all kinds of sicknesses and diseases

English (sick) which is applicable to all diseases or sicknesses.

Five categories of sickness that Jesus healed in His ministry and in this one Greek word asthenios is encapsulated in all of these words, fit like a glove.

Nosos – Matthew 4:23 (“sickness”) – terminal condition for which there is no natural cure. (example – cancer, AIDS)

Malakian – Matthew 4:23 (“disease”) – disease which attacks the nerves, muscles, or bones. You can live with this disease but it is a crippling or debilitating disease.

Kakos – Matthew 15:22 (“greviously”) greviously vexed with demon spirits – someone that is mentally confused or mentally ill.

Mastigos – Mark 5:35 (“plague”) normally translated “plague”. This is an old word of torture, where a victim would be beaten with a cat-of-nine-tails bringing them to the edge of death, take them back to their cell, let them heal until they are recovered, then take him back to beat him again. This would never be enough to kill him. (migraine headaches, allergic reaction, etc.)

Arrhostos – Mark 6:13; 16:18; 1 Cor. 11:30 – someone so physically ill that they have lost all consciousness, comatose. (Mark 16:18) (Mark 6:35 “a few sick folk” those that were comatose).

Romans 8:26 is about spiritual weaknesses not physical diseases.

The Holy Spirit is actually saying that if you do not have the help of the Holy Ghost you are just like someone that is afflicted with all of these types of diseases.

Your infirmities (weaknesses) do not eliminate you from His help, they qualify you for His help.

What – (ti) – the very little thing. It underscores that we don’t even know how to necessarily pray for the small things not to mention the larger issues in life. We are so limited in our view but He can see it ALL.

Ought (dei)– as the new situation requires and dictates, as the new problem demands.

Intercession – (huperentugchano) – this is the only time that this word is used in the entire New Testament.

This word paints the picture of someone who has come upon someone who has fallen into some kind of quandary.

It would be as if someone has fallen into a deep cavern and is stuck. There is someone who immediately swings into action to rescue and deliver the one who is in trouble. It conveys the idea of a full scale rescue operation.

When we do not know how we should pray for that situation, the Holy Spirit swings into a full-scale rescue operation. But in order to do this, He falls into that place with you. Now you are no longer facing that situation alone, for the Holy Spirit has stepped into your dilemma and is initiating a rescue plan to get you out of that mess!

The Holy Spirit feels everything that you feel. He understands the complete inadequacy you are experiencing. He willingly joins you in your circumstances sharing your emotions and frustrations. Then He begins to put a supernatural plan of rescue into operation to get you out of that problem.

Romans 8:26 BBE And in the same way the Spirit is a help to our feeble hearts: for we are not able to make prayer to God in the right way; but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say;