Praying in the Spirit

Galatians 3:2,5
Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. (NIV)

The Holy Spirit is not a benefit we get for coming to church. It is not a reward. Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead. He is one of the three; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38
Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

We receive Holy Spirit into our lives as a result of our decision to turn to God, our repentance of those sins we are aware of and an agreement to repent of those we do not as they are revealed to us, and our baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.

Mark 16:16-18
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.

What is the evidence of that baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit in our lives? The evidence of our being saved?

Jesus says it clearly in Mark when He says that those who are saved will do miraculous signs. And He speaks to four signs that follow the spirit filled believer.

1. They will cast out demons in the name of Jesus
2. They will speak in new languages [other tongues]
3. They will be immune to deadly poisons
4. They will lay hands on the sick and they will be healed

1 Corinthians 14:14-19
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. (NIV)

When speaking about praying, Paul tells us he prays in tongues (his prayer language) as well as praying with his mind (in his vocal language or known words). And he speaks about singing in tongues and singing with known words.

Jude 20-21
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Jude, the half brother of Jesus, explains that we build ourselves up in faith when we pray in the spirit, in our prayer language. The more we build ourselves up in this manner, the more power we receive from above.

Ephesians 6:18 8
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 saints. (NIV)

Once again Paul is speaking about praying in the Spirit. When we place those we are praying for and those requests we have into our mind and then pray in our prayer language, we believe our spirit reaches up to God's Spirit and lays those needs at His feet.

So, is having a prayer language evidence of being Spirit filled? Yes, it is. But it is not the only evidence. We are filled when we are saved. We are saved when we believe. We are baptised when we confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

Evidence of being saved is the fruit of the Spirit visible in our lives. It is the change that only God can make in the person we used to be. It is Christ shining forth to the world around us. It is casting out demons in the name of Jesus. It is laying hands on the sick and seeing them recover. It is being Jesus in the marketplace by showing His love everywhere we go.