Praying in the Spirit Strengthens You in the Lord

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20 (New International Version)

A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally 1 Corinthians 14:4 (New Living Translation)

Did you ever notice Paul wished everyone would speak in tongues? Read 1 Corinthians 14:5 a little slower, and stop at the first comma. If you jump up to the verse 4 you’ll see why… because the ones who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally.

The context of 1 Corinthians 11 – 14 is that Paul is addressing problems that happen when the church is gathered. When you speak in tongues it’s for God and your self. It’s not for other people (14:2).

Paul taught the church in Rome:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Romans 8:26-27 (New International Version)

Allowing the Spirit to pray through us allows us to pray confidently knowing we intercede for others according to the will of God. It allows us to pray beyond words, because we don’t know what to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.

But is it for everyone?

In 1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, and 14:39 we are told to “eagerly desire greater” spiritual gifts. In the context of the passage, the greater gifts are the gifts that fit the moment.

For example, prophecy is more desirable for a group setting, so seek to prophesy when you’re together. Since speaking in tongues builds up the individual, we can assume when we’re alone the greater gift is the gift of tongues.

Why would Paul want everyone to speak in tongues if it was not available to everyone? Why would he say to not forbid the speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39) if we all couldn’t do it? Why are we told to build ourselves up as we pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20) if it’s only available for some?

When you eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, it only takes a moment before you begin to operate in those gifts. The key is expectancy.

Luke 11:9-13 says:

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (New International Version)

God is good and He gives Good gifts to His children. Eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit and the Spirit will give them.

So to strengthen yourself in the Lord pray in the Spirt if you got the gift, eagerly desire the gift of tongues if you don’t yet have it.