Investing in Your Spirit
In this article, we will exploring practical ways on how to exercise your spirit. but before reading this article, ensure you read Explore the life of GOD, this article is a follow-up.
1. Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
a) The Purpose
The first way to invest in your spirit is by receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
The purpose of speaking in tongues is for self-edification and building up Your inner man. This gift is primarily for personal communion with God before ministering to others.
1 Corinthians 14:2, 4 (KJV)
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
It's important to understand that speaking in tongues is not limited to Pentecostals. Paul himself, a Christian, spoke in tongues more than the corithians and he was grateful for such gift, why? because he enjoyed it.
1 Corinthians 14:18 (KJV)
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all.
Paul desired that others also receive this gift. In Acts 19:2-6, we see him ask some disciples if they have received the Holy Ghost; afterward, he lays hands on them to receive it with evidence of speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:5 (KJV)
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
b) How to Receive
- Laying on of Hands: Just as Paul laid hands on believers, we can receive by the laying on of hands, but it is important to be cautious about who lays hands on us.
- Other ways: While Peter was preaching in the house of Cornelius, he did not lay hands and they received it accordingly. So it depends; you can pray for it and receive on your own without laying on of hands. The Bible says, "ask and it shall be given."
- My experience: In my own case, I desired this gift by faith. I even tried speaking gibberish on my own, but it felt artificial and forced. True tongues is like a flow from within. The Holy Spirit won't take control of your tongue; you will do the speaking, you respond to the flow. The flow is the utterances coming from within; the source of the flow is the Holy Ghost. It is your responsibility to be sensitive to the flow when it is activated and respond to it. Even though you perceive the flow coming is just one syllable, speak it.
Acts 2:4 (KJV)
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
So, I bought a book, "Tongues: Beyond the Upper Room" by Kenneth Hagin. As I read the book, I began to sense the flow within me, and just like that, I could pray in tongues by responding to the urge or you call it the flow. I also recall when the Holy Ghost led me to pray for someone who desired it. He had been desiring it for some time, and one day we prayed together. After a time of worship, it came upon him strongly; he felt like a burning sensation within him. For some people, the flow can be so strong that when they respond, they can be loud; for some, it might be light, for me, receiving was not so spectacular, it just happened while i was reading. you can be reading this now, and you might sense the urge to speak. don't ignore it, just speak and let it flow.
2. Building a Lifestyle of Prayer
Another way to excercise your spirit man, is by praying without ceasing, especially in tongues. here are three practical step to exercise your spirit man.
a) Routine Prayer
Establish a regular time for prayer that suits you, whether morning or night. from the verse below, we see that Jesus had a custom, a routine prayer life.
Luke 22:39 (DARBY)
And going forth he went according to his CUSTOM to the mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him.
Make it at least 1 hour.
Mark 14:37 (DARBY)
And he comes and finds them sleeping. And he says to Peter, "Simon, dost thou sleep? Hast thou not been able to watch one hour?"
According to Jesus, if you are spiritually healthy, you should be able to pray for 1 hour. You might ask, "what should I be praying for in 1 hour?" You can pray in tongues for 30 mins, then use the other time to pray other requests in your understanding and worship. As time goes on, you might need to extend it to 1 hour 30 mins, 1 hour in tongues while the 30 mins for prayer in understanding and worship.
1 Corinthians 14:15 (KJV)
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
b) Retreat
Luke 5:16 (KJV)
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Have a day in one week or two weeks; you retreat into the presence of God and spend long hours. I would suggest 6 hours. Long time. It can be a night before your day off or on your day off. Ensure you pray long in tongues. when you pray long in tongues, There might be a rejection to prayer In your soul. After a while, you might feel weak; the only way to learn to pray is to pray, but keep on; you might break forth into a realm where you lost count of time. this is one way of excercising your spirit. you might ask, is it really neccessary to pray long? read this article Doctrine of Long Prayers
c) Intermittent Prayer
Utilize free pockets of time during the day for prayer, making prayer a lifestyle. When you're doing things that don't affect praying in the Spirit, ensure you pray; charge your spirit.
1 Timothy 2:8 (KJV)
I will, therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Are you on the bus? During your break at work? Take advantage and pray. I say, pray.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)
Pray without ceasing.
3. Waiting for Quickening
Sometimes before you start praying, you feel tired, weary. Even as you pray, it feels like it takes a lot of effort. There is what is known as the quickening power of the Holy Ghost. When that power comes, you pray with ease.
Psalms 80:18 (KJV)
So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
In the psalm above, despite being in God's presence, they needed the quickening power to enable them to pray. While setting your mind to pray or engage God, you must be ready to wait for the release of praying power; praying in tongues is a way of waiting. The tongues might be dry at first; it might look mechanical; your thoughts might be wandering, but keep on; the Holy Ghost will come.
- Personal suggestion: While waiting, set your mind to do some activities like walking up and down your room for like 20 times while speaking in tongues; avoid looking at the clock when you start. Put your focus on God. When you sense your spirit is getting energized or quickened, play music that your spirit likes to create that atmosphere to keep pressing; ensure your mind is focused on God and ventilating your inner man.
- My story: One time at church, me and some people were praying; we walked down the aisle for a while. I said no music; then after some time, I felt the Holy Ghost was about to descend; I told the keyboardist to start playing the keyboard. And immediately, the whole place surged with power. People started praying like never before. This happened because we waited; it was mechanical before, but suddenly there was oil; the Holy Ghost took over.
Conclusion
when you practise the habit of exercising your spirit, there are potential, gifting locked up in your spirit, that will begin to find expression.