Warrior Church Home Fellowship Study
Dr. Kevin Zadai 03-19-2023
The Holy Spirit and Praying in the Spirit
"When you pray in the Spirit, it clears your path for the days ahead."
~Kevin Zadai
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. —Acts 2:4
DISCUSSION:
This week, I want to talk to you about something really special, the Holy Spirit and praying in the Spirit. Many people don't understand that the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity. He was poured out at Pentecost as prophesied in the Old Testament. The Scriptures foretold that the Spirit would come, God's people would speak with new tongues, and there would be signs and wonders (Isaiah 28:11, Joel 2:28-32). Today, there's such a great controversy among Christians about tongues.
THE FUTURE IS ALREADY DONE
When I was in Heaven, and Jesus stood beside me, one of the most profound truths He showed me was that the future is already done. It may seem strange, but think of it this way: Imagine watching a recorded film where the events literally haven't happened yet. Then one day, you walk into a particular place, and suddenly, everything you saw in this film is exactly the same. It's all in place the same way, and as you look around, you know what's going to happen next.
At the college where I got my bachelor's degree, many of the professors were retired missionaries. One particular professor, who I really liked, was formerly a missionary to Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and other places. He shared a story from when he was a youth, around the age of 13, and had a vision with revelation from God. In this vision, he was on an extremely narrow path on a mountainside. He was riding a horse in a jungle when he rounded a corner and saw a large valley with many huts with thatched roofs. From the village down in the valley, smoke rose from the fires. This place was in a rainforest, prone to lots of rain and floods, so the village wasn't permanent. Since monsoons and storms brought destruction, they would have to redo their roofs every year. He was sharing all this to make the point that he was called to be a missionary since he was a little boy.
At the time, this professor's dad worked at the headquarters of the missions department for the Assemblies of God. So he went into the missions department and told the head of missions, "I'm called to be a missionary, so I need to sign up, and I need to find out what I'm supposed to do." The guy looked at this 13-year-old and explained that he had to grow up, attend Bible school, and take steps to qualify. He'd have to work with a church and come under a pastor. He told the boy, "Come see me again when you're finished with your college degree, and then you'll qualify, and then the Assemblies of God will send you." And so he went back and did all that. He eventually graduated from the same college I attended, returned, got the position, and was sent to Paraguay as a missionary.
The professor continued with his story, sharing that one day, he was on horseback riding on a very narrow trail. After rounding a corner, there was a big valley, and he saw these huts with smoke coming up. He realized they were exactly the same roofs and huts he saw in his vision seven or eight years prior. Everything was exactly like the vision. He lived there for many years and said the village would change annually of the storms. They would just rebuild; it was commonplace. Each time they rebuilt, nothing looked the same as before, yet it looked exactly as it did in the vision for that first year.
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT CLEARS A PATH FOR YOU
The professor shared that He prayed in the Spirit, then went into a vision. He prayed in the Spirit often. When you pray in the Spirit, it clears your path for the days ahead, which is what we discuss in this lesson.
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
Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 14:2 that when a person speaks in an unknown tongue, he does not speak to men because it's not his language; it's the language God gives him. He's speaking to God, for no one understands him. However, in the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.
Acts 2:4 states that the people of God were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. This happened on the day of Pentecost and has never ended. There's no place in the Bible where it says the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues ended. Even though Paul said one day, when we reach perfection, tongues will cease, that perfection hasn't happened yet (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). I've not met one perfect person on earth. I just know Jesus is perfect.
Likewise, the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He Who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. —Romans 8:26-27
Reliable translations use the word "groanings" in Romans 8:26, which means an utterance not understood in one's native language. I have many stories similar to my professor's. I shared his story because it really influenced me. I believe that because he shared that in class, it caused me to eventually flow in the Spirit in a similar way. Many times I've gone into visions, praying in the Spirit, and I saw the future. I've seen what the vision revealed come to pass in my life when it seemed impossible.
However, I've also seen events in the spirit of our country, the body of Christ, and churches that I used to attend that did not come to pass. Even though I had a clear vision and saw that it was the Lord's will, people's will got in the way. Sometimes God's plans don't happen, or they are delayed.
COOPERATE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Because I followed the Lord and was very diligent, the Lord made sure that His will happened for me, just as He did with my professor. The future that was shown to me way ahead of time happened because I was cooperating with the Holy Spirit and giving him a yes. To recap, 1 Corinthians 14:2 states that when we speak in an unknown tongue, we're not talking to people; we are talking to God. Acts 2:4 talks about the Spirit of God coming in power and causing us to have the anointing to be a witness.
Romans 8:26-27 expresses that the Holy Spirit knows the will of God and prays it out in another language or with groanings. The Spirit knows the mind, will, and heart of God and is very specific in praying out His will. This is real and is something we need now. We haven't reached perfection, so tongues are not going to cease.
o Discuss the importance of cooperating with the Holy Spirit. How does your "yes" to God impact His will coming to pass? And how do you cooperate with Holy Spirit?
Warrior Church Home Fellowship Study
Dr. Kevin Zadai 03-19-2023
THE EVIDENCE OF PRAYING IN TONGUESI thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.—1 Corinthians 14:18
You should be like Paul and pray in tongues more than everybody. The Spirit of God is mentioned throughout the Bible, yet in the Book of Acts, people were continually baptized in the Holy Spirit. The initial evidence of the Spirit of God coming upon them was speaking in tongues. It's important to note that they weren't told that you would speak in tongues; it just happened, which is a real sign and a wonder. They weren't coached.
In Acts 19:1-7, Paul asked people if they received the Holy Spirit, and they replied that they did not even know that there was a Holy Spirit to receive. They only received the baptism of John for repentance; in other words, they were born again, but they had not been baptized in the Holy Spirit. At that time, when Paul laid hands on them, they received the baptism of the Holy that day with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This is a very controversial subject, and it shouldn't be. I believe that the enemy does not want us to speak in tongues. He doesn't want us to let the Holy Spirit have His way.
You need the Holy Spirit to light your path and clear your path ahead of you, so pray in the Spirit as often as you can. You need the Holy Spirit to show you a "movie" of your future, a vision of what he has for you as He has done for me.
ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK THROUGH YOU
• As a nation, America has often been robbed of what God wanted for us because we have rejected Him. This has happened in nations around the world.
• When a nation rejects God, He goes to believers within a nation to bring His will to pass, which is why we have Warrior Notes.
• We gather in groups, such as Warrior Fellowships, which meet worldwide, and believe God will do something supernatural in our countries.
• We must believe God will have His way within our fellowships and individual lives.
• Know that God loves you and desires to have His way with your life.
• We should not focus on the evil taking place in our countries; wemust focus on what God is doing in our own lives.
• It's crucial that we build each other up and show love for each other.
TONGUES FOR A CONGREGATION VERSUS PERSONAL TONGUES
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God Who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
—1 Corinthians 12:4-11
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. —1 Corinthians 14:27-28
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. —1 Corinthians 14:4
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. —1 Corinthians 14:15
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
—Jude 1:20
The Scriptures clearly explain that when we pray in tongues, we are not speaking to people but to God. It is also plainly expressed that in the church, one of the gifts of the Spirit is tongues, and another is interpretation. So you have the type of tongues that is a gift for the congregation of believers, which requires interpretation; then you also have tongues for prayer and personal edification, which does not require interpretation.
When you speak in tongues in a congregation, someone with the gift of interpretation must interpret the tongues to the known language, which would be English, where we are. Interpretation is necessary to tell the body of believers what God is saying. He speaks to us through the gifts of the Spirit, which he gives to individuals as He wills, so not everyone has these particular gifts.
On the other hand, in private or times when a group agrees to pray together to God, we all can and should pray in the Spirit, in tongues, so that God can have his way, as you can see in 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 15, Jude 1:20 and throughout the Book of Acts.
PRAYER:
Father, thank You so much for Your power. Thank You for all my family all over the world. Thank You for the love that You have for people. Let everyone feel Your love right now. Let the Holy Spirit have His way. Baptize them in power and the fire. In Jesus' name, amen.
1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 states that when we pray in tongues, we are not speaking to people but to God. Paul said he prayed in tongues more than everyone.
How does being baptized in the Holy Spirit and praying in tongues empower us to be a witness?
2. Romans 8:26-27 explains that Holy Spirit knows the will of God and prays it through us with another language or groanings. Discuss how praying in the Spirit connects us to the heart of God beyond our natural language and lights our path.
3. Why is speaking in tongues so controversial in the body of Christ? Throughout the Book of Acts, people were baptized in the Holy Spirit. How is this understanding relevant to us today?
4. Discuss how you can allow God to have His way as an individual or group of
believers, even when your nation rejects God.
5. Discuss the difference between speaking in tongues to a congregation and privately praying in tongues.
In Acts 19:1-7, Paul asked people if they received the Holy Spirit, and they replied that they did not even know that there was a Holy Spirit to receive. They only received the baptism of John for repentance; in other words, they were born again, but they had not been baptized in the Holy Spirit. At that time, when Paul laid hands on them, they received the baptism of the Holy that day with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This is a very controversial subject, and it shouldn't be. I believe that the enemy does not want us to speak in tongues. He doesn't want us to let the Holy Spirit have His way.
You need the Holy Spirit to light your path and clear your path ahead of you, so pray in the Spirit as often as you can. You need the Holy Spirit to show you a "movie" of your future, a vision of what he has for you as He has done for me.
ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK THROUGH YOU
• As a nation, America has often been robbed of what God wanted for us because we have rejected Him. This has happened in nations around the world.
• When a nation rejects God, He goes to believers within a nation to bring His will to pass, which is why we have Warrior Notes.
• We gather in groups, such as Warrior Fellowships, which meet worldwide, and believe God will do something supernatural in our countries.
• We must believe God will have His way within our fellowships and individual lives.
• Know that God loves you and desires to have His way with your life.
• We should not focus on the evil taking place in our countries; we
must focus on what God is doing in our own lives.
• It's crucial that we build each other up and show love for each other.
TONGUES FOR A CONGREGATION VERSUS PERSONAL TONGUES
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God Who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
—1 Corinthians 12:4-11
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. —1 Corinthians 14:27-28
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. —1 Corinthians 14:4
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. —1 Corinthians 14:15
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
—Jude 1:20
The Scriptures clearly explain that when we pray in tongues, we are not speaking to people but to God. It is also plainly expressed that in the church, one of the gifts of the Spirit is tongues, and another is interpretation. So you have the type of tongues that is a gift for the congregation of believers, which requires interpretation; then you also have tongues for prayer and personal edification, which does not require interpretation.
When you speak in tongues in a congregation, someone with the gift of interpretation must interpret the tongues to the known language, which would be English, where we are. Interpretation is necessary to tell the body of believers what God is saying. He speaks to us through the gifts of the Spirit, which he gives to individuals as He wills, so not everyone has these particular gifts.
On the other hand, in private or times when a group agrees to pray together to God, we all can and should pray in the Spirit, in tongues, so that God can have his way, as you can see in 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 15, Jude 1:20 and throughout the Book of Acts.
PRAYER:
Father, thank You so much for Your power. Thank You for all my family all over the world. Thank You for the love that You have for people. Let everyone feel Your love right now. Let the Holy Spirit have His way. Baptize them in power and the fire. In Jesus' name, amen.
1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 states that when we pray in tongues, we are not speaking to people but to God. Paul said he prayed in tongues more than everyone.
How does being baptized in the Holy Spirit and praying in tongues empower us to be a witness?
2. Romans 8:26-27 explains that Holy Spirit knows the will of God and prays it through us with another language or groanings. Discuss how praying in the Spirit connects us to the heart of God beyond our natural language and lights our path.
3. Why is speaking in tongues so controversial in the body of Christ? Throughout the Book of Acts, people were baptized in the Holy Spirit. How is this understanding relevant to us today?
4. Discuss how you can allow God to have His way as an individual or group of
believers, even when your nation rejects God.
5. Discuss the difference between speaking in tongues to a congregation and privately praying in tongues.
