I once met a man from the Masai tribe while I was in Kenya. He later visited the United States and stayed with some friends of mine in Pennsylvania. The gentleman stayed with them for over a month. On several occasions, he updated his hosts on the status of his family back in Africa. Finally, the hostess said, “How do you know what’s going on with your family? They do not have access to any telephones.” He replied, “Paul knew what was going on with the Colossian and Corinthian churches when he was far away from them. As I pray in the Spirit, the Lord shows me what’s going on with my family members.” The verses he was referring to were Colossians 2:5: “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order,” and 1 Corinthians 5:3: “Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit” (NLT). Paul was connected with the people of those churches in the Spirit and knew about their affairs and proceedings without being physically present among them.

There have been many times when I know one of my team members or partners has been praying for me. I will be in the midst of grave and dangerous circumstances when God suddenly and miraculously intervenes. I know in these instances that someone was praying protection over me and interceding for me in the Spirit.

Experiencing Rest

Brethren, do not be children in understanding…. In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people.” (1 Corinthians 14:20-21)

As you have probably figured out by now, Paul writes a lot about tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. In these verses, Paul is actually paraphrasing the words of Isaiah; for in Isaiah 28:11-12, we read:

For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing.”

God prophesied through Isaiah that speaking in tongues would provide rest and refreshing. Once, one of my friends who pastors a large church was talking to the pastor of another large church. The pastor of the second church told my friend, “I’m ready to leave the ministry. I’m tired. I’m weary. I’m worn out.”

My friend responded, “You’ve stopped praying in the Holy Spirit, haven’t you?”

The other pastor stammered, “Well…”

My friend continued, “How much time do you spend praying in the Spirit?”

The other pastor was still hesitant but eventually said, “Well, I’m constantly preparing my messages, and I’ve got a lot of things going on with my 15,000-member church, and…”

My friend asked again, “Are you praying in the Spirit?”

Finally, the other pastor responded, “No, to be really honest with you, I’m not.”

My friend said, “Start praying in the Spirit.”