Faith, Discernment, and Prayer in the Spirit

Reading the Word and Taking Responsibility

It is important for us to read and study the Word of God. Even when we have read a passage before, we can return to it and learn something new. God’s Word continues to reveal things to us as we study.

As we discussed our reading, one congregation member reflected on the importance of faith, including Joseph’s dreams and Jesus providing bread.

I also thought about Rachel, Jacob’s wife. Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin, even though she was younger than her sister Leah. This raises a question people sometimes ask: Why do difficult things happen even to those who believe in God?

My point is that it is not enough to say, “I know God,” and then neglect our responsibilities. We need to take responsibility for our health and pay attention to what is happening around us. We need to pray when it is time to pray, eat when it is time to eat, and rest when it is time to rest. Jesus Himself told His disciples to go somewhere and rest.

In my view, something may have happened in Rachel’s situation that was not attended to. We should not overlook matters that need our attention and then place every responsibility on God. Be spiritually minded, but also pay attention to practical life.

Reviewing the Stages of Faith

Last time, we began discussing the stages of faith. The first stage is when faith is conceived through what we hear. We talked about whether faith can also come through seeing. It can, but what we see can be manipulated. Scripture emphasizes hearing the Word of God.

The second stage is continuous hearing. Learning takes time. You cannot become a pilot, a nurse, a doctor, or an engineer by attending one class. In the same way, we continue learning and hearing God’s Word. What we want to develop and sustain requires continued attention.

Today, we are focusing on the third stage: the test of faith. What you believe will be tested. You may read something in the Bible, believe it, and set out to act on it, only to encounter something that challenges what you have believed.

Consider Joseph. The Bible says that God was with him, yet he went to prison after someone spoke falsely against him. Even there, God was with him.

The Parable of the Sower

In Matthew 13:5–6 and 20–21, Jesus describes seed falling on rocky ground. Because the soil is shallow, the seed springs up quickly. But when the sun rises, the plant is scorched and withers because it has no deep root.

Jesus explains that this represents someone who hears the Word and receives it with joy but does not have a lasting root. When trouble or persecution arises because of the Word, the person falls away.

Think about patience. You might hear a teaching about patience and decide to become more patient. A few days later, something—or someone—may test that decision. It could happen through a spouse, a child, a friend, or a coworker.

The same can happen with anger. A person may decide not to give in to anger, and soon several situations arise that could make that person angry. I believe such challenges can test what we have learned and decided.

In the Christian life, what you learn can help prepare you for what comes next. Be prepared to face those tests.

Get Up and Continue

If you fall, do not stay there. Get up and keep moving.

The Bible says that a righteous person may fall seven times and rise again. I understand “seven times” as a figure of speech: the point is not to remain where you fell.

One of the enemy’s deceptions is to give you many reasons to stay down after a setback. Do not become stuck there. Get up and continue.

The people around you matter too. Do not surround yourself only with people who will keep you stuck where you are.

Abraham also experienced a test of faith. Romans 4 describes him as believing in hope when circumstances seemed hopeless. He did not allow unbelief to make him abandon God’s promise.

Peter Walking on the Water

In Matthew 14, Jesus walked on the water. Peter asked Him, “Lord, if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water.” Jesus told him to come.

Peter stepped out of the boat and walked toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind, he became afraid and began to sink. He cried out to the Lord, and Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.

Notice the contrast. Peter heard Jesus say, “Come,” and he acted on what he heard. Then he saw the wind, became afraid, and began to sink.

I encourage you to pay attention to what God’s Word says. When I read the Bible, I try to stay with what it says, even when I do not yet fully understand it. I have found that helpful.

When I say, “Stop seeing,” I mean that we should not be controlled by what we see. Let the Word of God guide the steps you take rather than allowing every troubling circumstance to move you away from what you believe.

Jesus asked Peter why he doubted. In this example, Peter saw the wind and began to reason about the danger before him. The wind is a challenge to Peter’s faith.

We need wisdom, but the things of God can go beyond our ordinary reasoning. As an illustration, the Bible says that a husband and wife become one flesh. We see two people, but Scripture speaks of their union as one. That illustrates how God’s perspective can differ from the way we ordinarily count or reason.

Does Reasoning Always Hinder Faith?

Congregation Member: Will human reasoning always hinder faith?

Congregation Member: Reasoning can interfere if we keep thinking that something will not happen or will not work. Those thoughts can affect our faith.

Congregation Member: Reasoning can also be used for good. We can choose to help someone or make another good decision. I think a person can use reasoning and still have faith.

Pastor: That is a good discussion. God gave us the ability to reason so that we can use it.

In ordinary life, we should use sound judgment. If there is a fire, common sense tells us to leave the building. If you know there may be danger somewhere, you should let people know so they can make a wise decision.

When making decisions, we can consider what has happened before and what we have learned from experience. Reasoning can help us.

The same applies when we believe we have heard something from God. If we repeatedly thought God told us something and it proved mistaken, we should reflect on that rather than ignore it.

Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is living and powerful and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. When considering spiritual matters, we should pray and examine our thoughts in the light of God’s Word.

It is good to pray for guidance even on every small decision.

Reasoning can play a good role, especially as our minds are renewed by the Word of God. A mind shaped by the Word can learn to recognize and set aside unhelpful thoughts.

Congregation Member: So God is at the center of your thoughts, and your reasoning is affected by your relationship with Him.

Praying in the Spirit

Before communion, I want to speak briefly about praying in the Spirit. I believe the Lord directed me to teach on this subject.

Praying in the Spirit is spiritual communication with God. It is commonly associated with praying in tongues, it is limited to tongues. It also means praying as we are led by the Spirit of God.

When a person prays in tongues, the person may not have a direct understanding of what is being said, but God understands.

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1–8 tells us that the disciples were gathered together on the day of Pentecost. There came a sound like a rushing mighty wind, and tongues like fire appeared and rested on them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

People from different places gathered and heard the disciples speaking in their own languages. Those who heard were amazed because they recognized their languages.

The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to do something they had not done before.

I once heard another pastor describe an experience during an evangelistic visit to a community where the people did not understand the group’s language. He said that some people were angry and prepared to confront them. The group began praying in tongues, and, according to his account, the listeners recognized their own language.

He said that the people understood the group to be saying that they had come as ministers of God, not to harm anyone, but to share the gospel. I heard the pastor tell this story personally.

The Gift of Tongues and the Disciples in Ephesus

Why do I consider praying in the Spirit important?

First, Jesus spoke of signs that would follow believers. In Mark 16:17, He mentioned speaking in new tongues. I believe this is a gift believers should seek.

In Acts 19, Paul met a group of disciples and asked about their experience of the Holy Spirit. They said they had not heard about the Holy Spirit, and they spoke about having received John’s baptism. Paul explained John’s baptism of repentance and directed them to believe in Jesus.

When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

The Spirit Prays and the Believer Is Edified

In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul says that when he prays in a tongue, his spirit prays. He also says that a person speaking in a tongue speaks to God and that the person is edified.

To be edified means to be built up or strengthened. I believe praying in the Spirit can help and uplift you inwardly.

Sometimes a person may not understand exactly what is being said in prayer, but God understands. I believe the Spirit can lead us to pray about matters beyond what we know or recognize.

Praying in the Spirit can also mean responding to the Spirit’s leading. I remember an occasion many years ago when I believed the Lord prompted me during the night to get up and pray. I got up and prayed.

I have also heard of ministers who, when asked to make a decision, pause to pray in the Spirit and seek God’s direction. The point is to seek His guidance rather than relying only on ourselves.

The Holy Spirit Helps Our Weakness

Romans 8:26–28 teaches that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not always know what we should pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

All of us have weaknesses. Being a pastor or serving in a church does not mean that a person has none. We need the Holy Spirit’s help.

I believe that praying in the Spirit helps us pray according to God’s will. I encourage you to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and continue in prayer.

Remembering Jesus in Communion

As we come to communion, we remember Jesus. In Luke 22:19, Jesus gave bread to His disciples and told them to do this in remembrance of Him.