This session is often a turning point. (1) Many people have been taught that we only pray in tongues when HS (Holy Spirit) “moves on us”; were not aware of using prayer language at will as spiritual activity/exercise. (2) Brings together and reviews many guidelines (see “Exercise, Preparatory comments.”). (3) First time spirit-conditioning (praying in tongues) is used before journaling.

Last week:
     1.   Your spirit imparts life; therefore you should pay attention to what comes from your
     spirit
     2.   Experimented with journaling.

Today:
     1.   How to prepare your spirit
     2.   Examine some activities of your spirit

Preparing your spirit
     1.   Food, exercise & hygiene are critical to your health & effectiveness
               a.   physical body
                         i.   Good food & exercise make you physically stronger.
                         ii.  Good hygiene protects it from harm, strengthens immune system,
               reduces physical ailments.
               b.   mind
                         i.   What is good food for your mind? good educational material; whether
               God's Word or other worthwhile material, I advocate continuous
               learning
                         ii.  What is mental exercise? includes such things as problem-solving,
               investigating and analyzing; keeps you mentally alert, increases your
               abilities.
                         iii. What is mental hygiene? includes purifying your attitudes & interests;
               increases immunity to error and confusion.
               c.   spirit
                         i.   Spiritual food? Bible is excellent spiritual food
                         ii.  Spiritual exercise? includes such activities as praying in your spiritual
               language.
                         iii. Spiritual hygiene? includes ridding self of all other gods, refraining from
               ungodly involvements
                         iv.  Benefits? Christ-likeness, increased spiritual strength & effectiveness.
     2.   As it specifically relates to our topic:
               a.   proper care of your spirit strengthens it and makes you more effective at
          communicating with God and helping your mind recognize when that occurs.
               b.   recommend regular practice of readying/studying Bible
               c.   recommend regular practice of praying with your spirit
               d.   these strengthen your spirit and make your mind more cooperative.

1 Cor 14:2, 4, 14-19 (class: look up scripture)
           (2) For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to
     God.  Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.  (4)
     He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself (promotes spiritual growth and
     character development).
           (14) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is
     unfruitful.  (15) So what shall I do?  I will pray with my spirit, but I will also
     pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my
     mind.  (16) If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds
     himself among those who do not understand say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving,
     since he does not know what you are saying?  (17) You may be giving thanks
     well enough, but the other man is not edified.
           (18) I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.  (19) But
     in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than
     ten thousand words in a tongue.

     1.   What activities of your spirit do you see listed?
               a.   prays/speaks to God (praying in a tongue, unknown language, prayer language)
          (vs 2, 14-15)
               b.   sings (v 15)
               c.   praises God (v 16)
               d.   gives thanks to God (vs 16-17)

     2.   Notice: speaking in a tongue is not same as gift of tongues
               a.   1 Co 14:2-4 (read earlier), “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak
          to men but to God.  Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with
          his spirit.  He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.”
               b.   1 Co 12:7, 10, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the
          common good... to another  the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues,
          and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”
               c.   Praying with your spiritual language builds you up
               d.   The “gift of tongues” is for building others up, especially when someone
          interprets; tongues & interpretation together equivalent to prophecy.
               e.   Exercise:  Pray quietly with your spirit (use your spiritual language); you can
          do so on command, it’s an act of your will. Submit your mind to your spirit and
          pray.

     3.   That was spiritual activity. Now consider mind's involvement in spirit's activity
               a.   chooses to cooperate.
               b.   operates body to produce speech
               c.   doesn't understand what is being said in tongues, yet cooperates
               d.   praying with your spirit can help prepare you spiritually and mentally to hear
          from God.
                         i.   increases your spirit’s activity level
                         ii.  places your mind in proper relationship to your spirit: submitted,
               cooperative

     4.   Spirit-praying, hearing God
               a.   May find it difficult to pray frequently or for extended periods in tongues (with
          your spirit).
               b.   Our culture is so oriented to the mind, is easy to ignore your spirit.
               c.   But let life flow from your spirit & Holy Spirit within you.
                         i.   Spirit-originated words are life.
                         ii.  Streams of living water from within.
               d.   The words that come from your spirit, whether you speak them or write them,
          can impart life to you and to others.
                         i.   Praying with your spirit is very important.
                         ii.  Writing what God speaks through your spirit is also important
               (journaling).

Exercise
     1.   Preparatory comments. When you begin listening for God to speak:
               a.   Do not judge what you hear until afterward; that’s your mind seizing control.
               b.   Do not tell yourself you won’t hear anything, because you will.
               c.   Do not try so hard that you get frustrated; that’s your mind seizing control
               d.   Do not try to think of what God might say next; your mind seizing control.
               e.   Hearing God’s voice can be very natural, doesn’t require great effort
                         i.   In fact, great effort usually makes it harder to hear God.
                         ii.  Ps 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
               f.   My experience: I usually receive a few words at a time, just a short phrase;
          when I write that much, a few more words come.
                         i.   This is typical for me.
                         ii.  Don’t be discouraged if you only get a single word; write it down and
               wait for the next one.
                         iii. Don’t try to figure out what the next words might be. Just wait.
               g.   Once you have written what God seemed to say, write out your response or next
          question, then wait for him to respond.
               h.   It’s like talking to a friend; you’re dialoging, writing out a conversation.
                         i.   In this conversation, God’s voice will sound very much like yours.
                         ii.  Why? Because his words come through your spirit into your mind.
     2.   Write following question [read in short phrases with pauses]:  "Lord, what do you want
     to say to me about praying with my spirit?"
               a.   Notice how I read question in very short phrases. That’s how God usually
          speaks to me when I journal.
               b.   Notice how your mind became frustrated with waiting, wanted to complete the
          question; “I know what he’s going to say.”
               c.   That’s your mind seizing control; keep it occupied with mental image, focus
          your attention on Jesus, refuse to let your mind dominate.
     3.   Relax physically, quieten your mind.  Focus attention on Jesus; form mental image of
     him. Speak to him softly, worship him; pray softly with your spirit.
     4.   I want you to continue focusing attention on Jesus, worshiping him.
               a.   Ask him the question you wrote on your paper
               b.   Write whatever comes to your mind.
               c.   Then dialog with him and record your conversation.
     5.   [Afterward]
               a.   Have someone read what they wrote.
               b.   Class: Could this be from their spirit? from God?
               c.   Class: Aware of scripture that supports or refutes?

I was journaling recently about some studying I was doing about spiritual aspects of human
nature. This is part of Lord’s response:

          When people overlook their own spirits and their roles in my kingdom, and when they
     focus on themselves and their desires, then my people become weak and die. They
     become misguided, deceived and totally ignorant about such important matters. I don’t
     want that for you. I want to show you what my kingdom is about, how the spiritual
     battle rages around you, what I have in store for you and the role I have for you. It is
     my good pleasure to give you the kingdom. I earnestly, strongly desire for you to be
     part of what I am doing.

Can’t you hear the passion in his words? He wants all of us actively engaged in kingdom
business. That will be greatly facilitated by our ability to recognize and follow his voice.

Additional notes:
You are responsible for your own spiritual growth
     1.   Rom 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your
     bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — which is your spiritual worship.
     Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
     renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is
     — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
               a.   conditions: offer bodies as living sacrifices, be transformed by renewing your
          mind; body and psyche.
               b.   result: be able to test and approve what God’s will is
               c.   you are responsible for your ability/inability to know God’s will, test and
          approve it.
     2.   Eph 4:22-24. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off
     your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the
     attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
     righteousness and holiness.”
               a.   you are responsible for: putting off old self, making self new in the attitude of
          your mind, putting on new self
               b.   How do you know you’re responsible for doing this? Paul told you to do it.
          Wouldn’t tell you to do something you couldn’t do.
     3.   If you don’t train your spirit to be sensitive to Holy Spirit’s direction, it will never be
     done; HS won’t do that for you.

Four steps to training your spirit
     1.   Meditate on the Word of God
               a.   meditate: focus your thoughts, reflect upon, ponder
               b.   You meditate on God’s Word by continually thinking about scriptures
               c.   Can’t do this by just reading a few verses each day
               d.   Instead, when you have time, think about the verses you read or memorized.
               e.   Try reading a few key verses in morning, then pondering them during the day;
          this allows HS to show you what verses mean and how they apply

     2.   Practice the Word
               a.   Thinking about scriptures is important, but not sufficient
               b.   Need to do what they say; let them change your mind and behavior
               c.   Results (examples):
                         i.   Increased effectiveness. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart form
               your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to
               do everything written in it. then you will be prosperous and successful”
               (Josh 1:8).
                         ii.  Your faith becomes based on what God has said, not on what you see.
                         iii. Become confident that you can do what God says and trust him for the
               results (peace of God).
               d.   Cause love to be your primary motivation, instead of self-centeredness; this is
          the law of Christ, need to practice it.
               e.   Forgive others and never hold a grudge
                         i.   essential part of practicing the Word
                         ii.  pray that God will forgive them and help them; then leave the results to
               God

     3.   Give the Word first place in your life
               a.   Train yourself to first consider scriptural principles when faced with issue,
          rather than reacting intellectually or emotionally.
               b.   Base choices on scripture rather than understanding or feelings.

     4.   Instantly obey the voice of your spirit
               a.   God communicates with you spirit-to-spirit; does not talk to your mind or body.
          Give high priority to what you sense in your spirit (not feelings).
               b.   When decision based on God’s Word or leading doesn’t make rational sense,
          obey what HS speaks to your spirit.