God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

times when a memorized prayer is genuine, but usually the spontaneous prayer of the heart is better. Even the "Lord's Prayer" is given more for a general pattern ("After this manner," Matthew 6:9) than for exact repetition. 4. PRAYER CAN BE ALONE OR WITH OTHERS PRESENT. A. Every Christian should learn to pray alone, closeted off from any outside disturbing influence. Matthew 6:6; James 5:13; Acts 9:40; 10:9. B. Every Christian should learn to pray with the Church. Note that the influence of the world is still shut out, but you are blending your faith with that of other Christians. Matthew 18:20; Acts 4:24, 31; 12:5, 12; 13:3; 14:23; 16:13, 16; 20:36; 21:5. 5. HOW DOES THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST AFFECT OUR PRAYER LIFE! Tremendously! When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, a whole new dimension of prayer is opened to us. A Spirit-baptized believer will still pray in the ordinary way, but on occasion the Spirit of God will HIMSELF pray through the person. This is called "praying in the Holy Ghost." Jude 20; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 14:15. 6. HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST? When you are praying in tongues, you are actually praying in the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:2, 14, 15. This is why a person is so edified (strengthened or built up), l Corinthians 14:4. This is one of the most important works of the Spirit in the believer's life. As you yield your tongue, your body and your total being, your

180