Pray First
Wk 03: The Language of Heaven

(Zechariah 4:6) So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord… ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.’”

(1 Corinthians 4:20) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

(Acts 1:4–5) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

(Acts 1:8) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”

There’s More!

At Ephesus…

(Acts 19:1–6) While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

In Samaria…

(Acts 8:5, 12) Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there… But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

(Acts 8:14-17) When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The Language of Heaven–Praying in the Spirit

(Jude 20) But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

(Ephesians 6:18) praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

(1 Corinthians 14:15)  … I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

1. Believe that this gift is today.

(Acts 2:39) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

2. Remove the that keep me from receiving all God has for me.

—Ignorance of the promise

—A previous negative experience, perhaps involving excess and oddities

—Fear of getting into something that’s not of God

(Luke 11:11-13) 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

—Undealt with sin in your life

(Acts 2:38–39) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

3. Ask God to give me that He has for me.

All that we have is not all that God has.

(Jeremiah 33:3) ’Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

4. Having asked, believe you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, but keep until you have had a genuine experience with the Holy Spirit.

(Luke 11:9–10 ESV) And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

5. Be open and willing to .

(Jude 20) But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.