Open Heavens Feb 15th, 2008

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Josh 7-9

SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING

MEMORIZE: "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10)

READ: 1 Cor. 2:9-12

There are different ways of knowing somebody. It could be through information spread by people, by personal observation, association or revelation. According to our reading, it is the duty of the Holy Spirit to reveal what no eye had seen or ear heard. The Holy Spirit is the greatest revealer of secrets. In the spirit realm, forces of darkness are so disenchanted with this work of the Spirit that they tag Him a 'gossip'. Yet, as much as the Holy Spirit is revealing and wants to reveal secret plans of the enemy, as well as beautiful plans of the Godhead, many believers remain in the dark. If you want the Holy Spirit to reveal things to you about your life, future, family, community, nation, neighbors or even other nations, you must be prepared to walk and live in the spirit.

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3). One way to access such information is by praying with burden or compassion for the individual or group. Whenever you intercede with a burden for an individual, community or nation, the Holy Spirit will share some of His knowledge on the subject matter with you. He will take you into confidence. If you pray without a burden, you may just be scratching the surface, and may never access vital information, no matter how long you pray. Some of us are too superficial in our prayer effort. This is why we do not receive divine assistance in time of prayer (Romans 8:26-27).

"What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (1 Cor. 14:15). The day a believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit, the fellow is given a spiritual language - the ability to speak in a tongue he or she never learnt. What is the purpose of a language? Why do you learn English language, French or your local language? It is to aid you in communication. You are expected to speak English to those who understand English so that knowledge or meaning can be shared. The language of the Spirit is given to you for the same purpose. Your spirit man understands you better than your body, just as the Holy Spirit best understands God. It is expected that you regularly communicate with the Holy Spirit in your heavenly tongue. As you do this, you will grow in the spirit, and in spiritual understanding. It will help you to acquire knowledge of events taking place in the spirit realm. How frequently do you engage your heavenly language?

ACTIONPOINT: If you have not chosen a praying position - kneeling, sitting, standing, walking, etc. and if you have not noticed the difference between praying in the spirit and in understanding and their effects, you don't have a prayer life!