JUDE 1:20

What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? Jude doesn’t mean this phrase in the way that some have taken it in since he spoke it. The idea of praying in the spirit is a juxtaposed idea. It is a statement made in difference to the earlier passage wherein Jude chides those in the community who have wanted to use Christian terms and jargon but without Christian attitudes and “heartsets.” It should be the orientation of the heart to lean on the understanding and wisdom provided by the Holy Spirit. It is through his empowering that we accomplish the works of our faith. Yet many Christians do the opposite. They pray in the power of self and produce fruit that rots, fresh off vine. This is a heartset issue. The heart is not set correctly. It is using its own power and wisdom to petition God or intercede for others. This is made even more ironic in Charismatic circles where praying in the Spirit has become entangled with praying in tongues. This type of prayer isn’t what God wants. It doesn’t produce right fruit or grow the body. We must return to a prayer that thrives off the nutrients provided by the Spirit of God who tells us whom we are speaking to, our hat to speak, assured us why we speak, and gives us tangible words to say.