Spirituality can be a slow process, coming from the natural to the spiritual, if the emphasis is laid only upon laying aside natural things. That’s a help; it’s a strong step. The Lord has given many things that will catapult you into a place of spirituality, things that are easier to step into and will increase your awareness of His presence and your ears’ ability to hear exponentially. There are two things that increase that quickly.
Number 1 is to pray in other tongues. There are way too many who have laid praying aside and just wear it like a badge. “I’m one of those who prays in tongues”—as though that is your label and who you identify as, but it is not what you do. That must change; going from “Oh yes, I’m one of those” to a place of an inner action of your spirit by the Holy Spirit communicating with God. For the scripture says he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God (1 Corinthians 14:2).
Praying in tongues is a vital key to turning your mind, turning your heart, turning your thinking and all your resources away from natural reliance on men and the wisdom of men. Setting your focus, your eyes, your heart, your mind, even the eyes of your imagination over to the place where you are seeing or hearing from God Himself. To pray in other tongues, to speak in other tongues is to bring forth the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Much praying in tongues will bring much results. Even a little praying in tongues will at least bring a little result. But the more you yield to the active work of the Holy Spirit in cooperation with your spirit, the greater the increase. A little praying in tongues, a little result. A little more praying in tongues, a lot more results. A lot of praying in tongues, phenomenal results.
These are things of the Spirit. They are part of the weapons of your warfare. They move you into a place of communion and fellowship with God, Who is a spirit (John 4:24).
The Number 2 tool and activity of the Spirit that will move you into a spiritual place exponentially is true worship—the yielding of your own heart and your mind. Out of your own self looking for ways to express the goodness of God. Exploring ways within yourself to find gratitude and to express it verbally so that you yourself hear it. And then begin to practice that expression in front of other people. Not only in the services where you gather together but also just in the presence of people. “Well that was the blessing of the Lord.” “That was the goodness of the Lord.” “That was the favor of the Lord.” “Isn’t He good? Doesn’t He help us? Isn’t He wonderful?” “Well, I trust the Lord with that. I don’t know what exactly yet, but I know God will show me.”
Giving acknowledgment and recognition to the fact that Jesus is Lord and His superiority is over all that you see, know or could encounter in this life—acknowledging His Lordship through praise and worship, and yielding yourself to Him and His leadership.
As you gather together in services of assembly, then this is the time when corporately you join together, acknowledge and recognize His presence and allow the Lord to move among you. It’s a wonderful thing for God to speak in your own heart. It’s a blessing of God to know that you have heard Him—be it the voice of correction, the voice of encouragement, or the voice of hope and support. But it is yet another dimension of the Spirit when you all come together, and He begins to move among you.
Notice in 2 Chronicles 20 that what happened with Jehoshaphat and the Israelites happened as they assembled together. There was a calling together by Jehoshaphat, not only that all men should go into their tents and fast, but that they should fast and come together before the Lord. The prophet of God rose up and detailed by prophetic utterance the strategies of the enemy. He detailed in prophetic utterance the strategies that the people should take.
As a result, out of that assembly then came instruction. Not only did the Lord prophetically give what they were to do, but then men began to know in their own minds what they were to do as a response to that prophetic utterance. Jehoshaphat gathered them together and consulted with the people. They decided to send forth praisers to sing praises unto God as they went into battle. And what did Jehoshaphat declare? He said, “All you people pay attention to me. Those that will believe God and remain faithful, steadfast to the prophets they shall prosper.” Where do the prophets speak? They speak among the assemblies of the people.
When you want to hear the voice of the Lord, come together in faith believing. Come together in faith worshipping. Come together in faith expecting. Come together in faith, having already laid aside things of the natural, things of the flesh. And continue to lay aside things that are more difficult than the thing you laid aside before. Do something a little hard. Do something with a little challenge. Sacrifice. Jesus said if your right eye offends you, pluck it out; if your hand offends you, cut it off (Matthew 5). What does He mean? The thing that’s strong in your life, that causes you trouble, lay it aside. Some would say, “Well I’ll just fast brussels sprouts.” You never wanted to eat a brussels sprout in your life. So, you haven’t laid aside anything.
But as you go and do, let the Holy Spirit lead you progressively and increasingly and watch what the Spirit of God does. Not only during this time of fasting but watch what it energizes you to do. Watch what it allows Him to do even in the days beyond.
So your spirituality will increase two ways. How? By number one praying in other tongues. Number two worship. This is who we are and this is what we do.
~ Word of the Lord through Pastor Terri Pearsons, February 13, 2008, Eagle Mountain International Church, Fort Worth, Texas
