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Discussion Forum : General Topics : being caught up in the Spirit in times of prayer?

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MaryJane
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Joined: 2006/7/31
Posts: 3057


 being caught up in the Spirit in times of prayer?

Can some one explain what it means to "get caught up in the Spirit" during prayer? I am not thinking of tongues although I imagine that would or could be a part of it. I am trying to understand this experience a little better.

Thank you for any insights

God Bless
maryjane

 2012/8/19 10:23Profile









 Re: being caught up in the Spirit in times of prayer?

Happy Sunday Sister! :)

Hope you don't mind me replying.

The answer is somewhat simple, though it's a phrase that's been used by some that believe that it's some 'altered state of consciousness' that actually would be categorized as a counterfeit experience.

We know that on Patmos, John says that he was "in the spirit on The LORD's day" and he says that as if it were something that was not an unusual thing for him while he prayed. What happened while he was in the spirit was unusual, of course and he was able to write it all out for us in his Revelation.

When we're in prayer, we want it to be "in spirit" and we normally start off with our own words but as we are praying our own words, our focus becomes - or should become, completely on Him and Up to Where He Is.
At some point, we become more in line with what His Spirit would be praying and we understand that the Spirit is now praying through us ... whether it be in our native tongue or not doesn't quite matter - it's the fact that we know that we're being aided by His Spirit and that we haven't premeditated the words that are coming from us.

When we're praying in the Spirit - we'll experience the appropriate emotions of what the Spirit is wanting us to feel. It can be joy, an awesome reverence for The Almighty, a burden for souls or a certain person or any other burden the LORD through His Spirit lays on us. We can begin to cry or just grieve and that can feel as if something is being released. A burden that the Holy Spirit wanted to intercede about 'through' us.
It can be Praise that ushers forth or ends in Praise, but whatever the Spirit wants to do through our time of prayer - He'll use words, groans, thoughts, feelings and emotions to express through us.
He may even give mind pictures/visuals or other means to show us what or where His Mind is, that He wants to show us - but it's not something that we have to have in order to be a channel in which the Holy Spirit can use for supplications, intercession, praise and even healing to ourselves.

People will give their own experiences and that can be good or bad -- only in that our GOD works differently with each of His Children and not all are required to have visions, etc.. The main point is, is that the person knows that though they are consciously permitting the Holy Spirit to do what He chooses through our feelings, mouths, emotions, etc... 'we' haven't lost control like some occultists do.
We can have visuals but they are not to be put as a requirement or made a definition of being 'caught up in the Spirit'.
Bragging of what one has experienced while in 'HIS' Spirit throws a up red flag up to me, that the person is starting to get in the flesh, but a person can, if they feel called by Him to share something that they feel that The LORD has something to say to The Church from their time in prayer, when they knew it was His Spirit directing it.
Any 'words' or visuals that are shared with another needs to be shared 'only' because The LORD is giving direction to share these things and not for a "WOW" directing toward ourselves.

The main thing about being 'caught up in The Spirit' is that it always has the affect of leaving the person with that Holy Awe and Reverence for Who He Is ... and that's can be an indicator that it is the true experience.
The HOLINESS of GOD would be the number 1 thing that the person comes away with, when truly in or experiencing His Presence - which is in other words, what being in His Spirit would produce. We're in His Presence though not exactly like John was --- because John went from praying in the Spirit, to being caught up further than we are, 'after' he heard a Voice behind him and we know the rest from what he recorded.
We could have a mini-experience of what John saw, heard, etc, but be careful if anyone compares themselves to John or all that he wrote :)


Bottomline - it's ALL for HIS Glory and not the person's.


GOD Bless!

 2012/8/19 12:03









 Re: being caught up in the Spirit in times of prayer?

d.p.

 2012/8/19 12:06
lylewise
Member



Joined: 2009/2/20
Posts: 494
Celina, Texas

 Re:

Amen sister and Amen

 2012/8/19 12:16Profile
psalm1
Member



Joined: 2007/1/30
Posts: 1230


 Re: being caught up in the Spirit in times of prayer?

Can some one explain what it means to "get caught up in the Spirit" during prayer? I am not thinking of tongues although I imagine that would or could be a part of it. I am trying to understand this experience a little better.


Being caught up in the spirit could happen in prayer and i am sure it does.
However,this is mainly associated with worship.
One needs to cultivate this type of depth in their walk.There is a "tarrying" that goes along with a visitation.
I have been in prayer or worship many hours and had no such visitation.Other times it is like a torrent of his presence so immense I thought I could not take any more.

The job of the worship leader in a church is to bring this atmosphere down upon the congregation.
The corporate "Caught up" is much more powerful than the individual "caught up"

Prayer is worship,and worship is prayer.
The church has been so robbed of this simple truth.

 2012/8/19 13:26Profile









 Re:


This sort of reminds me of another thread about the latent power of the soul.

It's wisdom to stay within Biblical parameters when dealing with a topic that's sort of "outside of ourselves".

Though a person can enter a deep and revelatory experience during worship - we have to keep in mind that far too many churches use music to drum-up something of a soulish reaction. Mind you, I'm not saying that all churches do this - but I've had to shy away from pentecostal churches and others [though I do believe in the baptism in the Spirit and the gifts] because of what's become of the 'worship' time in many of these churches.
Watching what is deemed as worship and the means in which this is brought about, is not what we see in the New Testament.

Biblically speaking - John was alone on Patmos - Paul was alone when he was caught up to the third Heaven and didn't tell anyone what he heard or saw.
The Prophets of old were alone when GOD showed them what they needed to see - just like Paul.

Worship 'can' be when we get 'in' The HOLY Spirit - but if one has been In His Presence - as what I 'think' this thread is about -- you wouldn't see the people leaving church talking about the Super Bowl or what-have-you, afterwards.

I think we're talking here about something that is very Holy and has a lasting affect that carries over for the rest of someone's life and every facet of it and didn't need 'drumming up' from outside stimulus.


jmo

 2012/8/19 14:00
DHuff
Member



Joined: 2009/5/9
Posts: 64
Atlanta

 Re:

Hi Psalm1, good insights. I have led worship for a number of years, and currently lead worship in our fellowship. I would submit a broader view, and offer that any group of believers meeting for worship -- including the worship leader -- has a corporate responsibility as well -- to live holy, Christ-honoring lives during the week, and to walk in love and forgiveness with one another. This way, when we come together to worship, we come as clean vessels corporately, so that there isn't sin in the camp hindering our worship.

I love being in the atmosphere of worship that you describe, but I'm also grateful that the presence or lack of it isn't solely dependent on me "doing my job" as the WL :-)... if it did, I and our whole fellowship would suffer. I appreciate how fellow believers exhort me in my walk with the Lord. I know I need it, and only by His grace and cleansing power could I ever serve Him -- leading worship or doing anything else.

So, I don't see myself as bringing down an atmosphere of worship; rather, I see myself as a fallible child of God who, along with the congregation, needs to live as a disciple should (by His strength and grace), and then trust Him to manifest His presence in us and upon us as we worship Him together.

Glory to His Name,
David


_________________
David

 2012/8/19 14:03Profile
MaryJane
Member



Joined: 2006/7/31
Posts: 3057


 Re:

Thank you for the responses. I think I have a better idea of what is being talked about now.

God Bless
mj

 2012/8/19 18:44Profile





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