PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT by EJ Ouellette

PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT

A few years ago I was listening to someone on the internet preaching. He went on to say to pray positively for those that were going through difficult times. I found nothing wrong with that message and was in fact praying fervently for someone at the time. I must say I felt like I was praying in the flesh as I felt no presence of God at all. It was all quite dry in fact. I was frustrated and after a few hours gave in to my frustration and began to seek God as to why I feel absolutely nothing.

This person I was praying for was in some kind of trouble on the other hand they had tons of un-repentant sin. They were embracing the ‘cheap grace’ philosophy and figured anything they do was covered by grace so they could hurt anybody they wanted as long as they felt good. If they felt bad than that was just someone else making them feel guilty about their sin. As I cried out to God he showed me a picture of this persons life. I saw my prayers go up and bounce off of heaven because I was praying amiss. I saw clearly that they needed Gods Judgments to come to their life if they wanted change. I know in my life I thank God everyday for His judgments because they changed me to the person I needed to be. A scripture came across my mind and I realized they would never go on unless Gods judgments came to their life. I began to pray differently and asked God for his judgments to come to this person. Immediately Gods presence filled the room and I was almost overwhelmed. A wonderful fragrance of roses filled the whole apartment. I hadn’t smelled the fragrance of God in years and how I felt they joy billow up inside of me. I felt euphoric. I knew God had answered my prayer and now consider every situation more carefully.
My friends came home after my prayer time and immediately asked what was that perfume smell that permeated the whole apartment.

1 Corinthians 5

New International Version (NIV)

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.