Here are some keys to growing your spirit, or strengthening your spirit. One of them we've already seen. Number one, probably the first one everyone could do is praying in tongues. He that speaks in an unknown tongue - 1 Corinthians 14, Verse 4 - strengthens himself, builds himself. So when you speak in the Holy Ghost, your own spirit can start to rise and become very strong. See, that's one of the ways you strengthen your spirit, so that's why praying fluently, praying forcefully, praying strongly, strengthens and builds your spirit. It's not the only way, but you could do that any time you want - pray in tongues [prays in tongues] and as you pray in tongues let your spirit rise up inside you. Allow yourself to be aware I am growing and increasing in my spirit, and you come alive very, very quickly, so that's one important way. You can pray that way all the time, so we'll get you to do a few of these things in a moment.
The second thing you can do, one of the most important things that your spirit responds to, is the word of God. I can't emphasise enough how the word of God will strengthen your spirit, but it doesn't strengthen your spirit just by reading it. You've got to get it in you, so one way that the word of God can strengthen our spirit, is when we learn to speak God's word, pray God's word, declare God's word. This is a way - Jesus said: the words I speak, they are spirit, and they are life, and so notice in Hebrews 3, Verse 1, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, or profession - so spoken words have power. They can release something, see? So if the word of God, spoken with a heart that believes it, releases power, I can release power and strength into my own spirit by speaking to myself. Now one of the things secular people understand is the importance of self-talk, of what you say to yourself. Most people are talking to themselves all the time: oh, I couldn't do that, it'd be hard, I don't know what's going to happen next, that's not going to work out. You've got a lot of endless, relentless, negative chatter going on.
But if you were to start speaking the word of God over your life, speaking the word of God into your heart wholeheartedly, it would have an effect on you: I am strong in the Lord, and the power of His might! Your soul says no you're not, you're just a sissy boy. I am strong in the Lord and the power of His might! Begin to confess the word of God, let the word of God grow in your life. Speak it upon your life. Say what God says about you: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Everything God called me to do, I can do it through Christ who strengthens me! Now see these are strong affirmations of God's word over your life, so praying the word of God, speaking the word of God over your life, will strengthen your spirit. Try it a few times. We've already done a few exercises on it. It affects you. It affects you.
Here's another thing. Worship is another way of strengthening your spirit man. Your spirit responds to the presence of God in worship. Now in 2 Corinthians 3:18 it says we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed or totally changed. So what it's saying then is worship, when I engage God properly, changes me. You say well I don't feel changed, I just sung some songs and lifted my hands up, didn't feel changed one little bit. Well it's because worship is not just about singing songs and lifting your hands. It's about your heart engaging with God and experiencing God, so I have to actually do more than the externals. It's about my heart, and the focus of my heart, and as we allow our heart - see your spirit will easily engage God. It's your body and soul that are the resistant parts, so that's why I encourage you to do this. I encourage you to clap your hands [All clap hands] make your body wake up: WAKE UP BODY! I know it's after lunch - WAKE UP and come alive just like that. Pray in tongues. [Prays in tongues]