Unlocking Divine Wisdom Through Devotional Practice

Devotional

Day 1: Praying in the Spirit and with Understanding

The believer is called to pray both in the Spirit and with understanding, not just relying on emotional outbursts or the gift of tongues, but intentionally engaging both spirit and mind. As you pray in tongues, pause and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire your understanding, so that the mysteries you speak to God can also benefit your mind and enrich your prayers. This practice leads to a “whole man” prayer—one that is not divided, but fully aligned with God’s will, bringing clarity, creativity, and spiritual strength. The Apostle Paul modeled this, choosing to pray and sing both with the spirit and with understanding, so that his prayers were fruitful and effective. [15:36]

1 Corinthians 14:15 (KJV)
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Reflection: When you pray today, will you intentionally pause and ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of what you are praying, so that your mind is also enriched and your prayers become more creative and effective?

Day 2: The Spirit Reveals the Deep Things of God

God has prepared things for those who love Him that no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor heart imagined, but He reveals them to us by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit searches and knows the deep things of God, and as believers, we are invited to access this divine wisdom—not by human intellect or artificial intelligence, but by the Spirit’s revelation. This wisdom is not fleeting or trendy, but eternal and transformative, enabling us to know God’s plans and purposes for our lives. As you seek God, trust that the Spirit will bring to light what is hidden and guide you into all truth. [36:07]

1 Corinthians 2:9-12 (KJV)
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need God’s wisdom today? Will you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the deep things of God concerning that situation?

Day 3: Jesus Opens Our Understanding to the Scriptures

Just as Jesus opened the eyes and understanding of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He desires to open your mind to comprehend the Scriptures. When your heart burns within you as the Word is opened, ignorance and confusion are replaced by clarity and revelation. This divine understanding empowers you to live boldly, share your testimony with authority, and walk in the power of God’s Word. Pray that every clog in your heart and mind will be burned away, and that you will experience the transforming fire of God’s Word today. [26:17]

Luke 24:45 (KJV)
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

Reflection: As you read the Bible today, will you ask Jesus to open your understanding so that you can truly comprehend and apply His Word in your life?

Day 4: God Is the Giver of Wisdom to All Who Ask

Wisdom is the most powerful search engine God has installed in the believer, and it is available to anyone who asks in faith. God gives wisdom generously and without reproach, enabling you to navigate life’s complexities, make sound decisions, and fulfill your calling. You are not to depend on circumstances or connections, but on the wisdom that God freely gives. Whenever you lack understanding, turn to God in prayer, and He will activate the wisdom you need for every situation. [45:28]

James 1:5 (KJV)
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Reflection: What decision or challenge are you facing right now? Will you pause and sincerely ask God for wisdom, believing that He will give it to you generously?

Day 5: The Spirit of Man Is the Candle of the Lord

God has placed within you a spirit that He lights, making it a candle to search out the deep things within your heart. As you fellowship with God, the rivers of living water within you begin to flow, revealing treasures and insights that are hidden from the natural mind. This divine illumination is not artificial or insincere, but authentic and life-giving, enabling you to become a whole person—autonomous in the world, yet totally reliant on God. Let your spirit be sensitive to God’s leading, and allow Him to reveal and implement His wisdom in every area of your life. [38:55]

Proverbs 20:27 (KJV)
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

Reflection: Take a moment to quiet your heart and listen—what is the Holy Spirit revealing to you about your own heart, desires, or calling that you may have overlooked?

Sermon Summary

Promise made, promise fulfilled. Today, the focus is on the profound relationship between the promises of God, the discipline of spiritual devotion, and the supernatural resources available to every believer. Drawing from the wisdom and experience of Dr. Ora Roberts, we explored the distinction between the gift of tongues and the devotional use of tongues that comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This devotional practice is not merely an emotional outburst but a deliberate act of the will, where the believer prays in tongues and then, by faith, interprets those mysteries back to the mind for creative understanding and practical guidance.

The journey of faith is not meant to be walked in ignorance or spiritual passivity. God has already made provision for every need before it arises, and He expects us to leverage the spiritual resources He has deposited in the body of Christ. The testimonies of spiritual fathers, like Ora Roberts, are not to be discarded but embraced as leverage for greater exploits. Their experiences, teachings, and anointings are fragrances we can carry, provided we honor and learn from them.

A key revelation is that the Holy Spirit is not a distant, impersonal force but the very wisdom of God installed within us. The “search engine” of God is not artificial intelligence or any man-made system, but the wisdom from above, accessed through the spirit of man—the candle of the Lord. While technology and AI have their place, they are limited, artificial, and cannot access the deep things of God. Only the spirit of man, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, can search out and reveal the treasures God has placed within.

Scripture illustrates this with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, whose hearts burned as Jesus opened the Scriptures to them. When the Holy Spirit opens our understanding, we move from ignorance to revelation, from passivity to bold testimony, and from confusion to creative action. The wisdom of God is available to all who ask in faith, without doubting. It is not reserved for a spiritual elite but is the inheritance of every believer who seeks, asks, and honors the ways of God.

The challenge is to become autonomous in the affairs of this world—fully reliant on God’s wisdom within, not on external circumstances or fleeting trends. As we discipline ourselves in devotion, honor spiritual fathers, and ask God for wisdom, we become whole, creative, and effective in fulfilling our calling.

Key Takeaways

1. Devotional Tongues and Interpretation Are Acts of the Will Praying in tongues devotionally is not a passive or purely emotional experience; it is a deliberate act of the will. As believers, we can choose to pray in the Spirit and then pause to allow the Holy Spirit to inspire our understanding, interpreting the mysteries we have spoken to God. This practice enriches our minds, making our prayers whole and creative, and aligns us with the mind of Christ. [14:58]
2. Honor the Spiritual Fathers and Build on Their Foundations God often reveals new dimensions of His purpose by building upon what He has already given to previous generations. Disregarding the wisdom and experiences of spiritual fathers limits our progress. By honoring and learning from those who have gone before us, we gain leverage to rise higher and receive fresh revelation for our own journey. [05:21]
3. The Spirit of Man Is God’s Search Engine, Not Artificial Intelligence While technology and AI can process vast amounts of data, they are ultimately limited, artificial, and cannot access the deep things of God. The true “search engine” is the spirit of man, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, which searches out the treasures God has placed within us. This divine wisdom is superior to any man-made intelligence and is available to all who seek God in faith. [39:34]
4. Revelation Transforms Ignorance into Bold Testimony When God opens our understanding, as He did for the disciples on the road to Emmaus, our hearts burn with revelation, and we are empowered to testify boldly. This transformation moves us from ignorance and passivity to contagious, compelling witness, marked by authority and confirmed by signs and wonders. [28:54]
5. Wisdom Is Available to All Who Ask in Faith God is the installer of His wisdom within us, and He gives liberally to all who ask without doubting. Our lack in any area is a result of ignorance, not God’s unwillingness. By turning to Him in faith, we activate the divine search engine within, receiving the wisdom needed for every situation and becoming effective, whole, and creative in our calling. [46:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Distinction Between Gifts and Devotional Tongues
[01:57] - The Fragrance of Spiritual Fathers
[04:03] - Leveraging Spiritual Resources
[06:05] - The Discipline of Spiritual Study
[07:57] - The Practice of Tongues and Interpretation
[09:54] - Ora Roberts’ Testimony: Building by the Spirit
[12:26] - Creative Understanding Through Interpretation
[14:58] - Devotional Tongues: Subject to the Will
[16:57] - God’s Provision Before the Need
[20:59] - The Holy Spirit: Help of the Helpless
[24:18] - The Emmaus Road: Burning Hearts and Opened Eyes
[28:54] - From Revelation to Bold Testimony
[32:14] - The Limits of Artificial Intelligence
[35:32] - God’s Search Engine: Wisdom from Above
[39:34] - The Spirit of Man: Candle of the Lord
[45:28] - God, the Giver of Wisdom
[48:45] - Yesterday’s Dreams, Today’s Vision, Tomorrow’s Reality
[52:50] - Walking in the Mind of Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 24:28-35, 45 (ESV) — > 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

> 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 14:15 (ESV) — > What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

Proverbs 20:27 (ESV) — > The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.

Observation Questions

In Luke 24:31-32, what happened to the disciples as Jesus opened the Scriptures to them? How did they describe their experience? ([25:01])
According to 1 Corinthians 14:15, what does Paul say about the relationship between praying in the spirit and praying with understanding? ([15:36])
In the sermon, what distinction was made between the gift of tongues and the devotional use of tongues? ([07:57])
What does Proverbs 20:27 say about the spirit of man, and how does the sermon connect this to God’s “search engine”? ([38:55])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the disciples’ “hearts burned” as Jesus opened the Scriptures to them? What does this suggest about the role of the Holy Spirit in understanding God’s Word? ([25:01])
The sermon emphasized that praying in tongues devotionally is an act of the will, not just an emotional experience. What might be the significance of this for a believer’s spiritual growth? ([14:58])
The pastor said that the spirit of man, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, is God’s true “search engine,” not artificial intelligence. What does this mean for how we seek wisdom and guidance? ([39:34])
The sermon highlighted the importance of honoring spiritual fathers and building on their foundations. How does this principle help believers grow in faith and avoid spiritual stagnation? ([05:21])

Application Questions

The disciples on the road to Emmaus moved from confusion to bold testimony after Jesus opened their understanding. Can you recall a time when God gave you fresh understanding or revelation that changed your perspective or actions? How did you respond? ([28:54])
The sermon teaches that praying in tongues devotionally and interpreting back to your mind can lead to creative understanding and practical guidance. If you practice this, what steps could you take to make it a more regular part of your devotional life? If not, what questions or hesitations do you have about it? ([14:58])
The pastor shared about learning from spiritual fathers like Dr. Ora Roberts and not “reinventing the wheel.” Who are some spiritual mentors or “fathers” in your life? How can you honor and learn from their experiences this week? ([05:21])
The sermon contrasts God’s wisdom with the limitations of technology and AI. Are there areas in your life where you tend to seek answers from worldly sources before seeking God’s wisdom? What would it look like to turn to God first? ([39:34])
James 1:5 says God gives wisdom generously to all who ask in faith. Is there a specific area where you need God’s wisdom right now? How can the group pray for you to receive and act on that wisdom? ([45:28])
The pastor challenged the church to become “autonomous in the affairs of this world—fully reliant on God’s wisdom within.” What practical changes could you make this week to rely less on external circumstances and more on the Holy Spirit’s guidance? ([48:06])
The sermon described the testimonies and teachings of spiritual fathers as “fragrances we can carry.” What is one lesson or “fragrance” you want to carry forward from someone who has gone before you in the faith? ([01:57])

Sermon Clips

He made a distinction between the gifts of tongues and the tongues we willingly speak when we are praying or in devotion that's not a gift that's something that comes as a result of you being baptized in the Holy Spirit and you must learn also to interpret in your mind so that you accurately know what you've been speaking as Mysteries to God. [00:00:31]

If God has released something into the body of Christ you take advantage of it and becomes a leverage that you can use to rise higher and God reveals more things to you. [00:04:54]

You need to take your work with God very seriously do you understand me stop running up and down for what is not lost all right I'm going to read the commentary on tongues and interpretation of tongues willingly not the gift of tongues but the Holy Spirit. [00:07:27]

Except you are taught you will not know that as you are praying in the Holy Ghost you must wait and pause so that the Holy Spirit can Inspire and influence your understanding so that you know what you have been saying in an unknown tongue as Mysteries unto God can now benefit your mind. [00:07:57]

Each time I felt good inside and strengthened in my inner man but my my mind did not know what was going on I was not benefited I still lacked understanding now here is an important point in those years before God's time came for me to build him a university. [00:09:46]

I was not equipped to enter the area of higher learning as a builder of a major university i' been to college but was not trained as an educator and certainly not as a builder of an institution of Higher Learning and when God's time came I had no time to learn if indeed that had been possible. [00:10:25]

My prayer will consist of groanings suddenly in the deepest part of me the Holy Spirit began flooding up as Jesus said in John 737 to39 the tongues came clear up to my vocal cords and by my will and faith I spoke them to God not understanding a word of this special language. [00:11:57]

By my ability to interpret the tongues to my mind as I prayed in English something wonderful happened to my mind it was blossoming like a flower it was was a coming creative it was being filled with a new understanding then I was aware that my mind like a car had gone into overdrive. [00:12:51]

To make a long story short the plans for the University started taking shape the architect and the Builder went to work to build what the spirit let me conceive and by 1965 we opened we open the founding Board of Regents insisted that he be named AR Roberts University. [00:13:42]

Since that time I've understood to my complete satisfaction I'm born out by substantial proof that devotional tongues are subject to my will I can pray in tongues not because I'm emotional but because I will to do it I can by my will immediately interpret back to my mind so that my mind is divinely enriched and I can pray as I ought with understanding. [00:17:24]

I've seen conclusively that every believer how many every believer can release his prayer language at will and can interpret to his mind and discover that he can pray more creatively and with the understanding as never before again I point out that this is not the gift of tongues referred to by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:10 only the Holy Spirit can give you that he gives it as he Wills. [00:17:56]

Therefore based on Paul's teachings in the word of our own dayby day experience of success in doing the impossible to benefit mankind I am convinced tongues and interpretation are not periphery but the main stream of the Holy Spirit to release in US whatever it takes to fully fulfill as God intends Our Calling. [00:19:29]

God's special search engine is far beyond the scope of Google Chat GPT and AI artificial intelligence and it is superior to this simil beneficial human-made search engines that capitalize on data already gathered and cannot access the Deep things of God that I has not seen hear as has not heard not have entered into the hearts of men. [00:31:55]

God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that is given us so he already knows can I hear amen he already knows he brings it to the service so that you see it is omnipresent omnicient omnipotent he does not need to search he knows already and because he knows already he reveals it to you. [00:42:50]

God wants you to be become autonomous in matters of this world but totally Reliant upon him you are not depending on circumstances a situation family contact connection everything is in you the candle that is lit will search it out and God will give you the wisdom to implement it. [00:48:25]

The Bible says we have the mind of Christ do we H so if you have the mind of Christ why will the lives of Jo me said the mind is the battleground of the devil why because jmia knew it was accounted to you you are yet to walk it out with fear and trembling so you have the mind of Christ. [00:52:05]

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