“I know a brother is praying”, or, what is true spirituality?

I was talking with a 'brother' the other day. It is said of this brother that he can tell, that is, he knows, when a 'brother' is praying for him. The details of how this is known were not disclosed.

This is not, of course, the complete conversation. However, as I have pondered our talk I have had an increasing concern regarding the soundness of this brother. There is a mystical aspect to his claim to spirituality which has little or nothing to do with what is revealed in God's Word.

I remember, as a much younger man, thinking that I was spiritual because God had answered a couple of specific prayer requests. God graciously answered prayer, however, I was not mature in the Lord

There are two aspects of this issue. First, what convinces me (or the whole church) that another is spiritual? Is it working miracles? Casting out demons? Special gifts? Or is it a steadfast life of faithfulness to God and his Word? The second is the issue of what one would present to others regarding one's own spiritual status. Jesus spoke these words. (^ESV Joh 10:37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; ³⁸ but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.")

Perhaps we would do well to follow Christ's instruction: ^ESV Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Dropping hints regarding how spiritual we are might back-fire, and may tip people off that we don't know what we are talking about.