(Romans 8:26-27) “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
As a New Covenant believer have you ever stopped to consider what a sensitive, divine and loving friend we have in the Holy Spirit? He is not a mere impersonal force for good in the world nor is He some impersonal power that comes upon us and compels us to do certain things. He is someone who has all the marks of personality. He has intellect (Isaiah 11:2). He has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). He has feelings (Ephesians 4:30). He speaks and teaches (John 16:13-14) (Acts 15:28) He guides and instructs (Nehemiah 9:20). He convicts people of their sin, of the need for righteousness and coming judgment (John 16:8-11).
Now in Romans 8:26-27 we are told certain things about the Holy Spirit in relation to how He interacts with us as New Covenant believers moment by moment on a daily basis. Let’s now briefly consider the text.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
The Holy Spirit is one who prays. Notice the word “helps.” The Greek text conveys the idea that the Holy Spirit Himself prays for us when we do not know what to pray ourselves. He prays with us and together with us takes hold of the problem we are wrestling with in prayer and He prays in place of us when words are inadequate. What a wonderful comforter, counsellor and a loving divine friend we have in the Holy Spirit. He is the “Paraclete” the one “called alongside to strengthen us.”
Now notice the word “weakness.” In the Greek text of the Bible this word is wide in its application in relation to us in times when we are feeling spiritually weak. The word means “Want of strength, a weakness or infirmity of the body implying weakness, frailty, feebleness of health or disease or sickness.” It can also apply to “the weakness of the soul related to understanding a thing, a difficulty to do things great and glorious for God and the weariness that comes from restraining the soul from its corrupt desires and sinful tendencies.” It also applies to times when we are bearing “trials, troubles, afflictions and outward temptations.” In such times the blessed Holy Spirit Himself is right beside us and in us and resting upon us to enable us to persevere and come into a place of victory whether our outward circumstances have changed or not.
Then notice the phrase; “for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” When we do not know what to pray about or even how to pray, especially in times of manifold temptations, trials, affliction or unresolved circumstances that do not change, we have one who is constantly praying and interceding on our behalf before the throne of God. He has the ear of the Father and the Son.
Now we are also told that He “groans” or expresses “groanings” deep within our regenerated inner spirit. The word expresses “a deep and continuous sighing.” Now we are told that this groaning is too deep for words but the Greek implies that it is possible to utter words but not always. Praying in the Holy Spirit will build us up in our most holy faith (Jude 1:20). Our prayers may be in a language we understand or expressed in an unknown language of the Spirit which will edify our inner spirit where we commune with God through the ministry of the blessed Holy Spirit Himself because he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit (1 Corinthians 14:4; 6:17).
The secret to praying in the Holy Spirit is yielding our tongue to God and asking the Holy Spirit to pray with us and through us. If there is no unconfessed, un-renounced sin or un-forgiveness we are aware of then we can confidently start speaking to the Lord and trusting the Holy Spirit to pray through us. Sometimes He will just groan with sighs too deep for us to comprehend and at other times our faltering words will end up on fire and fluent. If we are filled with the Spirit or under His control then whatever we pray or how we pray will be acceptable to God whether in a known or an unknown language. After all God looks upon the heart and desires truth in the inner man. Now let’s continue…
“…and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
God knows everything about us. Nothing is hidden from Him. (Psalm 139) He searches the motives and intents of our hearts and His searchlight is the Word of God, the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to do His convicting and sanctifying work in us (Psalm 119: 105, 130). Now we are told that He (God) who searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit. The word “mind” in the Greek text has three shades of meaning. God knows “the thoughts, the feelings and the purposes” of the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is God the Spirit, He knows everything about God especially His will because the Holy Spirit is also God and in perfect and complete harmony and equal in divinity with God the Father and with God the Son. They are three yet one.
Because God the Father is one with God the Spirit then the Spirit Himself knows all about God and knows all about us. In any given situation we might face He knows what should be said, what should be done and how it should be said and done, and He can go into situations where we cannot go ourselves. Hence, because He knows God intimately and He knows us, then He knows how to intercede for us according to God’s good, acceptable and perfect will.
As we develop praying in the Holy Spirit we will be praying more and more in line with the will of God especially if we are using God’s Word in our prayer or praying according to the Word of God. Sometimes God will say “yes” and sometimes He will say “no” but sometimes He will also say “wait.” One thing to keep in mind that in the Lord Jesus all of the promises of God are “yes” and “amen’ in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20). One of the reasons God waits before answering our prayers is to allow us to develop praying in the Spirit because He knows it will build us up in our faith and expectancy from Him. Sometimes He does not answer because we are not praying according to His will. When we use the Word of God in our prayers we need to keep it in its context. Many promises are conditional on our obedience to Him.
As we continue to pray in the Holy Spirit He will conform our desires to His desires and then give us the desire of our heart. As it is written; “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it” (Psalm 37:4). Because we are asking according to His will He hears us in whatever we ask and grants us the petitions we have desired Him to answer (1 John 5:14-15). Praying in the Holy Spirit is an essential weapon against spiritual attack and will enable us to persevere under pressure and bring us through to a place of victory over whatever it is that is troubling us spiritually. After we put on the whole armour of God piece by piece every day we must also be praying in the Holy Spirit on all occasions and that without ceasing (Ephesians 6:18) (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
The blessed Holy Spirit is concerned about our spiritual and our temporal needs. Every aspect of our daily lives is important to Him. The purpose of this teaching is to encourage us all in our daily walk with the Holy Spirit. In Him we have one who prays with us, who prays for us and in place of us. In Him we have one who perfectly intercedes for us, who knows God at all times and what He desires. God knows His thoughts, feelings and purposes; hence, He intercedes perfectly for us before the throne of God. What a wonderful, loving, sensitive and divine friend, comforter and counsellor we have in the blessed Holy Spirit who knows all about us and wants to do the very best thing with us, through us and for us and above all wants us to get to know Him better.
