“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know
what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us
with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).
Just as creation groans, waiting for the fullness of redemption; and as
believers groan, waiting for redemption from their earthly bodies; so
the Holy Spirit groans in prayer.
The Holy Spirit prays for us because we are weak.
The Spirit who resides within us as believers in Christ “helps” us, that
is, He comes to our aid, rescues us, and helps to carry our heavy
burden. This is the ongoing ministry of the Spirit in our “weaknesses,”
our human frailty. It is significant for us to realize that physical,
emotional, and spiritual weakness reveal human frailty, but are not
necessarily the result of sin. Jesus, the sinless Son of God,
experienced human frailty, which is partially what qualifies him to be
our High Priest who is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses,” yet he
never sinned (Hebrews 4:14–15).
The omniscient Holy Spirit knows our weaknesses as well and it this
same “Spirit of adoption,” whom we have received from God, “by whom we
cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15).
The Holy Spirit prays for us because we are ignorant.
Often we “do not know what to pray for” (v. 26). Sometimes we are aware
of our ignorance¸ like the disciples who said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us
to pray” (Luke 11:1).
And sometimes we are blind to our ignorance. For example, when the sons
of Zebedee came to Jesus with their mother to demand a position of
leadership, Jesus said, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you
able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” (Matthew 20:22). Continue at Paul Tautges
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