Series: Romans
Title: The Spirit our
Helper
Text: Romans 8: 26-28
Date: February 10,
2019
Place: SGBC, NJ
Romans 8: 26:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27:
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of
God.
“Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities.” Paul has been declaring things the Holy Spirit of God
does for God’s elect.
He began the chapter declaring how in regeneration,
through the gospel, the Holy Spirit frees us from the law of sin and death—the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death…so then there is no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit (Rom 8: 1-2).
He declared the good news that “ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you…And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but
the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Rom 8: 9-10).
Then Paul declared that in the warfare between our old
sinful man and the new holy man within us, the Spirit of God quickens us, mortifying
the deeds of our flesh, so that we never depend upon our flesh for anything, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall
die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall
live (Rom 8: 13).
The Spirit of God strengthens us by bearing witness with
our new spirit that we are the children of God—"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God. For ye have not received the spirit of
bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Ro 8:14-16).
Paul said the Holy Spirit teaches us to suffer with
Christ that we might be glorified together with Christ, he gives us the “firstfruits of the Spirit,” increasing
patience and hope for Christ’s return.
Then we come to our text: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for
us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
(Rom 8: 26-27).
Every believer in
whom the Spirit of God abides prays to God.
Christ has given us welcome access to God by his blood. By our Substitute shedding his precious blood
for his people, every believer has a new and living way into the very holiest
of holies—into God’s very presence—through prayer through Christ our High
Priest. We no longer need an earthly
high priest to represent us. Christ has made his people priests unto God. We have Christ as our High Priest in the
presence of God, the true holy of holies.
No child of God needs an earthly priest to represent us to God.
But we have a problem,
our infirmities. Often, due to our
sinful flesh, we cannot pray. Or we know
not what to pray. We know we have access. We know we are welcome by God so that we can have
boldness to enter. We know we are his
elect chosen and precious. But due to
our sins and infirmities, we simply cannot approach God in prayer except the
Holy Spirit make us to pray as we ought.
Have you ever been there believer?
If you are God’s child then you know what our text speaks of. At times our spirit is under such a heavy
load that we simply cannot pray nor do we know what to pray.
Subject: The Spirit our
Helper
Proposition:
The Spirit of God helps his people to pray by making intercession for us
according to the will of God.
Divisions:
1) Help which the Holy Spirit gives 2) Prayer he puts in our heart 3) The end
of true prayer
HELP
Romans 8: 26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
“Infirmities” are
our physical and spiritual weaknesses due to our sinful nature. All God’s regenerated people are full of
infirmities due to our sinful flesh. In
ourselves we are without strength. Due to sin, we have physical sickenesses,
pain, mental sicknesses, and spiritual conflicts. We suffer slander, poverty, and persecution
and more. These are infirmities.
The apostle Paul
spoke of his infirmities as “reproaches,
necessities, persecutions, distresses for Christ’s sake.” Due
to our infirmities, we do not know what we should pray for as we ought.
Another example of
sinful infirmities is that some believers are weak in faith. (Rom 14: 1-23; 15: 1-4) Paul said some think
themselves better or stronger than their brethren because they physically observe
certain laws which were required under the old covenant. Their brethren do not observe these laws. But these are laws that are unnecessary such
as observing certain days or abstaining from certain meats. These are not required of believers under
grace. Though they think themselves stronger
in faith they are actually weak in faith.
Paul said to the stronger brethren—those who know we are free from the
law because Christ has freed us— “Him
that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations” (Rom
14: 1). We struggle with
self-righteousness the same as they did.
In that state we are weak in the faith.
When we look at things we do and thinks our brethren do, we judge our
brethren while exalting ourselves. It is
self-righteousness. The sin of
self-righteousness is one of the worst infirmities we deal with.
These are just a few examples. But due to our infirmities, we know not what
to pray for as we ought. It is not only
in times of trouble that we know not what to pray for as we ought. Our sins, the total weakness of our flesh,
makes this the case at all times. Apart from the Holy Spirit we NEVER know
what to pray for as we ought.
But especially, when a believer is weak due to trouble,
we know not what to pray for as we
ought. We ask God amiss. In times of trouble we are prone to ask God
to remove the trouble. God gives us
trouble to accomplish his purpose for our good.
For example, Paul had a thorn in the flesh. But God had given Paul great revelations. So God gave Paul great trouble in his flesh for
Paul’s good.
2 Corinthians 12: 7: And lest I should be exalted above
measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted
above measure. 8: For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
But Paul prayed
amiss. God gave Paul the thorn to humble
Paul, lest he be exalted above measure.
The thorn was given to teach Paul to depend on the Lord and not on
himself.
Yet, in the midst of all
our sinful infirmities, Christ knows we are dust. He was and is touched with the feeling of our
infirmities. Our Substitute bore our
sicknesses and infirmities when he bore the sins that cause them. And he put our sins away. He made intercession for us.
Even now, he everliveth to make
intercession for us. And Christ our High
Priest has sent the Spirit to be our Comforter to make us overcome our
infirmities.
Hebrews 4: 14:
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. 16: Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need.
WHAT TO PRAY
Romans 8: 26…the Holy
Spirit helpeth our infirmities…the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
The Holy Spirit helps his people by teaching us what we
should pray. He helps our infirmities by
bringing to remembrance our God and his sovereign power over all so that our
hearts are settled. God the Holy Spirit applies
the precious promises of the gospel to us.
He reminds us that Christ shed his blood for his elect, for us
personally. We are redeemed by him. All for whom Christ died are his purchased
possession. He will not let us go. Therefore, the Spirit of God sheds abroad the
love of God in our hearts, comforting us and strengthening us despite our
infirmities. We only pray aright by the
Spirit putting prayer in our new man.
In our text, when
Paul says “the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us.” It means he
teaches us what to pray. Remember, when
the Lord Jesus sent out his preachers?
He warned they would be delivered up to the councils to be tried due to
them preaching Christ. He said,
Matthew 10: 19: But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or
what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall
speak. 20: For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father
which speaketh in you.
Likewise, it is the
Holy Spirit that puts the words in our hearts so that we pray aright. He sprinkles our heart from an evil conscience. God the Spirit turns us from praying simply “to consume it upon our lusts.” He shows us our need and stirs us up and makes
us pray aright. The Spirit puts the
right words in our hearts. They are not even words that are spoken
audibly but ”groanings that cannot be
uttered.”
Brethren, Christ
taught us it is our “importunity”
that will cause God to hear our prayer. Importunate
prayer is heart prayer. It is groanings
that cannot be put into words. The prayer the Holy Spirit puts on the hearts by
which we pray importunately, without ceasing, is a desperately need for God’s
help.
God heard Hannah’s
prayer. Yet, she never spoke a word
audibly (1 Samuel 1:13).
Paul tells us when he
prayed amiss, the Holy Spirit taught him to pray aright. It was the Spirit of God teaching Paul not to
pray for God to remove the thorn but to depend upon God’s grace to bear it and
to thank God that the power of Christ rested upon him.
2 Corinthians 12: 9: And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me. 10: Therefore I
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions,
in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong
Brethren, never copy
the religious world’s version of prayer.
The world “says a prayer.” False
religionists make a show in the flesh by their prayer. Christ said,
Matthew 6:5: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as
the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They
have their reward. 6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and
when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7: But when ye pray, use
not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be
heard for their much speaking. 8: Be not
ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need
of, before ye ask him
Be sure to get this! Prayer is God teaching us to submit to him
and his will. True prayer is not us
getting God to do our will but God making us submit to his. Therefore, more important than words and
posture is praying by the Spirit and in
the Spirit. He teaches us to pray
for what we ought to pray.
Psalm 10:17: LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the
humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
Romans 8:15: For ye have not received the spirit of
bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father.
Jude 1:20: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on
your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Ephesians 2:18: For
through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL
Romans 8: 27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth
what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
God hears us because
the Spirit teaches us to pray according to God’s will. God knows the hearts. This is why Christ said, “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what
things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Mt 6:8). God knows the groaning that the Holy
Spirit puts in our heart.
Psalm 38:9: Lord, all
my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
God knows the mind of the Spirit. When the Spirit of God puts a groan in our
hearts, God knows that groan. He knows
it not merely because God is omniscient and knows everything. But he regards it, and approves of it, and attends
to it, and gives answer to it.
When our son was a
baby, he would cry for something but no one could understand what he was
saying. But his older sister, two years
older than he, knew what he was saying.
She would say, “He wants milk.” Sometimes
she sounded like a translator. He would
speak a sentence no one could understand. She would say, “He wants to eat. Then he wants
to go outside.”
Our Father in heaven
knows the mind of the Spirit. Though our
prayer is mere baby talk—even groans that cannot be uttered—the Father knows what
the Spirit has put in our heart before we ask.
Here is the reason he
hears “because he maketh intercession for
the saints according to the will of God.”
The Spirit only does this for
the saints. A saint is sinner who
has been sanctified by God the Father setting us apart and declaring us holy in
Christ. Christ sanctified his people by fulfilling
the will of God on our behalf, perfecting us forever by his one offering on the
cross. And the Spirit of God sanctifies
us when he comes into our hearts, quickens us and sets us apart from the world
through God-given faith and repentance. For his saints, the Holy Spirit puts in
our hearts a groan. It
is unintelligible to man and unheard by men.
But though it is a groan that
cannot be uttered, it is a groan according
to the will of God. God knows it and
approves of it and does as he will for his saints.
Moses prayed that he
might enter Canaan. But the Spirit
taught him it was God’s will for Joshua to lead the children of Israel into
Canaan. The man that Christ healed asked
our Lord that he might be with Him. But
he received the answer,” Go home to your friends.” We ask amiss. But the Spirit of God puts the will of God on
our hearts. Paul desired to go to
Bithynia, but the Spirit would not allow him. He made Paul hear the cry from Macedonia that
he come help. The mind of the Holy
Spirit is the mind of the Father and the mind of the Son! The mind of God is one harmonious mind! Therefore, the Holy Spirit puts prayer in our hearts
according to God’s will. He never makes
us pray anything but what is the will of God.
A carnal man says if
God ordained all things that come to pass then we need not pray. Faith knows that God who ordained it, has
also ordained that we shall ask him to do these things for us. God told Israel what he would do for them. He told them beforehand. There was no way anything would come to pass
except that which God foreordained that he would bring to pass. But then we read, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for
this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them” (Eze 36:37).
Therefore, faith
obeys. Due to the Spirit of God interceding
and putting prayer in the hearts of his saints according to the will of God, Spurgeon
said, “A believer’s prayers are the indicators of the movement of the wheels of
Providence! Believing supplications are forecasts of the future!” It is because true prayer is by the Holy
Spirit making us pray according to God’s will.
Amen!