Romans 8:26,27

Text

Romans 8:26-27. And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; 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.

REALIZING Romans 8:26-27

364.

Our infirmities have been helped by what has preceded Romans 8:26-27. Explain.

365.

We do know how to pray in some matters. How then are we to understand the expression in Romans 8:26 a?

366.

I thought Christ was our only intercessor. How then can it be so said of the Spirit?

367.

Who does the groaning as in Romans 8:26 b?

368.

Explain the word uttered.

369.

Please spend some time and thought and prayer on this passage. It is too important and helpful to give up. Who is the one who searches hearts?

370.

How does knowing what is in the mind of the Spirit relate to the Spirit's intercessory work?

371.

The intercession of the Spirit is limited to the will of God. Explain.

Paraphrase

Romans 8:26-27. And likewise, for your encouragement to suffer with Christ know that even the Spirit helpeth our weaknesses, by strengthening us to bear. For what we should pray for as we ought we do not know, being uncertain what is good for us; but the Spirit himself, who strengthens us, strongly complaineth [pleads] for us, by those inarticulate but submissive groanings which our distresses force from us.

Romans 8:27 And God, who searcheth the hearts of men, knoweth what the design of the Spirit is, in strengthening us to bear afflictions, that to God he complaineth [pleads] for the saints, by these submissive groanings, that he may deliver them when the end of their affliction is attained.

Summary

While in the flesh we are weak, and know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Holy Spirit, which dwells in us, helps this weakness by interceding for us in inarticulate groanings. God who searches our hearts knows their true state. He also knows what the Spirit's mind is in these groanings, aware that the Spirit always pleads for his children as he wishes.

Comment

b. The Second Encouragement to Endure Suffering is found in the aid the Holy Spirit gives to the Christian. Romans 8:26-27

The hope just expressed in the foregoing verses is a great help to the heart of the child of God. There is yet another help; it is that which is found through the personal contact of the Holy Spirit. For one example of the way the Spirit aids our weaknesses, we can consider his work in our prayers. We do not know many times how to pray as we ought. It is not that we do not know how to pray at all, but there are occasions when words fail us. We may have a great burden upon our hearts which we bring to God. Our spirits are drawn out to him in prayer. It is then that the Holy Spirit's ministry of help takes up its work. Our groanings and inarticulate sighs are directed by the Holy Spirit and have within them the real and right expression of our needs before God.

The Holy Spirit takes the message of these groanings before God for us. The way these petitions are borne to God is described in Romans 8:27. He (God) that searcheth the hearts (that is, the inmost being of manhis spirit) knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Jehovah looks into the inner man, the abiding place of the Holy Spirit, and also looks into the mind or understanding of the Spirit. He there sees and understands the petition the Holy Spirit has helped to express, thus receiving the intercession of the Spirit on behalf of the saints. This is all according to the will of God, for the Holy Spirit would not inspire any message that was not in God's will. Romans 8:26-27