The Spirit Helps Our Infirmities Romans 8:26

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome, “if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-six of Romans, Paul told his readers, “the Spirit also helps our infirmities” where we read:

Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The verse begins, “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:” Paul began with the word, “likewise” which means “in the same manner” “the Spirit” which refers to “the third person of the triune God who is the Holy Spirit and is coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son” “also helps” which means “even so and indeed lays hold along with, strives to obtain and takes hold of” “our infirmities” or “Paul, his companions and his believing readers' want of strength, weakness and frailty”: “for we know not” which means “because and since Paul, his companions and his believing readers do not perceive, understand, notice, discern or observe” “what we should pray for” or “that which Paul, his companions and his believing readers ought to supplicate and worship” “as we ought” which means “in the way Paul, his companions and his believing readers need and have necessity” . Paul surmised that it was “God's Holy Spirit” that “gives aid and takes hold of” “weaknesses and frailties” because he, his companions and his believing readers do not “know” what to “supplicate” or for which to call upon God.

The verse continues, “but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Paul continued with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “the Spirit itself” which refers to “the third person Himself of the triune God who is the Holy Spirit and is coequal, co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “makes intercession” which means “intercedes” “for us” or “on behalf of Paul, his companions and his believing readers” “with groanings” or “sighing” “which cannot be uttered” which means “that is unable to speak or be expressed in words”. Paul shared how the “Holy Spirit” is able to “intercede” for believers in Jesus with “unutterable” phrases and words.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how God is involved in the “prayer” life of believers in Jesus. Sometimes believers do not know what they should “pray for” and when this happens, God's Holy Spirit takes over and “make intercession” on their behalf. Jesus Christ came not only to “save” sinners and give them “everlasting life”, but also to “help” them as they live. While Christians wait for God to redeem creation and his “created”, His “Spirit” will “help” them pray in their need.

Next time Paul tells his readers about, “he that searches the hearts”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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