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.
Introduction
This verse brings to our attention the New Testament principle of praying in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit. The bible teaches us and encourages us to pray in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:18, Paul says, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; In the letter to Jude, chapter 1, verse 20 it says, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
And of course this brings to us many questions: Are we praying in the Holy Ghost? What is praying in the Holy Ghost? Is this something that we are practicing? Now answering this is not easy in certain respects. Now I’ve come to this: There’s two ways to answer these questions. There’s two ways to look upon this matter of praying in the Spirit. Both ways are beneficial to study. I’ll preach on one today and the other another time. Both ways may very well be right.
Preacher Allen would always say that there are always two train tracks traveling side by side. One track is the Sovereignty of God and the other is the Free Will of Man. If you ever wake up in the morning and only see one track, go back to sleep. There’s something wrong.
The Sovereignty of God
The first way, which we’ll save for later, will see praying in the Spirit as something that all Christians do, and can do without effort, really. The Holy Ghost prays all the time for you and that the key to praying in the Spirit lies in simply being in the Spirit. Paul says very clearly and emphatically (Romans 8:9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. If you are saved, born from above, then the Spirit of God dwells in you. You are in the Spirit. If the Spirit of God be in you, then you are in the Spirit. So in regards to praying in the Spirit, we are half way there. Did you get that? If you want to pray in the Holy Ghost, and you’re saved, you’re half way there. So what’s the other half? If you’re in the Spirit, then just pray. Pray. Just Pray. Pray always. Pray. Pray. Pray.
And this takes the burden of whether or not we are praying in the Spirit off of us and really encourages us to just pray. We don’t have a choice of the matter as far as praying in the Spirit. It’s just so. So you see how this exalts the sovereignty of God. And it strengthens our faith in God. And it encourages us to pray. So if you look at it this way, the second I bow my head in prayer, if I’m saved, I’m praying in the Holy Ghost. If I could be so bold as to say this: Even if you don’t pray, the Holy Ghost is making intercession for you and praying for you. When you look at this way, honestly, I’m not sure how a saint of God that is in the Spirit can not pray in the Spirit.
Are you in the Spirit of not? Paul said (Romans 8:9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. In this way of looking at things it is incumbent on us to do our part of the praying in the Spirit which is to pray, pray, pray. I see many benefits to looking at it like this.
The Free Will of Man
Now the other way at looking at this is where we’re going to preach today. On the other side of the spectrum from the sovereignty of God is the free will of man. And in this respect, we have much to do about praying in the the Spirit. In other words, praying in the Spirit is not something that every saved person does without a choice in the matter. Praying in the Spirit is something we should strive for and work towards and believe is possible and beneficial. On this side, there’s a free market to this matter of prayer. The benefits of our prayer life is directly proportional to how hard we work at it. James said (James 5;16) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
This way I feel compelled to say that we pray in the Spirit, as much as we are filled with the Spirit. As much as we are walking after the Spirit will determine whether or not we are praying in the Spirit. So here we are again at Ephesians 5;18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; In order for us to pray in the Spirit; pray in the Holy Ghost, it’s incumbent upon us to be filled with the Spirit, to be surrendered to God’s will, to be as much as lies possible with us submitted to our Lord, sensitive to the leading of the Holy Ghost.
So I want to look at this verse from this point of view. In this point of view I believe we have much to learn about prayer from the Holy Ghost. It’s not our prayers but his prayers that are most important. (John 16:3) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak… I want to hear what the Spirit of God has to say on this matter of prayer. Seven times in God’s final letter to man, he says, (Revelation 2:7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. I think that this verse, Romans 8:26, is an example and admonishment to us on prayer. The bible says he will teach us all things, and I think one thing we can learn from the Holy Ghost is about prayer.
I believe that praying in the Holy Ghost is when we enter into the prayers of the Holy Ghost. I don’t know about you, but I’ve struggled years with my prayer life. I’m not the prayer warrior that I wish that I could be. But I know this, I don’t have to struggle when the Holy Ghost shows up. I may not be a prayer warrior, but the Holy Ghost is a battle hardened prayer general that knows how to get a prayer through. I’m not sure if I’ll ever know truly how to get a prayer through. But I know that the Holy Ghost knows how. Maybe you don’t even get a chance to pray. Maybe you don’t even know what to pray for. Thank God we’ve got someone that does. The Holy Ghost knows how to get a prayer through. The Holy Ghost prays. And in this verse, Romans 8:26, I see three things about the Holy Ghost and prayer.
#1 The Holy Spirit Knows Why to Pray
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities…
In this first part of the verse, we see the why of the Spirit’s intercessions; the why of the Spirit’s prayers. And that undoubtedly, without debate, but to help our infirmities. The Holy Ghost prays to God, intercedes for us, calls out to God, for this one reason: to help us, and more specifically with our infirmities.
1) We need help.
The first thing I want us to see in all this, and in why the Spirit prays for us, is what goes without saying and is without question: We need help. I need help and you need help. Jesus said, (Matthew 26:41) the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Paul said, (Romans 7:18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. It doesn’t matter, how much you want to do good, how much you want to do right, how much you want to do the will of God; without the Spirit of God, and especially the interceding prayer of the Holy Ghost, I want to say good luck!
Let’s see how that works out. Go on up to heaven, and stand before Almighty God and tell him, “I did it on my own, Lord! I did it all by myself! I didn’t need any help!” Let’s see how that turns out. He’ll turn you out like he does with that crowd in Matthew 7. Didn’t we prophecy in your name? Didn’t we cast out devils in your name? Didn’t we do many wonderful works in your name? Jesus will say unto them, (Matthew 7:23) I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. That’s right. The bible says (Matthew 7:21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. How are you going to do will of God without the help God?
No, the bible says no good thing. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing… O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me? Who is going to help me? Who is going to help me in this condition? You know what this verse tells us? It tells us it’s okay to cry Mayday! That’s what Paul is saying when he says, O wretched man… He’s saying, and it’s what we all should be saying, Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! That’s the international distress signal that boats and airplanes put out when they’re in trouble and they need help! Mayday! Help! We need help.
This reminds me of that song, “It’s a battlefield, brother; not a recreation room; a fight and not a game.” We’re gonna need help. If you go out into the battlefield, it’s not going to be long before you find yourself in trouble. Oh yes, but (Psalm 34:17) The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The righteous cry. Do you know what I see when I see those the three words, the righteous cry? That right there, the righteous cry, is praying in the Holy Ghost, praying in the Spirit. The righteous cry? Why? Because the righteous need help.
2) We need help because of infirmities.
The second thing I want us to see in all this, and in why the Spirit prays for us, is why we need help. Paul says Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. Our infirmities is to what Paul refers. Our infirmities is what God has enlisted his Holy Spirit to help. Our infirmities. Jesus said, (Mark 2:17) They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick…
In the Gospel of Luke, the bible says (Luke 13:11,12) And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. I believe that Paul is mainly speaking of spiritual infirmities, spiritual weaknesses, problems that are of an internal nature. The next verse says And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit… We’ve got weaknesses in the heart, infirmities in the heart., maladies of the heart, diseases of the heart. Oh but (Psalm 103:2-3) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; He said ALL thy diseases. And all means all of them; physical and spiritual.
(Psalm 91,2,3,5,6) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence… Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness…
Pestilence? You know what that is? It’s defined as a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating. And that word virulent means poisonous, toxic, venomous, noxious, deadly, lethal, fatal, dangerous, harmful, injurious, destructive… When Paul says in Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. It’s like a poison that runs through my viens. I think about that old serpent, the devil, and the venomous bite he gate Adam and Eve. It wasn’t a physical bite with a physical venom, but it was a toxic, venomous, deadly, spiritual blow to the all of man. Paul said, (7:23) I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
And it is to this, our infirmities, that the Spirit of God runs to help us. Now will the Spirit help us with our football game, or our track meet, or our TAKS test. Well, that’s between you and God. But I can tell you with surety that the sweet Holy Spirit of God is here to help us with our infirmities; and to heal us in our weakness and our failures. Jesus said (Luke 4:18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted… And that great scriptures (Malachi 4:2) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…
That’s why Paul said (2 Corinthians 2:9,10) 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. 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. So the Holy Spirit know why to pray, because we need help in our infirmities.
3) It’s the Spirit of Almighty God that gives us help.
And this bring me to the third thing regarding the why the Holy Spirit prays. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities… To answer Paul questions (Romans 7:24) O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me? Lord, who is going to help me? Take away the extra words, and what’s left: The Spirit helpeth. It’s the Spirit of Almighty God that helps us; God the Holy Spirit. He’s just as much God as God is God. Why does the Holy Spirit pray for us? Because he’s God, and that’s who God is and that is what God does. He helps us in our infirmities.
(Hebrews 2:18) For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. God has not left us alone to wallow in our infirmities, but has given his Spirit to help us in our infirmities. The Holy Spirit prays for us because (and I mean no disrespect by this) that’s his job. That is what he was sent from the Father to do. Thus the Holy Spirit must be able to help us. The bible says He is able to succour them that are tempted.
The bible says (1 Cor 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. That way is the Holy Ghost. God is able, therefore ye may be able…
(1 Cor 6:19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God… The Holy Ghost has showed up to the temple, the house of God. And Jesus said that his house would be a house of prayer. So what’s the Holy Ghost doing in his house? He’s already praying. You don’t have to call 911. You don’t have to wait. You don’t even have to post it on Facebook, “Everybody pray!” The bible says, (Psalm 46:1) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The Holy Ghost is present and accounted for. Why? Because somebody needs help. And that somebody is you. That somebody is me.
You talk about the 1st responders. The Holy Ghost is our first responder. The Holy Ghost is first on the scene. And I don’t have to call 911 and wait 20 minutes. He’s already there. In fact, he’s there before I get there, amen? It’s the Spirit of Almighty God that gives us help. (Psalm 121:1-3) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Our God never sleeps. The Holy Spirit is from heaven. He’s from above. He comes from the Father. Up there (Revelation 21:23) …the city (has)… no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it… the glory of God (does)… lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Our God never sleeps. In the garden of Gethsemane, everybody was falling asleep, but my Lord Jesus Christ prayed on. And the Spirit of Christ is not any different.
Conclude Remarks: The Holy Spirit Knows Why to Pray
I’m glad that I don’t have to deal with my infirmities on my own. I’m glad that when I bow my head in prayer, the Spirit of God Almighty bows his head with me and prays with me, and for me, and for my infirmities. He know why to pray.
#2 The Holy Spirit Knows What to Pray
For we know not what we should pray for as we ought…
I find this very helpful to know that Paul said, we know not what we should pray for. I struggle in my prayer life, and it gives me comfort knowing that I’m not alone. I’m not the only one having this problem. He didn’t say you know not what you should pray for as you ought. No, he said we know not what we should pray for as we ought. He said we ought to know, but we don’t.
When the disciples asked Jesus, Lord, teach us to pray, Jesus gave them what some of us call the model prayer. Some people call it the Lord’s prayer, but some call it the model prayer. And we know that the Holy Ghost is only going to speak and teach what Jesus spoke and teach. Now these are two very important verses concerning the Spirit of God
(John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(John 16:13-14) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
So in this day, in this present hour, it’s the Holy Ghost that’s going to teach us what to pray. Now Jesus already showed us how to pray in the model prayer (Luke 11:2-4) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
The Holy Ghost only going to teach what Jesus taught. He knows what Jesus knows. Now the Holy Ghost knows what to pray, amen? We don’t know what to pray, that’s why we need the Holy Ghost praying for us. There’s nothing to be ashamed about. The disciples didn’t know how to pray, amen? John, Peter, James… They didn’t know how to pray. That’s why they said, Lord, teach us to pray. The Holy Ghost knows what to pray. (John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Holy Ghost is going to teach what Jesus taught.
1) The Spirit teaches us to pray to the Father
Jesus said When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be they name. The Holy Spirit know that we’re praying to the Father. Paul said, (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. The Holy Spirit knows the Father because he comes from the Father.
- (John 14:16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter…
- (John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…
- (John 15:26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father…
Just like there was an intimate relationship between Jesus, the Son, and the Father. There is also a relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Father. And I’m not gonna get into that right now, but suffice it to say that the Holy Spirit Spirit intimately and directly prays to the Father and teaches us to pray to the Father. (Galatians 4:6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son… Did you catch that. The Spirit of his Son is crying, Abba, Father.
2) The Spirit teaches us to pray for the kingdom to come
Jesus said When ye pray, say… Thy kingdom come. The Spirit of God is concerned about the kingdom and is very much involved in workings of God’s kingdom. (Matthew 12:28) But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. John the Baptist, who was filled from his mother’s womb with the Holy Spirit, and what his message? (Matthew 3:1,2) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
We look at Jesus, after the Holy Ghost was descended upon him, and he was filled with the Holy Ghost, the Spirit drove him into the wilderness and there he fought that great battle with the devil. The bible says (Luke 4:4) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee… Jesus began his ministry there and the bible says (Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The Spirit of God is concerned about the kingdom and prays that the kingdom would come.
Yes, the Spirit knows about the kingdom of God. So much is he concerned and involved with the Kingdom, that nobody shall enter the kingdom of God but by his hand. For the bible says (John 3:5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Say amen right there. Sometimes I wonder about Genesis 3:24 after Adam and Eve sinned and were drove out from the garden of Eden. Is says, He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. It doesn’t say that the Cherubims were turning that sword. The bible says he just put a flaming sword which turned every way. And doesn’t the bible say that the Holy Spirit has a sword? (Ephesians 6:7) Take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
I just wonder about that. Listen, nobody shall enter the kingdom of God but by the hand of the Spirit of God. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
3) The Spirit teaches us to pray for God’s will to be done
Jesus said When ye pray, say… Thy will be done. (1 John 5:14,15) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. This is probably the single most important qualification to our prayers being answered. Are we praying according to his will. Do we know God’s will. I think maybe we tell ourselves when our prayers don’t get answered that God said no or God said later or God has something better. It’s possible that we deflecting from the truth that we just don’t now God’s will. And that we are not praying according to his will. We’re praying according to our will. We are asking for our will be done, and not God’s will be done. We may want good things and honorable things, but we must not put our will above God’s will.
When we pray in the Spirit we are praying according to God’s will because the Spirit of God knows and does and prays according to the will of God without fail, everytime. (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. Preacher Allen always said Get on the possom’s trail for God’s perfect will for your life and don’t settle for anything less. (Ephesians 5:17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And as Brother Fain Jordan used to say, the key to understanding what the will of the Lord is, is the very next verse. (Ephesians 5:18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
The Spirit of God teaches us to pray for God’s will to be done. I don’t know about you, but I sure like to see my prayers answered. It seems to me that the only prayers that get answered directly are those that prayed in accordance to the will of God. It’s incumbent upon me to know the will of God.
4) The Spirit teaches us to pray for our daily bread
Jesus said When ye pray, say… Give us day by day our daily bread. I’m not so sure that Jesus is talking about physical bread. If he was, that would be the only physical thing that Jesus put on the list. All the other things are spiritual. I think it might also be contradictory considering Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
If we’re not so much as to think about attaining bread, then why pray for it? We ought to thank him for it. But Jesus said, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. I believe our daily bread is spiritual food and spiritual nourishment.
(Revelation 2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna… Manna? That brings our minds all the way in the wilderness with the wandering Israelites. God said to the people of God (Deuteronomy 8:3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
When Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness and had that contest with the devil. The devil said to Jesus (Luke 4:3,4) If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And Job said (Job 23:12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
We need the Word of God. And it’s much much more than just words on a printed page. (John 1:1) n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Our spiritual food, our manna from above is much much more than just a book. (Revelation 19:13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Oh, how we need spiritual food, how we need manna from above. Jesus said, (John 6:33-35) For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us THIS BREAD. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; When you pray, Jesus said ask for bread!
(1 Corinthians 10:1-4) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
(Revelation 2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna… The Spirit teaches us to pray for our daily spiritual bread. (John 3:6) That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. That which is spiritual must be procured spiritually, amen? (Jeremiah 15:16) Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. The Spirit teaches us to pray for our daily spiritual bread.
5) The Spirit teaches us to pray our forgiveness
Jesus said When ye pray, say… Forgive us our sins. The Spirit of God knows about forgiveness. He knows our need for forgiveness. He know that we sin and that we fail God. (Romans 8:26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities… the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us… That intercession is priestly intercession, intercession for sin. (Romans 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities… the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us… The Holy spirit knows about forgiveness. He knows about the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
David said after he committed that horrible horrible crime against Bathsheba and Uriah (Psalm 51:7-12) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. He is the Spirit of God Almighty, merciful and tender, faithful and just to forgive us our sins. David said (Psalm 51:13) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. The Holy Spirit knows about forgiveness.
The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray for our forgiveness. (Romans 8:11) He’s the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead that dwelleth in you. (Hebrews 9:13,14) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Jesus said When ye pray, say… forgive us our sins. The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray for our forgiveness.
6) The Spirit teaches us to pray for us to forgive.
Jesus said When ye pray, say… We also forgive every one that is indebted to us. The Spirit of God teaches us to pray for us to forgive others. (1 Corinthians 2:12,13) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth… God has freely given us mercy and forgiveness and the Holy Ghost teaches us these things that are freely given. But Jesus takes it one step further. Jesus told his disiciples (Matthew 10:8) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
(Phillippians 2:1-8) If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. If God, was merciful to us and forgave us our sins. God wants us through the Holy Spirit to do the same, to do likewise, to be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. (Phillippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
(Ezekiel 36:26,27) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. We out not to have a heart of stone, but tender hearts, merciful hearts. Praying in the Spirit? Being filled with the Spirit for the service of God? There will be long-suffering, gentleness, goodness. If you’re always putting people down, judging their every move, looking down you nose, quick to fight, nothing good to say? That’s not the Spirit of God. That’s the spirit of the devil, the accuser of the brethren.
(2 Corinthians 3:3) Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. When God forgives you, god will change you. You will never be the same. When the Spirit of the living God, takes to writing something in your heart, it cannot so easily be denied. There will be ramifications. There will be consequences and not in a negative way. (Phillipians 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Freely ye have received. Freely give.
(1 Peter 1:22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: The Spirit of God teaches us to pray that we would forgive, pray that we would be forgiving one toward another, to love on another. The Holy Ghost knows what to pray.
7) The Spirit teaches us to pray for our protection
Jesus said When ye pray, say… Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And truly we have already covered this when we spoke about why the Spirit prays: to help us in our infirmities, to help us in our weaknesses. We battle the flesh, the devil and his devils, and the world. The’re all against us. They’re all enemies. Principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. They’re all against us. And all of them, like Romans 7:8,11 are taking occasion by the commandment are trying to drag us down and bring us under the bondage of the sin which is in our members. But thank God for the Holy Spirit of God. (Romans 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
There is victory in the Holy Ghost (Romans 8:13) If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. I found this verse the other day that gave me some joy. (Isaiah 59:19) So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
He’ll lift up a standard, Amen? That means he’s come to fight. That means he’ll fight our battles. He’ll wage our wars. When the enemy comes from every side. And we don’t know what to do. And we don’t know what to pray for. When we’re crippled and paralyzed by our infirmities, our weakness against the enemies of this world. When we need help, the Spirit of God lifts up the flag. He lifts up the standard. Amen. We are no alone in this thing. (John 14:18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Jesus said When ye pray, say… Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. The Holy Ghost teaches us to pray for our protection.
Conclude Remarks: The Holy Spirit Knows What to Pray
(Luke 11:2-4) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
(John 14:26) …the Holy Ghost… shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 16:13-14) …the Spirit of truth… will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: The Holy Ghost will teach us what Jesus taught the disciples.The Holy Spirit know what to pray. That’s why we need to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Because we don’t know. He knows. That’s why we need to pray in the Holy Ghost. Praying always with all prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT… He knows what to pray.
#3 The Holy Spirit Knows How to Pray
But the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
How does the Spirit pray? The bible says with groanings. The Holy Ghost makes intercession for us with groanings. Let me ask you this: Have you ever groaned in prayer for someone like the Holy Ghost groans for you. Paul said, …but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves… The Holy Spirit groans in prayer. That word groanings, stenagmos, comes from the word to groan, stenazó, which comes from the word stenos, which means small, narrow, contricted, constrained. That’s the word that Jesus uses when he says that way is narrow and gate is strait. The way that leadeth to life is stenos. So when we see this word groanings or stenagmos these are expressions of pressure, sighs of an intense pressure, expressions of anguish, pain, and travail. The Holy Ghost groans for us. You don’t groan and moan and experience anguish over someone unless you love them, unless you care for them, unless there’s something that you want for them that it consumes you. And when you pour your heart to God about it, it comes out in groans. The Holy Ghost groans for us.
If you want to get a picture of what that looks like, let’s take a little visit to the garden of Gethsename. (Luke 22:44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. That’s Jesus Christ praying, amen? Like the old songwrite wrote, “Not a tear for his own grief, but sweat drops of blood for mine.” Romans 8:10 says, And if Christ be in you… If Christ be in you!
They brought unto Jesus one that was deaf and mute. The bible says (Mark 7:34,35) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.The bible says that he signed. That’s the same greek work that Paul used when he said in Romans 8:23 We ourselves groan within oursleves… That’s the same word that Paul used when he said (2 Cor 5:1,2) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan… If we want a picture of the Spirit of Christ praying for us, take a look at Christ as he prays for this deaf and mute man. He looks up to heaven and groans for him. And the Spirit of Christ groans for us.
Jesus loved the family of Lazarus; Mary and Martha. When Jesus showed up to the town in which they lived after Lazarus had died, the bible says (John 11:32,33) Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, God is concerned with the affairs and hearts of the those he loves. The bible says that he groaned and was troubled at the weeping of Mary. He hurts when we hurt. Those who saw said, Behold how he loved him! He mourned with those that mourned. He groaned in the spirit, in the depths of his person, he groaned. And if Christ be in you? The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and prays for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.
If we were to pray in the Spirit, I believe that we would also groan. Groan for ourselves, our infirmities, groan for our loved ones, groan for the things of God. Groans come from within. Groans come from the bowels, the reins, the inner man. If we pray in the Spirit, along with the Holy Ghost, we’ll groan for God, groan for God in our life, groan for God in our children’s life, groan for God in the church. Jesus said to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all they soul, and with all thy might. If you’re giving it your all, you’re gonna groan, groan with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost knows how to pray.
The bible says (Luke 11:1) And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray… Teach us to pray they asked him. And the Lord Jesus said to his disciples (John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Holy Ghost is our instructor in prayer and he doesn’t do anything different from the Lord Jesus Christ, for he is the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit prays as Christ prays. And if the Spirit of Christ be in you… (John 16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak… The Holy Ghost intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
God, the Spirit, groans for us in prayer. He know how to pray. I believe in this matter of praying in the Holy Ghost, if we are to pray in the Spirit, and tap into the heart of God, we’ll do some groaning within ourselves..
Conclusion
The Spirit of God is our instructor in prayer. He knows why, what, and how to pray. But more than that, he is our prayer. He knows all of prayer because that’s what he does. He is the Spirit of prayer and supplication. (Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We can come boldly only because of this great truth, Romans 8:26,27 (Quote) Bless the Lord, we can pray in the Spirit. When we pray, he prays. When I bow my head and cry unto God, He cries and groans to God with me. He is the power in prayer. (Jude 1:20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Oh that we might labor to enter into the prayers of the Holy Ghost. The benefit of our prayer life is directly proportional to how hard we work at it. (James 5:16) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. With that I urge you to pray. Pray Pray Pray.
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