Introduction: On Thursday, June 3, 2008, I did not know “what to pray for as we ought.” Have you ever felt this way? Well, if so, you are in good company, for Paul confesses in Romans 8:26 that there were times when he did not know what to pray for. Paul surely knew the general content of prayer. He prayed the mightiest prayers ever recorded, except those of Jesus , in Ephesians 1:17-22; 3:15-20. But what to pray for in any particular situation was not always clear for Paul. Example: Paul prayed three times that this “thorn in the flesh” be removed, but God did not remove it. Evidently Paul did not know what to pray for in this instance.
If there are times you do not know what to pray for, I have good news for you today- “The Holy Spirit wants to help you pray.” Listen to Paul’s words in 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.” Note the key words in the text:
- “Helpeth” comes form the Greek word, Sunantilambetai which means to work together like partners on the same job.
- “Infirmities” is the Greek word, Astheneia, means weakness, and the weakness in Romans 8:26 is our ignorance of what to pray for.
- “Intercessions” is the Greek word huperentugchano means to fall in behalf of someone else. It is what we might call a rescue. Thus when you are at a loss for words and don’t know how to pray or what to pray for the Holy Spirit falls into that place of helplessness with you as a Partner in the midst of your circumstances.
- Why do we not know how to pray as we ought? Primarily because of our self-centeredness which causes us to pray ignorantly and narrowly. In these times the Holy Spirit comes alongside of us. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Paracletos,” (John 14:16) meaning One who comes alongside of us. One way He comes “alongside” of us is to intercede with the Father with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). It is the Spirit who groans, and not we ourselves.
“There is mystery here. We are peering into the unseen spiritual realms where a great Person…is at work on our behalf. And though we cannot understand it all, we can take infinite encouragement from the fact that a groan may sometimes be the most spiritual prayer.”[1]
- What are the specific times we need the help of the Holy Spirit?
- In times of great distress and grief. : Becky Brady’s husband was told that he had but two months to live. Ms. “E” reminded her that the Holy Spirit was praying for her. Becky replied, “Thanks very much because I feel numb and unable to pray.”
- In times of illness and great pain.
- When discouraged, persecuted, misunderstood, etc.
- When you are tired and exhausted.
- Are the groanings of the Holy Spirit the same as speaking in tongues?
No, there is no speaking at all, but only groanings which cannot be uttered or spoken. “The Holy Spirit is present within the Christian to assist him in those moments of moral, physical, or emotional weakness. Frequently a disciple confronts difficulties so insurmountable that he cannot even approach prayer skillfully. He knows that he must approach God, but he has already said all that he knows to say to God. In those instances, the promise is that the Holy Spirit ‘makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ Some have interpreted this verse as arguing for ‘prayer tongues.’ However, close examination reveals that the believer is not speaking at all. The Holy Spirit is making the intercession. Moreover, the precise words in Greek are stenagmois alaletois, ‘groanings which cannot be uttered.’ Literally, the words might be rendered ‘unspoken sighings.’ In other words, the communication is nonverbal, involving no speaking of any kind.”[2]
- How does the Holy Spirit help us?
With unspoken groanings or words. These groanings are those of the Holy Spirit Himself as He conveys the intent of our hearts to our heavenly Father. While the Holy Spirit does the groanings, the one praying works with Him in lifting the prayer to the Father. Illus: On the farm, we needed to move heavy objects which required the help of my father and his sons. So my father took hold of one end of the object, and we sons took hold of the other. Then daddy said, “Grab holt, boys, and help me,” so we did and moved the object to its desired place. So the Holy Spirit grabs hold, as it were, our struggling prayer and enables us to get it through to our Father. The Holy Spirit prays only in the heart of those who pray.
- Why is the intercession of the Holy Spirit so very important in getting our prayers answered?
Simply because the Holy Spirit always knows and prays according to God’s will, meaning His prayers, now made ours, are always answered. “This is the confidence we have that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.” – 1 John 5:14.
- What is the difference in the intercession of Jesus for us and the intercession of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus intercedes in heaven for us (on the outside of us), while the Holy Spirit intercedes for us on the inside of us. Jesus prays that the full merits of His redemptive love may be fully applied to those who trust Him. The Holy Spirit prays that the deeply hidden needs of our hearts, which we ourselves do not recognize, may be met. Jesus’ intercession may be compared with that of a father, the head of the family. The Holy Spirit’s intercession reminds us rather of a mother kneeling at the bedside of an ailing child, and in that prayer presenting the real needs of the child to the heavenly Father.
- Do all of our prayers need to be interacted or interpreted by the Holy Spirit?
No, because some of our prayers are based on the will of God and flow clearly and freely from our hearts into the ears of our heavenly Father.
- What occurs when one’s prayers and those of the Holy Spirit differ?
Permit me to illustrate it from my personal experience and from that of a certain church.
- Personal – My mother lived to be 99 years old. As she turned 98 she began to decline rapidly in her health. I prayed earnestly that she live to be 100. At the same time my heart’s desire was that my mother not suffer even if that meant an earlier death. The Holy Spirit heard my prayer, presented my real desire to the Father, and He took her home a year earlier and I rejoiced.
- Local Church: A pastor, loved deeply by his people, became grievously ill. The congregation prayed, “Lord, please restore our pastor to his health, but he died. At the funeral a minister and life long friend of the pastor made this remark to the assembled mourners, “Perhaps some of you are in danger of arriving at the conclusion that the heavenly Father does not answer prayer. He does indeed hear prayer, but in this particular case two prayers were probably opposing each other. You were praying, O God spare his life, for we need him so badly. The Spirit’s unspoken prayer was “Take him away, for the congregation is leaning altogether too heavily upon him, and not upon thee. And the Father heard that prayer.”
- Since the Holy Spirit knows God’s will perfectly, why not permit Him to do all the praying?
- The Holy Spirit prays only in the hearts of those who pray. So never, never, never cease to pray – no matter how difficult and how ineffective you feel it is.
- God commands His people to pray at all times (Luke 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17; Eph. 6:18-20.
- A child of God needs and wants to pour out his heart to God. Read Psalm 62.
- Does the praying of the Holy Spirit make the prayers of others unnecessary?
Absolutely not. We are commanded to pray for one another and with one another (James 5:16).
Could you share your experience in permitting the Holy Spirit to intercede in times of difficulty in prayer? Many times through the years I have been overwhelmed with problems and people as I pastored churches ranging from 85 to 8000 members. Often in those times, I spoke personally to the Holy Spirit and asked Him to help me get the message of my heart to my heavenly Father. In my first church I did not know this was possible, but the Holy Spirit taught me this great ministry as my responsibilities proliferated. My last vivid experience was on June 3rd, 2008. I rose early that day and began to pray as I “Power Walked” from 4 to 5:30 AM. However, the words would not come, the objects of prayer were not clear. At that moment, the Holy Spirit reminded me He wanted to help me. I asked Him and my mind cleared, the spirit began to flow, and I knew my message had reached the ears of my heavenly Father. Mystery of Mysteries, but PTL and Dei Soli Gloria.
Conclusion: Are you one of those who at moments do not know what to pray for? If your answer is yes, you are a perfect candidate for the help of your Divine Partner. Just cry out today and say, “Help me, Holy Spirit” and He will. PTL.
[1] William McDonald, Believers’ Commentary, p. 1712.
[2] WA Criswall, The Believer’s Study Bible, Nashville, Tennesse: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, pp 1610-1611.