Do You Need Help Praying?

We read 4 paragraphs in the middle of the letter to 1st century Christians in Rome. To help us understand what we read, we ought to read these paragraphs in context. If you have a Bible near you, look at the final paragraphs of Ro. 7.

Reading ch. 8, it’s important to know that in Ro. 7, Paul spoke about his struggle with sin:

I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Romans 7:18b–19 (NIV)

I know that feeling; perhaps you do too. It’s uncomfortable to miss the mark on the good we want to do, the stuff we ought to do. Don’t you just hate it when you catch yourself disobeying God’s instructions and doing wrong or evil instead of good?

Because God is holy and just, he doesn’t leave evildoing unpunished. Sin always leads to death. In this passage, Paul laments his disobedience and the punishment he deserves:

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Romans 7:24 (NIV)

Can you relate to Paul’s lament?

Yet there is a rescuer! Because of God’s love for you and the world, we’re not left to face the punishment for our sin by ourselves. Jesus came into his creation to rescue us. Truly God and truly human, Jesus can deliver us from sin and death. That’s what Paul celebrates in the next verses:

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! …

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 7:25a,8:1-2 (NIV)

Set free from the law of sin and death! We’re set free because Jesus conquered sin and death by dying on the cross and rising from the grave. That’s what we celebrate on Good Friday and Easter – and every Sunday throughout the year.

And that’s only the beginning! The gospels, Mt, Mk, Lk, and Jn, describe Jesus’ death and resurrection for our salvation. The Gospel of John and Book of Acts go on to describe the outpouring of God the HS. The HS empowered Jesus’ frightened disciples to boldly go throughout the Roman Empire, and beyond, proclaiming Jesus’ victory over sin and death.

The disciples could only go and preach and make more disciples in the power of the HS. That’s why we will celebrate the outpouring of the HS next Sunday. We’ll read about the church’s Pentecost celebration and the way the HS came upon each of Jesus’ disciples in power, appearing like a flame of fire. Grab a copy of the Daily Bible Readingson your way out to trace the symbolism of fire through the OT and NT in preparation for Pentecost Sunday.

Because of Jesus’ ascension to heaven, God the Father and God the Son sent God the HS to work powerfully among his people. In this part of his letter to Christians in Rome, Paul marvels at the way God the HS intercedes for us.

But first, Paul honestly recognizes that life can be difficult, even for Christians. Jesus’ disciples are no longer condemned as sinners but there is still suffering. The world is still off-kilter due to sin. We’re waiting for Jesus to return and set things right.

The first people to receive the letter to the Romans lived in Rome, at the heart of the Roman Empire. In the Rome, the empire and Nero, the emperor, were worshipped as gods. Weird as it sounds to us, there were altars to Roma and Nero.

There was a cost to professing faith in Jesus. Christians suffered rejection, like Jesus did.

some Christians were disowned by family.

Some were kicked out of the craftsmen guilds. Guilds were like a union. You couldn’t work or earn a living in some trades without taking vows and worshipping their gods.

Others were disowned by family and kicked out of their homes. They lost their family network and social standing.

That doesn’t even count the suffering from life in a sin-stained world, in an economy where the rich were obscenely wealthy and the poor suffered hunger, exposure, and poverty.

That doesn’t count the illness: physical and mental. And natural disasters: fires, earthquakes, crops or businesses destroyed by bad weather or flooding. There’s no shortage of suffering then … or now.

Paul talks about the suffering:

“Creation was subjected to frustration”: curses in Gen. 3

God frustrated childbirth and parental relationships and allowed thorns and thistles as frustrations so we would turn to him in our frustration! We’ll tackle Gen. 3 in June.

Paul vividly describes creation is in “bondage to decay”

Image of the “whole creation groaning as in the pains of childbirth”

Paul is aware of human suffering. It’s not a pretty picture.

You can tell your own powerful stories of blood, sweat, and tears of life in a sin-stained world. It’s found in people’s prayer journals or on their blogs. It’s on the news. Nearly everyone can describe the suffering and frustration of life in this world.

Paul’s comment is interesting, then.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. Romans 8:18-19 (NIV)

Think of a 4-y-old about to tear wrapping paper off a present. Can you say: “eager expectation”?

That eager expectation is what creation experiences: Soil, trees, and stars eagerly expect God’s children to be revealed!

Not just God’s chosen people; God’s creation will be liberated! We’re talking the renewal of all creation, when Jesus Christ returns. Not just the children of God, but the sun and moon, chicken and geese, mountain lions and moose, rivers, lakes, and oceans will be brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Do you share the eagerness and expectation?

It’s going to be good! Your present suffering can’t compare to the glory to be revealed!

Perhaps you’re saying, “future glory is good, but I’m still suffering now.” Paul mentions that reality:

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23 (NIV)

Vivid language, isn’t it: “groan inwardly as we wait.”

I’ve groaned those groans. I’ve visited hospitals and gone to funerals for people I love. I have the same friction, tensions, and misunderstandings in relationships that you do. Some days it really sucks. We’re still waiting eagerly for the fullness of God’s promises – “our adoption to sonship and the redemption of our bodies.”

“Adoption to sonship” doesn’t sound like inclusive language. It reflects the reality of life in the Roman Empire. It was rare for women and daughters to receive an inheritance. But sons did.

In God’s family, all believers: male and female, slave and free, are adopted as dearly loved children! Because you’re adopted through Jesus Christ, you inherit God’s blessing and good gifts.

We feel the tension: Jesus is victorious over sin and death, yet he has not yet returned to restore all creation. Our baptism is God’s assurance – the seal of his covenant promises – that we are already God’s children, but there’s we haven’t received all the benefits yet. There’s more in store. We’re still expecting. We still endure the pains of childbirth with the rest of creation.

So it’s encouraging to read that the victory and salvation we enjoy in Jesus doesn’t just offer future hope. That brings us to our text:

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26–27 (NIV)

This is why we’re looking at this passage as the final sermon in our series on prayer.

In the pinch of blood, sweat, and tears, it’s often confusing to know what to pray for. God’s word assures us that the HS brings our desires and feelings – even those we have trouble understanding or expressing – before our heavenly Father.

Have you ever been there, thinking “I need to talk to God about this situation,  but I just don’t know what to pray for”?

I want stuff to be set right, but I don’t see how it’s even possible.

I have hopes and desires, but I just don’t know the path to take.

I want a terminally ill person to get well, but I don’t know if asking God for a miracle of healing or asking God for promotion to a glorified body in heavenly glory is better.

You’re allowed to say: “God please see the suffering and do what is right according to your own wise plans.”

Even if you’re not there yet, the HS interceded for you. You can just stay in the posture of prayer and find comfort in the HS’s presence and wisdom in bringing your experience before the throne room of heaven.