The Spirit’s Intercession
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro: As Christians, our trials can make us feel alone sometimes. Whether it is an unspoken struggle or simply something that keeps us up at night, we can feel as though nobody gets us.
Adding to that, suffering reminds us just how frail we are. We want to be strong, but then a trial hits, and we feel our weakness. We just can’t will ourselves out of the reality of our weakness. Sometimes we feel as though we can’t even pray ourselves out of it.
FCF: suffering is hard, especially when we feel alone and in need of help. we don't even know what to say sometimes.
What can we do when we feel both weak and alone? What do we even Pray when feel this way?
Main Point: In our deepest suffering, the Holy Spirit is with us and for us.
Main Point: In our deepest suffering, the Holy Spirit is with us and for us.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
I. In our suffering, we must admit that we're weak.
I. In our suffering, we must admit that we're weak.
Suffering itself makes us weak and reminds us of our weakness.
Our human weakness extends all the way to our prayers.
Weakness means we are unable or don't have the experience to do something.
Specifically, our weakness extends to our prayers.
Specifically, our weakness extends to our prayers.
As children of God, we" ought" to know how to pray. But, in our weakness, we don't always pray as we ought.
Paul mentions that sometimes we don't know what to pray for.
Should I pray for healing or for faith to endure?
Should I ask for more money or trust Him with what I have?
Should I pray for a miracle or work harder in my marriage?
What should I do in this parenting situation?
The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, even in weak prayer.
The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, even in weak prayer.
Help means “to join in an activity or effort".
The Holy Spirit doesn't just send help. He jumps into the suffering with us..
A primary element of the Spirit's work is helping. Jesus said He would send a Helper to be with us forever.( Jn. 14:16).
The Holy Spirit consoles, encourages us, and reminds us of the Truth.
Application: When we recognize our weakness; we can seek God's help!
Application: When we recognize our weakness; we can seek God's help!
We can keep on praying imperfect prayers. The spirit can improve them for us!
We can admit to God (and others) when we don't know what to pray.
We can remember in our suffering that we are never alone.
God is ALWAYS bigger than our weakness and our suffering! Remember that! Gospel CALL! our greatest weakness can be overcome at the cross! When we trust in Jesus, our strength is in Him! Our hope is in Christ!
II. Lean on the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us (v. 26-27)
II. Lean on the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us (v. 26-27)
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Though we are weak and pray imperfect prayers, God still hears us and comes through for us. Why? Because the Spirit intercedes.
“Christ's intercession is in heaven, whereas that of the Spirit is within believers." -Leon Morris
In other words, there's no more intimate intercession than that!
What does the Spirit's intercession mean for us?
What does the Spirit's intercession mean for us?
It means that Someone who knows the depth of our suffering to the fullest extent is talking to God for us.
It means that the spirit is deeply involved in our groaning. He either groans within us Himself or He gives us groans from within that are" too deep for words" or" inexpressible".
App: Even when we can't speak, the Spirit within us takes our deepest agonies and makes them into something that is expressed to and pleasing to the Father to answer.
It means that ALL of God is w/ us in our trials: 1. Christ ever lives to intercede for us. 2.The Spirit intercedes for us, too. 3. The Father hears their intercession!
Ill: When my children were younger, sometimes we didn’t know if they were in pain. They would cry, lay around, and maybe say something about their head or their belly. One of them would say “my brain hurts”. Even in those moments, we were ready and willing to help them. Imagine if we KNEW intimately what they were suffering. We wouldn’t want to help them less. We’d want to help them more! This is what the Spirit of God does for us!
Application: Lean on the Spirit in your suffering..
Application: Lean on the Spirit in your suffering..
Search yourself… Who are you leaning on in your suffering? Lean on the Spirit!
Keep praying, even when you don't think it is working. Know that the Spirit makes your prayers effective.
Remember that the Spirit is with you and He's helping you in your weakness.
Our greatest hope is that God is for us!
III. Trust that the Father always answers" yes" to the Spirit.( V. 26-27)
III. Trust that the Father always answers" yes" to the Spirit.( V. 26-27)
…but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Ill: Describe my kids doing a" yes" day, even w/ reluctant yeses. God's yes to the Spirit is based on the unity of the Spirit's request and the Father's generosity.
The Father and the Spirit are always aligned.
The Father and the Spirit are always aligned.
" He who searches hearts" speaks of the Father( 1 Chr. 28: 9, Ps. 7: 9, Jer. 17:10.). He searches the groanings in our hearts and discerns the mindset of the Spirit at work within us. As the Spirit intercedes, God hears..
The Spirit's intercession is for the saints.
The Spirit's intercession is for the saints.
The Spirit intercedes for those who are set apart for God-those who have the Spirit of Christ in them, the children of God..
As children of God this is one of our great privileges! God is FOR us!
The Spirit's intercession is “according to the will of God!
The Spirit's intercession is “according to the will of God!
We sometimes pray things that aren't in line with God's will, but the Spirit of God always intercedes in a way that lines up with His will.
As the Spirit works in us, our desires change. We want the will of God. Like Jesus, we pray “not my will but yours".
Yet sometimes all we can do is groan. The Spirit will groan within us: “Your will be done".
Christ connection: Without Christ, we wouldn’t have the Holy Spirit as a Helper within us.
Christ connection: Without Christ, we wouldn’t have the Holy Spirit as a Helper within us.
1. Christ intercedes for us right now. He stands between us and God pointing to His blood and work for us on the cross. We are His!
2. Christ is the" yes" of all God's promises. we get to know that every promise of God is" yes" for us because of Jesus. The Spirit is pleading the promises of God from within us!
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Application: We can always pray with confidence because the Spirit's presence guarantees that God will answer with what is best for us.
Application: We can always pray with confidence because the Spirit's presence guarantees that God will answer with what is best for us.
God's will is always wise! we can trust that His ways are higher than our ways.
God's will is always for our good and His glory.
We will see more of this next week (Lord willing) but His will is always the best thing for us and will glorify Him the most
The cross is the perfect example: For our good and for His glory!
Conclusion: When we suffer, we have the Holy Spirit with us!
Conclusion: When we suffer, we have the Holy Spirit with us!
We are never alone. The Spirit is with us to help us.
We never have to worry that God won't hear us.
We don't have to stress over our weak prayers b/c the Spirit intercedes.
We can trust that our groaning s will lead to God's will-even when we don't know what to pray.
We have great hope, especially in our praying! Don't give up praying! Keep trusting the Spirit to help you in your suffering! He is interceding for you with groanings deeper than words!
