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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Bible Study What does Roman 8:26 mean
- Thread starter julian
- Start date
B
BornAgain
Guest
Romans 8:26-27 (KJV)
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.
We have an idea of what we desire, and cannot state in fit language in our prayer, but only disclose it by groanings, yet God receives these groanings as acceptable prayers, as they come from a soul full of the Holy Spirit.
The spirit of the child of God often desires blessings that he cannot express in language. It is God's Spirit that dwells in him that leads to do this and secures blessings for which he does not know how to ask.
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.
As we do not know the thoughts of a man save the spirit of man that dwells in him, to read those unexpressed emotions of the soul is the prerogative of that Being to those eyes all things are naked and opened. "I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Jer 17:10.
because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.—The Spirit dwells in and intercedes for the saint only as he brings himself in life and heart into conformity with the will of God. So the Spirit dwells in his heart and molds the desires and groanings of his own spirit, and through directing his spirit in prayer the Holy Spirit makes intercession.
Agape
Member
The Spirit Himself prays for us, intercedes on our behalf before the throne of God according to God’s will.
Paul is contrasting our inability to know how to pray with the effective prayer of the Holy Spirit.
iLOVE
Member
Romans 8:26
New International Version (NIV)
26 In the same way, the Spirit (Holy Spirit) helps us in our weakness (the help given to us by the Holy Spirit is made possible in its entirety by and through what Jesus did at the Cross). We do not know what we ought to pray for, (signals the significance of prayer, but also that without the Holy Spirit, all is to no avail) but the Spirit himself intercedes for us (He petitions or intercedes on our behalf) through wordless groans (not groanings on the part of the Holy Spirit, but rather on our part, which pertains to that which comes from the heart and cannot properly be put into words).
New International Version (NIV)
26 In the same way, the Spirit (Holy Spirit) helps us in our weakness (the help given to us by the Holy Spirit is made possible in its entirety by and through what Jesus did at the Cross). We do not know what we ought to pray for, (signals the significance of prayer, but also that without the Holy Spirit, all is to no avail) but the Spirit himself intercedes for us (He petitions or intercedes on our behalf) through wordless groans (not groanings on the part of the Holy Spirit, but rather on our part, which pertains to that which comes from the heart and cannot properly be put into words).
Agape
Member
What makes you say that this is not about groanings of the Spirit?
iLOVE
Member
The Apostle Paul writes about three different types of “groaning” in the eighth chapter of the book of Romans. 8:22-23 and 8:26.
By this expression it cannot be meant that the Holy Spirit ever groans or personally prays; but that he excites intense desire and created unutterable groanings in us, and these are ascribed to him. The Holy Spirit has a wonderful power over renewed hearts.
iLOVE
Member
The Holy Spirit is able to search your heart and to know your innermost needs and your most intimate desires. He also fully understands God’s perfect will for your life and He comprehends secret things that are hidden beyond your finite, earthly knowledge. The Holy Spirit is able to blend all of this together and articulate the most perfect petition to God, praying on a level that we could never achieve on our own.
When we pray out of our intellect, in our native language, we are limited by our own personal knowledge and information. We simply cannot know everything that needs to be known to pray accurate and precise prayers that are in complete harmony with the will of God. So God sends us help.
When we pray out of our intellect, in our native language, we are limited by our own personal knowledge and information. We simply cannot know everything that needs to be known to pray accurate and precise prayers that are in complete harmony with the will of God. So God sends us help.
B
BornAgain
Guest
You are exactly right and I think I went into a little more detail in Post #2.
iLOVE
Member
Bravo on your detailed post!
Agape
Member
Yes, that's right. Creation groans, we groan (verse 23). That makes two groanings. What about the third one?
What expression?
Let us look at the context. Verse 26 reads "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness " (NIV translation that you used).
What does "in the same way" refer to?
B
BornAgain
Guest
:p Your posts are great...
Agape
Member
How do you reconcile that with Jesus' teachings on prayer?
Since God knows our prayers before we pray them (Matthew 6:8), why would we need to "disclose by groanings what we cannot state in fit language in our prayer"?
B
BornAgain
Guest
Matthew 6:8 (KJV)
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Jesus now corrects certain errors that were common in prayers at that time; they are warned against "vain repetitions".The Gentiles frequently used "vain repetitions"; possibly the emphasis is put on "vain" and not on "repetitions."
Jesus repeated the same prayer three times Matt 26:44. It is not the "repetition" of petitions or words that is condemned here. What makes a prayer vain?
Jesus tells his disciples not to "battologize" which seems to be an onomatopoetic term, and may have given the name to Battus, the Cyrenian prince, who stammered; to Battus, the silly poet, who made prolific hymns full of tautology.
Such vain repetitions impeached the wisdom and goodness of God and was therefore forbidden. The "vain repetitions" and "much speaking" were used by Gentiles in heathen worship and lose sight of the true motive in praying to God; these are condemned. Christians should be careful to restrict the use of their words in prayer and should use great simplicity and not high-sounding phraseology; we are speaking to God in our prayers and should be careful of our speech.
Be not therefore like unto them.—Jesus frequently warns his disciples against being like the Pharisees, hypocrites, and Gentiles. The heathen have not the true motive in prayer, the hypocrite hides his motive in prayer, and the Pharisee is synonymous with the hypocrite; the disciples of Jesus must avoid such chattering, prating, and running off mere words in prayer. The disciples of Jesus are to avoid such folly and sin as belonged to the Pharisees, hypocrites, and heathen. Our Father knows our needs; he is willing to supply them according to his own will, but he wants his children to ask him for them. We feel more keenly our indebtedness to God when he, in answer to our prayers, gives us those things which we need.
If a man does these things to get glory of men, none will reckon it a glory to him, to God, or to others.
Agape
Member
Thanks but how would I know that I am not "battologizing" if I am groaning to express my prayers? How can I obey the Lord if I don't even know what I am saying?
iLOVE
Member
The groanings of the Holy Spirit on behalf of the child of God who is still sinful.
Only those who know Christ groan within themselves, waiting patiently for their
redeemed bodies. But the man who is not a Christian has no redeemed soul and no hope of a redeemed body. He has no forgiveness of sins; he has no hope of resurrection unto life; he has no assurance of a future redeemed body.
If you will believe in Christ, God will forgive you of your sins, give you eternal life,
and guarantee you a place in heaven. If you will trust in Christ, God will redeem your inner man now and will ultimately redeem your body in the yet future resurrection.
The man who knows Christ will groan because of sin until he receives his new body,
but the man who does not know Christ will groan for all eternity in the Lake of Fire because he has no Saviour to take away his sins.
redeemed bodies. But the man who is not a Christian has no redeemed soul and no hope of a redeemed body. He has no forgiveness of sins; he has no hope of resurrection unto life; he has no assurance of a future redeemed body.
If you will believe in Christ, God will forgive you of your sins, give you eternal life,
and guarantee you a place in heaven. If you will trust in Christ, God will redeem your inner man now and will ultimately redeem your body in the yet future resurrection.
The man who knows Christ will groan because of sin until he receives his new body,
but the man who does not know Christ will groan for all eternity in the Lake of Fire because he has no Saviour to take away his sins.
B
BornAgain
Guest
I was just explaining your quote from Matthew 6:8. Speak to Jesus as He is right there with you. Prayer is not complicated.
iLOVE
Member
New International Version (NIV)
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. John 14:16-17
It is nice to know that we now have 100% of God's DNA in us!
Agape
Member
I was not looking for an explanation of the verse but simply applied the "Scripture does not contradict itself" hermeneutical principle. If God is all-knowing in one scripture, why would He need me to "groan" what I cannot express in prayers? If God expects me to pray according to his will (1 John 5:14), how can I obey Him if I don't even know what I am saying?
Having said this, I believe the scripture quoted by OP is referring to the Holy Spirit "praying and interceding for us" but His intercession cannot be uttered (Rom. 8:26).
If Jesus prayed for Peter (Luke 22:32) and promised "another" helper (John 14:16), why wouldn't the Spirit pray for us as stated in verse 26?