Gardner Taylor said that words are vehicles by which to transfer ideas from one mind to another. However, he went on to say, some ideas are so heavy that the words break down in the effort. What a blessed assurance it is to know that when words break down in our effort to transmit the deepest longings of our hearts, we have the Divine Helper through whom these yearnings find their way to the mind of our Heavenly Father. According to Romans 8:26–27 the Holy Spirit takes our inarticulate groanings and verbalizes them to the Father. Through the Holy Spirit of God who indwells you, a groan in your soul can be the most eloquent prayer you ever prayed.  ¹ In today’s post, we take a look at the role of the Holy Spirit in the prayer life of a believer.

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Romans 8:24–26 (KJV)
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 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.

• In the past couple of blog posts, we have looked at Creations hope for deliverance from the curse which came from the fall of Adam.
• Man shares a similar hope in the form of the redemption of the body.
• Both man and creation wait in hope and groan in anticipation of freedom.
• Paul says as much in Romans 8:24 where he says these words: For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
• The words ‘by hope’ are translated ‘in hope’ in many commentaries and translations.
• Since hope is a future expectation, the words ‘saved in hope’ means believing for something out in the future.
• The word ‘saved’, in this passage, does not mean the salvation you initially receive when you come to Jesus.
• Anyone can access the New Birth today.
• You don’t have to wait for it out in the future somewhere.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

• ‘Now is the day of salvation’ means anyone can receive salvation in the ‘today’ time frame.
• Healing falls into the same category.
• You can believe for it in the ‘today’ time frame.
• You can pray today.
• You can believe you receive today because the provision was made for it ‘yesterday’ in Christ.
  • Note, though, the amount of time you have to ‘stand in faith’ in the today time frame before inheriting the promise isn’t relevant.
  • Waiting on God does not alter the ‘today’ time frame.
• The hope of salvation Paul speaks of, doesn’t occur in the ‘today’ time frame.
• It occurs in the tomorrow ‘time frame.
• Hope’s range of effectiveness is always in the realm of  ‘tomorrow’.

Playing the Waiting Game

• There’s only one thing any believer can do relative to the hope of salvation, that is play the waiting game.
• Or as the Apostle puts it.
  • If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
• The realm of ‘tomorrow’ is the realm of what we do not ‘see’ today.
• To ‘not see’ implies an access can’t be realized or possessed.
• We are encouraged, therefore, to first walk it all out in hope.
• And then, to add to hope the exercise of patience.

Hebrews 6:12 (KJV)
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• Hope is a good God thing.
• It is the anchor of your soul.
• The human soul fixed on God’s promises stabilizes the thought life.

Hebrews 6:19 (KJV)
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

The Help of the Spirit

• Romans 8:26 begins with the word ‘likewise.’
• The ‘likewise’ means in like manner.
• What is Paul referring to when he uses the words, ‘in like manner?’
• The preceding verses consist of the hope which helps to sustain us in the midst of the groaning of both humanity and creation as we both together wait in hope for the fullness of redemption.
• Hope sustains us and in like manner, the Spirit comes along side us to sustain us to.
• And so, ‘the Spirit also helps us’.
• He helps us to wait but He also helps us to pray.
• The Greek word ‘helps’ means to undertake together, take part with, assist.
• The word is a double compound, common in Hellenistic Greek, and refers to support or assistance through cooperation (συν-) and simultaneously representative (-αντι-) aid.
• The picture the word ‘helps’ conjures is one where two people are working together at the same job or the same task.
• The word oozes in the strength of cooperation.
• The Holy Spirit will help you.
• But it’s a joint effort.
• He will not do the task for you.
• You pray and the Holy Spirit comes alongside you to help you pray.
• The Holy Spirit will not do your praying for you but He will help you do it.
• This cooperative effort in the area of prayer is no different than any of the other Jesus commandments involving the Great Commission.
  • The Holy Spirit will not heal people but He will help you do it.
  • The Holy Spirit will not build the kingdom but He will help you do it.
• Together believers in Jesus are co-workers on the same task.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1 gives us this sense.

2 Corinthians 6:1 (KJV)
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

• We can think of this concept in terms of moving a table.
• You pick up one end, the Holy Spirit ‘helps you’ by picking up the other.
• Martha used the same word in Luke 11:40 when she asks the Lord to allow Mary her sister to come and ‘help’ her.

Luke 10:40 (KJV)
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

• Martha wanted her sister to come and take the other end of the ‘table’.

How Does the Spirit Help Us?

• First, He helps our infirmities.
• The Greek word ‘infirmities’ means lack of confidence, timidity, weakness or feeling of inadequacy.
• In what area is this feeling of inadequacy?
• Paul says for we know not what we should pray for as we ought.
• Paul isn’t implying that the church at Rome was prayer-less.
• Paul conveys that when a believer engages in prayer, his major weakness is a lack of knowing what to pray for in the situation he finds himself in.
• This problem can only be rectified supernaturally.
• It cannot be remedied by being ‘in better command of the facts’.
• You may know all you think you need to know in prayer and still come up short.
• God has joined together the dynamic duo of a believer praying and the present help of the Spirit of the Lord.

Call to Action:

The way to access the Spirit’s help in the prayer arena is to look to Him for it. Before you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to aid you. Listen to His gentle voice and obey the promptings of your heart.

Question: In what way has the Spirit of God helped you to pray? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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