For We Know Not What We Should Pray For As We Ought

TRANSCRIPT

I greet all of you in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As believers, we know we ought to pray as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” But have you ever experienced a situation whereby you do not know what you should pray for, or how you should pray? You are unsure if you should pray in this way or in that way. We would often end our prayers with praises or with verses like, “If it is Thy will” or “May Thy will be done,” right? Why do we do that? Because we know that God’s will is perfect and if God’s will is perfect then we will want His will to be done in our lives.  

But the moment we are sick, the moment we are going through some difficulties or in trouble, our immediate human response is to get out of the situation. So we will pray that God will deliver us and if He does not do that, we would be discouraged and disappointed to say the least. And we would be murmuring and complaining, even though we know in our hearts that it may be God’s will for us to go through the affliction, or even to die due to some terminal illness. In times like this we may pray, “If it is Your will” or “May Your will be done” but we do not really mean what we say, or what we say is not what we mean.

In moments like this, what should we do? This is what we want to learn from today’s passage. Allow me to read for you Romans 8 verse 26 to 27, “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. 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.”

The title of our message is “For We Know Not What We Should Pray For As We Ought.” The word likewise refers to the preceding verses. It is all about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. For example, verse 9 tells us, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Verse 17 to 19 says, it is the Holy Spirit that assures us that we are God’s children and enables us to cry out “Abba, Father.” And then Paul went on to talk about the believer going through suffering. And as believers go through suffering, there may come a point in time whereby he struggles to pray.

As in, he may not know how he ought to pray, what he should pray for. He may be so weak that he is not able to articulate his prayers. In such times, who is the one who will help him to pray? - The Holy Spirit. Basically, the Holy Spirit indwells in us if we are believers. The Holy Spirit assures us that “we are Christians – we are God’s children”. The Holy Spirit empowers us especially in times of suffering, and the Holy Spirit also helps us to pray. That is just how important the Holy Spirit is to each and every one of us.

I. The Spirit Is Our Helper

Our first point is: “The Spirit Is Our Helper.” Let us look at the first part of verse 26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.” The word “infirmities” means weaknesses. It is important for us to know that Paul was not talking about sin. Being weak is not a sin. It is true that we are sinners and often sin is a hindrance or barrier in our communication with God. David said in Psalm 66 verse 18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Isaiah the prophet said in Isaiah 59 verse 2, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” But here Paul was not talking about sin; he was speaking our infirmities, as in our human weaknesses, our human frailties – physical, emotional, spiritual.

For example, physical weakness – remember in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus had instructed his disciples to stay awake and pray with him, but they fell asleep because of their physical weakness. That was why Jesus said to them, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Another example of our human frailty is our ignorance, our lack of understanding. That is why the Apostle Paul says, “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought to.” Although he did not elaborate our inabilities to pray, as we ought to, nevertheless, it would include everything – our imperfect understanding, our finite minds, our spiritual limitations. Often times we are not even aware of our spiritual needs – do you agree? – let alone pray for our spiritual needs to be met.

Take a moment to consider all those people who have left the church and no longer attend church anymore. There was a time when they were attending church every Sunday without fail, and then they would miss certain worship services, their attendance became irregular and finally they stopped worshipping on Sundays altogether. It did not happen all of a sudden, but over a period of time. This drifting away from God is not all of a sudden; it could be six months or even one year. Do they know of their spiritual needs? No, they don’t. Otherwise they would have prayed for repentance.

If you were to ask them, “Is there anything I can pray for you?” Probably they would say to you, “Yes. Why not? Someone pray for me? Why not? Please pray for my children to be blessed. Pray for my work that I may be promoted or pray for my holidays.” But they will never mention anything about drifting away from God. We think we know but the reality is that we don’t: even our prayers are messed up.

Notice the phrase “as we ought to.” In other words, there is a right way in which we should pray and if you look down to verse 27, that right way is “according to the will of God.” Since God’s will is perfect, therefore we should always pray in accordance to His will. But the problem is our infirmities, our human weaknesses, our human limitations - we are not able to understand what we should pray for. We do not understand what is truly God’s will for us and for others when we are praying for them. It does not mean that we are always praying against God’s will – that is not what I meant.

Sometimes, we pray according to His will by God’s grace, and other times we pray against His will - something that is contrary to His will. The point is that we are incapable of praying in absolute consistency with God’s will at all times. But if we really understand God’s will, we know that it is perfect and so we would desire to pray according to His will. Another thing to take note of is that Paul says, “our infirmities,” which means he included himself – he identified himself with us. In other words, this is not something that only new and immature Christians would experience, but even the greatest saints would experience this same struggle.

Most certainly we would all agree that the apostle Paul was a powerful preacher, right? He was an evangelist, a church-planter and perhaps the greatest theologian in this world. And yet, he did not always know how best to pray. For example, he knew that God had allowed this thorn in the flesh to be inflicted unto him by Satan. He knew that that affliction was meant to prevent him from being proud, but after a while, Paul became tired of that infirmity and he earnestly pleaded that it be removed. Three times he pleaded with God that it might depart from him, until God had to say to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Give you another example: Elijah in the Old Testament. He was bold and courageous. He was the one who challenged the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, and by God’s provision he was victorious. Yet, immediately after that victory, he fled into the desert, fearing for his life because the wicked queen Jezebel had threatened to kill him. There in the desert, he prayed that God would take his life. Can you imagine that? Elijah – that man whom we all knew as bold and courageous, who was so strong that he could challenge the false prophets of Baal all by himself, yet he cried out to God and said this, 1 Kings 19 verse 4, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”

My friends, even the greatest saints, people like apostle Paul, Elijah have had this same difficulty – “for we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” That is why every believer, whether a pastor, a preacher, an elder, deacon or an individual Christian needs the Holy Spirit, to help him or her to pray. Without which we would not be able to pray. Let alone pray according to the will of God. The original Greek word for “helpeth” is very interesting, it is a combination of three words. The first word means “with” or “together with.” The second word means “In place of.” The third words means “to take” or “to remove.” When you put all these three words together, it refers to a person coming alongside you to take hold of the heavy burden and help you to bear it.

Remember this verse is about prayer. On one hand, we are going through certain trials and struggles, on the other hand, we are ignorant as to how we ought to pray in the right way. So, the Holy Spirit comes alongside and helps us to carry this burden. This reminds us of out Lord Jesus describing the Holy Spirit as “the comforter.” The word comforter means the same thing – one who comes alongside another to help.

My friends, perhaps this morning you are experiencing certain afflictions. It could be a medical condition and you are in great pain, or it could be a family issue. Some of your family members may be in some difficult situation, or it could be an emotional struggle and you are very depressed. So you are troubled, you are heavily burdened. At the same time you want to pray in the right way and to do the right thing, but it seems impossible. Do you think God does not know? He knows everything about us. In such a time like this, the Holy Spirit will come and the Holy Spirit will empower us and help us not just to carry this burden, but also to help us to pray – in accordance to the will of God.

II. The Spirit Is Our Intercessor

Our second point is: “the Spirit is Our Intercessor.” Look at the second part of verse 26, “but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” An intercessor is someone who pleads on behalf of someone else. The Holy Spirit helps us by pleading our case before God when we do not know how to do it. One of the best illustrations of intercessory prayer in the Bible is that of Jesus – when He told Peter that Satan wanted to sift him like wheat. Jesus said, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,” Luke 22 verse 32.

Peter did not know what to pray. In fact, he did not even know that Satan was targeting him. Most likely he wasn’t even praying at all, but Jesus prayed for him, and Jesus’ prayer was answered. As a result, Peter was strengthened, we all know that. Later on he went on to serve the Lord faithfully and even died as a martyr. That does not mean that you and I should just sit and do nothing, and have no responsibility to pray, ‘just leave it to God’. No, it does not mean that. The word “helpeth” and the phrase “maketh intercession for us” tells us very clearly that it is our responsibility to pray and when we are unable to pray, that is when the Spirit of God will help us. The Spirit of God will intercede for us; the Spirit of God does not eliminate our need to pray regularly and fervently. It is our responsibility.

What is the meaning of “groanings”? This word has caused a bit of a controversy, allow me to briefly explain. For example, the charismatic would like to use this word “groanings” to support their tongue speaking. They would say things like this, “See, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray with groanings.” That means to pray in an unknown tongue, to pray in an angelic language that people may not understand. But my friends, that is not true because the phrase “which cannot be uttered” means unspeakable. It means something that cannot be spoken out, it cannot be expressed with words. So this verse cannot be used to support tongue speaking.

Some people think that it is the Holy Spirit who groans. We know that the Holy Spirit is God – the third person in the Trinity. Nothing is impossible for the Holy Spirit. Nothing is too difficult or too heavy for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is able to articulate His concerns at all times - He does not need to groan. Martin Lloyd Jones emphatically said this, “God the Holy Spirit does not groan. It is impossible for every reason.”

If it is not the Holy Spirit groaning, then it must be the Christian. But how often do you and I come to a point whereby we do not know how to articulate our prayers in words so much so that we groan? When was the last time you groan? How does a person groan? What does a groan sounds like? The question or the list of questions goes on and on. In order to have a better understanding of what Paul was trying to describe for us here, allow me to turn with you to verse 22. Look at verse 22, let me read for you, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” That verse speaks of the whole creation groaning the redemption because of the corruption of sin.

But how does the creation groan? The inanimate creation, the trees, the plants, how do they groan? It is not possible. You see the context is not about groaning as in making a sound, but rather the idea of struggling. The idea of bearing a heavy burden – that is the idea. One theologian gave this illustration. Supposing you need to carry a heavy burden, a heavy load, let’s say like a piano. And you have someone who volunteered to help you and that helper comes alongside you and then says to you, “wow, the piano is very heavy. You should not have bought the piano in the first place. They should not have made piano that heavy. You should have hired the professional piano movers, or you should have learned guitar instead of piano because guitar is much lighter.”

When you are struggling with a heavy load, probably that is the last thing you want to hear. You do not want a helper chattering all the way, you want a helper who is willing to come alongside you quietly groans with you and help you to ease the burden. It is not about words, it is about bearing the burden – that is the whole idea of making intercession with groaning, which cannot be uttered.

Remember the Holy Spirit is extremely important to us. He indwells in us, He assures us that we are God’s children, He empowers us and He helps to carry our burdens and intercede for us in prayer. In fact, at every moment of our lives we need the Holy Spirit to sustain us. When you and I are saved, we are justified at the point of our conversion. And everyday of our lives, we are being sanctified. One day we will be glorified. But in the process of this sanctification, we are being sustained through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. We are being sustained through our Lord Jesus continual intercession for us as the great High Priest.

Both Christ and the Holy Spirit are interceding for us, there’s no contradiction in that. The reason why there is no contradiction is because the Holy Spirit is also known as the Spirit of Christ. If just for one moment, Christ and the Holy Sprit were to stop their sustaining intercession for us, you and I would be eternally lost. And it is impossible. It is impossible because Jesus said, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” John 10 verse 28.

Let us move on to look at verse 27. “And he” a reference to God the Father, “that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he” a reference to God the Spirit, “maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” God searches the heart of man - this is taught throughout the Holy Scriptures. In the Old Testament, when the prophet Samuel was told to select a successor to King Saul, the moment he saw one of the sons of Jesse, Eliab. He immediately said, “surely this is the Lord’s anointed.” But God told Samuel, God said this, God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

In the New Testament, when the disciples were trying to decide whether it would be Joseph Barsabas or Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot, they came together and prayed. This is what they prayed, Thou Lord which knoweth the hearts of all man without exception. You are God, you know all men and what is in their hearts, show which of these two Thou has chosen (Acts 1:24). God searches the hearts of all man. If God knows the heart of men, how much more does he know the mind of the Spirit?

God the Father knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking when He intercedes for us, according to the will of God. The will of the Spirit and the will of the Father is always in line, they never contradict each other. My friends, if one day, you were to receive one of the most devastating news you have ever receive in your entire life. It could be regarding your son or your daughter, or your parents, or your own life. The moment you receive the news you will be at a lost of words.

You will not know where to start praying from. You will not know what to say, you will not know how to end. You will be probably weeping and sobbing, you cannot stop crying, or you will be just sitting there staring up into the heavens in total silence. Though the words may not come out, but the Holy Spirit is able to make intercession for you. The Holy Spirit is able to carry all your burdens unto God. So much so that it will be as if God will say to you, “I know my child, you don’t have to say anything. You can be sobbing and crying. You can be sitting there in total silence, yet I know everything about you because I know the hearts of men. And I know the mind of the Spirit who is interceding for you. I know everything.”

Many years ago, I had a Christian friend who did not understand English. One day, he received a medical report from the hospital. He did not understand what was written on it, so he asked me to read for him. I did not understand all the medical terminologies but I noticed a phrase at the end of the letter. It said, “counsellors to speak to the patient about the issues of life.” I was very uncomfortable about that statement, so I asked him whether I could accompany him to his appointment, next appointment. And he was very happy, so we went.

At the doctor’s appointment in the office there was the doctor, there was also a counsellor. And the doctor said to my friend, “you had fourth stage advanced cancer and it has spread everywhere, and the prognosis is you have about nine months.” There was total silence. Everyone was quiet. We were all very nervous. I look at my friend, he close his eyes. I knew he was crying to God in prayer. That was the only thing he could do at that point. No words came out, nothing came out of his mouth, but I knew in my heart that he was praying.

It was so uncomfortable. Everyone was quiet. After quite a long period of time, all of a sudden he opened his eyes, he smiled and he said in mandarin, “This world is not my home. I am just a-passing through. I am going to a better place.” How do you think he’s able to do that? If not for the wonder working of the Holy Spirit, no words. Nothing came out from his mouth. Yet it could be articulated, I would say, in perfection to the almighty God who hears, answers and empowers.

My friends, there may come a time whereby we do not know how we ought to pray. What we should pray for, what is God’s will for us? There may come a time whereby all we could do is just cry, or all we could do is just keep silence and look up into heavens. But do not be afraid, that which we do not know the Spirit knoweth – the Spirit does. The Holy Spirit indwells in us; the Holy Spirit assures us that we are God’s children. He will never forsake us, He will never forget about us. The Holy Spirit empowers us. He carries our burdens. He comes alongside us and groans together with us.

The Holy Spirit helps us to pray. When the Holy Spirit helps us to pray, He will help us to pray according to God’s will. Why? Because the Holy Spirit understands the will of God perfectly. When He does that God will answers. God will answer. God may deliver us from that affliction, but even if God does not deliver us from that affliction, He will give us the strength to go through it. Remember Daniel’s three friends? Nebuchadnezzar the king threatened them and said, “If you do not worship my gods, the Babylonians gods. If you do not worship the golden image that I have set up, I will throw you into the fiery furnace.

What did the three friends said? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they said, “my God will deliver us from the fiery furnace. My God will deliver us out of your hands, King Nebuchadnezzar.” Then they went on to say this, “even if my God does not do that, we want to tell you this – we will not worship your gods.” Where did they get the strength from? From none other than the Spirit Himself. My friends, God will give us the strength. The Lord be gracious to everyone of us. Let us pray.

Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for this passage that Thou has enabled us to consider, that we are able to draw lessons from Thy precious, infallible, and inerrant Word. Help us not to just hear Thy word, help us not just to read Thy word like the way we deal with the literature of this world. It is the Word of God. And help us to apply Thy word through the wonder working of Thy Spirit into our lives. Indeed this blessed morning Thou has reminded us about the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Holy Spirit indwells in us; the Holy Spirit enables us to cry out to God, Abba Father. Assures us that we are God’s children. The Holy Spirit empowers us and helps us to carry our burdens. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray in accordance to Thy will. Thy will is perfect. And if Thy will is perfect, oh Lord, we want Thy will to be done in our lives, whatever it may take. We want Thy will to be done, and we mean it with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our strength. For we believe that Thou who knoweth all things, knoweth what is best for us. And if it is Thy will, whatever it may take, even death, Thou would give us the strength even to go through the dark valley. We give Thee thanks for Thy goodness, for Thy grace and mercy showers so abundantly upon our lives. We pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SERMON OUTLINE

• I. The Spirit Is Our Helper
• II. The Spirit Is Our Intercessor

THE BOOK OF ROMANS

The Love of Christ

The Love of Christ

Romans 5:6-10

Christ’s Resurrection and Me

Christ’s Resurrection and Me

Romans 8:9-11

For We Know Not What We Should Pray For As We Ought

For We Know Not What We Should Pray For As We Ought

Romans 8:26-27

A Reasonable Service

A Reasonable Service

Romans 12:1-2

Morning Devotion 1

Morning Devotion 1

Romans 12:1

It Begins with Sincere Love

It Begins with Sincere Love

Romans 12:9-13

Message 4: To Fight the Good Fight of Faith is to be Patient in Tribulation

Message 4: To Fight the Good Fight of Faith is to be Patient in Tribulation

Romans 12:12

Awake from Your Slumber

Awake from Your Slumber

Romans 13:11-14

Awake from Your Spiritual Slumber

Awake from Your Spiritual Slumber

Romans 13:11-14

Longing For ‘Likes’?

Longing For ‘Likes’?

Romans 15:1-7