(Romans 8:26-27) O, God, Hear My Prayer!

Nathan Sehi

Romans • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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A common miss conception about prayer is that our prayers must be perfect before a Holy God. But Paul makes the point that even when we don’t know what to pray … the Holy Spirit is there to strengthen us and take our prayers to God. We can be confident God always hears the believer’s prayers because the Holy Spirit intercedes and approaches God with our prayers. Even when we don’t have the wisdom to know God’s will … the Holy Spirit is there communicating our prayers.

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INTRODUCTION:

What if you had a catastrophic event today?

Something that crippled you with fear and anxiety.

It is catastrophic enough -

you don’t know how to fix this

or maybe even how to pray.

ILLUSTRATION:

I remember feeling like that at one point in my life.

I had just left activity duty - and about a month into my new job.

I remember I had left activity duty - and about a month latter started a job.

It wasn’t my favorite job - but it really was an ideal job in terms pay and hours.

It worked well for about a month … and then I walked to work and was told

I was stunned.

I remember going home … and crying on the steps in my house.

And not knowing what to do or what to say.

I remember think -

I didn’t do anything wrong.

I was as wise as I could reasonably be.

I was trying to be faithful to God.

In time like that - what do you look to >>>> too carry you through?

What could p

What help is there for there scared and overwhelmed Christian?

One answer might be my fellow Christians …

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

This is why church is not optional … we need each others help.

Galatians 6:2 ESV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

This is why each of us need to be a faithful member of a local church … we need each others help.

That is a great source for help.

And we here at Bethel ought be in the business of helping each other bear the burdens of life.

but at that point … I didn’t really have a church to look too.

We had just moved and only attended a church a few times.

Although we were faithful at looking for a church … we really hadn’t had enough time to find a church.

So I am alone, and I have no Christian friends near by.

I knew >>>> A passage we would look at next week.

But let’s be honest … sometimes you feel like you need more.

Without denying the sufficiency, the help of the Word, the wisdom of Scripture …

Let’s be honest - sometimes Scripture feels like a band aid trying to cover up a gushing head wound.

And this passage teaches us … that there is one thing we cannot find in our Christian life >>>>>>>> if all we do is read our Bibles.

Don’t get me wrong >>>> the Christian should have a Scripture Saturated life.

But our faith is more then just reading a book.

What can’t we get by only reading and knowing Scripture -

A relationship with God.

Scripture speaks of hope …

Scripture gives us great insight ...

Scripture can comfort us …

But knowing

The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer is an indispensible help and comfort when we hurt the most.

The Help of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture testifies of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit often uses Scripture.

But the Scriptures are not the Holy Spirit.

The Scripture have power and meaning … because of the Holy Spirit.

And everything

Who would you call?

And I don’t mean who you would inform!

And I don’t mean who must be informed!

But who is going to help you through this

Look at the wonderful words of Paul this morning, .

Romans 8:26–27 ESV

26 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. 27 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.

We learn from Paul that -

PROP: Through Prayer the Holy Spirit Helps Us In our Weakness.

TRANS: And this text teaches us three ministries of the Holy Spirit that help us in our weakness.

(SLIDE ONLY)

Some,

Important thematic ideas from previous paragraph:

Hope in the future promises of God.

Suffering with Patience.

As we begin here, I want us to remember the last paragraph.

There are two themes that I think become important for understanding Paul's point in this paragraph.

- In the last paragraph, a major theme is in hope of God.

God has promised us the day when

creation and

our bodies will be redeemed.

“Glory”

That is > a day when we will no longer face futility and pain in this life.

- And it ends in a challenge in verse 25 >>> to wait with patience.

But let's be honest,

it's hard to do that.

ANALOGY:

When you're hurting… The hope found in God can often feel hundred miles away.

>>> It is not the God's promises are any more or less true…

But we are struggling with remembering and hoping in the promises of God.

In fact… What is the hardest part about being patient?

Waiting.

It is hard to wait on the promises of God when you are groaning in pain.

And when we are scared, and overwhelmed – it's really hard to hope patiently in God.

And God knows that.

We have to have a place in our faith for… Weakness.

That's right, you heard me say it… It's okay at times to struggle in your faith.

That doesn't mean you don't love Jesus

and it doesn't mean you're a heretic…

That doesn't mean you don't love Jesus and it doesn't mean you're a heretic… And you're not weird it had normal.

And you're not weird

and abnormal.

Because notice what are passage starts out with.

V. 26 - “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness"

Romans 8:26 ESV

26 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.

Many times we are afraid to admit that we are struggling in our faith.

ANALOGY:

We live in a fasod that every one of us are zealots ready to die to the end for God… While the reality is many of us (all of us) are at times weak in the knees and trembling in our faith.

In fact,

God expects us at some point to be weak.

>>>>>>>To not be able to stand on her own.

Which is why God doesn't leave us alone.

Despite the power of the cross… Jesus left us comforter.

He gave us a comforter

and one of the reasons he did was because he knew at times we would be weak and struggling in our faith.

WARNING:

My caution at times of struggling isn't weakness,

but the danger of short circuiting our faith by failing to look the one who was supposed to help us when we hurt.

There's not a danger in being Weak.

Because were supposed to be weak and depending upon God for his strength.

The danger is choosing unbelief when we should get on her knees in prayer.

- is a passage that teaches us the importance of praying when we suffer.

- The importance of praying when we are weak and struggling in our faith.

The importance of praying when we are weak and struggling in our faith.

And as we understand the context of this passage -

we realize God expected at times to be so weak >>>>> we don't even know what to pray to God.

>>>> Have you felt like that?

{{{{For some of us that might be a shock to think that the Christian could be at a point

For some of us that might be a shock to think that the Christian could be in a point where he struggles and doesn't know what to pray, but I would suggest from this passage Paul that this was the part of the normal Christian life.

....... where he struggles so much he doesn't know what to pray, }}}}

he doesn't know what to pray,

but I would suggest from this passage Paul that this was the part of the normal Christian life.

Perhaps not an everyday part … but a normal part.

After all, remember Romans was addressed to a church he is never been to.

So Paul is not addressing some unique problem in the church of Rome… But a problem that is common to every Christian.

And so you and me ought to expect at times to tremble in our faith.

But when we tremble >>>>>>>Paul tells us how to get the help that we need.

But when we tremble Paul tells us how to get the help that we need.

Where do we get the help that we need>>>> according to this passage we get our knees and pray.

This passage teaches us three ministries of the Holy Spirit that happens when we pray.

First,

He helps us first -

1) The Holy Spirit Helps us Bear our Burdens.

V. -26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

1) The Holy Spirit Helps us Bear our Burdens. ( )

The words that are passage translates "help" is an interesting word.

We might try to limit this to simply to the idea of comfort.

But I think this word communicates more than that.

a) The Greek translation of the Old Testament uses this word to describe Moses apointing 70 elders to help him ()

b) This word again is used in

's word again is used in

Psalm 89:21 ESV

21 so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.

When David lacks strength,

When David lacks strength God provided by taking over the burdens of his weakness.

God provided by taking over the burdens of his weakness.

In fact the well-known evangelical scholar Grant Osborne described it this way -

"While some take this specifically to be weakness and prayer it is better to take this more generally of our human fraility." (Grant Osborne, IVP New Testament Commentary)

"While some take this specifically to be weakness and prayer it is better to take this more generally of our human fraility." (Grand Osborne, IVP New Testament Commentary)

So according to this verse,

- When we pray the Holy Spirit literally gives us the strength to bear the burdens of our weakness.

- The Holy Spirit helps sustain us and strengthen us when were to weak to carry on.

The Holy Spirit helps sustain us and strengthen us when were to meet the carry on her own.

One of the reasons it's okay to be weak is

because God is there to strengthen us and sustain us.

In fact,

Psalm 89:21 ESV

21 so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.

This means

This verse understand the word but to live dependent upon God.

- we are to live dependent upon God.

- Were not supposed to have the strength to do this on her own…

- Were supposed to look to God for the strength to handle the most desperate moments.

May I say it practically this way,

quit trying to be strong enough and start looking to God to make it through.

Too often,

We bear burdens we don't need to carry.

Too often, we bear burdens we don't need to carry. Burdens the all wise God knows we can carry on her own.

[[[[[[Burdens the all wise God knows we can’t carry on her own. ]]]]]]]]]]]

When you're overwhelmed and scared… Pray because God literally gives you strength through your prayers.

But further - This passage teaches us

2) The Holy Spirit Translates our Prayers. ()

ILLUSTRATION:

There is a popular movie that is came out in the last few years and in that movie son and a father who just can't communicate.

The father of loves his son deeply… But is one of those men a few words.

And in one of the dramatic moments in that movie is when the sun makes a translator for his dad.

That translator would take the words of dad and communicate them in a way the son can understand.

That translator would take the words of dad every communicate them in a way the sun can understand.

He would say son and not know what to say.

And the translator would say what he felt >>>> son I love you and I'm proud of you.

It is a point of the movie where most of us can connect with because we all recognize there are times when were not very good at communicating what we truly mean.

And Many times that is the way with God.

Many times that is the way with God.

Because of our sin nature… We often pray selfishly.

Because of our limited foresight… We often pray foolishly. We don’t have the wisdom to ask God for what we should ask God.

Because of our pride… We have no idea really how to approach the creator, the ruler of heaven and earth.

Even further… At times in suffering >>>>>when you're so overwhelmed you don't even know what to say.

- Our prayers become more tears and groaning then wisely formulated prayers.

- When your particular situation is such a mess you're not even sure what is best.

When your particular situation is such a mess you're not even sure what is best.

As our text describes it, looked down at verse 26.

"And likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought"

a) We don’t know how to pray.

Is it possible for a finite (which means a created being limited by time and space and wisdom)

Is it possible for a finite person to know how to pray to an all-powerful, all wise God.

ILLUSTRATION:

On a side note,

this puts a nail in the coffin of ever thinking our prayers will be formal or holy enough.

Remember talking to a friend of mine in high school who was a Catholic.

I had only been saved a year or so and had a chance to tell them about Christ.

And one of her struggles was how Protestant evangelicals pray.

In one of their struggles with a Protestant evangelical faith is how we pray.

That may have sounded like a Piest thought,

and she said >>>>> I like the prayers the priest give me because they help me pray appropriately to a holy God.

The problem isn't the realization we need to pray humbly and soberly before God – but that she thought that any sinner could pray appropriately to a holy God.

That even a formalized prayer could ever be acceptable before God.

The solution to praying before a holy God isn't formal man-made prayers.

Focusing in particular on the context of your passage.

That are particularly the context of this passage. When you're hurting and you don't know what to pray for… What you do?

When you're hurting and you don't know what to pray for… What you do?

When your situations so much of a mess your not sure where to start.

When the situation seems so impossible you don't know how you're going to get through it.

When the situation seems so impossible you don't know how you're going to get through it..

Summarized – when you don't know how to pray.

Just like our passage says - when you don't know how to pray.

How do we pray to God and know our prayers are heard.

A little closer to the context here, the solution to prayer

And this passage gives us a comfort because

b) The Spirit utters for us.

Look down at your text consider Paul's answer to that question - how do I pray when I don't know what to pray for

V. 26 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we not know what to pray for as we ought to, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."

According to our text,

we don't know what to say or we say the wrong things….The Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

The word interceding is the idea of pleading for someone.

This is the idea of a royal advisor speaking on our behalf.

If tomorrow … you were given an all expense trip to speak to the Queen of England -

Would you know how to properly speak to the Queen.

Would know the formal customs and how to say it.

And my guess - is that nearly all of us would have no idea how to talk to the king.

So what would you do?

We might ask royal advisor who does know how to speak to the queen to speak on our behalf.

We might ask royal advisor who does know how to speak to the King to speak on our behalf.

To plead our case before the queen.

To plead our case before the king.

So that are desperate message would be heard and understood.

Think of the Holy Spirit as our advocate who communicates our requests to God … because we don’t know how to talk to God.

The Holy Spirit here pleads before God with groanings too deep for words.

What does that mean?

b) The Spirit utters for us.

We might understand these groanings is being a pleading of our case that is to elevated, holy, and intense then what we are capable of as believers.

When you're hurting and you don't know what to say… Simply say it the best of your ability... Because the Holy Spirit is then going to take that request and plead it before God with perfect holy, passion on your behalf.

ILLUSTRATION:

It is like the scene from the movie that I talked about a few minutes ago.…

In other words… We know God hears our prayers because the Holy Spirit leads them in the perfect and right way before our loving father.

We speak with

finite wisdom,

finite words,

and perhaps even gibberish that doesn't even make sense because were hurting.

Thirdly.

And Holy Spirit translates that request to God in the wisdom, and holiness, and respect that it should have.

[[[In other words… We know God hears our prayers

c) The Holy Spirit makes sure are prayers are understood and communicated.

>>>>>because the Holy Spirit pleads them in the perfect and right way before our loving father. ]]]

Romans 8:27 ESV

27 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.

In other words… We know God hears our prayers because the Holy Spirit leads them in the perfect and right way before our loving father.

And the third ministry -

3) The Holy Spirit Approaches God for us. ()

Romans 8:27 ESV

27 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.

Paul begins verse 27

by reminding us the God the father already searches and examines and knows the heart of every living person.

Sometimes in suffering we wonder if God even knows?

Sometimes and suffering we wonder if God even knows?

Let me put it this way,

if God examines every heart >>>>> then he certainly knows that your heart is groaning in pain.

And so the one who knows your heart Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, interceding before us.

And so

the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) is interceding for us .... to the one (God the Father) who knows your heart.

The word interceding here is a different word from the one in verse 26.

While v. 26 has the idea of pleading to God, this one has the idea of approaching God.

Admittedly there very similar…

Admittedly there very similar… But the first has the idea of the Holy Spirit speaking on our behalf.

But the first has the idea of the Holy Spirit speaking on our behalf.

To put it crudely - This has the idea of the Holy Spirit walking in and asking God for help on our behalf. (The idea of approaching)

This has the idea of the Holy Spirit walking in and asking God for help on our behalf.

ILLUSTRATION:

If you've ever been around important people,

one of the hardest things to do is get five minutes with them to plead your case.

While I was working in the Navy … I begin to work on a project of national significance.

I remember

And it was ultimately briefed to the president.

That was a really big deal … why?

Because the President is an important person … and most of our work would never be seen by someone of that importance.

Considering were talking about the ruler of heaven and earth… It's not that he doesn't have time, but that God is so much holier than us that the Holy Spirit approaches the throne room of God on our behalf and says God the father one of our believers in Jesus died for his hurting and has a request.

Now - consider when we pray we are talking to the ruler of heaven and earth.

One of my favorite names for God because of what it describes.

It is a common name from Ezra and Nehemiah to describe God.

CAVEAT:

Now let’s be careful here -

The difficulty of getting 5-minutes before the throne of God is not a matter time.

Does God have time for me?

Of course he does … he is the all-powerful, and all-present God.

The problem - is that he is the most majestic, powerful being the world … and whom am I to have his attention at all.

Psalm 8:3–4 ESV

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

… It's not that he doesn't have time, but that God is so much holier than us that the Holy Spirit approaches the throne room of God on our behalf and says God the father one of our believers in Jesus died for his hurting and has a request.

Because he's God the father searches our hearts and he understands the purposes and the intent of the Holy Spirit… Paul's point is that our prayers are heard.

You might ask the question, just like David -

Who am I that God would answer my prayers?

You might think that God would never answer the prayers of someone like you!

I know what sin I have done.

I know this mess is my fault … I made this mess that I am groaning about.

Until this last year or so fourth … I never gave God the time … so why would he answer my prayers?

I am nobody special…

Or just - I am nobody special … so why would God pay attention to me?

But Paul teaches us - the Holy Spirit approaches God for us.

Part of the great blessing of trusting Jesus Christ as your savior .... is that the Holy Spirit approaches our Majestic God with our prayers.

Consider the incredible picture that Paul has here.

You're hurting,

your suffering,

you're on your knees overwhelmed.

You don’t know what to pray

Your so we you don't know if you can carry on... Much less have the faith and trust no one believe that God is answering your prayers.

Your hurting so much you don’t know how to carry on... Much less have the faith and trust to believe that God is answering your prayers.

Be comforted …

, Because we know that the Holy Spirit is sitting there and approaching God and saying one of our believers in Jesus Christ, but one who he died for, is in desperate need for help.

because even in that weakness …

the Holy Spirit is approaching the ruler of Heaven and Earth and making requests on your behalf.

Even when you are too weak to know what to say before the know the Holy Spirit right there advocating and pleading your case.

CONCLUSION:

A passage like this reminds us - not to forget the third person of the Trinity.

And everything

Who would you call?

It reminds us that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is not merely a doctrine to know and defend … but a doctrine with incredible truth for our lives.

And I don’t mean who you would inform!

A passage like this reminds us - not to forget the power of prayer in our lives.

And I don’t mean who must be informed!

So often we pray because we ought to … but we are missing is the strengthening and comfort that comes when we pray.

But who is going to help you through this

According to this passage -

PROP: Through Prayer the Holy Spirit Helps Us In our Weakness.

TRANS: And this text teaches us three ministries of the Holy Spirit that help us in our weakness.

1) The Holy Spirit Helps us Bear our Burdens. ( )

2) The Holy Spirit Translates our Prayers. ()

a) We don’t know how to pray.

b) The Spirit utters for us.

3) The Holy Spirit Approaches God for us. ()

This passage should teach us that it is OK to be weak.

That weakness has a place in our faith.

In fact - if you never experience weakness in your faith … then you might question whether you are really depending on God or yourself.

We can expect at points in our life … to be so weak

- we don’t know what to do.

- we don’t know what to pray.

- we can’t even pray coherently because we keep breaking down in tears.

And that is ok.

Even in the midst of weak, shortsighted, barely communicated prayers … the Holy Spirit is right there to strengthen us and to bring our prayers to the Father.

I challenge us to leave here … looking to God through our prayers.

All we

Response:

a) Why is prayer important during suffering? What does “weakness” teach us about the Christian life? (v. 26a)

b) Why do we often believe we need formalized prayer, or pray hard enough to God?

c) How does this teach us the opposite? Why is this a comfort in suffering? (26b)

d) Why is it unbelievable that God would hear our prayers? How does the ministry of the Holy Spirit help us approach God?

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