“The Holy Spirit, Our Helper” (Romans 8:26–27)

“The Holy Spirit, Our Helper” (Romans 8:26–27)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday AM, March 11, 2018

Romans 8:26–27 (NIV)
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

1. The Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak (26).

2. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know what we should pray for (26).

3. The Holy Spirit prays for us in accordance with God’s will (27).

Several applications:
1. We are not alone in our times of weakness and suffering. God is not only all around us and ever-present, but in a very special sense, God is within us through his Holy Spirit.

2. We have an advocate in prayer, who intercedes for us and prays for us. But the implication is that to fully avail ourselves of this precious ministry of the Spirit, we must pray.

3. We don’t have to be overly anxious about whether we are asking God the right thing or are praying the right words to God. The Spirit is praying for us. He is praying for us in line with the will of God.

4. This ministry of the Holy Spirit is a further ground of our assurance that we are children of God. Just as the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children, so too his inner intercessory ministry is a gift given only to those who are God’s in Christ.

Main Idea: God has not left us alone. He has given us his indwelling Spirit to help us and to pray for us in our sufferings, weaknesses, and limitations.