Paul has been reviewing the many blessings that belong to true believers - to those who are "in Christ Jesus: (Rom 8:1). In doing so, he shows us that we receive many of these blessings, or an appreciation of them, through the working of the Holy Spirit within us. What are some of these blessings?
- There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set us free from the law of sin and of death (Rom 8:1-2)
- This is because the requirements of the law are fulfilled in us, who walk according to the Spirit (Rom 8:4)
- We have life and peace, having our minds set upon the Spirit (8:6)
- We have the Spirit of God dwelling in us (this is the distinctive seal that shows we belong to God) - therefore we are no longer "in the flesh" but "in the Spirit" (Rom 8:9)
- Therefore our spirits are alive and our bodies (dead because of sin) will also be made alive (Rom 8:11)
- The Spirit leads us to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom 8:13)
- The Spirit dwelling in us shows we are adopted into God's family and enables us truly to address God as our heavenly Father (Rom 8:15)
- The Spirit works in us to assure us of our interest in all these spiritual riches, and of our sonship (Rom 8:16)
- We therefore also groan, eager to receive our full adoption when our bodies are redeemed out of the corruption that binds all creation, but that is destined to be fully reversed by the results of the death of Jesus on the cross. (Rom 8:17-25)
In the light of these things, perhaps what Paul says next should come as no surprise - the Spirit also helps us in our praying (Rom 8:26-27). Being finite and sinful creatures, it is impossible that we can invariably know the mind of God in order to pray according to His will in all circumstances. We are weak, and perhaps nowhere do we sense our weakness more than when we come before Almighty God and bring our requests with our "poor, lisping, stammering tongue" (as the hymn writer calls it). Nowhere are we so aware of our inadequacy, of our unworthiness to ask God for anything, of the corruption that still seeths and bubbles deep within our hearts, polluting even the best and most noble of our petitions.
But this is where the comfort of this passage comes in. God knows our condition and has not left us to wallow about in the mire. He has provided a Comforter, a "paraklete" (one who is called alongside to help) to help us in our weakness! This One knows the mind of God and the weakness of man and through the work of Christ, He labors to make our prayers effective and in alignment with God's will. He does not do this because of our worth, but Christ's, not because of our fine eloquence but because of the relationship with God that we have been brought into because of what Jesus did. The hymn writer puts it so well:
There is a way for man to rise
To that sublime abode
An offering and a sacrifice
A Holy Spirit's energies
An Advocate with God.
In other words, God has supplied us, through Christ, with everything we need for life and godliness. All these things are ministered to us by the indwelling Spirit and He is the one upon Whom we must depend when we come to God in prayer.
When we come to our prayer times and our prayer meetings this week, let's remember this. It is not by our might that we will breach the walls of heaven so that blessing may be poured out - it is by the Spirit Who has been sent to help us in our weakness. But if this Holy Spirit, who knows the thoughts of our Father in heaven, dwells in us, strengthens us in our weakness and guides us as we pray "in the Spirit", what confidence we may have that our prayers will be answered by the One we address as "Abba, Father" by that same gracious Spirit!