Prayer Aid
Griffith Baptist Church – 7/27/08
A.M. Service
Text: Romans 8:26-27
Key verse: Romans 8:26 - 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.
The Introduction
Little Johnny had been misbehaving and was sent to his room. He emerged a couple minutes later and informed his mother that he had thought things over and had even said a little prayer. The mother was very happy and said, “If you asked God to help you not misbehave, He will help you.” To which Johnny replied, “Oh, I didn’t ask Him for help with that, I asked Him to help you put up with me.”
When we pray, we ask God for some pretty amazing things. We expect one answer and He gives another and we are uneasy with His answer
What we often forget is what is going on behind the scenes and the Holy Spirit is involved
It is called, intercession.
Incidentally, please, do not get confused with the intercession of Christ and the intercession of the Spirit:
o The intercession of Christ is in relations to sin in our life - 1 John 2:1 - And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (see also Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25)
o The intercession of the Spirit is in relation to our prayer life (the text
We need to look at the Holy Spirit in this passage as somewhat of a rescue worker, He gives aid
We all need aid:
o When we have to go to court for something major, we need the aid of a lawyer
o When we are sick, we need the aid of a doctor
o When we don’t hear well, we need a hearing aid
o When we cut ourselves, we need a band-aid
Aid is a good thing. It is something or someone we can rely on when we cannot help ourselves
In this passage, we are told our prayer life sometimes needs help.
This is great, it is God in action on our behalf
Please don’t take offense, but sometimes we need to have our prayers idiot-proofed
Transition Statement: First, why do we need help in our prayer life?
Body
1. Why Do We Need Help?
A. Our Weaknesses
i. All weakness is not created the same. At a nursing home in Florida, a resident group was discussing ailments: "My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee," said one. "Yes, I know, my cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee," replied another. "I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck," said a third, at which several others nodded weakly. "My blood pressure pills make me very dizzy," another went on. "I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old," winced an old man. There was general agreement and a short moment of silence ensued. "Well, it’s not that bad," said one woman cheerfully. "Thankfully we can all still drive!"
ii. infirmities - of the soul – lack of strength and capacity that is required
a. to understand
b. to do great things for God
c. to restrain corrupt desires
d. to bear trials and troubles
iii. We should learn that our weaknesses are a gateway to God’s strength - 2 Corinthians 12:5-10 - 5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
B. We don’t always know the exact, perfect will of God
i. We are limited in our understanding of everything pertaining to our life
ii. “what ye should pray for as we ought” (26) with “according to the will of God” (27)
iii. We don’t know how to pray sometimes
iv. EXAMPLE – James and John’s mother asks that her two sons have a high position in the kingdom, and Jesus answers - Matthew 20:22 - But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
a. Sometimes we ask for something and we don’t know what we’re getting into
b. The Holy Spirit has unlimited vision and can help us
C. Inability to pray for the right things in the right way
i. “what we should pray for as we ought” – it is not the how but the what
ii. Sometimes we find it hard to express our thoughts to God
a. Prayer does not have to be pretty
b. Prayer does have to be respectful – we are talking to a Holy God
iii. Verse 27 says “according to the will of God”
iv. according = a preposition denoting motion or diffusion or direction from the higher to the lower
a. All answers flow from the perfect will of God to us
b. Jer. 29:12-13; John 14:13; James 1:5-6; 1 John 3:21-22; 5:14-15
Transition Statement: Second, how does God make provision through the Holy Spirit to provide this help?
2. How Do We Get Help?
A. The Holy Spirit’s intercession
i. This is, in reality, the editing of our prayers
ii. intercession = signifies to apply one’s self to a person in behalf of another
iii. The Holy Spirit is intimately involved on prayer -
a. Ephesians 2:18 – For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
b. Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
c. Jude 1:20 - But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
iv. The Holy Spirit acts to reinterpret our prayers so that they are acceptable to God
v. How does He do this?
a. With sighs, or that deep feeling and intense anxiety which exists in the oppressed and burdened heart of the Christian.
b. groanings that cannot be uttered – cannot be expressed in words
c. Sometimes prayers are too deep for words - Psalms 55:1-2 - 1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
B. The Holy Spirit’s knowledge
i. We do not have complete knowledge. Hopefully, we know more than the folks in this story. It seems that there was a New England high school teacher that taught a course entitled The Bible as Literature. Only seniors in the top 10 percent of the class could take this course. A pre-test was given to evaluate the students’ biblical knowledge. One student defined the Epistles as "wives of the Apostles." A pastor was so humored by this answer that he shared it during his next sermon. One of the church members approached him afterwards and asked, "If the Epistles weren’t the wives of the Apostles, whose wives were they?"
ii. 1 Corinthians 2:11 - For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
iii. This is perfect knowledge of:
a. Our needs
b. Our wants
c. Our future
iv. In accordance with God’s will
a. God’s will is not based on our desires but on His
b. He sees our heart, so He knows us in every respect - Psalms 38:9 - Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
c. He examines the heart - Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
d. He sees and knows what is going on inside where no one else can see - 1 Samuel 16:7 - the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Transition Statement: Last, here is how it applies to us; the result of the Holy Spirit’s help.
3. What Is The Result Of The Help?
A. Confidence in prayer
i. When we know that the Holy Spirit is helping us in prayer:
a. We do not have to fear that our prayers are not perfect
b. When we do stumble for words or thoughts, we always have one who will complete and transform our prayers into something good and acceptable
c. That the Holy Spirit is a constant friend and helper
ii. Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
B. Perfect answer to prayer
i. A young boy went to the local store with his mother. The shop owner, a kindly man, passed him a large jar of suckers and invited him to help himself to a handful. Uncharacteristically, the boy held back. So the shop owner pulled out a handful for him. When outside, the boy’s mother asked why he had suddenly been so shy and wouldn’t take a handful of suckers when offered. The boy replied, "Because his hand is much bigger than mine!"
ii. God’s hand is bigger and better than ours and when we take our hands out of it and He answers, it will be the best.
iii. The will of God is always perfect
iv. On our end, we must submit to the answer the Father sends
Conclusion:
Do you hold back your prayers because you feel inadequate?
Maybe you feel that you don’t phrase things to God’s satisfaction.
All God asks is that we do our best and be honest in our prayers, not fancy.
When we are stumped for what to say or how to say it, it is encouraging to know that the Holy Spirit is helping us with deep groanings before God.
Be a person of prayer, go straight forward and confident in God.
He hears you more and better than you could ever imagine.
