"The Spirit Intercedes For Us"

Romans 8: 24-28

24) For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

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.

27) 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.

28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

T

he scripture admonishes us that along with the wisdom that we need to acquire, we must not neglect understanding. No doubt, the Lord is so adamant about this because it is virtually impossible to be saved when one does not understand exactly what one has.

Being "saved" carries with it the implication that one has been "liberated" from something. In this case, of course, man is saved from the bondage of sin to be raised to new life. By virtue of the Comforter, salvation is ministered through the Comforter. God, being the "paraclete," stands beside us and dwells in us to help us through the tricks, traps and "mazes" that the devil would put before us.

Along with the internal help coming through the means of the indwelling Spirit, He intercedes on our behalf, implying the very active role that He takes in the salvation of Man. For it is not as if He invests in us His Spirit, but then, leaves us to our own "devices". The Lord is a very present help Who, in His position as the Paraclete, promises to abide forever. As advocate, He further extends Himself by looking after our best interests.

With all of this heavenly help and wisdom available to us, why are we so insistent upon gaining our own "human" understanding of what is allowed to come our way? You see, in that all the Lord does, His aim is to get us to change the "wrong" in ourselves that we might be fit for Heaven. In other words, our "adverse" situations are to change our reactions to non-reactions—which will cause a change in ourselves.

The point for which we are brought to the Lord is for us to take care of the work of the Lord. We are taught many things concerning the Lord and salvation, but service is usually at the bottom of the list. Much more is advanced about the love, blessings and gifts of God.

Now, even though we are expected to work in the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit also reciprocates by working for us. He keeps things as simple as possible by dealing with us about our own responsibilities. As one matures in Him, he comes to realize that the responsibility for oneself is just about all that an individual can handle. In that we have power only over ourselves, it is important that we finally grasp the liberating truth that maintaining personal requirements for others will always lead to disappointment—ours, in others and others' in us.

It is a good thing that the Spirit intercedes for us as He does, because all too often, we are completely consumed with ourselves, leading us to be very selfish in what we ask of Him. You know, the "Bless me, Lord," and "Give me more" prayers, instead of "Lord, please help me to hold my peace." It would be to the advantage of most of the people of God for us to learn to keep our mouths shut!

The only way that we will ever get the full benefit from the intercession of the Lord is that we learn to allow Him to do His "job"! As He works for us, His decisions are based upon what is in our own best interest.

In that He is the anointing and that anointing bypasses human understanding, He is able to do the same. This is the way that we will be best served by the Spirit and the means through which we will be made meet for Heaven.