Some Key Words (10/3/00)

Helps (sunantilambanomai [4878]):

to lay hold along with, to help in obtaining, to take hold with another; to assist, cooperate

Weakness (astheneia [769]):

to be weak, infirm, sick, spiritually weak in faith, poor, indigent, powerless; lack of strength, frailty, feebleness of health, lack of requisite capacity to understand or do; malady, moral frailty, feebleness of mind or body

Know (eido [1492]):

to know intuitively rather than experientially, to perceive, understand, know how and be inclined to do; to perceive with the senses, to notice, discern, to turn the attention to, observe, to know the force and meaning of that which has definite meaning, to be skilled in; to see or know

Intercedes (huperentugchano [5241]):

from the dictionary: to mediate as a friend between persons at variance. This is the interceding of verse 26.

Groanings (stenagmos [4726]):

a groaning, a sigh; a sigh

Deep (alaletos [215]):

not uttered, not expressed in words; unspeakable

Searches (ereunao [2045]):

to study; to seek, to investigate

Hearts (kardia [2588]):

the heart - representing the seat of thought, reasoning, understanding, will, judgement, and affections, the innermost part; the seat of physical life, the center of all physical and spiritual life, the soul or mind, the faculties of intelligence and understanding, the will and character, the central or inmost part; the heart, the thoughts or feelings, the middle

Mind (phronema [5427]):

the thoughts and purposes; the inclinations

Intercedes (entugchano [1793]):

to fall in with, to hit upon a person, to go meet for purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication, to pray or entreat, to make intercession for someone; to chance upon, confer with, entreat

Saints (hagios [40]):

those set apart and sanctified, consecrated, devoted to God's service, sharing in His purity and abstaining from earthly defilement, morally clean; a most holy thing, a saint; sacred, physically pure, morally blameless, and ceremonially consecrated

 

Paraphrase: (10/3/00)

26 With that same fervent hope, the Spirit helps our weakness - waiting for what is not yet to be seen in us - because we don't really know how to pray. So the Spirit intercedes for us in ways beyond what words can say. 27 And Christ, who knows our hearts, knows also the mind of the Spirit, because His intercession is in accord with the will of God.

Key Verse: (10/3/00)

8:27 - The One who knows our hearts intercedes for us according to His will. He, Himself will bring the change we so need.

People Mentioned: (10/3/00)

N/A

Some Parallel Verses (10/3/00)

8:26

Mt 20:22 - James and John didn't realize what they were asking for. 2Co 12:8 - Paul repeatedly sought God to be free of his fleshly thorn. Jn 14:16 - The Father sent us the Spirit to help us, and He remains with us forever. Eph 6:18 - Our prayers should always be in the Spirit, and should be for all the saints.

8:27

Ps 139:1-3 - God knows us intimately, down to our thoughts in waking and in sleeping. Lk 16:15 - No matter how we may impress men, God knows our hearts, and really doesn't care about the appearances. Ac 1:24 - As God knows the heart, He alone ought to be trusted to choose our leadership. Rev 2:23 - God searches the mind and heart, and will give each what is truly their due.

 

New Thoughts (10/4/00)

In verse 27, we are told that He seeks and investigates our thoughts, judgement, will, and affections; that He knows (intuitively) what the Spirit's intentions and purposes are, because the Spirit consults and entreats God for us according to God's will. My first reading of this said that 'He' clearly referred to Jesus, but now I'm not so sure. I'm also not so sure that it would make a great difference to the point of this verse if 'He' referred to Jesus, the Father, or the Trinity, although I think the last is ruled out by context. It also doesn't have any impact on the presence of a unified Trinity in the act, for we know from the very next paragraph, in verse 34, that Christ also comes between man and God as a mutual friend bridging our variance, also according to God's will. I ask again, if God has willed that our differences be bridged, if He has sent forth not only His Son to bridge that divide, but also His Holy Spirit, if both Son and Spirit are even now interceding on our behalf in one accord with the Father's most holy will, how can we doubt the inevitable outcome? Will God ignore His beloved Son? The very one whose obedience transcended death? Will He ignore His own Spirit, the heart and voice of His very essence? Do we still dare to think that our will is going to change anything? Do we still dare to think that our weakness could maybe prevent God's will from coming to pass? His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That will be a lot more comfortable for us if we align our will with His, but it will be done nonetheless. Father I thank You once again for the work You have ordained in me. I thank You that You have ordained this work in ALL who believe You. I thank You that in Your great wisdom, You have made provision for our great weakness, that You have sent to us Your Holy Spirit to plead through our weakness. I rejoice to know that Your Son, my Lord, Jesus died for me, as much as every other son or daughter who has been added to Your family. I thank You, that I can rest assured that even when my foolish flesh is betraying me, the Holy Spirit within me is pleading with You on my behalf. I thank You that there is more to prayer than words. I thank You that there is more to the Spirit than tongues. I thank You that there is more to You than we'll ever know in this place.

Here's a challenge for us: Ephesians 6:18 points out that our prayers should always be in the Spirit. I know I've felt the difference between a hollow prayer that in the end is nothing more than words spoken out of a sense of obligation, and the powerful prayer that is inhabited by the Spirit of God. I've failed entirely too often in that aspect, and I remain thankful for the corrective actions of my Father in that regard. Yet, that's just half of the instruction given. The other half of the verse points to the fact that our prayers should always be for all the saints! How often do our prayers extend to those outside the walls of our house? How often beyond our own church? Our own town? Pastor was speaking about this just last week, and frankly, the percentages were disheartening. I challenge myself, and any others who might be reading through here, to change perspective. I challenge us to remember the Church - the real and whole Church - in our prayers, in all our prayers. I challenge us to remember God's will for this world in our prayers, rather than our wants and needs. What is my head-cold in the face of eternal damnation for millions of unrepentant people? What is cancer in the face of such a truly deadly concern? What is AIDS? It's all nothing, for we gain nothing if we obtain the whole world and lose our soul. How can I keep myself reminded of this greater scope? Perhaps a giant print out of "ALL" on the wall? I don't know, but God, I pray that You would send a spiritual reminder to all Your children to remember all Your children - those in the fold, and those still lost - in their prayers, and get out of this self-focused trap.

One final note regarding upcoming elections. Read Acts 1:24. The apostles did not choose their leadership, they allowed God to choose. We should do no less. This is something I think all are clear on when it comes to church leadership, but we've bought into the foolish misinterpretation of separation of church and state that permeates our country today. We stop short of asking God to choose our political leaders. Shame on us! No wonder we get the leadership we get. Father God, I ask You to reveal Your desires for the upcoming elections to Your people. I pray for holy boldness in our spiritual leadership to guide us to a proper Christian approach to democracy. I pray that You remind us to fight on our knees for the wellbeing of this country, rather than wasting our energies on foolish programs that accomplish little to nothing. The prayers of the righteous accomplish much, mighty to tear down strongholds. I pray for the unity of Your Spirit to invade Your people and cause us to be a people of prayer, a tower of refuge in this sad country.

It's time to stop lowering ourselves to the standards of our politicians, and instead raise up God's standard of righteousness!