1) The Spirit Intercedes for Us

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV)

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

“the Spirit works within believers during their sufferings to prepare them for conformity with the image of the crucified and resurrected Christ (8:28–29), i.e., to share his glory (8:30). The Spirit “helps” believers in the weakness of their current bodily state (cf. 6:19; 8:3; 2 Cor 12:9); just as Israel’s groans in suffering counted as prayers (Exod 2:23), so the Spirit offers an inarticulate prayer when believers are pressed by the hardships of the current age. The prophetic Spirit leads (8:14) and assures believers that they are God’s children (8:16), and also inspires prayer to God (8:15), though the “prayer” in 8:26 may be one that believers do not always even recognize. As the Spirit intercedes within believers (8:26), Jesus intercedes for them at God’s right hand (8:34). The Spirit who knows God’s heart (1 Cor 2:11) prays “according to God” (Rom 8:27), an idiom used elsewhere (cf. 15:5; 2 Cor 7:9–11) for what accords with God’s will. Believers never have to worry about the efficacy of this intercession, because it is born from God’s own presence within them (8:27), working to bring about his purpose (8:28). (Jewish people often spoke of God who “searches hearts.”)”

Craig S. Keener, Romans, New Covenant Commentary Series (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2009), 107–108.

“8:26–27 As it is hope that carries us through our times of suffering (vv. 24–25), so it is the Spirit who comes to our aid when we find ourselves unable to pray as we ought. Paul said that the Spirit “helps us in our weakness.” In context that weakness is our lack of understanding regarding prayer.184 Prayer has always been one of the great mysteries of the spiritual life. We understand that God is listening, but we sense our inadequacy when it comes to knowing how to pray or exactly what we should pray for.”

Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 186.

2) Jesus Intercedes for Us

Hebrews 7:23-25 (ESV)

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[b] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

These verses provide a clear contrast between the Levitical priests and Christ “our great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14). The levitical priests died, were replaced, and their sacrifices were always lacking when compared to the enduring and steadfast and fully atoning nature of Christ.

“to make intercession—There was but the one offering on earth once for all. But the intercession for us in the heavens (Heb 7:26) is ever continuing, whence the result follows, that we can never be separated from the love of God in Christ. He intercedes only for those who come unto God through Him, not for the unbelieving world (Jn 17:9). As samples of His intercession, compare the prophetical descriptions in the Old Testament. “By an humble omnipotency (for it was by His humiliation that He obtained all power), or omnipotent humility, appearing in the presence, and presenting His postulations at the throne of God” [BISHOP PEARSON]. He was not only the offering, but the priest who offered it. Therefore, He has become not only a sacrifice, but an intercessor; His intercession being founded on His voluntary offering of Himself without spot to God. We are not only then in virtue of His sacrifice forgiven, but in virtue of the intercession admitted to favor and grace [ARCHBISHOP MAGEE].”

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 458.

3)We are called to intercede for others

We learn so much from the example of the Holy Spirit and Jesus…how they intercede for us and this sets the stage for our intercession for others. Most of us would probably willingly acknowledge that it is comparatively easy to pray for the needs of others (sometimes easier than praying for our own needs).

James, the half-brother of Jesus, speaks to the nature of praying for others:

James 5:16 (ESV)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Our prayers within the context of community should include confession and prayers for healing (freedom, the meeting of needs, etc…)

Confession:

“When confessing sin, there is no room for reliving it in the retelling. There should not be anything sensational about the mutual confessing of sin, nothing that feeds sinful desire (cf. 1:14). Confession should entail only humble acknowledgment of the act of sin and the joy of release from the offensiveness of those acts”

Kurt A. Richardson, James, vol. 36, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997), 237.

Praying for one another (not merely the job of an Elder:

“The prayer of faith (cf. v. 15) is not exclusively a prerogative of the office of elder but is a shared responsibility among the members of the church”

Kurt A. Richardson, James, vol. 36, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997), 237.

To intercede on behalf of others is not to exercise our own will but to submit to God’s will for us…when we pray we may ask for a specific outcome but in our submission we acknowledge that God’s plan and purpose is greater than our own perspective.

Matthew 5:44 (ESV)

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

“The true test of genuine Christianity is how believers treat those whom they are naturally inclined to hate or who mistreat or persecute them. Whatever emotions may be involved, “love” here refers to “generous, warm, costly self-sacrifice for another’s good”

Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 114–115.

Questions:

1) Have you experienced a time when you were unable to pray, a time when you were reliant upon the Holy Spirit to pray on your behalf? Share your experience as means of helping others to consider this more fully.

2) What impact to the prayer of the Holy Spirit have upon your expectation that God hears prayer that are lifted for you?

3) Now, consider the intercession of Christ on your/our behalf: Looking back on the notes from the second point, how does Christ’s intercession evidence His love for you/us?

4) Now consider James 5 (as it relates to the prayers if the faithful/righteous person): Do we recognize the power of our prayers? Do we lift them with hope and expectation that God will hear and answer? Why or why not?