Intercession on Behalf of the Saints

In Romans chapter 8 we read where the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints: Rom. 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. 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.” We are told that the Spirit helps us with our infirmities. Certainly, we have many infirmities as we dwell in this tabernacle of clay. For these infirmities we often find that we do not know what to pray concerning them. We are assured in that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf with groanings that cannot be uttered. Nevertheless, Christ hears us as He knows the mind of the Spirit and blesses us with those things that we need.

God is very mindful of the infirmities of His covenant people. He often intercedes on their behalf:

1. Judg. 2:18 “And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.”

2. 2 Cor. 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.”

3. Ex. 3:6 “Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

Personally, I know that it is a great comfort to me to know that as I go into more and more infirmities in my life, that the Spirit is interceding for me and that God hears my groanings and helps me in the midst of those groanings.