If there is any passage of Scripture I can say was my Dad’s favorite over all others – it is today’s section of Romans. It stands out as the pinnacle of comfort and security of Believers. It is truly unparalleled. 

But one aspect of this portion which seldom gets its due, either in preaching and teaching or even in the ordinary Believer’s mind -is 26-30 -and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in intercession.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in intercession for the Believer is a most neglected doctrine. Neglected to the genuine loss of much comfort in our pains, trials, sorrows and griefs. And, it serves as a grand template as to how we might best pray for one another. When you don’t know how to pray from someone else, the 3 ways He intercedes for us give us a marvelous pattern to follow.

So first, know this Christian, if no one in all the world knows your needs and prays for you, the Holy Spirit does. And as indwelling you, He knows your needs with the searchlight of infinite, intimate knowledge, and infinite compassion.

He knows you better than you know yourself.

Second, What is this great WILL of God for us which the Spirit must assist us in praying for? This thing which is labeled here – as an intercession “according to the will of God?” It is the answer as to why is it that all things work together for the good to those who love Him. Because we are called according to His PURPOSE which is: TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON.

In this, He wants better for us than we want for ourselves. Our pleas are often so temporally located, so immediately. His, deeply, spiritually and eternally.

Third, note how this is an indication of the depth of the Spirit’s groanings on our behalf, not ours. These are not our utterances but His. And this cannot be connected to the gift of tongues – for these groanings are too deep for utterance – and tongues is an utterance. But this is how He so agonizes on our behalf. He knows our real needs, we do not. He knows how desperate we are, we do not.

He loves us better than we can love ourselves.

When we don’t know our need well enough even to groan, He does. And can any imagine that the Spirit who was sent from the Father and the Son to us and for us will not be heard when He groans on our behalf? Indeed He will. And we will bear all of the benefits. 

This then, because the Spirit intercedes for us is why:

1 – We can be assured that all things the Christian faces will ultimately work together for our good. (v. 28)

2 – We can be assured that God’s goal of ultimately conforming us to the image of His Son WILL be accomplished. (v. 29)

3 – Why we can be assured that if He is for us, nothing can ultimately be against so as to conquer us. (v. 31)

In rising from the dead, Christ ascended to send us His Spirit. And if He so loved us as to die for us, ascend for us and send the Spirit for us – how is there any possibility those ransomed by His blood might be lost and condemned? (v. 34)

Impossible!

And then – as if this is not enough – Jesus Himself in His resurrection is at the right hand of the Father – in the place of absolute power and authority – and He too WITH THE SPIRIT, adds His own intercession on our behalf.

Weak, weary and discouraged Christian – look up. You are well provided for. You temporary woes – as great as they may be in this moment – are in no way comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us in due time. (v. 18)

Trust Him.