The Spirit's Help
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"Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what to pray for as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26
The apostle had been comforting and cheering the Lord's people, under their trials and troubles, by the hope of the glory which God has provided for them, and which the gospel has presented to them; which hope upholds and animates the Christian's bosom, and enables him to press on through the much tribulation. It preserves him from looking back, or turning aside to the right hand or to the left.
Now, for the same purpose, he sets before them the agency and operation of the Holy Spirit, saying, "likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what to pray for as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).
As hope gives patience and support under sufferings—in the same way does the gracious help of the Holy Spirit.
Our Need of the Spirit. We are infirm, and we are afflicted—and painfully affected therewith. Just as was the apostle, only in a less degree, who said, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak—then I am strong!" 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ."
Paul felt his weakness; but he also turned his infirmities to account, by going to Jesus for strength to bear them, and believing that his power would rest upon him. He felt that he was not sufficient of himself either to do or bear; but he found that his sufficiency was of God.
Just so, we are weak, our infirmities are many, and we cannot do the things that we would.
We are weak to withstand evil, which works powerfully within us, and sometimes as powerfully outside us. This leads us to cry out at times, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members."
Not only weak to withstand evil—but weak to perform good. The least precept, without divine assistance, requires more than we can do; therefore we are sure to fail—either in the motive, the manner, or the aim of every action. The law is spiritual, and requires a spiritual obedience; which, without the Holy Spirit, poor fallen human nature is unable to perform.
We are also weak to obtain benefits. Though plainly promised, though deeply needed, though many have already been received—we still need the help of the Spirit to enable us to succeed at the throne of grace.
As we are weak and infirm—so we are ignorant and distrustful.
As the Jews were—so are we; and therefore our High Priest must have the same qualifications which theirs had. "Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness."
Jesus, our High Priest, can have compassion on the ignorant, for he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. In consequence of our ignorance, like the two sons of Zebedee, too often we know not what we ask. We are apt to be blinded by self-love, and lose sight of the claims of others, as also of the glory of God. We consult the flesh, study worldly gain, and neglect the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ. At times we are so filled with confusion—that we do not know what we want, or what will be best for us!
At other times, we are so harassed with temptations that we cannot collect our thoughts, fix our affections, or grasp the promises we ought to plead. Sometimes, when we have yielded to bad temper, or some way have fallen into sin—guilt burdens the conscience, bewilders the judgment, darkens the understanding, and closes the mouth! We cannot pray; all we can do is to sigh, groan, and condemn ourselves, crying out, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!"
From these, and a variety of other causes, we know not what to pray for as we ought, and therefore deeply and painfully feel our need of the Spirit's help; which leads us to notice—
The Help of the Spirit. "The Spirit himself;" not merely the word he has inspired, or an influence he may exert—but "the Spirit himself helps our infirmities!" Never let us lose sight of the fact that the Spirit is a person—a divine person; and therefore, by virtue of his divinity, he can be present with, and dwell in each and every one of the saints, be they as numerous as they may. He helps our infirmities:
by stirring up the mind to feel the need of prayer, and to approach the Lord in prayer;
by suggesting what mercies are needed, and what promises may be pleaded;
by throwing light upon the state of the heart, upon our covenant relation to God, upon the position and priesthood of Christ, and upon our welcome to the throne of grace—as it stands in God's gracious invitation;
by inflaming and exciting the affections, which give fervency, energy, and importunity to our prayers;
by imparting power and boldness, so that we take hold on God, wrestle and prevail with God—even as Jacob of old did.
He helps our infirmities, which are often wearying, and therefore need an antidote; which led the apostle to say, "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." The psalmist appears to have sunk into this state, which led him to say, "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favour again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
This weariness, you see, is apt to produce dejection and depression of spirit, which leads to fainting; therefore the church at Ephesus is commended: "You have borne, and have patience, and for my name's sake have laboured, and have not fainted." And the Hebrews were exhorted "not to despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when rebuked by him." In such cases, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, we obtain strength.
"In the day when I cried—you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul." He helps our infirmities in prayer, not always by supplying us with words—but by exciting desires, sighs, and groans, which are not uttered. In these the power of prayer consists; and these are produced by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit.
He helps us to bear the burden that is laid upon us; opens the way for us to approach unto God; and performs the part of an advocate or intercessor, enabling us to carry our cause.
He helps us, for we painfully feel that we cannot support ourselves. Like Job, we should soon give way, and may be addressed as he was: "Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you—and you are discouraged; it strikes you—and you lose heart." When we feel our need of supernatural assistance, then comes the Spirit, and we are strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man.
Thus we are enabled to hold on and hold out, and prove what Paul said to the Corinthians: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
He helps—not does all—but assists us in doing, bearing, praying, and persevering; therefore with David we say, "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart! Wait, I say, on the Lord."
See, then, the OFFICE of the Holy Spirit. He is an intercessor, advocate, or comforter—for the word includes all. Jesus intercedes for us—as our great high priest before the throne of grace; and the Holy Spirit intercedes in us. Jesus pleads, presenting his precious blood; and the Holy Spirit pleads, producing groans which are not uttered, and sometimes such as are unutterable. As Jesus displays his love by interceding for us in heaven—so the Holy Spirit equally displays his love by interceding in our hearts. If the intercession of Christ in heaven is a reality—and so is the intercession of the Spirit in the heart. If the interceding Saviour is a person, so is the interceding Spirit.
See, also, the work of the Spirit to help us poor infirm creatures—to help our infirmities. This he does by teaching and leading us into the truth:
by teaching us to know ourselves, our Saviour, our Father, our standing before God, and our many exceeding great and precious privileges;
by directing us to look away from ourselves and our infirmities, and to look to Jesus, and to Jesus only;
by directing us to the throne of grace, there to pour out our hearts, leave our burdens, and obtain grace to help us;
by quickening us when dull, drowsy, and weary; and stirring us up to run our race, face our foes, and plead with our God;
by producing confidence and courage in our hearts, giving courage to the faint, and in those who have no might
increasing strength.
O blessed work! O gracious and glorious Comforter!
See Your Need of the Spirit. If you do not feel your need now—you soon will, if you are a real Christian. Yes, you will need the Spirit:
to excite and draw forth your desires in prayer;
to relieve your mind and comfort you in suffering and sorrow;
to help and instruct you in prayer.
All through life, and in the hour of death, we shall need the Holy Spirit to make intercession for us. Nor is the work of Jesus more necessary for our acceptance with God—than is the work of the Spirit to sanctify and enable us to persevere.
See the design of the weakness and trouble you experience. They are intended:
to drive you to God;
to strip you of self;
to bring you to rest only on Christ; and
to prove to demonstration your need of the Spirit's office and work.
Blessed weakness—which leads us to Christ, and brings the power of the Spirit into our hearts!
Blessed trouble—which endears the Saviour, and teaches us to live out of self—upon our God!
The prayers of the godly come from God. When God breathes upon us—we breathe toward him. The Spirit within us—leads us to Christ outside us; and through Christ we have access to the Father.
There is no true prayer—without the whole Trinity. If we worship the Father acceptably, it is through the Son; and if we worship the Father through the Son, it must be by the teaching and power of the Holy Spirit. We worship the person of the Father—through the person and mediation of the Son—as the effect of the personal operations of the Holy Spirit.
See, then, the full provision made for us. All that we could possibly need—was devised by infinite wisdom, provided for us in the everlasting covenant, and is revealed to us in God's inspired word. A throne of grace is erected: that throne is always accessible; before that throne Jesus the great high priest and intercessor stands; on that throne God, as our heavenly Father, is seated.
(N.B. The last page of this article is missing!)
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