Daily Bread – January 30, 2021 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) Romans 8:26 – And in like manner also the Spirit helps our frailty; for we do not know what we need to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes with inexpressible groanings. The intercession of the Spirit is described as inexpressible groanings. The expressions of the Spirit were first manifested in the Bible as prophecy – God speaking His Word through man’s mouth under the inspiration of the Spirit. In the New Testament, when the Holy Spirit came upon the believer other languages came forth as rivers of living water (Acts 2:1-4; John 7:38-39). Furthermore, the necessity of praying in the Spirit is repeated often throughout the New Testament. The Holy Spirit is the One Who has come to lead us and guide us into all truth. He is the One Who is making things known to us that Jesus was unable to communicate (John 16:12-15). His coming and subsequent intercession was the sound of other languages, or the languages of men and angels (Acts 2:8-11; 1 Corinthians 13:1, 14:1-39). The command to pray in the Spirit extends from 1 Corinthians 14 to Jude 20. Although, praying in the Spirit may extend to speaking by the Spirit or prophesying, it certainly excludes much of what Christians today would have us believe is prayer – which in fact is little more than their own minds expressing frustration, anxiety, and remorse. The prayer of the Spirit has a sound and an inspiration that is produced by the Holy Spirit Himself (Acts 2:4, 10:45-46, 19:6; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1,14; Ephesians 5:18, 6:18). The Greek word translated groan, or sigh (stenagmous), refers to a deep inward emotion. This is captured in Paul’s usage of the word in 2 Corinthians 5:2, where he refers to the deep desire he has to put off the earthly tabernacle that he might be clothed with the heavenly one. Romans chapter eight reveals that the Creation groans, the redeemed groan, and the Spirit groans within the believer (Romans 8:22-27). The corruption that is in the Earth causes the Creation to groan; the corruption of a corruptible body causes the redeemed saint to groan; and the weakness of the believer causes the Spirit to groan. While we consider the relationship between Creation, the saints, and the Spirit, we must first recognize that while the saints are still in a corruptible body they have been delivered from the spiritual corruption coming from sinful lust (2 Peter 1:3-4; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18). To understand what these groanings (or deep sighs) are, we must also keep it within the context of the joy and rejoicing that has been brought to us by the Holy Spirit. Now knowing that this particular word to ‘sigh’ or ‘groan’ is set as an opposite to the joy in Hebrews 13:17, we are dealing with something that grieves, and/or troubles, the Holy Spirit. We also observe a similar expression when Jesus prayed for the deaf mute who was vexed with such an affliction (Mark 7:34). When we consider this treasure of the Holy Spirit we have been gifted with, we must recognize that the most sacred realm of Heaven only belonging to God has been placed within us – God’s Holiness (2 Corinthians 4:7; Mark 3:29). There could be nothing more opposite to the Holy Spirit, or grieving to the Lord, than for us to allow things contrary to His Holiness in our thoughts, emotions, passions, or attitudes. Thus, the Holy Spirit groans for the sake of holiness in our lives and the weaknesses of the holy ones that would allow anything other than that which belongs to the divine nature and the holiness of God in their lives. The Holy Spirit guides us, directs us; reproves, corrects, convinces, convicts, and produces godly sorrow in us; teaches us, leads us, urges us, prompts us, and inspires us into every dimension of the will and nature of God. If you walk by the influences (the promptings, urgings, unctions, and inspirations of the Holy Spirit), you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh – sin and iniquity (Galatians 5:16, 25; 1 John 3:9, 5:18). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 1/30/2021
