Holy Spirit in Our Weakness

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
(Romans 8:26 NIV)

The Holy Spirit’s role is to help us in our weakness. The Holy Spirit is gifted to us because we are empty and weak. The work of the Holy Spirit has given us the strength to live up to today. When we are weak and wrestling with sin, we need the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is gifted to us because God so loved us. Whatever we have done or have not achieved, it does not lessen or increase God’s love for us. His love is sufficient for us. 

The Holy Spirit is gifted to us in our weakness for three purposes: 

1. To build our spirit
Holy Spirit builds our spirit in two ways:

  • The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26a)
    Building our spirit does not mean becoming someone who associates everything with the spiritual notion; for example, claiming to hear God’s voice and prophesying everywhere. That is not it! The purpose of building our spirit is so that the truth does not become mere knowledge. Build a relationship with the Holy Spirit, not just for the experience. Build your spirit and become someone who is truly strong in Christ spiritually, not religiously.

  • The Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8:26b)
    The Holy Spirit prays? Isn’t He God? Why does He pray?
    The Holy Spirit does not pray so we do not need to. Instead, He prays alongside us and guides us in our prayers.

2. To anoint our prayer through the gift of tongues
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a Grace to anoint our prayer through the gift of tongues. Having the gift of tongues does not make us more spiritual, immune to sin, nor unable to sin, instead, it enables us to pray beyond our capability, as referred to in Romans 8:26b.

In addition, we become aware of God’s guidance through experiences, decisions, understandings, awareness, feelings, intuitions, as well as skills. What we receive through our prayers in the morning becomes our provision throughout the day. With hunger and thirst, ask for the gifts of the Spirit, and He will fill us.

3. To invite God’s plan
“And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all this God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:27-28 NIV

If we invite the Holy Spirit in our prayers, then our prayers will not be self-centered, instead, our prayers will be inclusive.

If we want to experience God, then we must include others. The Holy Spirit wants His Kingdom to come and His Will to be done in our lives.

Many “coincidences” will occur when we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives.

Why do we need to be strong in the spirit? Because what God is about to do will require us to be spiritually strong.

Excerpted from Ps. Philip Mantofa's Sermon, 27 May 2020, YouTube & Instagram Live.
https://youtu.be/4mHgwixkKTE