“Interceding Work of the Holy Spirit” - Romans 8:26-30
“But I prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)
Three aspects: Personal, Relational, Communal
1. Personal: Helping and interceding for personal weaknesses.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (v.26)
Mental Illness & COVID-19 (CAMH–Canadian Association Mental Health, Oct. 2020)
“There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.” (Isaiah 64:7)
“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (v.30)
2. Relational: Searching and restoring our hearts.
“And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (v.27)
3. Communal: Centering community power through prayer.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (v.28)
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
“Lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.” (1 Timothy 2:8b)
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)
