A lesson by Pastor John Skaggs

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

P.O. Box 1447, Claypool, AZ 85532

520-425-8345 or 520-402-9134

Email: pastorjohn@gila.net

Date: 02-6-00

Sermon Number: 041

Lets begin our study today by reading John 14:16-27 NASB. "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you FOREVER; {17} that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. {18} "I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS; I will come to you. {19} "After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also. {20} "In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. . . . {25} "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you. {26} "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. {27} "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

When Jesus was about to leave this earth He promised to send God the Holy Spirit to be with and in all His children. That promise has come true. The Holy Spirit lives in every child of God quietly doing His work. Were going to talk about the work of God the Holy Spirit today but we mustn’t forget that all three persons in the blessed Trinity are involved in our salvation. God the Father determined to save a portion of sinful humanity. God the Son sacrificed Himself for them and in so doing paid the price for their redemption. God the Holy Spirit applies salvation to those the Father chose and for whom the Son gave His life.

It is the Spirit who makes salvation a reality for the elect of God. He causes us to be born again. It is by the work of the Holy Spirit that we are convicted of sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come. By His work we are made to see the truth and beauty of the Gospel. It is by the work of the Holy Spirit that we repent and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord.

God the Spirit’s work is not, however, confined to the initial salvation of the God’s lost sheep. He continues to be vitally involved in the believer’s life all the way to glory. For one thing He has sealed us so that we cannot be lost. He keeps us day to day for presentation to Christ when He returns to collect the redeemed to Himself. God the Holy Spirit is our Helper and Comforter. He has been sent by God to conform us to the image of Christ, which work is called sanctification.

This is an ongoing and progressive work in the believer.

Paul, in Romans chapter eight, reveals that the work of God the Holy Spirit has much to do with our assurance of salvation which assurance is the subject of the chapter. We will speak of this more in a moment but first lets remind ourselves of what Paul has said thus far.

I verse two of chapter eight he says that we can be assured of our final salvation because, "The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death." Which is to say, "All believers in Jesus are free from the penalty of God’s law. That penalty is death. The Bible says, "The soul that sins must die". This death is both physical and spiritual. Jesus made us free from this law by suffering the penalty due us in His own person. Therefore, we are free from the law which once demanded our death. In verse four, Paul tells us that the requirement of the law, which is perfect righteousness, has been fulfilled in us. In the same verse we discover that these things are true only of those who, "Walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit".

What this means is explained in verses four through ten where Paul says that because we are now living this new life in the Spirit, we see everything from the standpoint of the Spirit. We no longer have the mind of the flesh. We have the mind of the Spirit. We are not like we used to be, we’ve become spiritually minded. This new mind-set is proof of our salvation and helps with our assurance. Then in verse eleven Paul speaks of the resurrection of the body. It is God the Holy Spirit who will accomplish our resurrection. (Romans 8:11 NASB) "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies THROUGH HIS SPIRIT WHO INDWELLS YOU".

In verse thirteen we read, "for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if BY THE SPIRIT you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live". (Romans 8:13 NASB) Here we learn that it is only by the power of God the Holy Spirit that we can turn from sin in our lives. When we find ourselves constantly striving and wrestling against sin while longing for personal godliness we can be assured that the Holy Spirit is at work in us both motivating and enabling us. We can then be confident that we are the children of God. In verses fourteen through sixteen Paul cites one of the most wonderful proofs of our final salvation. (Romans 8:14-16 NASB) "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. {15} For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" {16} The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God . ."

This is perhaps the most wonderful aspect of the believer’s assurance. It is the special and peculiar witness of the Spirit with our spirits that we are the children of God. This "witness" is an ever-present sense and awareness that God is your Father and you are His son. It is that change wrought within us that causes us to speak with God as our Father at all times and in all places. It is that new life within that makes us cry out without thought, "Father, help me".

In all these ways the Hoy Spirit assures us of a salvation and glorification that is ours now and will be ours in the life to come. In verse twenty-three the apostle says, "And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:23 NASB) From past lessons we know that these first fruits are a foretaste of the glory to come. They are the earnest, the down payment, and the guarantee of the full and final payment which is eternal salvation. These first fruits consist of faith in Jesus, conviction of sin, and hatred of sin, which makes us mourn our condition. The Spirit’s presence in us makes us long for the redemption of our bodies which will free us, once and for all, from all wickedness in thought and deed. On that day our mourning will cease forever.

In today’s text we come to yet another reason the Christian can and ought to be assured of their present and final salvation. (Romans 8:26-27 NASB) "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; {27} and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because HE INTERCEDES FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD."

"The Spirit also helps our weakness". God the Holy Spirit is actively involved with every single child of God helping him in his areas of weakness. What a wonderful truth! This word "help" is worth close consideration. It is made up of three Greek words. The first of these means "together with". The second means "over against". The third, means "to take". Therefore, the word describes a person who comes to another’s aid by coming along side to help with the load he is carrying. He doesn’t take the load from him but rather helps him with it. The same word is used in (Luke 10:40 NASB) "But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to HELP me."

In essence Martha said, "Lord please make Mary lend me a hand". The idea, of course, is that Martha would continue preparing the meal but Mary would begin helping her do so. In like manner Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit, indwelling each and every saint of God, comes to help us deal appropriately with the problems of life. He helps us carry the burden, figure out the solution. He takes one end of the heavy or awkward board and, therefore, makes the load manageable. The Holy Spirit does not bear our burdens for us, as if there was nothing for us to do. Rather, He bears them with us. This truth gives me the right to say that you, my brothers and sisters, will never put your hand to a task but that God the Holy Spirit will also lay hold of it with you! Praise God! You will never ever bear a burden or endure a trial without the help of the Helper! God has not left us as orphans.

The Holy Spirit is here to help us with our infirmities or weaknesses. The word "infirmities" speaks of a lack of strength. This is the general condition of all the sons and daughters of Adam even after they are saved. We are fallen creatures. Sin has robbed us of what we once were emotionally, physically, psychologically, and spiritually. We are weak in every area of our being. The theological term for this condition is "Total Depravity. As I have said many times this does not mean that every person is as bad as they can possibly be. Rather, it speaks of the extent of the damage. There is no part of us left unaffected by sin. We are "infirmity" from head to toe. Therefore, we need a Helper, a Comforter, a Teacher. We need God the Holy Sprit in us, helping us at all times.

Paul cannot, of course, speak of all our weaknesses so he concentrates on one of the most serious. That which the apostle knows full well we must have help with in order to survive. He speaks to us of prayer. That is, consistent, and proper communication with our Heavenly Father. Prayer, brothers and sisters, is our lifeline! Prayer is what will sustain and keep us through this veil of tears we call life.

The scripture in Luke 18:1 KJV declares that ". . . . men ought always to pray, and not to faint". Which is to say the saint of God who foolishly thinks he needn’t pray is destined to faint, fail, and experience great frustration in his walk with the Lord. ". . men ought always to pray, and not to faint". But there is a problem with us when it comes to prayer; Paul spells it out in our text for today. Romans 8:26 NASB. "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; FOR WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PRAY as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;" The King James version helps us understand Paul’s meaning by using different words. (Romans 8:26-27 KJV) "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not WHAT we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. {27} And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD".

"We know not what to pray for as we ought". This is one of the infirmities the Holy Spirit helps us with and it is common to all the children of God. We do not always and, perhaps I should say we rarely, know what is best for us in any given situation. Therefore, we do not know what to pray for. We certainly want the will of God to be done but what is that? What is the will of God for me today, right now, in this situation? Some might say the answer is easy. When we are sick we ought to pray for our healing. After all God never wants his children to be sick, does He? When we are being persecuted surely the best thing for us would be that the persecution end, wouldn’t it? Is it God’s will, ever, that we be persecuted? If I am experiencing a money shortage I can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God wants me to be fully and even overly supplied with money, can’t I? If I am about to die can I be certain that it is God’s will that I live? The answer is no, you cannot be sure of any of these things. It may be that the best thing for us at the moment is that we be sick, persecuted, poor, and it just might be God’s appointed time for us to die. But because of our infirmities we cannot always discern the will of God for our lives and neither could the apostles. Consider what the following text says about Paul. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NASB.

"And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, THERE WAS GIVEN ME A THORN IN THE FLESH, A MESSENGER OF SATAN TO BUFFET ME-- TO KEEP ME FROM EXALTING MYSELF! {8} Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me".

Paul, like us, didn’t like physical infirmities. He believed that being well was best for him; therefore, he prayed repeatedly that God would heal him. But he did not pray in accord with the will of God, therefore, God said NO! In all wisdom and love God had sent a messenger of Satan to afflict Paul with some form of physical infirmity. He did so to keep him from becoming a proud and, therefore, useless man. (This "thorn in the flesh" may very well have been Paul’s eyesight. See Galatians 6:11, I Corinthians 16:21, Colossians 4:8, II Thessalonians 3:17) Many who believe that God never intends for His children to suffer in any way offer a number of reasons as to why Paul’s prayer was not answered with a healing. But none of them do justice to the text. Weakness of faith was not the reason God refused to heal Paul. There was no sin in Paul’s life that kept God from healing him. But there was a reason and God tells us outright what that was. God did not heal Paul because God did not want to heal Paul. Rather He intentionally afflicted our brother for his and our good. Look at how God answered Paul’s prayer.

{9} And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. {10} Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong".

Paul’s response to God’s denial of his request proves that he had a Christ like spirit when he prayed. Whether verbalized or not Paul prayed like Jesus prayed. He set forth his request and concluded, "Nevertheless not my will but Thine be done". Brothers and sisters, we do not know what we need at any given moment in our lives, therefore, we do not know what to pray for. This is one of our weaknesses, or infirmities. It is critical we get help with this for it is only as we pray in accord with the will of God that we can hope to have our prayers answered in the affirmative. So, we have been given a helper, God the Holy Spirit. He does something wonderful and unique for God’s Children. He comes along side of us when we pray and helps us offer up prayers that will be pleasing to God, and that will be answered with a yes. (Romans 8:26-27 NASB) "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; {27} and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God".

What does this say about the prayer of the apostle Paul when he ask to have his "thorn in the flesh" taken away? I believe it says this. While Paul was praying for the healing of his body God the Holy Spirit was interceding with God according to His will, which was that Paul "keep" his thorn in the flesh. An intercessor is one who rescues another from danger. The word may also be used to describe an attorney or advocate. Therefore, we have Paul praying for God to heal him which prayer is quite natural and expected from a suffering Christian. But, unbeknown to Paul, God the Holy Spirit was saying, "I object"! My client does not need to be healed; in fact, he needs to have this hardship in his life. Otherwise, pride will become his downfall. Paul prayed for what he thought he needed. The Holy Spirit prayed for what he actually needed. Therefore, Paul’s request is denied, he must go through life with this thorn in the flesh. THIS MAN HAS BEEN RESCUED FROM ALL THAT WOULD HAVE COME TRUE WERE HE TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN WHAT HE THOUGHT HE NEEDED. When we as Christians have our requests denied by God we must learn to rejoice for we have just been rescued from our own ignorance. Paul understands this to be true and rejoices. He accepts God’s decision and is thankful for the grace and strength that will be provided for him to deal properly with his physical problem. How cruel God would be if He always gave us what we wanted when He knew it would be our undoing. This same cruelty is perpetrated by parents on children when they give them everything they think they need.

William Hendricksen in his helpful commentary records this real life illustration of the truth the apostle teaches in this passage. "A pastor, loved by his people, became grievously ill. The congregation prayed, "Lord please restore him to health", but he died. At the funeral a minister who had been a life long friend of the departed made this remark to the assembled mourners. "Perhaps some of you are in danger of arriving at the conclusion that the heavenly Father does not hear and answer prayer. God does hear and He does answer prayer. But, in this case, two prayers were being offered which opposed each other. You were praying, "O God spare his life for we need him so badly". God the Holy Spirit’s unspoken, unheard, inaudible, prayer was, "Take him away, for the congregation is leaning altogether too heavily upon him". They need to learn to lean on You. The Father heard and answered that prayer". (End Quote)

This illustrates the lesson pretty well. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we pray amiss so that we get what we need not what we want when there is a difference between the two. This is not always the case because sometimes we do pray for what God is already pleased to give us. Therefore, the answer is yes. But when that is not the case, and God says no, we must learn to be content. For we have been rescued from the consequences of our ignorance.

As you have already concluded the truth Paul teaches says something profound about how we should respond when our prayers are not answered the way we think they ought to be. Anger and frustration are certainly inappropriate. Rather, we should bow before the will of God with thanksgiving and rejoice. For God, by the Spirit within, has rescued us from danger. Paul responds appropriately to God’s denial of his request.

{9} And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. {10} Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong".

Of course one must believe the truth contained in the twenty-eighth verse of this chapter before he or she can join Paul in accepting the will of God and rejoicing in the same. (Romans 8:28 NASB) "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose". Since we do not know what is good for us at all times we ought to be comforted knowing that God does and is bringing that to pass.

Luke’s gospel tells us once again that we ought always to pray and not faint. We ought to pray often, carefully, and thoughtfully. We are told elsewhere to pray without ceasing. Knowing that our prayers are answered in the affirmative only when we pray in accord with the will of God we need to study God’s word diligently so we will know what to pray for. But having done our homework, and having prayed with our best intelligence, we must rest in this wonderful truth. That when we are ignorant or shortsighted and, therefore, pray amiss, God the Father will bless us with His best anyway. For the Spirit Himself corrects our prayers as necessary and all is well, all is well.

As we come to the close of this lesson we need to take note of what this has to do with the assurance of salvation. It comes together like this. God the Father has made us sons and daughters. He wishes only good for us. God the Holy Spirit lives in us. He keeps us in the faith. He comforts us in time of fear and trouble and He instructs us as concerns the word of God. Finally, He intercedes for us in perfect accord with the will of God. If we look ahead in the chapter we see that Jesus also intercedes for us, (Verse 34). So, we have the blessed Trinity working together to accomplish both our present and final salvation. They are, in fact, keeping us from all danger! Part of that danger is our own ignorance and limitations because of sin. If God let us have everything we ask Him for He would not only be an irresponsible Father, He would be party to our temporal and eternal destruction. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.