“Groanings which cannot be Uttered”...the Wayfarer 3/4/14

“Groanings which cannot be Uttered”

3/4/14

“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

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.”

(Romans 8:26)

Prayer and repentance is integral to any having chosen to become Christian.

Paul, in this chapter of Romans outlines the means to being led by the Spirit and the requirement to continually be aware of the need for improvement in our walk.

I have, many times in the past spoken of the imperfection that exists within this human form, and the corruption that exists as well in the human mind.

Both of these steal any blessings to be given through the Spirit, if we allow them to take the lead in our lives once we have truly accepted Christ. Both continue to exist within us and are the tools used by Lucifer to render our witness ineffective, if we allow that usage of body and mind to negate the new creature created within our soul by the acceptance of Christ Jesus.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

(Romans 8: 1-8)

Paul gives warnings of the attacks that still besiege us constantly because of that imperfection and corruption mentioned above.

It is far too easy to fall prey to the desires and wants of a carnal and corrupt body that contains the soul that lives eternally.

Paul’s statement at the beginning of this chapter tells us that those who have accepted Christ will not willingly walk after the ways of the flesh.

It does not mean that we are not subject to sin, and the condemnation for that sin, that weakens those who allow themselves to fall into the traps set for them by one who can no longer steal their soul, but who may use them still to steal the souls of others through their behavior.

Once Christ is accepted, we are given a complete new start. We are cleansed of past sins, and like a baby, start a new life.

As we grow in that new life, just as a baby must learn from mistakes, so must we.  Note that I said learn from those mistakes, not continually repeat them which is to walk after the flesh and ignore the Spirit altogether.

The body remains weak, and requires the bridling of the soul to reign in the lusts of that body. This means that the mind, which is also corrupt, by its very nature must also be constantly monitored and controlled.

The world around us lures us with the shiny objects that litter the pathway on our journey toward our eventual death of this corrupt body, and the mind often is distracted by the troubles that we face along that journey.

Each time we allow ourselves to be distracted, to choose not to listen to that Still Small Voice within that is given through the guidance of the Spirit, we allow ourselves to again walk in the flesh as opposed to the walk in the Spirit intended for us.

When facing the headwind and onslaught of these lures and attractions, we allow ourselves to be pushed back from the forward progress of that journey.

This is called, by many, by the term of backsliding. I call it simply sin.

This occurs regularly, and daily when we take our eyes off the prize, and allow them to wander to the bright shiny baubles offered along the way.

The only solution to this problem that each of us must face, and note I said us, which definitely would include this sinner saved by grace as well, is to recognize the occurrence of this problem, and overcome it through prayer, the only means of hearing that Spirit that should be allowed to take the lead in our lives.

That carnal mind, that existed before salvation may only be overcome through recognition of the fact that it is a carnal mind, and corrupt, that we must have help in overcoming.

That help comes only through the Spirit, and the tools used by that Spirit to guide us in following it instead of the mind.

Those tools are often the chastisement of brethren who are able to see what we fail to see through our own eyes, the leaning posts I addressed previously that each of us needs.

Here, Paul is being that leaning post, giving that chastisement that is needed to assure the ongoing repentance required by each of us.

He continues with a beautiful statement:

“But ye are not after the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is the life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

(Romans 8: 9-11)

Despite the imperfection and corruption of this mortal creature, we can overcome the plagues that it brings upon us if we have truly accepted Christ Jesus, because, we are in fact dead to the sin committed through that body.

This is not to say that the body may continue to be allowed to have control, or that, that carnal mind is acceptable, just the opposite is required.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

(Romans 8:12&13)

We are able to mortify, or cause the death of the deeds of this body through following that Spirit when we follow the lead of that Spirit. (Continual repentance for, and vigilance against, the sins of that body)

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”

(Romans 8:14-25)

This passage tells us that we have the surety of the hope, that we, having accepted Christ, are now joint heirs to that kingdom promised by him yet to come.

As joint heirs, the sufferings tolerated and endured while in this body are only minor annoyances when we consider the glory and perfection that is promised us through Christ.

It continues that we must anticipate, and continue to have faith and hope in that promise, endure the teachings of others who would take our eyes from the prize, in the knowledge that that prize does indeed await us, and liberates us from the sufferings and doubts that assail us while waiting the time that the body itself is finally changed and glorified to the same quality of the soul which inhabits it after having actually made that acceptance of Christ.

We are told that all creation is moaning and groaning about the imperfection and corruption, that, if allowed would overshadow that promised gift, the prize at the end of the journey, having endured that journey.

Paul goes on to say that, even we, in the imperfection of humanity, who have made that acceptance, will continue to moan and groan because we are still waiting for that perfection.

We are not to lose hope, because of things around us, and that delay that is life in an evil world, surrounded by that evil, but to remember that that hope will be fulfilled, and the need for hope eliminated only when that perfection is achieved.

This brings me back to where I opened, with an entirely different purpose  in mind, a different subject in mind than this, here given, to the necessity of prayer, and the fact that what is prayed for must also be led by that Spirit to be effectual.

As we are not privy to the entire plan of God, nor are we cognizant of the entire plan He made from the beginning, the Spirit must take the lead in all things prayed for.

God does not hear mere words. He hears our heart, and then makes decisions based on that plan already in effect, that is unchangeable, immutable and ongoing.

We need to pray for the things that are of the Spirit, and for the Spirit's leadership in our lives, then accept what is given by God that is already within His will.

I shall, as led, return to the subject originally intended, which is prayer, its power, and what is required to receive expectations through that prayer, another time.

For now I leave you with the single thought on the subject, that to be effectual, prayer must be within that will, and must be led by that Spirit, that sees more than do we, Whose depth of agony for the things that agonize us, is far deeper than our own, and may pray for those things, of which we are not even aware enough, to give utterance to.

It must be sincere, given from that soul, and from the heart, given both in Spirit and in Truth, not merely words, not requests for those shiny baubles and distractions that would hide the intent of that Spirit willing to lead, if only we follow. It must be, as intended by God, communication between us and God, not a performance for those around us to indicate our righteousness, as we nave none.

I close, in prayer, for that Spirit to continually to make itself known, be heeded and followed, by myself first and foremost, and all others who would follow Christ as well.

I remain your servant, that same simple sinner saved by grace through faith in the Spirit manifested though Christ Jesus, in whom is my only hope and faith for the perfection promised. I remain that soldier He called me to be, relying on that Spirit to guide me daily as I stand once more on the battlefield, and to give the strength of hope through the utterances to which even I am not privy, needed to fight that battle.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen 
the Wayfarer