Helped By The Holy Spirit

God’s help through the Spirit is available to us now.

a. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses”: When we are weak and do not know exactly how we should pray, God Himself (through the Holy Spirit) helps by making intercession for us.

b. “Groanings which cannot be uttered”: This help from the Spirit may include praying with the spiritual gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14-15), but it is certainly not limited to praying in an unknown tongue.   

• The idea is simply of communication beyond our ability to express. The deep groanings within us cannot be articulated apart from the interceding work of the Holy Spirit.   


• This, of course, is the purpose of the gift of tongues – to enable us to communicate with God in a manner that is not limited to our own knowledge or ability to articulate our heart before God. The purpose of tongues is not to prove that we are “filled with the Spirit” or to prove that we are especially spiritual.

c. “According to the will of God”: The Holy Spirit’s help in intercession is perfect because He searches the hearts of those whom He helps, and He is able to guide our prayers according to the will of God.

Based on the Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik