D
Dave L
Guest
The Spirit groans, it doesn't say we do. You need to study this subject apart from the typical Pentecostal framework. They were off from the beginning and know less about the Holy Spirit and the gifts than most mainline Church members.One of the most important NT texts on praying in the Spirit is Romans 8:26-27:
"Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don't know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words...The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
The Greek "stenagmoi alaletai" translated "groans too deep for words" is hard to translate with precision. The first century Roman writer Lucan uses a similar phrase to describe the glossolalia spoken by the prophetess at Delphi in utterances that then need to be interpreted by a prophet. This pagan parallel seems to illumine the cultural use of such language to designate speaking in tongues. If so, then Romans 8:26-27 is a priceless text for explaining the role and value of tongues in private prayer. The Holy Spirit prays through us for what God really wants in a situation rather than for what we want. That is why such prayer in the Spirit is so effective.
But I believe that this text also applies to the signing and groaning of ordinary prayer warriors who are so troubled over a need that words fail to come to mind that adequately express their burden. In such cases, the Holy Spirit can intervene and subtly take control of wandering troubled minds to pray for the needs that God is prepared to meet now.