Romans 8:15–16
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
If I seek first the Kingdom of God all things will be added to me. Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I do not know what to pray. When I seek God in the Bible I find Him by His guidance He is my teacher. In my search for God’s will in my life He will use me to be His loving arms to those who need it most. I know that faith, hope and love are attributes given to me by God and the greatest of these is His love in my life. Carla
Romans 8:23-27
Not only that, •but we also •who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why •does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 •Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. •For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (NKJV)
The firstfruits of the Spirit may refer to the first workings of the Holy Spirit (8:9–11), which is a pledge of more work to come, like the redemption of our body. Otherwise, the expression firstfruits may be in apposition to the word Spirit; thus firstfruits is the Spirit. The firstfruits of a harvest was a foretaste of the harvest to come. So the Spirit, or His work, is God’s assurance of the greater blessings to come. Elsewhere the Spirit is called a “guarantee of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:14).
Hope is a constant expectation of an unseen reality. We are saved by faith, but our hope is in the return of Christ in all His glory and our complete deliverance from our sinful natures.
If we are expecting something unseen, we wait with perseverance; that is, we are willing to endure the present. Though more may be involved in the concept of weaknesses, the primary reference here is to mental ignorance. The contrast offered by Paul in this verse is between our inability to know how to pray and the effective prayers of the Spirit Himself. The emphasis indicates that the Spirit Himself prays for us. He intercedes on our behalf before the throne of God (1 John 2:1). But His intercession cannot be uttered, which means it is “unexpressed, unspoken.” No language is in view here, only the inner groanings of the Spirit.
As children of God, we do not always know what to pray for or how best to pray (verse 26), but we can know the purpose of God which the Holy Spirit desires to accomplish.
We work together for good. The primary reference of all things is the “sufferings of this present time” (verse 18). All circumstances will work together in cooperation for the believer’s good—that is, the believer will be conformed to Jesus Christ now and reign with Him later. Those who love God are in fact those who are the called by God. Our love is our response to the work of the Holy Spirit in us. We are called according to His purpose. God does everything, including redemption, in order to accomplish His overarching plan. The NKJV Study Bible
First fruits is an Old Testament expression referring to the first part of the harvest, which God designated for Himself and His priests (Leviticus 23:10; Deuteronomy 18:4). Here, its usage refers to God’s initial transformative work in His people, which will result in resurrection glory.
To groan expresses frustration with the present evil age and the anticipation of complete redemption.
In the New Testament, hope is not wishful thinking; it is a confident expectation in the fulfillment of God’s promises. Paul described Abraham as an example of hope in God. Present troubles are manageable when living in hope of future redemption.
Our weakness refers to people’s limited capacity and susceptibility to sin and death. Paul encourages the Roman believers that the Spirit does not condemn them in their weakness. Spirit himself intercedes for us. Even with the assurance of future hope, believers who patiently endure suffering may, at times, face troubles that exhaust their strength and try their faith. Paul urges such believers to find encouragement in the intercession the Holy Spirit makes on their behalf in these circumstances. This is one aspect of how the Holy Spirit serves as an advocate (paraklētos) for followers of Christ. Unexpressed groanings may refer to the groaning of the Holy Spirit or the groaning of the believer (Psalm 1:1).
The one who searches our hearts is an expression of God’s omniscience. Paul tells the believers that God continues to work on their behalf, especially when they do not know what to pray for. Faithlife Study Bible
Galatians 5:5
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Ephesians 6:18
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
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