285. “Groanings Which Cannot Be Uttered”

“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.” Rom. 8:26.

We cannot, on our own, figure out how to come to divine nature; for the natural man cannot know the things of the Spirit of God. That is why the Spirit must come to our aid. The groaning or yearning [Norw.] of the Spirit will always lead in the direction of losing our life, because the Spirit wars against the flesh, and the flesh wars against the Spirit. The yearning of the Spirit always goes against our human nature, which cannot comprehend that the life of the flesh goes against the Spirit. The mind of the Spirit is life and peace. So we can see that it is the Spirit that gives life as well as peace. We will not find life or peace in our human nature. If we allow this deep yearning of the Spirit to prevail in our lives, it will search out the sacrifices, even the most hidden ones. “For 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.” Rom. 8:27.

There is a deep desire for the things of the world in a human heart. God knows that. That is why our heavenly High Priest intercedes for us, and that is why we are exhorted not to seek the things of the world.

Every event in our life is intended by God to bring our thoughts to those things that are of eternal value. We see, therefore, that when sorrow and need come, the heart becomes much more attentive to these yearnings which cannot be uttered. Of God’s many gifts, an attentive ear is the greatest; for he who listens, loves. He keeps the commandments. He understands that it is vital to hear, that it brings great reward. He also knows that it pays to do what he hears—that it will bring peace, joy, and blessedness, as well as the hope of glory that extends far beyond death and grave into all eternity. The listening ear is the first of our members to perceive the unutterable groaning of the Spirit. Christ communicates first and foremost to the one who has an ear to hear. These people are the “Johns” of our time who lie on Jesus’ breast. They are the disciples Jesus loves above all others. They listen because they love. Here Mary is above Martha, Moses above Aaron and Miriam, Joseph above his brothers, the prophets above the people, and Jesus above all.

Those who are slowest to hear are the most indifferent. That is why Moses wished all the Lord’s people to be prophets, and Paul labored with all his might that the churches could receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. And they could only receive it by listening to the unutterable yearning of the Spirit. But a person must have an unspeakably great love for Christ if they are to be motivated to listen to these sighs. And the one who loves Christ loves the truth, even the truth about his own wickedness.