Les Feldick Bible Study

How does the Holy Spirit intercede for us?

The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers when they do not know how to pray as they ought. He makes intercession with groanings that cannot be uttered, communicating for them when they cannot put their needs into words. This is not necessarily a tongues experience; the Spirit Himself intercedes on their behalf.

Les teaches that God can strengthen us in our places of infirmity, because we know not what we should pray for as we ought. The Holy Spirit Himself makes groanings, or intercession, for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Les explains that this verse is hard to comprehend, except to say there come places in life where we just don't know how to pray. We have an idea of what we want, but we can't put it into words. He told his classes over the years that when you get to that situation, just be quiet, just shut up, and let the Holy Spirit commune for you. This is not necessarily a tongues experience; that's not what Paul's talking about. But we get to this place where the Holy Spirit actually intercedes on our behalf. Les notes this is a different intercessory power than John talks about in 1 John 2, where John addresses believers as little children and writes that they sin not, stressing grace is not license, but if any man sin.

Romans 8:26

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.

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More Questions

What does the Holy Spirit do when we cannot pray?

The Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Who intercedes for believers in Romans chapter 8?

In Romans chapter 8, the Holy Spirit is interceding on behalf of believers.