Romans 8 27-28

In focusing on the Scripture in Romans 8:27, 28, verse 28 is one that we've all heard used profusely throughout our time as a Christian.

However, I simply wanted to explore it more deeply.  The KJV and other translations use the word "searches" when speaking of the Spirit of God in us as searching the hearts.  But the best word I see is "examine."  It all comes from the same root in the Greek.

An examination is going to reveal what is - plain and simple.  It's like going to our food pantry, turning on the light and "seeing" through the light being on, what is stored in the pantry for use.

In the previous chapter of Romans 6, Paul had already written about our being yielded to the Spirit of God - making the instruments of our temple under and governed by the One Who came to dwell in us.  This would mean our entire being:  our spirits, soul (mind, will, emotions), and body.

To be a little picturesque, if the Spirit of God had a flashlight and our hearts are a pantry so to speak; He turns the light on, how much spiritual wisdom and understanding of His precious Word of Life will He find stored in our hearts, after examination?

Food for thought - no pun intended.

The next thing I received from these two verses is the wonder of God's Spirit making intercession for us, all according to the will of God.  The Spirit of God (as it says) already knows the mind and will of God because He IS God.  He makes groanings in us according to His will and mind.  There are many times when you and I cannot utter in articulate speech exactly what to pray.  Some cry, some simply groan.

We pray with our spirits, not always just our minds.

We had a friend years ago who would pray, "Now Lord, I thank you that the Spirit of God right now is dressing up my prayers before the throne of God according to your will."

I liked that.  I imagine my prayer or utterance coming out of my mouth, and the Spirit of God just adorning it all with the will and mind of God. 

However, I thought too of the pantry example.  If the Word of God in wisdom and understanding is indeed stored in me like treasure, the Spirit of God can make use of this in prayers - in ALL my prayers for others and yes, for myself.  Even we can pray the will of God because we know the will of God through His Word.

We also read previously that the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.  This helped me to connect Romans 8:28 to prayer.  We've all used the Scripture in regard to circumstances alone many times.  But I do see that the Spirit of God through intercession is causing ALL things to work together for good in intercession BECAUSE He is praying the will of God, the mind of God.

God wants our lives to be conformed to His will in all things.  So it makes sense that the Spirit of God in me is ALWAYS going to pray in intercession through us on that lines.

Now as we yield to Him, He indeed is able to make intercession through us.  We just spoke about His intercession for us, but we have all experienced how we pray for one another.

If we know the Spirit of God within, we can find ourselves through yielding to Him, praying for others with His mind.  The words we pray are of Divine Wisdom and Intelligence.  We can pray deeply too instead of just "Bless so and so."

The Spirit of Life within our hearts is SO much.  Jesus Christ has spoken of Him as the "River of Living Waters."

Waters flow.  Waters carry us along.  And also Jesus Christ said, "If you knew the Gift of God..."

The last thing about the Scripture is this:  The people to whom Paul wrote were the Christians at Rome.  At that time there was and going to be great persecution with many to be martyred as a Christian.  Remember Nero?  He was in power at that time.  Later, after Paul wrote this letter to the Romans, there was implemented by Nero, the torture of Christians, being "sported" in front of scoffers.

 Imagine what it was like for them to read what had been written several years before:

"The sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed..."

And then to this passage regarding  the Spirit making intercession.  They had to believe that ALL things were working together for good, because they were called of God, loved by Him.  I am sure they "saw" the eternal in view, not the temporal.  The Word of God for us today is as much living and powerful.

There is great depth to the Word of God - beyond the surface.  It truly behooves us to again, allow God's Spirit to wade us into "deep waters" of His Life.  He wants to do it.  And we all have the choice, praise the Lord to go there with Him. 

Is it not wonderful that we really can know Him and "see" the eternal in view?

Sue Gaither