Before we get to our questions about prayer, let's begin with the clear fact before us.

Our text begins, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness."  The apostle has just described our hope in heaven--now he shows us our hope on earth.  "Weakness" can be connected to the problems of life, but in this context it relates more to our weakness, our problems with prayer.  We'll return to these in a moment.

Whatever your questions or issues with prayer, the Spirit is living in your life and is ready to "help" you.  The Greek word means "to lend a hand" or "come to the aid."  It conveys the idea of helping someone carry a burden.

Why do we need his help?  Because "we do not know what we ought to pray for."

"We" includes us all, even the greatest Apostle in Christian history.

Paul knows that we will all pray, but that we do not know how to pray effectively.  We are like children who do not know what is best for us or what to ask from our Father.  We don't know the future, or much about the present.  We don't know whether this new job is best for us, or whether we should marry this person, or whether it is best that we be healed of this disease or helped out of this financial struggle.  None of us knows.

So when we pray, "the Spirit himself intercedes for us."  The same Spirit who created the universe (Genesis 1:2), who raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) and empowered the apostles to change the world, prays for us.

He "intercedes"--the word means to plead on behalf of another.  It describes someone who rescues a person in need by advocating his cause before the authorities.  He does this for "us," for all of us, without exception.

His prayers are greater than our comprehension, "groans that words cannot express."  He is not limited to our finite minds and understanding when he prays for us.

And his prayers are always effective, because he "intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."  God can only answer prayer in accordance with his will.  The holy, righteous God of love cannot and will not give us better than the best.  He will not give us what we ask for if it violates his will for his glory and our good.

The Bible promises that "if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14).  But we must pray according to his will.  We don't often know how to do this, but the Spirit doesn't have that problem.  As we pray, he prays for us.  And his prayers always reflect the will of God, so they are always answered by God.

This is incredible good news.

Jesus "always lives to intercede" for us (Hebrews 7:25).  He "is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" (Romans 8:34).  He is praying for you at this very moment.

Now we learn that the Spirit helps us when we pray by praying for us as well.  If you could have the holiest, most godly person you've ever known pray for you at all times and intercede whenever you pray, what person would you choose?  The Father has provided even more for us, tasking his Son and Spirit with praying for you and me.