BOOK III
THE MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ROMANS 8:26-29
"Likewise the Holy Spirit also helps our infirmities: For we
know not what we should pray for as we ought: But the
Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered. And God that searches the hearts
knows what is the mind of the Holy Spirit, because the
Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to
the will of God. And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
INTRODUCTION
Seated at my desk in 1979, I began to consider the direction of
the Lord in my ministry as a traveling Baptist evangelist. I noticed
that many evangelists were beginning to focus on particular themes in
their week long revivals. The home, personal finances, soul winning,
and prophecy were prominent topics of interest as pastors requested
special emphasis in such areas of local church ministry. Evangelists
focusing on such topics were generally invited more often to guest
speak than those simply traveling and preaching on the standard
doctrines. I considered what I might do along these lines and
rationalized that, since the Holy Spirit was really the one who stirred
people to revival, perhaps it would be wise for us to study His nature
and personality.
Pulling my notebook from the shelf, I began to write down
everything I knew about the Holy Spirit. Pastors were requesting
Sunday-through-Wednesday meetings rather than full weeks, so five
messages on the Holy Spirit was my goal. After reviewing everything I
had jotted down concerning my knowledge on the nature and personality
of the Holy Spirit, I abandoned my attempt. I did not even have enough
written to support a single message with substance. I realized He was
a mystery, and before I could teach, I would have to know him better.
I shelved my notebook and left the room; rarely considering the
Holy Spirit until three years later.
After being filled with the Holy Spirit in mid 1982, I went to my
book shelf and extracted my notebook. Turning to the notes I had
written some three years earlier, I sat down and began to construct
outlines for sermons. Soon four messages emerged on His nature and
personality and later a manuscript. What made the difference? Knowing
Him!
Shortly after being filled with the Spirit and preparing the four
messages, I sent out information to seventy-five pastor friends. I
knew other Baptist brethren wanted the power of the Holy Spirit as
much as I; thus I would be swamped with requests to come and share my
message. I receive not a single request. Not one! Why? The
Holy Spirit was a mystery. Perhaps it would be better for Him to
remain so?
As I began to walk in the Spirit following the baptism, I
discovered His ministry was one largely of intercessory prayer. He is
likewise the administrator of His own manifestation, often incorrectly
referred to by Charismatics as "the gifts" of the Spirit. Finally,
however, in 1983, I began to pray and study God's Word on the subject
of prayer to discover exactly how the Holy Spirit worked in this area.
It was not until mid 1985, however, after receiving my prayer language
- the gift of tongues - that I began to learn from the teaching of the
Holy Spirit on how to pray. As I prepared this manuscript, I realized
that Romans 8:26-27 could not stand alone. Verse (28) and (29) had to
be included if the other were to be interpreted properly. To unveil
the "mysteries" of the Holy Spirit in prayer, we must begin by looking
at how "all things work together for good" and how this promises
intersects with conforming to the image of Christ.
CHAPTER 5
THE PROMISE
Perhaps the most misused text in all of Scripture is Romans 8:28:
"And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to His
purpose."
This verse is generally applied when one is void of any satisfactory
explanation of difficult circumstances, traumatic failure, unpaid
bills, broken marriages, or even the loss of a loved one; not to
mention broken hearts and unanswered prayers. Both the failure of
proper interpretation and correct Biblical application of this verse
has probably brought more spiritual frustration to the Christian life
than any other. Such doctrinal error always results in increased doubt
in God's ability to provide for His own and intensifies disbelief in
God's Holy Word. A correct interpretation, on the other hand, and wise
application has life changing potential.
As a child growing up in Sunday school, we often sang the song:
"Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every
line." Although the song contains basic truth, it is certainly not
wise to claim every promise in God's Word as personally applicable.
The Bible is filled with promises of eternal judgment, condemnation,
destruction of nations that forget God, and rebuke for those unwilling
to submit to the will and ways of God the Father. There is no doubt,
however, that Romans 8:28 is a promise. It is, however, only germane
to those who are in prayerful fellowship with God through the ministry
of the Holy Spirit. To apply the promise in any other way, would not
only violate proper Biblical interpretation, but likewise would nullify
it's effectiveness and power.
PROMISE DEFINED
Covenants, pledges, vows, agreements - spoken or written - and even
marriages are all secured by promises. A promise gives cause for hope,
expectation, or assurance. Legally, a promise is a binding agreement.
Spiritually, it has eternal value worth, and finality. Relationships
established by promise, likewise afford security. Without promises, we
would be forced to live by luck and chance.
CONDITIONAL
Romans 8:28 is a conditional promise. "And we know..." This is
not a promise to all Christians who simply need a convenient verse to
jam all unanswerable situations into indiscriminately. The promise is
personal and exclusive. The promise found in this verse is only
applicable to those who conform to the description found contextually.
Romans 8:1 immediately identifies those to whom Romans 8:28 is
written: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in
Christ Jesus..." This is where most cease quoting the passage. It is
not written to the general populous of Christendom nor can it be
properly applied to all Christians. Romans 8:1 concludes by saying:
"...who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" - Holy Spirit.
This is the theme [focus] of the entire chapter. Paul contrasts the
carnal Christian with the spiritual and clearly demonstrates the two
types of Christians: the one who follows the dictates of the flesh and
the other who walks in agreement with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:28 is furthermore conditional, and exclusive, because
verse (26) and (27) inform us that the way "we know all things work
together" is only through prayer and the will of God the Father. Thus,
Romans 8:28 is not a verse for situational relief but rather a comfort
to those engaged in doing the will of God through prayer and the
ministry of the Holy Spirit. The "we" in Romans 8:28 is not those
seeking relief but those seeking the perfect will of God by assistance
of the Holy Ghost.
CONVICTION
Romans 8:28 states a spiritual law: "And we know that all things
work together for good..." As should be seen, this promise is limited
in scope. It is only applicable to those walking in the Holy Spirit
through prayer. The promise, or effectiveness of the spiritual law, is
only made available by conviction. Such is a strong belief or a code
by which one lives. In short, Romans 8:28 is a standard by which one
lives through God's governmental rule. It is not an over coat which we
shrug on when it looks cold nor can it be quickly swallowed as a pill
to kill the pain of circumstances. Simply put, this promise must
become a way of life.
EXAMPLE
After being caught up to the third Heaven, Paul states in his
letter to the Corinthians that he besought God three times to release
him from a messenger of Satan that was sent to buffet him. The
Heavenly Father responded by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (II Cor. 12:9). Paul's
confession immediately follows: "Most gladly therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake: for when
I am weak then am I strong" (II Cor. 12:9-10). This was Paul's
statement of conviction - by which he lived. Most of us, however,
change our convictions whenever the circumstances dictate, thus,
releasing us, we hope, from any Scriptural responsibility. In such
cases of change, Romans 8:28 is not applicable. The promise is a
spiritual law of performance and can only be experienced when lived by
as a conviction. If lived by, Romans 8:28 performs spiritually which
in turn releases authoritative power to the Believer. Paul
parenthetically states, "we," know all things work together. The Greek
Word for "know" means to (see). This is a spiritual vision, or
awareness, available only to those submitted to the will of God as
they walk in the Spirit. Such spiritual vision can only be
accomplished by conviction through faith. The difference between a
moral practice and a Biblical conviction is eternal fruit. How is such
spiritual vision manifested? Only through one's life. If we live by
Scriptural law, all things can and do work together for our good. Such
conviction means we remain squarely centered on the authority of God's
Word even when it looks as though prayers are not being answered. God
has promised, to those who will live accordingly, to cause all things
to work together for their good.
CONDITIONING
The promise of Romans 8:28 is also one used for spiritual
conditioning. "Conditioning" can be defined as: (The achievement of a
desired goal by the placement of limitations, including the exclusion
of distractions).
There ar at least two types of conditioning which are radially
identifiable: indirect and direct. The direct form of conditioning
takes on the shape of discipline and practice to achieve the goal.
Ridged physical training is an example of such. Habits, trends, and
fads on the other hand, usually are made reality through indirect
conditioning. The continual advertizing of a particular product until
the hearer finally makes a purchase is a simple example of indirect
conditioning.
ILLUSTRATION
One of my secret dreams has been to swim the English channel. It
would be fatal to attempt such a goal without direct conditioning.
Such conditioning would encompass everything to do with such a goal. I
would need to read and research everything available on the aspects of
the channel itself. It would equally be wise to obtain information
directly from those who have accomplished the swim already. The
physical training would be, of course, an absolute necessity. In
another words, it would take practice and discipline to achieve my goal
and the employment of everything necessary to achieve such a goal.
This is the meaning of Romans 8:28. God uses "all things" to
condition for His perfect will. This is not to say God uses sickness
and disease, tragedy and loss, poverty and destruction to form His will
in His own. God is not the author of such. He will, on the other
hand, use what the Devil meant for evil and cause it to bring forth
that which is good for our benefit if we look to Him as we walk in His
Holy Spirit. Furthermore, if we are found unwilling to submit to such
conditioning, the promise - spiritual law - of Romans 8:28 "all things
work together for our good" will not, indeed cannot, apply.
ALL THINGS
God's promise is to incorporate "all things" - good and bad,
strong and weak, success and failure, right and wrong - "together for
good to them that love God." Through the promise of Romans 8:28, we
can "know" or be spiritually aware of God's personal management and
concern of our affairs through prayer. It is that which is "known" or
"understood" supernaturally through the intercessory ministry of the
Holy Spirit in prayer for us. The problem is, however, we generally
seek to "know" through the justification of circumstances. We, instead
of living by the promise of Romans 8:28, attempt to justify the
workings of God by rationalization. We suggest that the wheelchair has
been given that we might become a better Christian. We consider the
death of a loved one to be the hand of God; thus to be better equipped
to help others. Cancer, when spiritualized, is that which God has
blessed us with to bring us to a closer walk with Him. No one truly
believes these twisted distortions of spiritual truth but somehow it
seems to ease our emotional pain and suffering, thus, enabling us, we
think, to live with such suffering more successfully. If such
rationalization and spiritualizing were indeed true, then we should all
be praying for God to give more of these infirmities to us that we
might become better witnesses for Him. Yet John the Apostle wrote,
"Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in
health" (III John 1:2). Most of us as Christians are guilty of
considering the circumstances as good or bad. We conclude, that the
more "good" things we can experience, the more in tune we must be with
God's perfect will.
To live a life as Paul described - "My strength is made perfect in
weakness" (II Cor. 12:9-10) - and - "I have learned that in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11) - would take wisdom
beyond human reason and understanding. This is the essence of Romans
8:28. If we are to "know" that all things work together for our good,
we must do so with supernatural vision. Such spiritual vision takes
faith. As we pray in the Spirit, we become spiritually aware, through
the intercessions of the Holy Spirit, that "all things" indeed do work
together for our good. This creates faith, or the supernatural ability
to know - see beyond circumstances - to the finished work - the will of
God. If such conviction is not maintained, we become spiritually
myopic and unable to discern the will of God in difficult, and
especially in impossible, circumstances. Such circumstances then
become a controlling factor and we easily loose sight of God's greater
picture for our lives. Through the employment of "all things," we
practice being the children of God and thus we are conditioned to
become more like His Son through every situation good or bad. This
also implies what often is considered to be failure. You may have
tried and failed, again and again; not simply in the Christian life but
in business, marriage, child rearing, employment, pastoring,
friendships, self control. Such failure for the Christian, living by
the promise of Romans 8:28, in no way implies one has failed.
Circumstances certainly fail, people assuredly, but for the Christian
walking in the Spirit; there is no failure. Why? Because we "know"
that all things work together for our good. Learn to pray in the
Spirit and you will be able to spiritually see - know - beyond
circumstances God's will for your life.
Although I am going to address the subject of how God uses all
things together for our good in the next chapter, I do not want to
leave this area without giving several Scriptures which I think will
assist us in comprehending the true meaning of "all things."
Matthew 21:21-22
Verily I say unto you, if you have faith, and doubt not, you
shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but
also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be
cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things,
whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall
receive.
Matthew 19:26
Jesus said, With God all things are possible.
Mark 9:23
Jesus said, All things are possible to him who believes.
Romans 8:32
He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us
all, how shall God not with Christ freely give us all things.
II Peter 1:3-4
According as His divine power has given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and Godliness, through the knowledge
of Him that has called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promisee; that by
these you may be partakers of the divine nature.
I John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we
ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if
we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we
have the petitions that we desired of Him.
John 14:14
Jesus said, If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do
it.
We often make the mistake of claiming these verses to help free
ourselves of a jam by which we are being squeezed and When they do not
perform as anticipated, we jump to Romans 8:28 to try and justify the
reason for God's failure to perform His promises. Do not make that
mistake. Begin with Romans 8:28 and then live by these other promises.
What if one has put their whole body, soul, and spirit into their
efforts of prayer and still nothing happens? If we are truly walking
in the Spirit according to Romans 8, and if the Holy Spirit is our
intercessor who always agrees with the will of God for our lives, then
we will see - "know" - that God is going to use "all things" to work
together for our good. If you do not see it - "know" it - then you are
not walking, praying, in the Spirit, and your faith is not in evidence.
"The just shall live by faith." If the prayer or petition is yet
unanswered, continue to walk by faith in the Spirit; making use of His
intercessory partnership as you pray in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit
will quicken faith to your soul, by means of your regenerated born
again spirit, as you walk in the promises of God's Holy Word. In this
way, all things can then be worked together by God into your life to
bring about God's perfect will.