The Three Groanings
“For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience. In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.” (Romans 8:20-27 WEB)
Firstly, the whole creation is groaning due to the fall that happened when Adam sinned. Sin brought death into the world, and death is producing all these groanings that show that creation is suffering.
God never designed for animals to harm man, and insects (such as mosquitoes) never bit Adam and Eve in the garden. Every creature, including man, was herbivorous, eating plants and fruits.
“God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.” (Genesis 1:29-30 WEB)
After Adam, the appointed ruler of earth, ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil against God’s command, that sin caused all of Adam’s subjects and kingdom to experience death and fall under a curse.
Ever since, the earth has been groaning, suffering from the effects of sin. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes—these are some manifestations of the earth’s groans.
Animals, insects, and birds attacking humans, plants producing poisons, these are also part of creation’s groans.
Secondly, we believers who have the indwelling Holy Spirit groan because we feel all the limitations and imperfections of this mortal body that has been corrupted by sin.
We who know about the Rapture eagerly long for the redemption of our body. Imagine a body that can never die or be destroyed. It never feels suffering, tiredness, or weakness, and can appear and disappear at will, traveling across the world in an instant, passing through solid objects at ease if needed to. This are just some of the amazing capabilities of the glorified body that is promised to us. Jesus demonstrated these after He rose from the dead.
God knows that we are groaning within, and that the sinful flesh makes us limited and weak at times. Our spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. To combat this, God gave us the greatest gift after Jesus’ ascension: the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The Spirit prays for the solutions to our most urgent needs that even we are unaware of, and He does so through groans that cannot be uttered.
Even though the Spirit does not pray with intelligible words, Abba God knows what is in the Spirit’s mind, and He takes that as perfect prayer in accordance with His own will.
These are the three groanings. The first came because of sin, the second because of patiently waiting for the final part of redemption, and the third is God’s gracious help to us while we are still waiting.
How wonderful it is to know that the Holy Spirit is offering up perfect prayers for you, even when you do not know the right things to pray for.
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34 WEB)
In the same chapter, we find that Jesus who is in Heaven is also praying for us.
We have the Holy Spirit praying for us from earth, and we have Jesus praying for us from Heaven. This is according to Abba God’s will, and it is perfect.
“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32 WEB)
The triune God is for you, not against you. The world was corrupted by sin, but God’s heart is not to destroy or condemn the world, but to save it.
He has already provided the perfect atonement through the blood that Jesus shed at the cross. God is using all His power to give you a glorious future, so put your faith in Him!
You don’t have to feel helpless or afraid…God has given you powerful spiritual weapons to use in spiritual warfare. In “Silencing the Serpent”, you will discover what these weapons are, what the enemy’s tactics are, and how you can break free from longtime addictions, bondages, and unhelpful beliefs: https://bit.ly/silence-the-serpent-now
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Lessons 4-6 From the Divine Office of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Sermon 1 on the Ascension of the Lord by St. Leo the Pope: More information. ... <看更多>