Into the Heart of Romans
A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter
The Groaning of the Spirit (3|3)
Pages 146-153
Romans 1:1-6 (NIV) The gospel he promised through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who, as to his earthly life, was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him, we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NIV) Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (NIV) No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
When Jesus breathed His Spirit on His followers and said, “As the Father sent me, so I send you,” He sent them (just as He was sent) into the places of deepest human pain. How does this understanding of the Spirit’s calling shape the way you view Christian mission, prayer, and your own vocation in a hurting world? Where do you sense the Spirit sending you to be present in the pain of others (whether through prayer, compassion, advocacy, or simple presence) and how might you respond to that call?
Paul teaches that the Spirit “comes alongside to help” us in our weakness, especially when we don’t know how to pray for a world in deep distress. When have you experienced the Spirit helping you pray (especially when you felt unsure, overwhelmed, or unable to find the right words), and how might that encourage you to step more fully into your intercessory calling?
Paul assures us that “God has not abandoned His creation because we (indwelt by His Spirit) are present within the world’s chaos as agents of His coming new creation”. Where do you sense the Spirit positioning you “in the chaos” today, not to be overwhelmed by it, but to serve as a sign and instrument of God’s new creation emerging?
Romans 8 offers not just assurance of salvation, but the assurance that when we share in the world’s pain, lamenting and letting the Spirit groan within us, we are participating in the very center of God’s saving purposes. Where might God be inviting you to slow down, resist quick reactions, and enter into Spirit-led lament as part of discerning a faithful way forward in the face of the world’s pain?
Paul teaches that God continues His saving work through the Spirit dwelling in His people, making them a kind of “living Tabernacle” through whom God exercises healing, prayerful authority in a broken world. When prayer feels heavy, wordless, or painful (as Paul describes), how might seeing it as part of God’s own saving work in the world encourage or challenge you in your practice of intercession?