Praying with the Spirit
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The Holy Spirit doesn't just inspire prayer — He prays for us in ways we can't articulate, especially when we're overwhelmed by suffering or don't know what to say. In a powerful sermon drawn from Romans 8:26–27, Pastor Dave Ripper reveals that the Spirit intercedes for us with 'wordless groans,' meeting us in our deepest weakness and suffering. This isn't passive divine observation — it's active, compassionate advocacy. The Spirit groans alongside creation, alongside believers, and even within our own bodies when we sigh without realizing it. What's more, the Spirit prays according to God's will, helping us discern the next right thing to do, not through grand revelations but through quiet, daily obedience. The sermon challenges listeners to stop trying to be perfect pray-ers and instead align their prayers with the Spirit’s silent, persistent intercession — a shift that brings peace, clarity, and deeper alignment with God’s purposes. In a culture obsessed with speed and results, the Spirit’s work is rooted in patience, presence, and perseverance — the very qualities that make the church a light in a broken world.
The Holy Spirit prays for you with 'wordless groans' when you don't know how to pray — this is active, divine intercession.
Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence but an invitation for the Spirit to intercede on your behalf.
Your sighs, frustrations, and unspoken longings are not wasted — they’re part of how the Spirit prays for you.
Discerning God’s will isn’t about waiting for a dramatic sign — it’s about doing the next right thing, even when it’s small.
The Spirit’s prayers are already being answered — because He prays according to God’s will, not your limited understanding.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Power of Prayer in Suffering
Pastor Dave opens with a warm, personal tone, celebrating Mother's Day and reflecting on how women’s prayers have shaped spiritual journeys. He introduces the theme: the Holy Spirit’s intercession in our weakness, setting up the central message of Romans 8:26–27.
The Spirit Intercedes with Wordless Groans
“But the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
Suffering and the Groaning Creation
Dave connects human suffering to the groaning of creation itself, showing that both are part of a broken world awaiting redemption. He uses Elizabeth Elliot’s definition of suffering and points to Revelation 21 as the ultimate hope.
The Spirit’s Role in Discernment
“Do the next right thing. That's a big part of how the Spirit is praying for you that you would just recognize and respond to what the next right thing is for you to do.”
Patience as a Spiritual Virtue
Dave highlights that patience was the first theological virtue in early church history, contrasting it with today’s culture of impatience. He argues that being filled with the Spirit means becoming more patient, even in hardship.
“Do the next right thing. That's a big part of how the Spirit is praying for you that you would just recognize and respond to what the next right thing is for you to do.”
“But the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
“If we knew everything God knows, we would pray to have exactly what we have been given.”
Host
holy spirit
other
romans 8
other
dave ripper
person
creation groaning
other
dallas willard
person
elizabeth elliot
person
eugene peterson
person
alan crider
person
tim keller
person
frozen 2
media
Series Introduction
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 34m • 4/12/2026
A New Heart and New Spirit
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 28m • 4/19/2026
The Spirit as Teacher
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 33m • 4/26/2026
When the Advocate Comes
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 35m • 5/3/2026
Your Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 36m • 5/17/2026
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