“We Cry”: Romans 8:15–27
Praying in the Spirit – Part 1
- “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16–17
- “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14 NIV11)
- “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22 NIV11)
1. “We”
- “our father”, not “my father”, Matthew 6.9
- Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 12.26; Acts 4; 2 Thessalonians 3.1; James 5.16
- “How does the “we cry” help your life of prayer?”
- “What is meaningful for you from this point?”
2. “Cry”
- “cry” – deep emotion, in distress (see all NT refs to ‘kratzo’ below)*
- Matthew 14.30; 9.27; Mark 6.49; John 19.12; Luke 19.40
- Creation groans, Romans 8.22
- We groan, 8:23
- Spirit groans, 8:26–27
- “What kinds of life situations have we encountered that have caused us to “cry” to God in the Spirit?”
- “What is the difference between moaning and groaning?
- For what purpose? 8:28–29. Groan to grow.
Conclusion
- What do these two points mean for you and your ‘group’?
- We – communal
- Cry – real
- How will you adjust the way you pray as a result of what the Spirit has made possible?
- Suggestion: Use Romans 8.15 as a prayer frame for a week – “We cry, “Abba, Father.””
*“Cry” (katzo): Matt. 8:29; 9:27; 14:26, 30; 15:22–23; 20:30–31; 21:9, 15; 27:23, 50; Mark 3:11; 5:5, 7; 9:24, 26; 10:47–48; 11:9; 15:13–14; Luke 4:41; 9:39; 18:39; 19:40; John 1:15; 7:28, 37; 12:44; Acts 7:57, 60; 14:14; 16:17; 19:28, 32, 34; 21:28, 36; 23:6; 24:21; Rom. 8:15; 9:27; Gal. 4:6; James 5:4; Rev. 6:10; 7:2, 10; 10:3; 12:2; 14:15; 18:2, 18–19; 19:17
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm
PS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
