Helpeth Our Infirmities

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

One of the great works of the Holy Spirit is to be our helper. A helper is there because we cannot do something alone. God makes it clear that we cannot do life alone, much less try to do His works alone. As a sinful and finite believer, we need a helper, someone who can help us to do what we cannot do alone.

Let me illustrate this truth. Some of the projects we have had at our church I can try to do alone, but I have discovered that I cannot complete those projects without the help of another. One of those projects is to shop for insurance for our church. The church insurance world is very complex, and my patience is short when trying to read through all the verbiage inside the policy. However, I have a good staff lady who is phenomenal when it comes to the details, and I have asked her to help me with my infirmity in dealing with church insurance. This good lady has likely saved our church thousands of dollars due to her tireless work in helping the pastor with this project.

This is exactly what the Holy Spirit does for us. He assists us in our infirmities we face in life. In fact, in everything we face in life, we need the help of the Holy Spirit to accomplish it in the manner how God wants us to do it. All we have to do is hand over what we are incapable of doing to the Holy Spirit, and He will help us and empower us in those areas of our infirmities. Let me share what our infirmities are.

First, our infirmities are our weaknesses. Everyone has a weakness, and God gives the Holy Spirit to assist us in those areas of weakness. You would be wise to admit where you are weak, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you with that weakness. Whether your weakness is a besetting sin or just an inability to be able to do something on our own, the Holy Spirit will help you with that infirmity if you will ask for His help.

Second, our infirmities are our frailties. This is the areas where we are susceptible to failure. You have someone who lives within you that will help you to overcome those areas where you tend to fail. You must ask the Holy Spirit for His help if He is to walk you from failure to success. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you are susceptible to a weakness; rather, admitting you are susceptible to a weakness is a strength that will help you to rely on the Holy Spirit to help you overcome it.

Third, our infirmities are our sicknesses. I’m afraid this is one of those areas where many grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Sickness often causes us to have physical weaknesses, and the Holy Spirit will help you to overcome that weakness if you will ask for His help. You may not be able to do in your own power what you want to do because of sickness, but the Holy Spirit can help you to do what sickness keeps you from doing if you will yield to Him.

The greatest word in this verse is the word, helpeth. The Holy Spirit does not just help you one time, but He helps you, and helps you, and helps you. In other words, the Holy Spirit continually helps you in your infirmities. He is your helper to do what you cannot do on your own, but you must be willing to swallow your pride and depend on Him if you want His power to help you despite your infirmity.