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"This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that He might discharge, He was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it, endured most grievous torments immediately in His soul, and most painful sufferings in His body; was crucified, and died; was buried, and remained under the power of death; yet saw no corruption. On the third day He arose from the dead, with the same body in which He suffered, with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of His Father, making intercession, and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world." Chapter 8, Section 4 (Westminster Confession of Faith)

SUMMARY: where we're at in Romans & where we're going in this passage RELEVANCE: why does this matter to me? THEME: When you don't know what to pray, you're not alone: the Spirit comes alongside you, groans in you, and the Father hears what he finds there. v. 26a THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS GROAN v. 26b When you don't know what to pray, you're not praying alone. THE ADVOCACY OF HIS GROAN "The children of God have two divine intercessors. Christ is their intercessor in the court of heaven… The Holy Spirit is their intercessor in the theatre of their own hearts."—John Murray v. 27 The Spirit takes hold with you, and he groans in you. THE ACCEPTANCE OF HIS GROAN And the Father hears what he finds there.

This sermon examines Samuel's final public address to Israel as he transitions leadership to King Saul, highlighting the people's sin in rejecting God's direct rule for an earthly monarch. The message contrasts Samuel's impeccable integrity and personal connection with God against the potential for corruption in new leadership, urging believers to maintain holy conduct regardless of their circumstances. It emphasizes that true repentance and obedience to God remain essential even when societal structures change, warning against shallow faith that relies on external signs rather than wholehearted devotion. The preacher encourages the congregation to view intercessory prayer as a vital privilege and a means of spiritual vitality, asserting that ceasing to pray for others is a sin against the Lord. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a life of reverent service and truth, reminding listeners that God's blessings are contingent upon their continued faithfulness.

This sermon explores the nature of prevailing prayer, defined as the effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man that avails much. The central argument is that such prayer rests not on human merit but on a right relationship with God, characterized by confessed sin and reliance on the imputed righteousness of Christ. The message emphasizes that effective prayer must align with God's will, drawing on the example of Elijah and the promise of answered petitions found in 1 John. It further describes the qualities of fervent prayer as encompassing faith, hope, rest, dependence, worship, and persistent effort, illustrating how the Holy Spirit intercedes for believers when they lack the words to express their needs. The tone is instructional and encouraging, urging the audience to overcome spiritual lethargy and engage in constant, energetic communication with God.

We look at 1 John 2:1, emphasizing that believers are addressed as 'little children' who require both correction and encouragement to maintain holy fellowship.

This sermon emphasizes the critical role of persistent prayer in maintaining spiritual vitality and preventing believers from fainting in their faith. Drawing from Luke 18, the message contrasts the unwavering persistence of the widow in the parable with the danger of spiritual drift, illustrated by the examples of Noah and Lot. The central argument is that prayer is not merely an activity but a necessary attitude of life that connects believers to God's power, patience, and justice. The preacher urges the congregation to view prayer as a defense against the world's increasing godlessness and a means to experience God's reality and presence. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a renewed commitment to constancy and urgency in prayer, asserting that it is the primary means by which God's people receive strength, guidance, and salvation.

This sermon examines Daniel chapter nine, focusing on Daniel's intercessory prayer and the subsequent revelation of the seventy weeks prophecy. It highlights how Daniel's urgent confession and appeal to God's character, rather than human merit, prompt an immediate divine response through the angel Gabriel. The analysis details the three segments of the seventy weeks of seven, arguing that the Messiah's sacrificial death fulfills the purpose of ending sin and establishing everlasting righteousness. The speaker challenges the popular interpretation of a future Antichrist in verse twenty-seven, instead identifying the covenant confirmation with Jesus' work at the Last Supper and the cessation of sacrifices with Jesus' sacrificial death and the destruction of the temple in AD 70, which caused the sacrifices to cease. Ultimately, the message emphasizes that God's prophetic timeline is precise and that His redemptive plan surpasses human expectations.

The sermon centers on the conditional promise found in 2 Chronicles 7, arguing that the spiritual and national future of America rests on the word "if." It challenges the church to move from a posture of convenience to one of sacrifice, emphasizing that God's power to heal the land is contingent upon the people's willingness to humble themselves, pray, and seek His face. The message contrasts the current state of spiritual apathy and societal decay with the biblical mandate for intercession, citing Deuteronomy 28 to illustrate the consequences of turning away from God. Through personal anecdotes and historical examples of revival, the speaker urges believers to take up their role as intercessors, asserting that prayer is the primary weapon against spiritual opposition. The tone is urgent and pastoral, calling for a renewed commitment to the Holy Spirit and a collective cry for divine intervention in the lives of the next generation.

The sermon examines the superiority of Christ's priesthood over the Levitical system by highlighting three key distinctions: a superior appointment, a permanent ministry, and a perfect character. It argues that Jesus was inaugurated into office by a divine oath, providing unshakeable assurance and serving as the guarantor of a better covenant. Unlike the temporary and mortal priests of the Old Covenant, Christ holds his priesthood permanently, enabling him to save completely those who draw near to God. The text emphasizes that Jesus is holy, innocent, and unstained, offering a single, once-for-all sacrifice that fully atones for sin. Consequently, believers are called to place their hope exclusively in Christ, who intercedes eternally for them, rather than in any other religious system or human effort.

In this overview of Amos, part of his Sunday evening series through the Minor Prophets, Charles Sebold introduces the herdsman and dresser of sycamore figs from Tekoa as "the fruit inspector": a poor migrant laborer from Judah whom the LORD took and sent north to Bethel around 760 to 750 BC, just before Assyria swept the northern kingdom away. Picking up Joel's line, "The LORD roars from Zion," Amos asks whether Israel really wants the Day of the LORD. He springs a trap. Israel would gladly say amen as Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and even Judah are judged, but the longest charge lands on Israel, and it is not for war crimes. It is for everyday business: selling the needy for a pair of sandals, sleeping on garments taken in pledge, cheating with false weights. "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you." With biting sarcasm Amos invites them to Bethel to transgress, and God declares that He hates their feasts and wants justice to roll down like waters. Five visions trace the end: Amos intercedes and God relents at the locusts and the fire, but at the plumb line he has nothing left to say. Then Amaziah the priest sends the praying prophet home, and Israel is left with a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Yet the book closes in hope, as God promises to raise up the fallen booth of David, a promise James cites in Acts 15 as Gentiles are gathered under David's greater Son. The God who judges His people more strictly also keeps His promises to them. What does it look like when a church keeps its worship careful and its weekday business careless?

A mother comes to Jesus with a desperate need. Here we have an example of great faith and a model of effective, fervent prayer.

The sermon explores the theme of divine compassion and the necessity of seeking Christ for both physical and spiritual healing, using the accounts of the leper, the paralytic, and the man at the pool of Bethesda as primary illustrations. It highlights that while Jesus addresses immediate physical ailments, His ultimate concern is the forgiveness of sin, a truth underscored by the Old Testament ritual in Leviticus 14 where cleansing precedes the application of blood for atonement. The message transitions to the New Testament instruction in James 5, urging believers to maintain a posture of prayer and to seek the intercession of church elders when facing affliction or sickness. The preacher emphasizes that God is not bound by natural limitations and invites the congregation to rely on the prayer of faith, which saves the sick and forgives sins, rather than relying solely on worldly solutions or individual effort.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25) *1/ The internal effectual intercession of the Holy spirit in Believers - Romans 8:26-27 2/ The intercession of our Lord for his people in heaven - Romans 8:34 3/ The result - Saved to the uttermost.* **Sermon summary:** The sermon explores the doctrine of effectual intercession, contrasting the temporary and limited priesthood of the Old Testament with the eternal and perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ. Drawing from Hebrews 7 and Romans 8, the message highlights the dual work of the Holy Spirit, who intercedes within believers with unutterable groanings, and the Lord Jesus, who intercedes eternally at the right hand of the Father. The preacher emphasizes that this intercession is grounded in Christ's finished work rather than human merit, resulting in a complete salvation that saves believers to the uttermost. This assurance frees believers from the condemnation of the law, placing them under the grace of the gospel and the empowering presence of the Spirit. The tone is pastoral and comforting, urging the congregation to rely on this unchanging divine advocacy for their present needs and eternal security.