TOPIC: GROANING IN THE SPIRIT
God seeks the attention of His creation.
He uses various means to capture it.
For example, He spoke to Moses through the burning bush.
Ex 3:1-7(NLT)One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!””Here I am!” Moses replied.5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers
At other times, He comes through dreams and visions.
1 Sam 3:4-10(KJV)4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
There cannot be effective prayer, impartation or relationship with God unless He has captured the full attention of our being.
Groaning in the Spirit happens only when the entire faculty of God’s image in us –our mind, body, and spirit – are assembled to seek the Lord.
Groaning is a deep, low sound often made involuntarily, typically in response to pain, discomfort, frustration, or exhaustion. It can also be a sign of relief, longing, or distress. In human experience, groaning reflects emotional or physical struggles, a release of tension, or an expression of being overwhelmed.
In a broader sense, groaning is an emotional or spiritual response to inner turmoil, a longing for change, or a desire for something greater. This is especially evident in the context of “groaning in the Spirit” mentioned in the Bible.
While groaning can be linked to sorrow or pain, in this context, it represents a deep, heartfelt plea and intercession, not merely a lament.
Rom 8:22-27(NKJV)22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Everything is groaning.
The whole of creation is groaning – groaning in anticipation for a change.
This groaning is described as the labour pains of child birth.
Prayer has never been a “free lunch”, it is a labour – Col 4:12(KJV) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
It requires tenacity and faith. It is not a labor of depression, but a labour with purpose.
This groaning is so intense that the spirit of God Himself has to join with our spirit to groan.
Jesus Himself groaned in the Spirit.
I don’t understand how some people can pray so mechanically, without genuine depth or emotion.
John 11:33-44(KJV)33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.35 Jesus wept.36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Groaning, however, brings forth resurrection
Groaning in the Spirit is contagious.
When Jesus saw His beloved Martha, Mary and the Church groaning, He was moved and broke down in tears.
Heb 4:15(KJV)15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
If He was touched then, He is still moved today.
Jesus literally feels everything we feel – sadness, anger, heavy burden etc.
Jesus groaned at the Gethsemane until his sweat became like blood.
His groaning at the Gethsemane is a true picture of the man of God.
Luke 22:41-44(TLB)41-42 He walked away, perhaps a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed this prayer: “Father, if you are willing, please take away this cup of horror from me. But I want your will, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him, 44 for he was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops falling to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly.
Heb 12:2(KJV)2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Father rejected Him and He cried out – Matt 27:46(KJV)And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
My Father’s house is a house of prayer. – Luke 19:45-46 (TPT) Jesus entered the temple area and forcibly threw out all the merchants from their stalls. He rebuked them, saying, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Father’s house is to be filled with prayer—a house of prayer, not a cave of bandits! ‘ ”
You must have a testimony today
