THE PURPOSE OF GROANINGS
(mr 01/06/19)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Romans 8:19-23 KJV: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, (21) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (24) For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (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. (27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Here the scripture reveals to us 3 groups who are groaning:
- Creation, including the spirits, souls and bodies of natural men.
- The souls and physical bodies of the saints (their spirits are free from the bondage of corruption).
- God the Holy Spirit.
Why?
Creation has been subject to the bondage of corruption BECAUSE of the sin of Adam:
Genesis 3:17-18 KJV: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; (18) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Not only was the ground cursed, the geographic and climatic conditions of the earth became greatly distorted and corrupted. This corruption and distortion has increased GRADUALLY over the millennia, making certain regions of the earth increasing difficult for human habitation and survival: like the deserts and artic poles.
Satan took over LEGAL (Lk.4:5-6) spiritual control of the planet after Adam’s fall.
God allowed this, because Adam was not deceived (like Eve was (1 Tim. 2:14)) and willingly transferred the legal dominion of the earth to Satan.
However, God had a plan and hope that one day the Seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent (Gen.3:15) and restore God’s dominion through man on the earth and deliver the creation from the bondage of corruption.
This satanic spiritual control is responsible for the dominion of sin, sickness, poverty and death we see all around us today.
John 10:10 KJV: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Acts 10:38 KJV: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
This is why the Lord Jesus had to become a Man and suffer and die to pay the price for our sins, and by His victory over sin and death, has given us back LEGAL, spiritual DOMINION over the planet.
Colossians 2:13-15 NIV: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, (14) having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. (15) And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
However, Satan being an outlaw still continues to exercise his dominion over the planet and can only be dominated by spiritual warfare through prayer.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (11) Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:18 KJV: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Matthew 11:12 AMP: And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize–a N1 share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
Matthew 11:12 From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it.
So God the Holy Spirit helps us: takes hold together with us against the Satanic corruption and distortions in our physical bodies, souls and creation as we pray in the Spirit; this push or EXERTION against the satanic opposition enforcing the distortions is released through wordless groans.
Romans 8:26 NIV: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
God the Holy Spirit is touched with sufferings that creation and us the saints are going through because of the satanic corruption and distortion so He helps the saints to pray in the Spirit with GROANINGS to deliver or free creation from the bondage of corruption and distortion.
As we GROAN in prayer in the Spirit, divine life and power is injected into our souls, bodies, the air to deliver and free us and the creation including men, around us from the bondage of corruption so destroying the works of the devil like the Lord Jesus did.
1John 3:8 KJV: He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Isaiah 61:1 NKJV: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Psalms 102:20 KJV: To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death,
Groaning releases MORE power than speaking in tongues just like a jet engine gives greater thrust to an airplane than a propeller engine does. Praying in tongues can be likened to flying with a propeller; while praying with groanings likened to flying with a jet. Also, just like jet and propeller engines make loud noises as they fly, we make noise as we pray in tongues and groan:
Psalms 42:7 NKJV: Deep calls unto deep at the NOISE of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
John 7:38 KJV: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Ezekiel 47:5 KJV: Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
Ezekiel 47:8-9 NKJV: Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. (9) And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.
To MAXIMISE the efficacy of our prayers, we SHOULD COMPLEMENT our praying in tongues with GROANING as these scriptures reveal and thus instruct.
James 5:16 AMP: Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
To do this regularly and systematically, we MUST FIRST fill our hearts with the life and power of God using scriptures that promise us the life of God (2 Peter. 1:4, Prov. 18:20-21) BEFORE praying with tongues and groanings, just like a woman has to be pregnant before travailing to give birth to a baby.
We pray with tongues and groanings in this manner daily, weekly and monthly for:
- Yourself: for Christ to be formed (Gal 4:19) in you (daily or weekly).
- Your household (wife, children) daily or weekly.
- The Church, the nation and other men and circumstances (weekly or monthly).
According to Lev.16:17 and 1 Chr.23:30-31, we can apply prayer as the spiritual equivalent of the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament.
Leviticus 16:17 KJV: And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
1Chronicles 23:30-31 NIV: They were appointed to stand to give thanks and praise to the LORD every morning. They were appointed to do the same thing in the evening. (31) They were appointed to stand in front of the LORD in the required numbers whenever burnt offerings were made-on weekly worship days, at New Moon Festivals, and on appointed annual festivals.
