Bible Dictionary
Intercession of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers by helping their weakness and directing their prayers according to God’s will. This inward ministry complements Christ’s heavenly intercession.
Definition
The intercession of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit’s inward ministry on behalf of believers. The Spirit works upon the mind and heart, enlightening and quickening them, and directing their desires according to the will of God.
Biblical Usage
The Spirit helps believers in their weakness and acts as an advocate within them. This ministry is complementary to Christ’s heavenly intercession: Christ intercedes as advocate in heaven, while the Spirit works within believers.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Rom. 8:26, 27; John 14:26). “Christ is a royal Priest (Zech. 6:13). From the same throne, as King, he dispenses his Spirit to all the objects of his care, while as Priest he intercedes for them. The Spirit acts for him, taking only of his things. They both act with one consent, Christ as principal, the Spirit as his agent. Christ intercedes for us, without us, as our advocate in heaven, according to the provisions of the everlasting covenant. The Holy Spirit works upon our minds and hearts, enlightening and quickening, and thus determining our desires ’according to the will of God,’ as our advocate within us. The work of the one is complementary to that of the other, and together they form a complete whole.”, Hodge’s Outlines of Theology.