Re: Enthuse — An advocate to champion us
Erick du Toit
May 27, 2021
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Listen to this daily worship
John 15: 26-27; 16: 4b-15 (NIVUK)
(15) 26 ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
(16) 4b I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, “Where are you going?” 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 ‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’
Pentecost is a wonderful season to be reminded that we’re not alone.
You’re not alone.
That we haven’t been left to our own devices. That humanity’s been promised and given the ultimate counsellor in the form of the Holy Spirit.
The word used for counsellor is Paracletos. It is notoriously difficult to translate.
Counsellor.
Comforter.
Advocate.
Helper.
The list goes on, but you get the picture.
A literal translation could be ‘someone called to one’s aid’.
In our reading for today the Holy Spirit is described as continually active in the lives of believers. He abides, dwells, and resides both with us and within us to guide us in all truth.
He will convict the world of its guilt and point them in the direction of Christ’s redeeming love and forgiveness.
It’s quite remarkable that Jesus rates the Holy Spirit. He goes so far as to say it’s for your good that I’m going away. That’s interesting. Jesus had so much trust and belief in the work of the Holy Spirit that he was willing to hand over the reins.
That makes me wonder: if Jesus, the founder, and foundation of my faith, finds it easy to trust the Holy Spirit, to pass him the baton, why am I so reluctant to do the same? To give up control.
Could it be pride? A desire to be in control or an unwillingness to admit that I cannot cope on my own?
During hardships I have found it beneficial to reach out and call in the Paracletos. But lately I’ve realised, that the Spirit doesn’t only want to help me through hardship and turmoil. He’s also there to help me during times of great joy and excitement. To assist me in celebrating life in such a way that I will glorify our heavenly Father.
During the good, and the not so good — the Spirit will forever be there.
To help.
To guide.
To counsel.
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit,
Make me aware of your presence,
Living inside me, beside me.
Be my comforter and counsellor,
Now and forevermore.
Amen.
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