another advocate
by k.t. sim
Posted under
christian living,
daily devotional,
faith,
fellowship with God,
holiness,
Holy Spirit,
Jesus,
sanctification,
spiritual battles,
spiritual gifts,
The Church (4 comments)
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John 14:15-26
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you (John 14:16).
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Read Acts 2 to find out about the day when the Father fulfilled Jesus’ promise and gave the Holy Spirit to His people, the church.
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What did Jesus mean when He said that the Holy Spirit “will be in you”? (John 14:17, see also 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). How should this affect the way you live your life? (John 14:15,21; Romans 8:2,5-17).
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When I was asked to say a few words at the farewell dinner for a friend who was emigrating, I Googled for some help. Here’s a sampling of what I found: “Every goodbye makes the next hello closer.” “It is the end of something simple and the beginning of everything else.” That last quote got me thinking about what Jesus said when He gave His farewell speech (John 13–16).
Jesus was returning to the Father (John 14:12). He said, “It is best for you that I go away” (John 16:7). Only then would the Father send them a gift—“another Advocate” (John 14:16), “the Holy Spirit” (John 14:17).
The word Advocate or Paraklétos (John 14:16,26, 15:26, 16:7)—“one who helps or enables another person,” is difficult to truly define. So the words “Advocate” (NLT), “Helper” (NKJV), “Counselor” (NIV), “Comforter” (KJV), “Companion” (CEB), “Intercessor, Strengthener” (AMPLIFIED), and “Friend” (THE MESSAGE) are all used to describe who the Holy Spirit is.
The Spirit is “another Advocate” (John 14:16). Two different Greek words are translated “another”—Heteros, another of a different kind; and allos, another of the same kind. The Spirit is allos Paraklétos, an Advocate of the same kind. Jesus, our Paraklétos (1 John 2:1), sent His representative (John 14:26), not an inferior or subordinate substitute, but an equal. The Spirit continues Jesus’ ministry—comforting, encouraging, guiding, strengthening, and teaching us everything—reminding and enlightening us to all that Jesus taught (John 14:26, 16:12-15).
Jesus said “goodbye” to His disciples. But the Spirit’s “hello” marked the beginning of something else—the birth of the church (Acts 2:1-21) and the continuing ministry of Jesus through us (John 14:12; Acts 1:8).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Jeremiah 36:1-32
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Right on point!
This is very helpful, K.T. In some strange, incomprehensible way, because the persons of the Godhead mutually indwell each other, when we have the Spirit we also have Jesus, who is the “Spirit of Christ.” The Spirit is not merely Jesus in spirit form, but his presence within us means that Jesus himself is not far away.
Mike, this reminds me of what Paul wrote: “Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory” (Colossians 1:27).
“What did Jesus mean when He said that the Holy Spirit “will be in you”? (John 14:17, see also 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). How should this affect the way you live your life?”
ouch. :/ I confess. I live just a regular life…