I am the True Vine. Luke 15:1
Yesterday we left off about the Holy Spirit being our advocate, helper, and counselor. Today let’s dive in some more. The Greek word for advocate is parakletos. This means: called to one’s aide or an advocate, intercessor. A console, comforter, helper. Let’s read some verses that talk about the Holy Spirit, our advocate.
John 14: 16-17 says this, ‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 16:7 says “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.”
1 John 2:1 says “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
Which of these verses speaks to you? Why?
“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.” Romans 8:26. This is a comforting verse to me. I like knowing that in my weaknesses the Holy Spirit is there to help me. With the Power of Jesus, all things can be made new. Thank you, Jesus. How awesome is our God, that when we feel less than – victorious, conqueror, strong – We have Jesus – We have the Holy Spirit. We have restoration.
Here are some more verses to rely on in our weaknesses:
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9a
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31b
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37
Take some time this week and just sit in the quietness of the Holy Spirit and soak up these truths. He knows our weaknesses and He knows how to pray. There is a purpose to our weakness. Even though it doesn’t feel good, there is good that will come from it.
How does this make you feel or think?
Jesus Prays for All Believers John 17:20-26
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Jesus cares for you, wants you to call upon the Advocate, and is lifting you up in prayer to our heavenly Father. Jesus is for you.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your deep, deep love for each of us. Thank you for sending an advocate to us for help. I pray that we will slow down and sit at your feet and take in your truths.
In Jesus Name
Amen
