Tuesday, February 3rd

Today and tomorrow, I want us to look John 14 and see how Jesus identifies the Holy Spirit. We will see a consistent name in the Greek, parakletos (pa-ra-klay-tos) or we translate it most commonly, advocate or helper, but the most literal translation is “one called alongside to help.” Jesus than relates in four different ways to how the Holy Spirit works.

Notice it in context. John 14:16-18- 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 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. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

The first way it is translated is like we said, Advocate- one who pleads our case. Very much like a scene in a courtroom. The Holy Spirit is one who pleads our case. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Which means the Holy Spirit stands up for us when we face an accuser, one who tells lies. The accuser seeks to isolate us, drive us away from God and the Spirit advocates, or prods us in God’s direction. When we line up our lives, our interior and exterior lives with truth, we are paying attention to the Advocate and not the accuser.
How do you need to see the Holy Spirit as an Advocate in your faith journey? Or let me put it this way, what lies are you believing about yourself or about God that you need to hear truth from the Advocate?

The other common word translated for Holy Spirit is, Comforter- notice verse 18, not leave us as orphans, the KJV, says leaves us comfortless, that the Holy Spirit will comfort us in our times of sorrow or pain, isolation and rejection.

I love this quote from Tyler Staton, “the presence of God is more powerful than my pain. His comfort outlasts my desperation and even makes a way through it.”

That’s a call back to Psalm 23, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

How do you need to see the Holy Spirit as Comforter in your faith journey? Where do you feel discouraged, grief, pain or rejection and you need the Holy Spirit to come alongside you to help?