June 2022
Nougat 5
Happy birthday 
““But I will send you the Advocate —the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.” John 15:26 NLT
A word that’s become very common in my current vocabulary is ‘advocacy’. And, when we use it, we are speaking of the power to represent ourselves; to speak on behalf of others whose voices have been muted; to know how a system works and ensure that what is professed by those ‘in power’ represents the actual facts. As I don’t speak legalese or UN terminology, I often have to refer to my colleagues who do, and we offer trainings on how to navigate such systems/structures. Before us then, is the question: ‘Does God’s Spirit do similar things for us?’
Interestingly, the original language does not literally describe God’s Spirit as an Advocate. Rather, Paraklétus (ie Paraclete), meaning ‘Helper’, is used. The context however attests to representation, as Strongs suggests that
formally the paraklétus would be “a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because [he/she is] close enough to the situation”. Thus, we have an assurance that God’s Spirit, being close to (actually in) us while being at God’s right hand is close enough to both contexts to provide the spiritual ‘help’ and support we need for every single situation that we face.
As our Advocate coming directly from God, God’s Spirit speaks the languages of Heaven, which are not restricted to any of the ones we use on earth. AND, perhaps more critically, God’s Spirit – knowing our real needs – gets the requests we can’t even put in words placed in priority in Heaven (see Romans 8:26). For me, it suggests that we ought to willingly, honestly and openly engage God’s Spirit, especially since we frequently pray ‘Your will be done here on earth as it’s done in Heaven!’ We might not have seen it as a call for God’s Spirit to intervene or help; but it adds up when layered with the Romans text.
We are also advised that the Advocate is the Spirit of Truth. (And right away I’m reminded of Jesus words in John 8:32, ‘And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set You free!’) As Truth defender, our Paraclete is countering each and every lie the enemy of our souls tries to use against us. For with a mission to steal, kill, and destroy; the enemy of our souls would have us permanently in bondage. And, as the prince of this world, the enemy plans to keep us bound. But, Hallelujah; God’s Spirit of Truth offers Abundant Life (John 10:10) and freedom from that bondage.
And with Jesus being the Way, Truth and Life, it stands to reason that we will know Jesus even more when we choose to engage with God’s Spirit. I say choose because I maintain that we all receive God’s Spirit within upon our confession of faith in Jesus.
[In fact, I believe it is God’s Spirit Who ultimately convicts us of our sins and God’s grace in Jesus to release us from that guilt. However, depending on the way we were introduced to the reality of the Trinity, our understanding of God’s Spirit varies. The nougat reminds us that we can simply ask, and God’s Spirit will offer clarity.]
Having a gift and choosing to use a gift are not always simultaneous. Some would also argue that we first must know that we have a gift in order to use the gift. And if our Advocate is sent to us as a Helper; the Expert Who makes Thy Kingdom Come a living reality for each of us who believe, then it follows that we are the ones who will call for our Advocate! No one else can do so quite the way we can.
Now that our interest is engaged with our Advocate, what’s our next step?
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May all we seek be found in Christ