God Advocates:

Entering Into God’s Presence
Knowing God Through His Works & Ways (VERBS)

To Study and Ponder

• The HolySpirit is called our“Helper”,“Counselor”or“Advocate”in modern translations (more accurate than the King James “Comforter”). He is the one who pleads our case for us. “The Greek word (Paraklete) means "one called upon for support, one called in for assistance", thus an advocate. Outside the NT one finds "the clear picture of a legal adviser or helper or advocate in the relevant court”. –Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Kittel)

  • -  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 (Also John 14:26; 16:7)

  • -  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

    John 14:16

• In a similar way, Paul says “God is for us” (Rom 8:31). Many see God as one who stands in opposition to us; the Bible reveals that the opposite is true. Satan is the accuser of believers (Rev 12:10); but God is our defender, the one who champions us and advocates our cause. While opposing our sin, he is for us and helps us overcome our sin.

• The fact that God is for us is a constant Biblical theme. The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy (Psalm 126:3).

• The story of Balak and Balaam is told in great detail (Num 22-24) because it underscores the fact that even though the enemy seeks to curse, attack and destroy, God comes to bless, defend and protect his people.

• The Holy Spirit does what Jesus would do if He was standing beside us.

  • -  He gives boldness & courage:- But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in

    advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who

    will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11 (Acts 1:8; 4:8-9; 7:55; 13:9-10; Phil 1:19)

  • -  He directs:- The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were

    Gentiles. Acts 11:12a (Mt 4:1; John 16:13; Acts 16:6-7; 20:22-23)

  • -  He gives joy:- For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living

    a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 (Luke 10:21a)

  • -  He empowers us to live:- I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower

    you with inner strength through his Spirit. Eph 3:16 (Acts 9:31; Rom 8:13b-14; 2Ti 1:14)

• As you prepare to teach about the role of the Holy Spirit meditate on the following:-
  - Jesus’ farewell discourse in John Ch 14-17
  - 1 Corinthians ch.12-14, a description of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ.
  - The book of Acts. (see study by John Randerson, teacher/leader in UofN Bible schools)

• The Holy Spirit helps us when we do not have natural understanding or strength to pray. (Romans 8:26). We can pray for people and situations we don’t know about and be stirred deep down by the Spirit. “The Message” version says Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans... Romans 8:26

• Jesus was an advocate for others on earth (woman caught in adultery–John 8:1-11, woman who washed Jesus’ feet–Luke 7:44-48, Zaccheus–Luke 19:1-10 etc.) and is our advocate in heaven:- My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 1 John 2:1-2

Memory/Meditation
Lower Grades: 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)

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Galatians 5:16 (NLT)

Middle Grades: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. John 14:16-17a (NLT)

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Romans 8:26 (NLT)

Upper Grades: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 14:16,26 (NLT)

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 (NLT)