And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - John 14:16
“The Spirit is the first power we practically experience, but the last power we come to understand.” - Oswald Chambers
Advocate means: someone who will back, promote and champion you … the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal. In Christianity, that cause or proposal is us. Among the many things the Holy Spirit is, He is our advocate … for us becoming us.
Think of a coach or a trainer who is with you to help you become more, become better, become what is within you to be, to do, to offer. That coach is with you full-time, and at all times working good into you and through you, while working out the things that are not good. The question is, would we align ourselves with such a coach? Would we take Him up on his offer to learn from Him how?
If Jesus needed to move on through the cross and resurrection so that He could make way for the Holy Spirit, and make a way for us to have a permanent residence of God, presence of God within us, then the Holy Spirit must be pretty important. Jesus describes the Spirit as a Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener ... that implies we are going to need all these things in order to see our way home and see ourselves remade. These are very interactive and very intimate roles.
When a believer starts to hear the Spirit's voice, see the Spirit's love, and engage with the Spirit's work, the whole game changes, and a believer becomes what God intended: a beloved son, a warrior heart that is dangerous for good.
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—John 14:16 (AMP)
The Daily Prayer - Paragraph 8
Holy Spirit, I sincerely embrace you as my Counselor, my Comforter, my Strength and my Guide.[40] Thank you for sealing me in Christ.[41] I honor you as my Lord, and I ask you to lead me into all truth, to anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and to lead me deeper into Jesus today.[42] I fully open my life to you in every dimension and aspect – my body, my soul and my spirit – choosing to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things.[43] Apply to me, blessed Holy Spirit, all of the work and all of the gifts in Pentecost.[44] Fill me afresh, blessed Holy Spirit. I receive you with thanks and give you total claim to my life
An excerpt from The Daily Prayer Memory Verse Cards.
