DON’T FORGET THE PARACLETE

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Hi all,

2000 odd years after Jesus walked the earth; most of us read the Word and struggle with Jesus’ comments. One that bothered me for a long time was His statement that if we would be to our advantage if He went away. Personally, I can think of nothing better than to have the manifest presence of Jesus Christ walking and talking with me. I suspect most Christians would agree with this. 

Is This possible?

But Jesus said, ⁷ But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you. John 16:7 NLT How could the attendance of the “advocate” be better for us than Jesus’ personal abiding presence? Even now, reading Jesus’ statement we are inclined to scratch our heads and ask how that could be possible.

To get a better “handle” on what Jesus was saying, we need to look at the word translated “advocate” in the Scripture. That word is Paraclete. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word means “an advocate; one called to aid or support; hence, the consoler, comforter or intercessor, a term applied to the Holy Spirit.”

I’m sure each one of us would like to have the manifest presence of Jesus 24/7. I’m the first to support the proposal! But I live in Johannesburg. So if He is with me, He can’t also be with you. Sorry about that. There is only one Jesus and if He’s with me …. Sorry for you! Or, if you prefer, if He’s with you; what about me? We are on the horns of a dilemma. (Have you ever seen one? There had better be lots of dilemmas. If there are a million Christians, there must be a million dilemmas - as for their horns! Well   )

On the Horns of a Dilemma

The Lord Jesus knew about this “problem” before He ascended. He knew it was necessary for Him to send someone to us who could be everywhere present. The Holy Spirit; the Third Person in the Trinity is that person. He is with me in Johannesburg and with you wherever each of you are at the same time!

“So what?” I hear you ask. Well, if you dig into some of those musty old theological text books, you will find that Jesus only did what His Father told Him to do. You will also find that all His “miracles” were carried out by the Holy Spirit. So when Jesus ascended, He sent to earth the same “person” to us who carried out His miracles and raised Him from the dead. Furthermore, we don’t need those dilemmas, or their horns. We have the Holy Spirit with us 24/7. Suddenly, the Lord Jesus’ comment to his disciples begins to make sense. It is indeed better for us that He ascended and sent the Holy Spirit. He is the same Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead.

So let’s think about all this for a moment. We have the Father in Heaven telling Jesus what to do. We have Jesus telling us to “ask”. We also have the same Holy Spirit, standing by ready to carry out the will of Jesus and His Father. So where are we? I guess we are still stuck on the horns of all those dilemmas.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Come Holy Spirit

Please Show us the Way

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 22 May 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	DON’T FORGET THE PARACLETE
The Christian lifestyle is impossible. None of us can do it. I’m not being negative. I’m stating a fact. Only Jesus has ever managed it. Those who say they are or have are mistaken. There is only one Who can do so. Jesus Christ. So how do we get Jesus to live a Christian life for us? He does it by the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us how it’s done in Galatians 5:16-25.(Read the entire passage). Because of space considerations I’ll quote two verses. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 & 25 ESV Here then is the way we can live the Christian life. Note that what is happening is that the Holy Spirit leads and guides us, the way we should go. Without Him, it can’t be done. In better words, when we are tired of trying to do the impossible, a Christian can ask the Holy Spirit, to do what He does best. He is the “Paraclete”. This means “the one who comes alongside”. He is the One Jesus told His disciples would come and take His place. Jesus told us that it was good for us that the Holy Spirit “takes His place”. John put it as follows: 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you. John 16:7 NLT An obvious reason is that Jesus is in one place at a time. The Holy Spirit is anywhere and everywhere simultaneously. Another reason is that He (the Holy Spirit) can “live in you” This is because our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in us. He knows what is going on anywhere and everywhere. So although you may have no idea what to pray, the Holy Spirit within us knows exactly what we should be praying. So He intercedes on our behalf in ways we cannot tell. All we know is that there are “groans” within us that are His prayers expressed in ways we cannot imagine. One of the most beautiful “features” of the Holy Spirit is His gentlemanly conduct. He is our leader and our guide. He does not “take over”. He will never seek to “control” you. That would violate the freewill we have been given. What we do is our decision. He will lead us and guide us and empower us to keep out of sin. He enables us to “walk in the Spirit” But we are the ones who do the walking. He is not responsible for what we do. We are! He “comes alongside” as our helper. He even helps us do what is right. But we must do it. The final decision is ours. He can never be accused of sin. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			26 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 groaning that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. Romans 8:26-27 NLT 26 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 14:26 NLT 19 Don't you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is in you. You have received him from God. You do not belong to yourselves. 1 Corinthians 6:19 NIrV 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13 NLT 14 He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud. Psalms 103:14 MSG 3 He will not break a bent twig. He will not put out a dimly burning flame. He will be faithful and make everything right. Isaiah 42:3 NIrV 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray. Then you won't fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is weak." Matthew 26:40-41 NIrV A Psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Psalms 23:1-2 ESV	The lifestyle of a Christian is not a life of ease. In fact, it is impossible to even try to please, The people who are watching us each moment, every day. They long to point a finger, to look at us and say, “You say you are a Christian. I don’t believe it’s true. That which I see you doing, a Christian shouldn’t do”. Of course, it’s very easy to comment from the side. Their actions aren’t important. They don’t try to abide; Within the sort of framework of what they think is right. They’re not in competition and love to see us fight! And that is what we’re good at. To squabble and to brawl, With our fellow Christians to prove we’re best of all! Our attitude is terrible. In fact it’s upside down. We ought to help our brothers and see them wear the crown. For if we would be best of all, then we must be the least! Give them place of honour and let them be the priest. But every time we try it, we seem to get it wrong; Forgetting that when we are weak, then Jesus Christ is strong! We’re also quite forgetting that we are not alone. There is no need for us to try and do it on our own. We have the Holy Spirit and when He is in charge, Then He will be the helper of Christians at large. He is the Holy “Paraclete” and He is on our side. He isn’t just an ornament, He is a Special Guide! He helps us do the things we know that we can never do. When we don’t know what to pray He prays inside of you! We recognise the groaning, that comes from deep within. We know that He has “got it right” without committing sin! He truly is a gentleman and knows us inside out. He is my Lord and Shepherd. I’m His without a doubt. And He is always willing to help me get things right. So even unbelievers will say that I’m polite! He will not break a bruised reed; He won’t snuff out a flame; And everything He ever does, is done in Jesus name. He’s always working in us to please the Lord most High. And he will keep on doing this until the day we die. So while folk are comparing you, with what they think is right, Don’t forget the “paraclete” will help you win the fight. Relax and just be normal and to His will submit; And all your every action with Jesus Christ will fit! Jim Strickland Written 22nd May 2012