Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Spiritual Attorney

 
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
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.  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)
Aside from a few mundane issues like a real estate transaction or making a will, I’ve never needed to employ an attorney.  But I’ve probably watched more than my fair share of courtroom drama shows, and, as a pastor, I have experienced the angst of a friend or church member going through that kind of drama.  When you’re facing the accusation of the governing authorities of the state, you don’t know which way to turn first.  You need someone who can speak the language of the court on your behalf.
Paul was talking about that kind of helpless feeling when we know life has gotten off-center, or bad stuff is on the horizon, yet we just don’t know what to ask God in prayer.  We’re caught between knowing we want help, and not wanting to ask for something foolish or selfish, or just plain wrong.  We want to ask within God’s will, but how can you know for sure that what you want is what God wants for you?
If you’ve ever experienced that special kind of frustration that puts you between the rock and a hard place, and offers no easy choice, and just makes you want to throw your hands in the air and cry out, WHY, OH WHY…; When you get to that place on the helpless meter is when you need an advocate, an attorney who understands both sides of the conversation.  You need someone who can speak for you.
Paul the apostle says that person is the Holy Spirit of God.  It sounds kind of absurd really, that God would be your attorney pleading the case to…well…Himself.
Now this wasn’t just Paul going off the religious deep end; he got it from Jesus.  When the crucifixion was near Jesus was preparing his disciples for what lay ahead – life without Jesus’ physical presence, but the guidance and strength they would experience from the inner presence of God’s Spirit:
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.  The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.  But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.  John 14:16-17(NLT)
The times I have been most equipped to follow God’s leading are the times I have trusted that whatever comes, the Spirit of God would not mislead me.  It is at those frustrating, overwhelming and seemingly unfair times which the world and its ways throw at you that God’s Spirit most shows who is really in charge.  And the person who sees that most clearly is the one who is willing to listen for the still, small voice.

For You Today

You have an attorney within…you have the right to remain silent!
You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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