John – God Speaks!
Ally comes from the Latin word alligare, meaning “to bind to,” like nations who are allies in wartime — they will act together, and protect one another. You can also use ally as a verb, meaning “join forces with.” For example, you might ally yourself with influential people to advance your career.
To align yourself with another person’s theology or persona means you want what they want. You want to be like them. You agree and unite with their purposes and goals. You love what they love and do what they do in order to stay connected to them.
Having an Ally is to unite or form a connection or relation between you and them. You are associates together for one purpose and one mission.
An advocate is more than an ally and speaks or writes in favor of an idea or person. An advocate supports and stands beside others with a persuasive argument defending them. An advocate details the worth of another person and acts in their behalf for their benefit.Jesus reminds his disciples of the Advocate Ally He will send to stand for and with them when He goes back to heaven to the Father. THIS Advocate (part of the Trinity) will be Truth and will guide each believer to Truth when the world tries to use lies to get us to come over to the side of evil. The Advocate will stand before the Father for us.
John 15, New Living Translation
The World’s Hatred
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’26 “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. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.
WHAT DO WE LEARN?This also comes with a warning so we will know the difference between the Advocate of Truth and the father of lies:
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”
“Anyone who hates me also hates my Father”…
“This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’”
God, the Father, our Father, sends an Advocate, His Holy Spirit to all who believe and belong to Him. The Advocate will lead us to Truth when we are confused and perplexed by what the world says.
The Advocate will tell us what to say and when to say it just like the Father told Jesus what to say and do when He walked the earth! Wait, what? YES, our Advocate, God’s Holy Spirit lives IN us ready to guide us to all Truth. He is also our “associate” and our “ally” who will be with us, supporting us as we do what God invited us to be and do! Can I get an amen?!?
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
We are not alone in ministry, in marriage, in parenting, in the workplace, in all of life! We have The Advocate who is part of God, Himself, to help us.
HOLY PAUSE…(For me, for you.)
Do you belong to God or to the world?
Have you said yes to God because of your love for God?
Do you leave God when following Him gets hard?
Are you willing to be guided by The Advocate into Truth? And then follow what He (part of God) says?
My prayer is that all who believe in Jesus’ salvation to them would live a life associated with the Holy Spirit as an ally in all circumstances. This union will save our lives and help us to walk the talk more closely in sync with God, the Father.Who is your ally, associate and advocate? Who do you belong to above all others?
“And you must also testify about me…” –Jesus
Dear Heavenly Father,
I belong to you because you saved me, chose me, loved me and wanted the best for me. Who else would I follow but you. There is no one like you God. Thank you dear Jesus for saving my soul. Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding my path, comforting my soul, challenging my mind and softening my heart. Continue to transform me into all that pleases you for your glory!
In Jesus Name, Amen
