John 16:5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 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. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
Jesus tells His disciples the above words and the words are "He is leaving." Their reaction was for them to grieve His leaving, but He gave them some insight into what was going to happen and what was best for them. If He didn't leave, the Advocate wouldn't be coming in this heavenly relay. Jesus passes the baton to the Holy Spirit, or Advocate, and the reasoning here is perfect (of course). Advocate (def) - a person who pleads on someone else's behalf. Paul knew that the Holy Spirit is involved in everything in the salvation experience and as the Advocate the Spirit draws us to a place of salvation, but the choice remains to be ours. When I was eleven years of age, I was attending First Baptist Church, West Plains, Missouri, and I began hearing about salvation offered through Jesus Christ. The Word of God was not only living and showing me the truth, but the Holy Spirit started moving me to the realization I needed Jesus. On one particular Sunday, I realized after hearing the plan of salvation offered by the Pastor, Jim Hylton, that I needed to receive Jesus, and I made the choice to follow Him in faith. I was born again in the Spirit and my life changed from there on. I wanted to know more about my Savior, but the discipleship part offered through our church "programs" was very weak and I didn't grow much in my faith.
As I grew older and went through the youth program, I wasn't challenged to grow in my faith through Bible Study and prayer, and then went to college totally unprepared for my collegiate years. Temptation was everywhere and the Holy Spirit, whom I didn't know very well, protected me from giving in to that temptation. I went to a church service with my then fraternity brothers, and the pastor spoke a pure word of truth from the Word of God. It was like the Holy Spirit said, "See, David. I am with you and you need to seek me out."
The Advocate continued to work on my mind and my heart and I came to a point of realization that my faith was real, but lacking any depth. The conviction by the Holy Spirit was very real and tangible and I had a "moment of clarity" about my faith and rededicated my life anew to Jesus and pursued Him with every part of my life. I identify this as my "Clarion Call" since the definition of a clarion call is as follows. Clarion Call (def) - a very clear message or instruction about what action is needed. My need was the Holy Spirit's direction, and my action resulted in a lifelong calling to be a full-time servant for Jesus. The Holy Spirit began this work in my heart and mind during that worship service where I was not there to get more "spiritual." I was just there to go to church, and the Word of God was preached. The Holy Spirit hit me between the eyes and the deepest part of my heart. This is why I don't like to "play church." Playing church was the last thing I needed, but the Word of God being preached in power reached me at my deepest level. The Advocate Jesus handed me off to, did the rest, and my life has been one of following that call for over 45 years, and the fire to keep going is still burning bright.
What am I called to do? Present the message, and the Advocate will draw the lost to a place of salvation. Should they give their life to Jesus, then the discipling begins and they can find their place in the call on their life. This Clarion Call had its different results, one of those results was to "not play church", but "be the church!" I have no patience for the lies of religion, which deflect the work of the Advocate at every turn. I am called a mystic because I believe in the work of the Holy Spirit. So be it! I am unshamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am unashamed of the Advocate that Jesus sent to convict the world of sin. There are others who are called mystics and continue to lift up our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, and believe in His work. A.W. Tozer was a preacher who believed in the workings of the Holy Spirit, and I agree with much of his teachings about the need to follow the leading of our Advocate, the Holy Spirit. I, like Him, believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is awesome and it takes us holding Him back to keep Him from working. So church, come alive in the Holy Spirit and turn Him loose to do His work; awakening and revival will come quickly and be lasting.
I close this message with the Words of Jesus in John 3:5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” 9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
Let the wind blow and trust the Advocate who Jesus sent to help us be all He called us to be. It is better to BE than to DO!!
Today's Message,
David Warren
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