the better Advocate — jordan petteys

Jun 29

Jun 29 the better Advocate

My hope for you, reader, is that these words leave you confident in your prayer, empowered to continue praying, and comforted by the secure justice and love of Christ. May you find true, thirst quenching rest for your soul. You’re about to buckle down on lotttt of Scripture, but I still implore you to dig into the Word for yourself. I’m no expert, but I do believe these findings are worth the read.

We are crying for an Advocate greater than our justice system, Instagram accounts, heartbreaking videos and next President. In my search for an unbiased, truthful, answer that satisfied my desperation, I rediscovered the transformative power of God’s empathetic, compassionate, and willing heart to intervene on America’s behalf.

“As it is written, For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.”

Psalm 44:22-26

Thankfully, God prepared the solution to injustice in the beginning and brought His perfect plan to fruition on the cross. Today, we see that solution in Jesus, and Him alone. We cannot, and therefore do not depend on the law for justice (especially because legislation is filtered through broken and crooked people, like us, so it is bound to fail), rather depend on God’s unfailing love. This is not because the law is useless, but because grace is priceless. If our hope was still in the law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21).

“What shall we say then in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?

It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one.

Christ Jesus who died––more than that, who was raised to life––is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Romans 8: 31-34

As ambassadors for Christ aching for justice, repentance, and action, we must not dismiss or discredit the power of The Holy Spirit in us. Every victory is delivered by the hand of God. Even Moses recognized that God used him (a sinful, stuttering, 80 year old man) as a vessel for His power. When Moses’ staff struck the ground, split the Red Sea, then freed the Israelites from the Pharaoh's oppression, the power to liberate the enslaved from bondage came from God, and God alone.

“Your right hand, Lord,

Was majestic in power,

Your right hand, Lord,

Shattered the enemy.

In the greatness of your majesty

You threw down those who opposed you.

You unleashed your burning anger;

It consumed them like stubble.”

(a song of Praise from Moses and the Israelites in Exodus 15:6-7)

We hold the pens that authorize petitions, the signs that scream for justice, and the voices powerful enough to encourage or discourage (1 John 3:18), but not by our own works do we solve the downfall of mankind. We will throw our staves to the ground, but not by our power do staves turn to snakes (Exodus 7:10).

“For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them. The Lord says to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ ”

Psalm 109:31-110:1

So, our righteous anger turns to lamenting, forgiving, and asking for forgiveness (see Mark 11:25, where Jesus extends forgiveness following his display of righteous anger). This is not to decrease the severity of injustice or of sin. I can say confidently that the God of justice, mercy and deliverance interceded for me after the most violent, unjust, and damaging encounter of my life, so that I could walk in love over fear (1John 4:8).

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again, rather the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to Sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs––heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his suffering in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Romans 8:14-17

This is a radical concept...that there is a solution to the downfall of mankind that doesn’t beg for legislative justice because He originated, authored, conceptualized, promised ultimate justice. The same God who abhors death, allowed what he abhorred (even the death of His own beloved, perfect, blameless (the one least deserving of His justice) Son) to see us, representatives from every tribe, tongue and nation (Revelation 7:9) freed from the punishment––justice rather, of our own sin, because He knew that we were unable to save ourselves. He knew that no petition, legislation, or political promise could satisfy our need for true reconciliation...we were not created to be perfected by the law, but by grace.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter:8-9

Therefore, do not dismiss prayer. Prayer is the most powerful form of activism. When we pray, we join forces with Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, who is seated at the right hand of the Father––the God of justice, forgiveness, and redemption. Our prayers unite us with the Trinity (and with each other) in an ongoing battle for humanity and salvation––in God’s loving, relentless pursuit for lost hearts since the beginning of time.

“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped people and continue to help them, we want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.”

Hebrews 6:10-11

“If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8: 23-28

“The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well: The Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

James 5:15-16

*bold indicates examples of activism by the Holy Spirit.

Again, I urge you not to dismiss the power of forgiveness. The Better Advocate is here now, as He was before, and as He will be again soon. Justice rests in His hands. Lamenting in prayer (Psalm 102:1-2), repentance (Acts 2:38), forgiveness (Colossians 3:13), freedom (John 8:36, Galatians 5:1, 3:22, Ephesians 3:12), encouragement (Proverbs 16:24) and love (Matthew 22: 36-40) are the powerful tools we’ve been gifted during such a time as this (Esther 4:14).

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

2Corinthians 4:7-9

I will leave you, reader, with one of the most transformative examples of forgiveness bound by love I’ve ever experienced:

“You are always enough. If you consciously and deliberately choose to practice love and compassion in your life, you will always find the strength for the battle. You will always find the courage to move forward, and you will always have the strength to resist the temptation to give up or fall into despair. By consciously and deliberately choosing to love every day for the rest of your life, you will live a meaningful life no matter what you do. You will find passion and love for life. You will be able to love yourself, and love others. Love will provide a light that will lead you to people that you can help, and give you the wisdom and courage to provide that help.

By consciously and deliberately choosing to love everyday for the rest of your life, you will help put an end to hatefulness, prejudice, intolerance, and violence.”

––Michael and Desiree Davis, on behalf of Claire Davis