We all know how frustrating it can be to feel that we are not being listened to. Such frustration can be very difficult to deal with, especially when communicating with God regarding your circumstances.

Advocacy means getting support from another person to help you express your views and wishes, and help you stand up for your rights. Someone who helps you in this way is called your advocate.

 

An advocate can:

 

- listen to your views and concerns - Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 8:26-28(ESV)

- help you explore your options and rights (without pressuring you) - John 16:13

- provide information to help you make informed decisions - John 16:13 

- help you contact relevant people, or contact them on your behalf - Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 8:26-28(ESV)

- accompany you and support you in meetings or appointments - Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 8:26-28(ESV)

- support you to ask all the questions you want to ask - Romans 8:26-28(ESV)

- make sure all the points you want covered are included in the meeting John 14:26

- help keep you safe during your moments – for example, if you find your moments upsetting, your advocate can ask for a break until you feel able to continue. I Corinthians 10:13

 

An advocate will not:

 

- give you their personal opinion - John 10:30; John 16:13 

- solve problems and make decisions for you - Luke 10:19; II Peter 1:3

- make judgements about you - John 3:17; Isaiah 33:22 

 

 

The Advocacy of Jesus Christ

1 John 2:1,4 (AMPC) MY LITTLE children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God's law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father –Jesus Christ the righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father's will in every purpose, thought, and action]. Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him.

 

Two Truths amongst many others about the advocacy of Jesus Christ:

(a) The advocacy of Jesus Christ is not a licence for us to continue a sinful life. 

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 

Paul replies with a resounding “God forbid” (Romans 6:2). Desiring to continue in sin shows a misunderstanding of this abundant grace and contempt for Jesus' sacrifice.

For the unsaved person, sin is something that separates them from God, due to his perfect holiness. Yet for the Christian, their sin has been paid for. When God looks at them, he doesn’t see their sin, but instead righteousness. Instead of condemnation, we receive grace. Instead of rightful punishment for our sins, God sees us as his sons and daughters. Romans 6:6-7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Indeed, this is the miracle of the Christian faith for all who believe.

 

(b) The advocacy of Jesus Christ is to stand against the devil who accuses us of our "sins". 

Revelation 12:9-11 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 

 

 

The Advocacy of the Holy Spirit

John 14:16 (AMPC)  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever–

 

Two Truths amongst many others about the advocacy of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:26-28(ESV):

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

(a) The advocacy of the Holy Spirit helps us to know "what to pray for".

John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.

 

(b) The advocacy of the Holy Spirit helps us to know "how to pray".

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.