Essential Scripture #3
Jesus is praying for US?!
September 27, 2020
Do you know what “GAL” stands for?
Yes, some of you may know this word as the opposite of “guy,” and representing
women. But it is also an acronym which stands for “Guardian ad litem.”
You know what the word “guardian” means.
A guardian is a “defender, protector, or keeper.”
Some of you may be or may have been a guardian. Or some may have had a guardian.
For others of us, the word “lifeguard” includes part of the term and is someone who
protects the lives of those who are swimming in or who are near a large body of water.
And then there’s the term “guard,” in general which brings to mind someone serving to
keep people safety and protected.
So a guardian it is to protect people unable to speak up for themselves.
In the Florida court system, guardian ad litems are used to represent others in need of a
voice.
You know what guardian means now. How about the latin term “ad litem.”
Any guesses?
It means “for the suit.” Ad litem (Latin: "for the suit") is a term used in law, to refer to the
designation by a court for one party to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party, such
as a child or an incapacitated adult, who is incapable of representing themselves.
Guardian, “defender or protector” and “for the suit,” is someone who defends or protects
someone else in a court of law, for the lawsuit. In the case of a child, it usually has to do
with custody.
Volunteer Child Advocates speak on behalf of children who have experienced abuse,
abandonment and neglect.
The goal of the Guardian Ad Litem program for children is to help them find their way to
a safe, loving and permanent home.
This is a very important role, and if you are someone who has time on their hands and a
clean record and loves chidden, or those unable to speak up for themselves of all ages,
you can apply to be a volunteer for this very worthy cause.
If you’re interested, just go to: “ guardianadlitem.org "
Throughout the state of Florida, from January 2019 to January 2020, this worthy
organization had almost 13,000 Guardian ad Litem volunteers for children.
They drove almost 3 million miles, (mileage can sometimes be reimbursed);
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put in over 340,000 volunteer hours; and represented over 38,000 children.
38,000 children throughout the state of Florida had trained advocates representing
them!
As you can imagine, the need now is greater than ever. Children and those who can’t
speak up for themselves in a court of law need an advocate. A guardian ad litem can be
a great source of encouragement for foster children and their foster families.
As Christians, we are in need of encouragement and advocacy too.
In fact, Hebrews 3:13a tells us we are to “encourage one another daily.”
Not just “encourage one another,” but “daily!”
Have you encouraged another believer already today? If not, get to work!
And let me encourage you with our “Essential Scripture” #3 truth for today:
“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 8:34b)
What, you may be thinking, Jesus Christ is praying for us?!
Yes. He’s doing that, and a whole lot more.
He doesn’t take our belonging to Him, lightly. He doesn’t take us carrying His image
around, or forming up with others to actually represent His body, as any small thing.
And, in fact, as we encourage one another daily, we can appropriate the promises of
God from Romans chapter 8, and hold them in our heart.
{BTW… I will be teaching on several Scriptures today which include the important
phrase… “so that.” This is a purpose statement. So. As we go through the message and
the Scriptures today… keep your ears open to hear… “so that!”}
We can grow our faith and trust in God, especially as we go through various struggles,
and know that God is working all things together for our good, for those of us who love
Him and are called according to His purpose. (Essential Scripture #1 - Romans 8:28)
We can also know that if God is for us, who can be against us? (Essential Scripture #2 -
Romans 8:31.) There is actually no answer to that question. (Except… “No one!”)
We asked everyone last week to please read Romans 8:31-19 this week. We also
posted the reminder on Facebook.
If you forget, or haven’t yet, please do. In fact, with today’s message, it might even carry
more meaning for you. In fact, you may want to read it again. And meditate on it.
As you do with any Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read. (He wrote
the Book.) As you read, write down what jumps out to you. Or speaks to you.
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What is especially meaningful to you for this moment in your life? Then, see if there’s
something you can apply to your life from what you just read.
We’ve talked about how knowing God knows about our circumstance(s), and is at work
in our lives on our behalf, even if we can’t see it, is a hopeful promise to which we can
cling! This also helps us wrench our eyes off of the circumstance(s) and back onto Him,
which gives us more peace in the long run.
We’ve also looked into how knowing no one can be effective in being against us if God
is for us is also empowering!
{Have someone… ?Troy… read Romans 8:31-35 from The Message.}
When Paul wrote Romans 8:31-39, it was a rousing conclusion building up from
Romans chapters 5-8!
Romans 8:1 began, if you recall, with the good news that for those of us who are in
Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation!
What would it mean to you if you were on Death Row, and you heard the words, “Not
Guilty! Let him, or her, go free!” Of course they would mean everything in the world to
you. Most of all, freedom!
The fact is, the whole human race is on Death Row, condemned for repeatedly breaking
God’s holy law. Without Jesus, we would have no hope at all.
But thanks be to God, He has declared us “Not Guilty! and has offered us freedom from
sin and the power to do His will!”
So by the time Paul reaches Romans 8:31, he’s expounding on how we can find
confidence and comfort in knowing that if God is for us, nothing or no one can ever
make us feel ashamed or guilty or worthless anymore!
Because of Christ we are of great worth. But don’t for a minute mistake His extravagant,
life-saving, life-giving grace for cheap grace.
Understand and be very clear on this.
In I John 2:1, 2 John, (the disciple closest to Jesus and the one to whom our Savior
entrusted His mother upon His death), writes: “My dear children, I write this to you so
that you will not sin. But, if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father -
Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only
for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
There’s Jesus as our Advocate. The same One Paul wrote about in Romans 8:34b
“interceding for us.”
The Greek word, the original language in which this letter was written, for advocate is
“parakletos.” This where it starts to get very exciting!
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“para” means “from close-beside,” and “kaleo” “make a call.”
So, properly, this is a legal advocate who makes the right judgement call because
they’re close enough to the situation!
This is the regular term in the New Testament times for an attorney, or lawyer -
someone giving evidence that stands up in court!
Don’t forget, Paul was originally a lawyer, before he had a close up and personal
encounter with the living, resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus, which totally
turned his life around forevermore! He knew all about the legal system.
But what’s also cool about this word is it is also another name for the Holy Spirit!
(John 14:16, 26). Jesus said He would send a helper, or comforter, who would be with
us always. He would be the Holy Spirit! Our very own “parakletos!”
Jesus is our Advocate. He’s the lawyer pleading our case. (And you should know He
never loses a case…_
Make no mistake, however, that this Scripture was never meant to give people license
to sin. In fact, as one older Christian leader used to say, “people sin enough as it is
without needing a license!”
No. We are called to be holy as He is holy. When we belong to Him we don’t want to sin.
When people want to, and choose to sin, it is questionable as to if they were really ever
Christians to begin with.
I John 2:1 is simply John telling followers of Christ about God’s provision for sin when it
does occur. John gives us God’s provision for admitting our sin, being honest about it,
recognizing and admitting it is sin and that we’re willing to turn away from it, and with
honest confession relying on His power to overcome it!
I’d like to take a moment, now, and share with you a powerful prayer from a Spirit-filled
Methodist prayer evangelist named Terry Tekyl. [Read Prayer]
Father, one of Your many good gifts to us is
repentance. Would you grant me repentance and
restraint to my phone usage, iPad fascination, and
computer obsession? Redeem my time from these
devices to be used in relationship with You and loving
people. If You help me turn from these distractions,
my turning to You and what’s important will be sure. I
can have them, and they will not have me. Amen.
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Confession is good for the soul.
Ah. Be cleansed. Be renewed. Be forgiven. Be refreshed. Be empowered.
The verse to encourage one another DAILY comes from Hebrews 3:13.
In light of what we’ve just been covering, it seems even more appropriate. Hear these
words from Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called
“Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Yes. Sin is deceitful and does harden us.
In I John, the beloved church father is teaching on repentance, and Jesus our Advocate.
He answers the question, “How can we be sure we belong to Christ?”
He says in I John 2:3-5 “We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His
commands. Whoever says, “I know Him,” but doe not do what He commands is a liar,
and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His Word, love for God is truly
made complete in them.”
Later on, in I John 4:7,8, John writes, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of
God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. Whoever does
not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Jesus loves us so much He died for us. And now He’s interceding for us. The Greek
word for interceding is “entugecharro.” en toong khar o
It has multiple meanings!
It means “to confer with; “to entreat…” (sounds like en toong…); to make a petition
(Ah ha! … as my Dad would say…); to make a suit or supplication.
Sounds like something a parakletos would do!
In Hebrews 3 we are instructed to encourage one another every day!
It is also in Hebrews, 7:24, 25 where we read of another teaching on Jesus as
Intercessor for us: “…but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because
He always lives to intercede for them.”
Essential Scripture #3. Romans 8:34b. But first, 34a: “Who then is the one who
condemns? No one.” Notice Paul uses the personal question/answer format here?
8:31 “What, then, shall we say… If God is for us, who can be against us?
8:32 “How will He not also, along with Him, give us all things?
8:33 “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
8:34b “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.”
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Paul says that Jesus is interceding for us in Heaven. God has acquitted us and has
removed our sin and guilt, so it is satan, not God, who accuses us.
When he does, Jesus, the Advocate for our defense, the parakletos, stands at God’s
right hand to present our case. And remember, He never loses a case.
So. Just as a “GAL,” or Guardian ad litem knows the deepest hurts of the child they
represent, so our Savior knows ours.
The Romans Essential Scriptures on which we’ve been teaching were written to
increase the confidence of, and comfort the believers in Rome. May they also increase
our confidence in our Lord, and receive His comfort too.
Hebrews 4:15 sums it up like this: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way,
just as we are - yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of
need.”
Amen.
Pray…