Jesus Advocate (Acts 1:1-11)
Gary McManus, 05/26/2019Part of the Life With Jesus is Better series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
May 26, 2019 Celebrating the Ascension of
Our Lord/ Memorial Day Sunday
Act 1:1-11 (p.1077 / p.1090)
This sermon will especially be helpful
to any one of us with a tender conscience.
Good conscience, tender conscience,
scrupulous conscience (extreme—
not helpful)
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God’s Word: the prophet Isaiah (43:25) “I, [the Lord]
even I, am he who blots out your transgressions,
for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
See Hebrews 8:12, Jeremiah 31:34
It is a promise.
God’s “not remembering” is not what we think of
as forgetting. God knows all—always.
And God can choose not to remember something.
One writer said: “In human relationships we can
choose to remember the offenses someone has
committed against us, or we can choose to forget.”
Pastor has never found this to be true.
Pastor has failed to be ABLE to forget.
Pastor suffers from “intrusive memory”.
In extreme cases combat vets have “flashbacks”.
The difference between us and God. . .God
can choose to forget—some of us can’t—
even if we want to.
The phrase forgive and forget makes no sense
to your Pastor.
Maybe it is Biblical because the Lord can do it.
Pastor can pray for it.
HOWEVER, JESUS is here to help Pastor and you.
See Revelation 12:10. . .See Job 1 to confirm.
We always tend to put our focus on Jesus’ work
on earth—teaching, preaching, healing and his
death on the cross—then his resurrection.
That is okay but that is not all Jesus did for us.
Jesus is going to the Heavenly Father and will
be seated AT God’s right hand.
There Jesus is our advocate (Isaiah 53:12, Zechariah 3:1)
paraclete: usually Holy Spirit
but literally means “one who is called to someone’s aid”
therefore: one who appears on another’s behalf, a mediator, an intercessor, a helper. . .ADVOCATE
a legal advocate is also an acceptable translation. . .
See Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25
“Your Divine Honor, my client has already pleaded guilty to all charges and I have paid my client’s penalty.”
(Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, and Hebrews 9:14).
Jesus went to the Heavenly Father where Jesus continues to work for you and for me—to advocate for us before the Heavenly Father. Praise the Lord. Amen.
Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
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« In Quietness Prayer | None | Chosen » |