defense attorney
“I bid you resolve not to worry about your defense beforehand.” —Luke 21:14
Doesn’t the Word of God say to be ever ready to give a reply to those who question you about why you live a life of faith? (1 Pt 3:15) The Holy Spirit is the Paraclete (Jn 14:26), a term which can be translated as “Attorney for the Defense.” Since the Holy Spirit is our Defense Attorney, we are actually stifling the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) if we try to take over the Spirit’s job. Let the Spirit prepare your defense. You need only to be His witness when called upon.
The Holy Spirit will remind us of all He taught us in advance (Jn 14:26; 16:13). The Spirit will teach us “what to say and how to speak” (Jn 12:49). The Spirit will do a far better job of defending us than we can ever do. So we can instead spend our time thanking and praising Him, and listening to His words. Then we can let God do His job. Our business is simply to follow Him (Jn 21:19).
It’s the daily life of faith that prepares us. We can’t think of all the ways others will challenge us, but the Spirit knows this in advance. When we are living in the Spirit and in a life of faithful prayer with a well-formed conscience, then whatever the Spirit brings to mind is what He wants said. Even with an incomplete formation of conscience, if we are docile to the Spirit, He has the power to bring the proper words to our mind.
Offer your life to God as a living sacrifice; then the Holy Spirit will renew and transform your mind (Rm 12:1-2).
Prayer: Holy Spirit, open my ears to hear Your voice, and open my lips to speak Your words.
Promise: “By patient endurance you will save your lives.” —Lk 21:19
Praise: “The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever” (Rv 22:5). Praise the risen Jesus!
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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