'Breathing In' Truth -- 'Breathing Out' Lies

As we enter John 14:15ff Jesus promises that – ultimately – He will be only a few fingertips away.   For Jesus promises that as He ‘lives on’ beyond Easter – He’ll travel near us, with us – through a spiritual manifestation described in scripture in varied ways: as Helper – Comforter –  or Advocate.  

Now in John 14:15ff the descriptive word is Advocate which in Greek is the word parakletos which actually is untranslatable.  The best rendering is a phrase:  “someone who is called in.”  But not just called in, but one called in to help and fortify in time of trouble: to help us cope.

And so where are you not coping; where is life just struggle and pain?  Well Jesus predicts that life will – at times – be struggle and pain.  Why in John 16 Jesus declares:  “…In this world you will have trouble…” (John 16:33) -- pretty direct.  But in the next breathe Jesus also declares:  “…but take heart!  I have overcome the world…”  (John 16:33). And how does Jesus overcome the world?  It’s by helping us overcome struggle and pain through the His ‘up close and personal’ presence, His availability ‘at our fingertips' through the Advocate – the one called in to help and fortify; to help us cope – the Holy Spirit of God! 

A primary way the Holy Spirit of God helps us cope is by offering truth.  For at the heart of struggle and unsettledness is a pattern of untruth, of lies terrorizing us -- reeking havoc.  And so right after declaring an Advocate will come, Jesus declares the Advocate is “…the Spirit of truth…”  (John 14:17).  

Now in my experience the Holy Spirit offers to ‘tell us the truth’ in every area where unsettledness reigns.  In other words:  the Holy Spirit offers to tell us the truth about God – about ourselves – about others – and about the world.   But here’s the rub:  do we allow the truth to register?  Do we allow the insight of the Savior to trump the deception of the Enemy, of Satan himself?
     

Recently I was talking to a confidant who knows me well.   In particular, she knows my tendency to be anxious and to gravitate toward the ‘worst case scenario.’   The result:  fear mushrooms fueling the deception of Satan – as my mind becomes in her words: “…a neuro- freeway with no obstacles…a playground for the Enemy…” For fear is not truth -- my confidant went on to say -- fear is a lie -- for fear is -- False Evidence Appearing Real.   But there’s an antidote to fear – its faith.  And what is faith – well faith is:  Forsaking All I Trust Him.   Translated -- its taking “…captive every thought” -- to use Paul’s imagery in 2 Corinthians 10:5 -- [and making it] obedient to Christ…”  (2 Corinthians 10:5).  To be specific:  making it obedient to the truth of Christ.  

And what is the truth of Christ?   Well it’s peace, not havoc – Jesus clarifies later in John 14.  I mean its “…peace I leave with you -- my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  [And so] -- do not let our hearts be troubled and do not be afraid…”  (John 14:27).  For my say-so "is to be built on God's say-so..."  Oswald Chambers declares.  [If the Lord says He]...is my helper, I will not fear -- "I will not be haunted by apprehension.  This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God's say-so.  I will be full of courage...[I will] take a deep breath spiritually..."

And so go head -- right now -- take a deep breath spiritually -- breathing in the truth of the Savior -- breathing out the lies of the Evil One.