The Work of the Advocate (continued)

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “The Work of the Advocate,” please notice that when reading I John 1:1-4 you must emphasize and capitalize the pronouns We and You in their various forms for emphasis. They distinguish between the writer (and others with him) and the ones to whom he wrote. “We” refers to the apostles and other branches of the ministry, “write to you” refers to the church members as a whole; “... that ye [the members] also may have fellowship with us....” Beloved, that means that we cannot fellowship with everyone, only with those who worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (regardless of the denominational background). Why? Because “we,” the church, have “the Advocate” (the arbitrator - the assistance of Jesus Christ), not they, the unbelievers!!! Remember, Paul said, “For it is IMPOSSIBLE.... If they [the unbelievers] shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance...” (Hebrews 6:4-6). Beloved, how can you restore or renew someone who never believed in the Lord Jesus in the first place? It is not that they cannot come to repentance, but rather that “WE” cannot renew them unto repentance. Unless they, the unbelievers, trust in the restoration power of our Savior, Jesus Christ, all of our persuasion will be fruitless as far as their restoration is concerned.

Precious Ones, I know that we all have loved ones who we desire to persuade to find solace or comfort in Jesus when they get into trouble. But the truth is, in many cases they are more apt to come to us, but not to God. As it is written in Hosea 7:16, “They return, but not to the most High....” So, since they do not have someone to plead their case, it is important that we – through our prayers – may engage our “Advocate” for them. Beloved, this may require many hours of prayer to allow God to deal with them, but it is worth it!! Perhaps some of these prayers will serve as a witness to them – to bring them to repentance – or, “... if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (II Timothy 2:25).

Chosen Ones, regardless of this modern Christian theology that consumes our era and teaches that a person can repent of themselves, we know through scriptures that it cannot be done without “the Advocate.” Beloved, one cannot just repent of themselves! Don’t take my opinion, read the recordings of scripture! Paul said of Esau, “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he [Esau] found NO place of repentance, though he sought it [repentance] carefully with tears” (Hebrews 12:17). Paul also warns us, “... lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1) – meaning be careful, it can happen to us! This would be ridiculous for people who have exposure to “the Advocate” of Jesus as we do!

I will write more on this subject next week.

I love you all SO very much.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

The Work of the Advocate (Part 1)

Beloved, I hope these weekly letters give some inspiration and restoration to your lives. This Sunday I feel led to write unto you from a new theme entitled, “The Work of the Advocate.” The word “advocate” means helper or arbitrator (one who pleads on our behalf), or assistant (from the Greek “parakletos”). The Apostle John writes, “My little children, these things write I unto you, THAT YE SIN NOT. And if any man sin [who has been declared redeemed by Jesus’ blood], WE have an ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, Jesus Christ the righteous: And HE is the propitiation [reconciler] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:1-2).

Precious Ones, notice firstly that we must acknowledge that John’s motive and purpose for writing is with the intent “THAT WE SIN NOT,” not to give us a reason to feel comfortable in sin!!! So it is completely within God’s purpose that we live holy and sin-free lives. However, failures do happen. When a redeemed, blood-bought child of God does fail, he/she then needs restoration. How, you may ask, is this obtained. The scripture teaches that “WE,” meaning the saints - the believers who have been baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost - have an “advocate” (helper, arbitrator, assistant) to come when necessary and to assist us to be restored to our proper relationship with our God. That is why he also said “ours.” Secondly, the advocate is only obtained for the sinner when he/she believes in his/her heart that Jesus Christ is the only true “righteous” one who can “propitiate“ or reconcile him/her to God. Therefore, the sinner must come to God through the saint who has “the advocate,” so that the saint can obtain the necessary help for an erring brother or sister in Christ.

Chosen Ones, let us understand John’s usage of pronouns as he begins this epistle. “That which was from the beginning, which WE have heard, which WE have seen with OUR eyes, which WE have looked upon, and OUR hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and WE have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto YOU that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto US;) That which WE have seen and heard declare WE unto YOU, that YE also may have fellowship with US: and truly OUR fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write WE unto YOU, that YOUR joy may be full” (I John 1:1-4). Beloved, these pronouns are emphasized to teach us that the saints have the answers to this dying world for reconciliation back to God. God only listens to the righteous’ request when sin occurs in the heart of someone who knows better.

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,

I love you all SO very much.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

Multiple Rulership (conclusion)

Beloved, in conclusion of our theme, “Multiple Rulership” – remember what Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 - “Where [there are] TWO or THREE [multiple persons] ... gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Beloved, this scripture is not an excuse for a small church, but rather a message of great importance. It instructs us of what our God considers order to receive answers to our prayers. God has always advocated group or “multiple rulership” over single rulership. For example, when God was ready to deliver Israel out of the bondage of Pharaoh in Egypt, God told Moses, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying I have surely visited you [all], and [have] seen that which is done to you [all] in Egypt” (Exodus 3:16). And in verse 17 God says, “... I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Precious Ones, in concluding this series of letters, this Biblical example serves to teach us the importance of “multiple rulership.” Notice that Moses mentions all of the nations that Israel will have to fight - Egypt, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Beloved, Moses could not conquer these nations by himself, and I would not be incorrect to express to you that Moses needed the help of all of his elders before he would taste “the milk and the honey.”

Chosen Ones, did you also notice that God said that while Israel was in Egypt, all of the children were abused by the Egyptians, not just Moses’ family! This teaches us that every auxiliary in the assemblies of God’s vineyard should assume responsibility to defeat the powers of Satan, because the devil has abused all of us at one time or another. Every leader in the church ought to hate evil and love righteousness equally - not just the pastor! I was not the only one who had to be delivered from the grips of darkness - all of us had to be delivered! Children of God, that is why there should be “multiple accountability” unto God. When we dedicate the rest of our lives to his agenda, then and only then, can there be “multiple rulership.” Why? Because then every auxiliary leader will be motivated - out of a sense of responsibility - to acquire an equal share of stock in God’s Kingdom Cooperation of “soul winning” salvation. Remember, Jesus said, “... if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). Therefore, let us be “multiply focused“ to do God’s work!!!

I love you all SO very much.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

Multiple Rulership (continued)

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Multiple Rulership” – remember, Paul questioned the Corinthian Church, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to [the] law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the [multiple rulership of the] saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” (I Corinthians 6:1-2). Paul asked them again, “Know ye not that we [all] shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (I Corinthians 6:3). In other words, Beloved, rather than going to the civil courts for matters that pertain to “this life,” let us exemplify proper spiritual behavior. Let the church be the court as God intended it - to have “multiple rulers” governing petty affairs! Notice, Beloved, a case in the court labeled “the people of the state (or other jurisdiction) versus the defendant.” Surely, this does not mean that all people of that state are present to judge the matter. Likewise, individuals who are spiritually governed, should be able to represent the entire congregation of the church when “ruling” over grievances between brothers and sisters.

Precious Ones, these individuals will then be the ones to whom you bring your brother who has trespassed against you and who has refused to accept your overtures even when you have brought witnesses to assist you. Remember, Jesus left it on record “multiple times” – “...whatsoever ye [we] shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye [we] shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18). Surely, this is God-given authority, but let us be very certain to use it properly. Again, let us remember that the church is governed by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit sets one man over the church. However, the church is not a one-man operation. That is why it takes more than one to get an audience with God over the affairs of the church. Note, “if two [or three] of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done...” (Matthew 18:19).

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,

I love you all SO very much.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy