195. The Moody Blues "The Voice"

"The Voice" by the Moody Blues is the second single released from the album Long Distance Voyager. The song continued the success of previous single "Gemini Dream", becoming a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 15 in September 1981. The song had previously topped the Billboard Top Tracks chart for four weeks during June–July 1981. It has a mystical-sounding intro and the song has an urgent, jaunty feel to it, akin to most of the Moody Blues' later, more commercial efforts. This was one of the songs that propelled The Moody Blues to a comeback in the early 1980s, and of their newer songs, this appealed the most strongly to fans of their original work.

Won't you take me back to school
I need to learn the golden rule
Won't you lay it on the line
I need to hear it just one more time
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Won't you tell me again
Tonight

Each and every heart it seems
Is bounded by a world of dreams
Each and every rising sun
Is greeted by a lonely one
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Oh won't you tell me again
Tonight

'Cos out on the ocean of life my love
There's so many storms we must rise above
Can you hear the spirit calling
As it's carried across the waves
You're already falling
It's calling you back to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're already falling
The one that it's calling you

Make a promise take a vow
And trust your feelings it's easy now
Understand the voice within
And feel the changes already beginning
Oh won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Won't you tell me again
Tonight

And how many words have I got to say
And how many times will it be this way
With your arms around the future
And your back up against the past
You're already falling it's calling you
On to face the music
And the song that is coming through
You're already falling
The one it's calling is you

Each and every heart it seems
Is bounded by a world of dreams
Each and every rising sun
Is greeted by a lonely one
Won't you tell me again
Can you feel it
Oh won't you tell me again
Tonight 

 Written by Justin Hayward, the lyrics have the same philosophical tone of their songs in the late 1960s, and the song is alternately urgent and hopeful about the future. It seems to be telling listeners that they face major choices on how their world will turn out, and that there is great hope in it, but only if they make it happen of their own initiative.In the third verse of the lyrics we can hear the source of "The Voice" 'Cos out on the ocean of life my love, there's so many storms we must rise above, can you hear the spirit calling, as it's carried across the waves'  The song "The Voice" propels us into the sphere of hearing and listening outside of ourselves. In the passage of scripture for today we can hear Jesus speak to his disciples in a similar way about the role of the Holy Spirit. In John 16 we can hear Jesus clearly say that the Spirit will guide and he will make known to us what he receives from Jesus. He will take that which is from Christ and will reveal it to us.

The Word Advocate is the source word for Paraclete. Our English word "Advocate" is derived from Latin: ad, "to", and "vocata", "called"---"somebody called to or in." The word Advocate is the word for a lawyer. It means someone who speaks in our defense or in our behalf. The word "Paraclete" is taken from the Latin word, "Paracletus," meaning a person who is called in alongside to help, or someone who can do something for you that you cannot do for yourself. The following is a devotional study on the advocate.

1. Who Is the Advocate?
The Advocate (Holy Spirit) is God. He is the Third Person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-substantial with God the Father and God the Son. He is not a a ghost or a concept. He is not a white cloud. He is not a dove. He is a person possessing a will, an intellect, and emotions. The Holy Spirit is called the Advocate, the Comforter, the Counselor, an Intercessor, a Helper, a Standby, a Strengthener, a Teacher, a Guide, a Love between the Father and the Son, the Uncreated Power of God.

1. The Roles of the Advocate
The roles of the advocate are indeed varied and numerous. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit is our Paraclete, our Comforter.  We don't need anything more than that. Many people have little idea of the reality of what the Holy Spirit came to do in us in a continual basis.

In John 16:7,Jesus says," But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you." In John 7:37, Jesus exclaimed, " Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says:  "Rivers of living water will flow from within him."

The advocate dwells in us. We are his temple. 

In 1 Cor.3:16, the Word of God says, "Do you not know that you are the Temple of God , and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 

The Holy Spirit (Advocate)  is our Helper. He is here to guide us and to strengthen us and to equip us. When we are in the midst of a storm in our life, we need to call on the Holy Spirit to help us. We can always depend on Him. We do not just rely on our friends and relatives or on our own wisdom and knowledge, or strength or power but most of all, rely on the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who guides us and leads us to the right path and to the right direction to the fullness of life.

The Advocate glorifies Jesus and leads us into all truths.
In the Upper Room, on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples,

"The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name---He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."(John 14:26).

In John 16:14, Jesus says, "The Holy Spirit will glorify me. because He will take what is mine and declare it to you." 

He will make Jesus and things of God real to you and me. The advocate enables us to know Jesus and to give us the power to live and to do His works and to share the abundant life to all who obey and trust Him. He will make the Word of God alive in our hearts as we read the Scriptures. It is the Holy Spirit who makes the Word of God relevant and meaningful in our lives. He inspired holy and Godly men of old to write His Words.

Jesus says, "My words, they are Spirit and they are life."(John 6:63).

We cannot live a holy and blessed life apart from the power of the advocate (Holy Spirit). Without the help and the power of the advocate, it is impossible for us to have a vibrant prayer life, to understand the Bible and other spiritual truths, to witness or do anything for the Lord, to become the person the Lord wants us to be, and to live a victorious life.

In Eph. 5:18, St. Paul says, "And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Holy Spirit."

To be filled with the advocate (Spirit) is to be filled with Jesus, who is the baptiser of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we should strive to become more like  Jesus in every way. The only way we can become more like Jesus is through the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control,(Gal. 5:22-23). Without possessing the fruit of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible for anyone to enter into the Kingdom of God.

The Advocate Equips and Empowers Believers

In Acts 1:8, Jesus says, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem , throughout Judea and in Samaria and to the ends of the earth." 

As  believers we are imbued with power from on high, we have received the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

The Advocate's gifts

The power of the Holy Spirit is manifested through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

In 1 Cor.12:4- 11, St .Paul says, "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes."

These gifts of the Holy Spirit are designed to serve and to build up the Body of Christ.

We need the gifts of the advocate in order for us to do the works of Jesus. The spiritual gifts are God's manifestation of His presence and power in and through individuals and groups of believers. It is indeed very exciting to be alive in this day and age because the advocate is still very active in the world today. These "grace moments," the powerful manifestations of God's presence and power, are indeed still available to any believer who is a yielded vessel to His advocate. Therefore, in order to receive and experience these "grace moments"from the Lord, all we have to do is to open our hearts wide to our Lord Jesus Christ and say, with faith and expectations, "Come Lord Jesus, and fill me with your Holy Spirit, your advocate and with your power."