A KEY SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."

Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

2 Timothy 4:17 "... the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, ..."

---

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

The Lord promises His presence, His authority, His power and His working to those who take up His commission as their mission. Like Paul, each obedient messenger proves the Lord's faithfulness (2 Timothy 4:16-17 ). The Lord is faithful in His supporting presence, His strengthening power and supernatural participation.

	What kind of faithfulness does the Lord expect of His commission?
	What significance do the words "all authority" and "all nations" have for you? (Matthew 28:18-19 ).
	What does it mean to "make disciples" to Christ?
	Will there ever be a time when any part of the teaching of Jesus could be judged to be needless?
	What are the evidences of this special presence of Jesus, Immanuel, in your work for Him? (Matthew 1:23. 28:20 ).

A LEADING QUESTION

A KEY SCRIPTURE

John 14:16-18 ""And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever; ¹⁷ "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'"

---

ARRIVING AT AN ANSWER

The Holy Spirit is God present with the believer. In saying "another Helper" Jesus used the Greek word 'allos' meaning another of the same kind (John 14:16 ).

His function is to represent the presence of the Godhead in the believer:

	The Holy Spirit is present as Helper in the life of the believer (John 14:16 ).
	There is nothing temporary or intermittent about the presence of the Holy Spirit, "that He may abide with you forever". (John 14:16 ).
	The Holy Spirit is present to indwell and empower the believer (John 7:39 ).
	Love for Jesus insures fellowship with the Father and Christ. Having the Holy Spirit is to have the Godhead present in the life (John 14:23 ).
	Those who do not have Christ cannot have the Spirit to dwell in them - they do not know Him or see Him (John 14:17 ).
	The presence of God the Holy Spirit guarantees His leading, comfort, counsel, and teaching (John 14:26 ).

God's all-presence has practical effects common to all believers:-

	Our hearts are wonderfully comforted (John 14:16,23,27 ).
	Our prayer becomes gloriously continuous (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Jude 20 ).
	Our fellowship becomes satisfyingly constant (1 John 1:2-3 ).
	Our Lord's heartbeat lovingly cherished (1 John 4:15-16 ).
	Our lives upright because God- centred (1 Peter 3:12 ).
	Our speaking becomes awesomely God-conscious (1 Peter 4:11 ).
	Our gratification is pleasing our Creator (Colossians 1:10 ).
	Our protection is God's commitment (Hebrews 13:5 ).
	Our meditation comes under God's control (Psalm 19:14; 104:34 ).
	Our thanksgiving acknowledges His nearness continually (Psalm 75:1 ).

Believers are described by Jesus as those who love Him and keep His word (John 14:23 ). To keep His word is evidence of your love for Jesus. To claim to love Him is not convincing. What you say needs to be backed up with doing His will - denying self - diligence in His Word.

Is your love attachment to Jesus something that cannot be disputed?

The Lord's great commitment in response to obedient love is the reality of His unchanging, unceasing, unfailing, indwelling presence.