John 14:18-24

       The fifth provision Christ made for his disciples was His personal presence. 
          The Old Testament was full of evidence that men could do great things if God was with them.  God’s presence made Moses a great leader (Ex. 33:12-17), gave Joshua courage (Josh. 1:5,9), and dispelled Israel’s discouragement (Isa. 41:10; 43:2).  God’s presence was the difference between Saul’s failure (1 Sam. 28:15) and David’s success (1 Sam. 16:18).
          This passage promises that believers not only have access to God (v5-11, the second provision) and the indwelling Holy Spirit (v15-17, the fourth provision), but will have available the presence of the Father and Son in a deep a wonderful relationship.
          They will experience the love of the Father and Son (v21); The Father and Son will be at home with them (v23).  This presence of God will be so real to the believer it will be as if they see Christ (v19).  It will provide a relationship that will satisfy their feelings of being orphaned (v18).
          How can this be?  In v19 Jesus ties this presence to life itself.  He is about to die and then will be raised to life.  For the believer in Christ the same thing can be said.  In coming to Christ they die to themselves and to sin.  In receiving Christ they become alive to God.  And the life they have and live is the very life of Christ.
          This is plainly taught and can be studied out in passages such as…
          – Rom. 6:1-11:  we are identified with Christ in His death, burial and
              resurrection.
          – Gal. 2:20:  I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me.
          – Col. 3:1-4:  our life is hidden with Christ in God; Christ is our life.
          Note that this experience of God’s presence is conditional.  It is for believers in Christ and not for the world (v19,22).  It is tied to obedience to His commandments.  When Jesus says this He is not saying “obey Me or I’ll be very distant to you” as if to threaten us.  This obedience is tied to our love (v15,21,23-24).  It is the means by which we draw near to Him (James 4:8).  Further, it is in the keeping of His word that sin, which separates man from God, is removed.
          This promise brings us to the crescendo of Christ’s provision.  He has more to give us but this is what it is all about.  God is not only in the believer but is at home in the believer.  This is Peter’s promise of sharing in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), Paul’s prayer of being filled with God’s fullness (Eph. 3:14-19), and John’s promise of joyful fellowship with the Father and the Son (1 John 1:1-4).  Though physically separated from Christ His disciples will have a joyful, satisfying, personal relationship with Him.
          Are you enjoying this fellowship?  Or by disobedience are you denying yourself this wonderful provision of Christ?

John 14:15-17

       The fourth provision of Christ for His disciples is a powerful paraclete. 
          Paraclete is from the Greek term here translated Helper or Comforter or Counselor.  It refers to someone who comes alongside another to provide whatever they need in a time of trouble. 
          Christ had been Paraclete for the disciples.  He had been there for them time and again.  He calmed the storm when they were fearful (Luke 8:22-25).  He spoke to the religious leaders when they sought to confront them (Luke 8:9-10).  He had equipped them and sent them out on short ministry trips that left them amazed (Luke 9:1-6).  He was there to correct them when their words betrayed false or proud or selfish ideas (Matt. 16:21-23).
          With Jesus around their lives where full of joy, purpose, life and safety.  But now He was leaving. Not only that:  He had laid on them His desire that they evidence their love for Him by keeping His commandments.  How could this be done without their Helper?
           But Christ can be trusted in this.  He will ask the Father to send another Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth.  They are familiar with this Spirit who was with them from time to time in Old Testament days.  But Jesus promises something greater:  He will be in them.
            Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, after days of prayer, and before Peter preached, that Holy Spirit came to each of the believers (Acts 2:1-4).  Ever since then the Holy Spirit has come to dwell in every one who believes in Christ for salvation (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor, 12:13; John 7:37-39).
            Let us not miss this.  This is not allegory or mysticism or mere theology.  This is real!  God the Spirit indwells Jesus’ disciples.  He is there to be what Christ was for the twelve:  guide, protector, friend, teacher, reprover.
           In light of the indwelling Spirit how should we live?  Eph. 5:18 commands believers to be filled or controlled by the Spirit.  Listen to Jesus’ words in John 7:37-39.  In anticipating the ministry of the Spirit Jesus promised an abundance to those who, spiritually thirsty, come to Him believing.  It is as we walk with Christ by faith, day by day, that the disciple experiences this wonderful overflow of the water of life.  That disciple will love Christ and be helped by the Paraclete.
           Again let us note:  Jesus is providing His disciples with exactly what He Himself had for life and ministry.  Often we read that Jesus was lead or enabled by the Spirit (Matt. 4:1; 12:28; etc.)  So let us be encouraged by our Helper, the Holy Spirit sent from God to be along side us as we live and minister.

Psalm 119:105-112

Life’s afflictions can be so unrelenting, so difficult.  It seems the Psalmist emphasizes this in this stanza.  He is afflicted “very much” (107).  Fear for his life is constant (109).  Those who afflict him are unmerciful (110).  In the context provided by the opening verse we can say that he feels he is in the darkest of dark nights.

Several years ago my wife and I got caught out at night on a trail in Montana.  We had been able to see our way through open areas in the fading light.  But when we entered a thickly forested area it was pitch black.  We had to spend the night on the trail until morning light.  It would have been good if I had done what I tell others to do: always take a flashlight!  It’s a no-brainer.

Likewise there are times when we feel as if we are in a dense forest of affliction.  We lose our sense of direction.  We feel we must go on, and yet the darkness is so intense all we can do is wait it out.  Unless, of course, we have had the foresight to pack along a flashlight.  

The Psalmist has his flashlight.  It is the word of God (105).  He is committed to walk in the light (106) to the end of his journey (112).

It is important to note what the Word does for God’s people when they are in the darkness.  They are able to see both their feet and the path they walk.  It reveals to us the exact place we are now in our pilgrimage.  

To use the hiking metaphor again might help us to understand the blessing of the Word.  When hiking it helps to have a map that informs us of the entire journey as well as a compass to give us our bearings.  These give the big picture.  Every now and then along the way we may stop for rest and look ahead to see where we are headed.  But then when we begin again to walk our eyes must have their main focus on where our feet are at that moment on the trail.  Otherwise we stumble.  If it is dark we lose our way and our situation becomes impossible.

We often liken God’s word to a map and a compass, and that it is.  But it also sheds light on the immediate situation.  How vital it is that His word be part of our daily walk.  How important it is that God’s word be hidden in our hearts and fresh in our minds so that we have His light for every step along the way.