Feb 10, 2011 Calling on the Witness of the Spirit
Originally posted on October 13, 2006
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16
Calling On The Witness Of The Spirit
When in doubt, we call on a witness to set the record straight. God has given the witness of His Spirit to testify to our hearts that we are His children.
The testimony of the Spirit of God in our hearts is of the truthfulness of the word of God. The Spirit is not testifying (nor calling us to believe) things that are not in the word of God. The Holy Spirit inspired the word of God and now gives witness to us in our spirit that what He inspired is true.
God has given His Spirit inspired word to communicate truth to us. He has also given us the Spirit’s testimony in our hearts to convince us that His word is true. What God has communicated in the Bible is true whether or not we are convinced it is true, but when the Spirit testifies with our spirit that what the Bible says is true, we develop a conviction about the truth that truly changes us. We can read the Bible for information, but the Bible and the testimony of Spirit lead to transformation.
This is what we do. We go to the Bible for truth. We search it out, meditate on it, and pray over it. We return to it each morning and at various moments throughout the day. As we do, the activity of the Spirit of God in our spirit brings us to a conviction that the things we are pondering are true. It is through the dual ministry of word and Spirit that our hearts are assured before God that we are His children and that every word He has spoken concerning us is true.
Are you doubting that you are a child of God, that your sins are forgiven, that you can kill sin and walk in obedience to God, that you can relate to God as your Father, that your future is glorious in spite of you present suffering, that your prayers are effective, that God’s purposes are being worked out in your life, or that you are secure in the inseparable love of God? Then go to Romans 8! As you slowly, prayerfully read through it line by line, call upon the Spirit to testify to your spirit of its truthfulness so that your heart may be assured before God and that your life may continue to be transformed in hope.
Pastor Scott