Morning Moments

The Work of the Holy Spirit


(8:14) All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
(8:16) The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, (17) and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.



These texts really cover the spectrum of the Christian life for we can never know with absolute certainty that we are God's children through our faith in Jesus Christ without the witness of the Holy Spirit with our personal spirit.


I am reminded of the story of John Wesley who was told by his father, Samuel Wesley, "This is how you KNOW, by the witness of the Holy Spirit."


Of course, that is true for each and every one of us.  It is the inner witness, not some preacher's words, nor parent's wishes, but by the witness of the Spirit within us.  Hence if there is no inner witness, there is no such assurance of one's salvation.


Having been born (teknon or little born ones) of the Spirit, we thus possess the Holy Spirit and have also been placed in "huios - adult son standing with God, which also means that we are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ.


The POSITION has been established by and with God, but for our PROGRESS to be consistent with our POSITION, we must follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which is to say that we must:


1. Let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly - meditating on the Word of God day and night.


2. Trust the Holy Spirit to "guide us into all truth", which is what He lives in us to do.


3. Speak to ourselves in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts TO THE LORD as Paul teaches in Ephesians 5 concerning continuing to be filled with the Spirit.


4. Submitting ourselves one to another out of respect for God, our Father.


5. Give thanks for all things because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us.


6. Bearing much fruit and so bring glory to God!


AND suffering with HIM, or sharing in His sufferings, or partaking in His afflictions, which are also a part of the process of our spiritual growth.  Peter says, we are called to suffer.  For many of us in the West that is a hard pill to swallow, but all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer...


Whether persecution, afflictions, being hungry or full (as Paul describes), or whatever state in which we find ourselves, we can rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS as we continue to grow in grace and in the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus Christ, being filled with the fullness of God and being fruitful in every good thing.


THAT is the result of the WORK of the HOLY SPIRIT within the believer.


BLESSINGS!