Text: Romans 4:20-25 

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief;  but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.   22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;  24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.  

Sunday, 12^th May 2024 

THE HOLY SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS IN US

 Text: Romans 4:20-25 

Memory Verse: Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The Holy Spirit bears witness to Christians’ sonship by giving them an example of their new-creation inheritance, by impressing the Scripture’s promises of adoption upon their hearts, and especially by testifying along with other Christians’ own testimony that they are children of God. Sonship is a gift; Christians gain rights to a new-creation inheritance by it.

The Holy Spirit bears witness to Christians’ sonship, on one part, through his general work by providing Christians with an insight of the good things to come. The Spirit also bears witness through His general work of making the word of God effective, for by this work He confirms the Scripture’s promises of adoption to the hearts of believers. But the Spirit specially bears witness to Christians’ sonship by co-testifying with other believers’ own spirits that they are children of God. Christians themselves bear witness to their sonship when they cry, “Abba, Father,” and the Spirit adds his own, and better, witness by testifying along with a cry. This is a beautiful reality, yet easy to overlook. The Spirit’s testimony to our sonship is worth consideration. Apostle Paul implies that our own spirits bear witness to our sonship. How do they do this? Apparently by crying out, “Abba, Father.”  This is wonderful to contemplate. One great benefit of our salvation is that God has become our Father, not in the general sense that he brought us into existence, but in a personal and intimate way.

According to their new nature, Christians with faith cry out with boldness to God as their loving Father, seeking his help in their weakness, day-by-day and moment-by-moment. And this sort of prayer witnesses to our adoption, for only those adopted by Christ can pray this way. The Holy Spirits co-testifies with our spirit. This is not, then, a witness directly to us, but a witness that runs alongside our own. He testifies our sonship not so much by speaking to us but by speaking with us. Apostle Paul explains in Romans 8: 26 that likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought to: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. We often do not even know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit intercedes for us with unspoken groans. We pray in a certain way, and it testifies to our sonship. The Spirit prays along with us and for us, and does so in a much better way, for he prays “according to the will of God”. And we may be confident that his testimony is also immeasurably greater than our own.

The Holy Spirit has a multifaceted ministry to Christians that binds them to Christ and provides abounding comfort in all trials. He regenerates, seals, sanctifies, guarantees, and intercedes. He confirms every truth proclaimed in the Scripture. The Spirit’s witness to our sonship is an intimate and precious part of this work. By certifying the Bible’s promises of adoption and testifying along with our own spirits, the Holy Spirit further strengthens our assurance of the inheritance.

CGDS HYMN 1; SS&S 1167:

BE THE MATTER WHAT IT MAY, ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH

1. Be the matter what it may, always speak the truth;

Whether at your work or play, always speak the truth

Never from this rule depart, grave it

deeply on your heart,

Written 'tis upon your chart :

" Always speak the truth ! "

2. There's a charm in honesty, always

speak the truth ; [speak the truth ;

There is meanness in a lie; always

He is but a coward slave, who, a present

pain to waive,

Stoops to falsehood; then, be brave;

Always speak the truth.

3. When you're wrong, the folly own,

always speak the truth;

There's a triumph to be won, always

speak the truth ;

He who speaks with lying tongue adds

to wrong a greater wrong;

Then, with courage true and strong,

Always speak the truth.

   Prayers:

1.  Holy Spirit, always bear witness in me about the truth in every decision I make in life.

2.  LORD God Almighty, let Your presence in me be my judge in life in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.