Who is Testifying with Your Spirit? You? Your Leaders? Your Bible?

Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

How do we know we are children of God?

• Is it because you are in the right church? 
• Because you believe the right things?
• Because you submit to your leaders? 
• Never miss a Sunday service? 

How do we know we are children of God?

• Is it because you're a "good person"?
• Because you're a missionary? 
• Is it because you read the right translation?
•  Give all your possessions to the poor? 
• Never wear jeans? 
• Never cuss?

The fact of the matter is... none of these things make us confident we are God's children. No matter how right your church is, your beliefs are, your leaders are; no matter how good you are, sacrificial, or moral; nothing gives us security that we are adopted sons and daughters of the Most High, save one -- that the Spirit Himself testify with our spirit.
 

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16

There are a thousand different voices in a day, all telling you things about yourself. One says this. Another says that. Each of them shape your identity; your view of yourself. The world's gone crazy talking about self esteem, and no wonder. The world seeks a confidence it cannot gain by earthly means or measures.

By Faith. 

Only by faith can we be saved. And this salvation is not only a future dwelling with God. It is a here and now LIFE in Christ, a Life reclaimed by His sacrifice. He made a way for us to receive God's own Spirit, a deposit guarenteing our inheritance. But let me ask you... If you knew you were to inherit, say, 400 million dollars when your father died, would it change your identity now? Would it change your hopes and dreams, and draw your future back here to the moment. Would you have peace knowing of the financial security of both you and your children and your children's children. It would me. But I'd rather have eternal, Spiritual security than financial. Fortunately, that's exactly what the Father wants to give you and me. 

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

How do we KNOW we are God's children. It's only known when the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit. How is this done?

• Is it done for a good teaching? 
• A great worship experience? 
• An exercise of spiritual gifts?  
• A book burning? 
• A picket sign?
• Tithing? 

Think of it this way. What is the ONE thing in the world that cannot be taken away from you? Think for a minute. Your family? Your spouse? Your clothes? Your home? Your church? Your Bible? Your health? All of these can be stripped away. There is only one thing in the world that cannot be taken away from you... if you believe... and that is the testimony of the Spirit Himself to your own spirit that you are God's child. What did Christ mean when he said, "I have come to give you abundant Life"? Did he mean cool possessions? Cool friends? A cool church? These can all be stolen away. Christ came to give us that which rust and moth cannot destroy... that is... LIFE! Not "bios" - physical life, but "zoe" - spiritual life. Where does this eternal life come from -- from God's Spirit Himself testifying with our spirit that we are God's children. 

But you say don't FEEL like God's child. I understand. Your life has been hard. Your church has not fed you. Your parents divorced. You don't understand the Bible. Your father abused you. You never finished high school. You are... not good enough. You say and you think these or other things. Unfortunately, there is another spirit who continually seeks to testify to your spirit, and that spirit seeks to steal, kill, and destroy you. He is God's arch enemy. And his very first target is your mind. If he can get you to avoid that still small voice of God's Spirit Himself then his battle is half won. He'll always keep you down. In depression. In tears. Insecurity. Frailty. Poverty of the soul. That's his goal. To keep you -- by any means possible --- from actually hearing that testimony from God's Spirit Himself to YOUR spirit, that you are God's Child. 

So what should you do? What should we do? 

First, recognize that when the scripture reads, The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, it IS in fact talking about YOU. Not just your Pastor, your Mom, your ubber-spiritual friend, your Deacon, or you Dad. This means you.. and me. The question is not is the Spirit "REALLY" testifying to MY spirit or is that selective? The question is, "If the Spirit is testifying to my spirit that I am God's child and I do not hear this testimony clearly, WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?" 

Second, get still before God. Be still and KNOW that I am God, he says. Clear your mind of the things you've hear and stare at this verse in scripture. This is about YOU.

Third, pray. Now don't start babbling on in prayer. Instead, simply ask God to help you hear and OWN this truth that you are indeed HIS child. Receive this word from the Spirit to your soul. And thank God. Say, "God, THANK YOU, for making me your child! Thank you for the testimony of the Spirit to my spirit that I am your son, your daughter. Thank you. I love you, Lord. I love you."

Now it begins. Do this everyday for a while, taking ownership of this truth. Because it IS truth. And there's no reason whatsoever that you shouldn't count yourself among the brothers and sisters of Christ. You are God's child. And for the rest of your life this will continue to be true:

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16