05.07- CHAPTER SEVEN -- THE SPIRIT GIVES...
CHAPTER SEVEN -- THE SPIRIT GIVES ASSURANCE
"The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit."
How may we know that we are vitally related to the Infinite God? The answer is, "The Spirit itself [himself] beareth witness with our spirit" (Romans 8:16).
Blind unbelief and careless inattention to Truth will complicate this Heaven-sent assurance. A great variety of emotional displays have been advanced in personal testimony as to its meaning. Bright lights and glowing visions have been mentioned as the experience of those who have "received the witness." The excited earnestness on the part of those who make such statements is not to be made light of. On the other hand, the inaccuracy of their claims should not confuse us.
There are those, be they ever so conscientious, who erroneously divide God’s people into two classes-those who have received the witness and those who have not. The Witness of the Spirit
It must be remembered that the Holy Spirit is the witness. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself" (1 John 5:10). Thus, everyone who receives the Son of God has the Witness. The paramount difficulty lies in the fact of man’s understanding or misunderstanding as to what the Witness does when He witnesses. What is the witness of the Spirit? Simply what the text states.
He witnesses with the believer’s spirit that he is a child of God.
Whether we understand it or not, He pursues this ministry.
Whether we appreciate it or not, He performs it.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, He promotes it.
"If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). His is an unchangeable faithfulness. To witness, according to the simplest definition, is to attest the truth of a person, place, or thing. The Greek word in this instance means "to witness with."
Thus, the Holy Spirit takes up His abode within the believer to witness with his spirit. We cannot see our Father, but we know we are His children because of the witnessing of His Spirit with our spirit that this relation exists. If you ask how He witnesses, then we must throw up our hands and exclaim with Paul: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33).
We cannot explain the operations and actions of God. How inscrutable are His movements! How untraceable His footsteps! Let us observe the practical value of this ministry. In Times of Discouragement Discouragement, a chief stratagem of Satan, is the thief of joy.
It erases the radiance from the countenance.
It eclipses the light a believer is commanded to let shine.
It drapes disappointment and drabness about a would-be victor.
Jesus knew that Peter was going to face a great trial, so He said to him assuringly: "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" (Luke 22:32). He knew, as well, what trials we all would meet. Thus, He said: "It is to your advantage that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). The advantage of the Spirit’s presence when discouragement settles itself over the life of a believer is incalculable. He is the antidote for frustration, disappointment and perplexity. His witness with our spirit that we are the children of God can, as nothing else, lift the drooping spirit. In the Hour of Temptation
There are times when Satan nibbles at our faith by putting some alluring proposition before our minds. The blessed Indweller stands guard for just such an emergency. He bids us commit our case to Him. He can outwit Satan. We cannot. Besides, it is His battle and not ours (2 Chronicles 20:15). And when the pitfalls are digged and the collaborating cohorts of the evil one seek subtly to entice, then the Spirit will witness with our spirit, "Thou art a child of God." Is this not sufficient?
Such a reminder should be enough:
to enable one to detect the danger,
to detest the temptation
to depart from the tempter.
This undergirding support is our constant blessing through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Surely the Christian cannot meet temptation without the loving hand of the Father being extended to help. "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). What is the way of escape? Is it not the knowledge that we are His? This should dictate the voice we obey. In the Day of Sorrow And what about sorrow? Are we left alone to trudge through the deep waters of grief which threaten so often to engulf us? "It is expedient for you that I go away," Jesus reminds. It has become especially advantageous in sorrow.
Lazarus had died. Mary and Martha were in the throes of bereavement. One of the first utterances from the lips of Martha when Jesus came was, "If thou hadst been here." You see what Jesus meant about the advantage of having the Holy Spirit with one all the time. When sorrow strikes with its cold, devastating blow to break hearts, God the Spirit is there with the Christian.
He sees every falling tear;
He knows every heartache.
What does He do? The text tells us. He witnesses with the spirit of the believer that he is a child of God. God is the "God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3). He can soothe the heartache, calm the troubled breast, and support the weakened soul. This means that there is no cause to sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). This means that no matter the thorn in the flesh, His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Thus, whenever sorrow strikes, however strong its blow, the Comforter is doing His work. We are never beyond the reach of the Spirit. For Every Emergency The presence and witness of the Holy Spirit are essential in every condition of life.
In discouragement, He says, "Be of good cheer."
In perplexity, He says, "This is the way, walk ye in it."
In the exuberance of youth, He says, "Remember thy creator" (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
In old age, He says, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
In service, He says, "Lo, I am with you alway" (Matthew 28:20).
In supplication, He says, "I will answer thee."
In devotion, He says, "Son, give me thine heart."
In giving, He says: "Prove me now herewith, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).
In faintness, He says, "I will uphold thee by the right hand of my might."
Amid burdens, He says, "Casting all your care upon him" (1 Peter 5:7).
In weariness He says, "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
The Corroborated Assurance
Whether in prosperity or poverty, in sickness or health, in sadness or gladness, in pleasure or pain, the Holy Spirit is faithfully performing His witness with the spirit of the child of God. He will under no circumstance leave us in the lurch.