Why does the Holy Spirit’s fruit include joy?
Why does the Holy Spirit’s fruit include joy?
We love to eat fruit. We love the fruit and the juice. It gives us nourishment and refreshes us. May we relish the fruit of the Spirit and joy that it brings in our lives.
If I don’t have joy I need to check with Jesus and figure out what is going on. Something is wrong. I need to radically change my mind (aka repent) and see life the way Jesus does. I need the power of the Holy Spirit producing joy in my heart.
What is the promise of the Spirit of God?
If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!
Source: John 14:15-17 (The Message)
Jesus was ushering in the new covenant (aka testament, agreement or contract). His death, resurrection and ascension was right around the corner. One final piece of the puzzle is also about to be revealed. After his ascension, Jesus will send the Holy Spirit to be with us in the place of the physical Jesus. Without the Spirit we can’t enter the Kingdom of God.
What is the main thing Jesus wants? Jesus wants me to love Him by being obedient to what he has said. That is the big deal. Love is not in isolation from obedience. Love is obedience. Jesus is God and Jesus is in control. God has given Jesus all authority, both in heaven and here on earth. Jesus makes it clear his goal for me is to love.
What is the promise of God? Jesus promised me the Spirit of God. The Spirit is a friend, helper, comforter, and advocate for me to God. Jesus also said (John 3:5) “I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The Spirit is essential to living in God’s country. I can’t enter with out the Spirit.
How will I know the Spirit of God? The Spirit of God has been with me. The Spirit of God is not a stranger. The Spirit of God is my helper and that is how I will know him. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth. If what is sense is a lie and attempts to deceive me, it is not the Spirit of God.
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There is power in prayer. We see it every day. Let us join with you in tapping into the Power of God. Click here to make a request.
Check out our upcoming ministry programs for young adults and families. Please click here.
Our programs are like an immersion into a new language – the language of living in Jesus. The goal is fluency in the language of relationships. The foundation is an encounter with Jesus that leads to a radical change in living and relationships.
Heroes Semester is a 10-week residential, “family style” living experience like no other! | Participants ages 18-26 come with one purpose – to go deeper with the Lord. Learn more about our programs here.
Strengthening & Restoring Family Relationships — Train to Reign Program | Family is the most vital relationship and the one under the most pressure and attack. Come strengthen your family in a strong relationship with God. Learn more here.
If you would like to donate to the Christian Training Center, please click here.
How important is the diversity of spiritual gifts?
Sonny Ramsay explores 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God produces each gift in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.
Does the Holy Spirit live in us? How do we get the gift?
Scott Crowley leads a conversation around the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
He also said to them: “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Luke 11:5
What are roles of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life?
Here is some great insight about the Holy Spirit from Penny Noyes, M.Ed. Penny is the author of Embracing Change – Learning to Trust God from the Women of the Bible and two books about Hezekiah. You can follow Penny on her blog and on Instagram @pennynoyes.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and sanctified. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s thoughts, teaches, and guides believers into all truth, including knowledge of what is to come. The Holy Spirit also helps Christians in their weakness and intercedes for them.
The following are 10 ways the Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers.
Read the article here: 10 Roles of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s Life
Have we been baptized in water and the fire of the Holy Spirit?
I am not immune to competing for my spiritual faction (aka denomination). I think it is best. I think Jesus cares. I am wrong.
John the Baptizer is still baptizing. Jesus, as a part of His ministry, is starting to baptize as well.
John’s disciples got into an argument with the establishment Jews over the nature of baptism. They came to John and said, “Rabbi, you know the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan? The one you authorized with your witness? Well, he’s now competing with us. He’s baptizing, too, and everyone’s going to him instead of us.”
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? What about speaking in tongues?
Larry Pons starts a series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The first to be addressed is speaking in tongues.
How do we show mercy as a gift of the Holy Spirit?
Tim Dailey has been a part of the ministry here at the Christian Training Center since it was founded in the 1970’s. This Sunday he continues our series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit by discussing the gift of mercy.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8
“Mercy is not only required, it is also reciprocal and demands action. The mercy of God is demonstrated in this world by His people.” – Tim Dailey
What impresses us? Are they the right things?
Jesus wants to know. Am I impressed with what man can build?
Really? That impresses me?
As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!”
Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.” | Mark 13:1-2 (The Message Bible)
How do we become free from the worlds corrupting influence?
“When the Holy Spirit changes our earthly nature into a divinely inspir
Who is the Holy Spirit? Most misunderstood member of the Trinity
Here is a very insightful article on the Holy Spirit. Jim Denison, Ph.D., is a cultural apologist, building a bridge between faith and culture by engaging contemporary issues with biblical truth. He founded the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture in February 2009 and is the author of seven books, including “Radical Islam: What You Need to Know.” For more information on the Denison Forum, visit www.denisonforum.org.
The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood member of the Trinity. Who is he? What does he do? Why does he matter so much in our lives today?
I spent years in Baptist churches with no real introduction to the Holy Spirit. I don’t remember ever hearing a sermon on the subject. We knew to trust in Jesus and worship his Father, but I had no idea how to relate to the Spirit. Or even if I should. I suspect that many of us have a similar story.
Read the article here: Who is the Holy Spirit? Most misunderstood member of the Trinity – The Christian Post
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Monthly Giving
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Monthly giving is an important way to support our mission. The most effective way to learn a foreign language is through immersion. In complete immersion, students spend all their time hearing and speaking a new language in a sequential and cumulative format. The goal is to become not only a proficient speaker, but to acquire an appreciation and understanding of a new culture. This approach describes the training process at the Christian Training Center. Make your gift here.
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Make your gift here.
Who is the Holy Spirit? Does He bring joy to believers?
The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, giving us an inner contentment and happiness which is not dependent upon external circumstances. The Greek word is χαρά chara, (khar-ah) meaning calm delight, gladness, and to be exceeding joyful.
- Am I happy in Jesus?
- Do I experience joy regularly?
- If not, what is going on?
- Do I have calm delight?
But to the degree that you share the sufferings of the Messiah, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of the Messiah, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:13–14
Joules to Jewels – Part 2
Larry brings us Part 2 of Joules to Jewels. The power of God is stunning. We are filled with the Holy Spirit if God. The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead into an incorruptible body.
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Check out our upcoming ministry programs for young adults and families. Please click here.
Our programs are like an immersion into a new language – the language of living in Jesus. The goal is fluency in the language of relationships. Programs share a sequential vision, building an understanding of relationships and family culture. The foundation is an encounter with Jesus. This encounter is the means for both insight and vision. Encountering Jesus leads a radical change in living and relationships.
Heroes Semester is a 10-week residential, “family style” living experience like no other! | — The 2020 date will be announced soon. | Participants ages 18-26 come with one purpose – to go deeper with the Lord. Learn more about our programs here.
Strengthening & Restoring Family Relationships — Train to Reign Program — Oct 20 – Nov 2 | Family is the most vital relationship and the one under the most pressure and attack. Come strengthen your family in a strong relationship with God. Learn more here.
If you would like to donate to the Christian Training Center, please click here.
What Does it Mean to “Walk in the Spirit?”
Here is a great article from Michael A. Milton, PhD (University of Wales; MPA, UNC Chapel Hill; MDiv, Knox Seminary). He is a retired seminary chancellor and currently serves as the James Ragsdale Chair of Missions at Erskine Theological Seminary. He is the President of Faith for Living and the D. James Kennedy Institute a long-time Presbyterian minister, and Chaplain (Colonel) USA-R. Dr. Milton is the author of more than thirty books and a musician with five albums released. Mike and his wife, Mae, reside in North Carolina.
Christianity was first called “the Way.” It is not surprising, then, that the Bible instructs believers to “walk” a certain way. Even today we hear others ask us about “our journey.” Walking the journey means to live as disciples of Jesus, following Him on “the Way” that leads to abundant and eternal life. We are able to do this as we are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit and are sanctified — increasingly formed into the life of Jesus through the power of His Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul spoke to this “walk” of faith in Galatians: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16); and “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
To understand this passage and the meaning for our lives today, we must isolate the context, exposit the meaning, and apply the mind of God in the passage. Let’s begin with the context.
Read the article here: What Does it Mean to “Walk in the Spirit?” – Topical Studies
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Heroes Internship
Be a part of an internship that won’t just challenge you – it will change you! Learn more here.
Our Internship Program calls forth young adults ages 18-26 who have a passion to serve Christ and a desire to be trained practically for life, leadership, and future ministry through intense, life-on-life discipleship. During these fast-paced weeks, interns will discover more about who they are and what it means to be a fully committed follower of Jesus.
“The extra mile challenge was one of the craziest things I have ever done! Sleeping in a cave 2 miles into the earth was something I will never forget. The course was tough but really lead me closer to the Lord and built some maturity into my life.”
2016 Internship Participant
Interns live on the premises and help staff the summer’s programs, conferences, and events. Daily duties can include anything from helping the staff take care of the grounds, gardens, and facilities to preparing meals and helping put together activities for youth and teens. In between times of service, interns will also get to enjoy activities designed to build character through spiritual, mental, emotional and physical challenges. The relationships and rewards of the summer internship last for a lifetime.
Room, board, and the Extra Mile Challenge are all included free of cost – so all you have to do is get here and be ready to give your all!
Learn more here.
What is God’s kingdom like?
The joy of deliverance is amazing. When God sets us free, rejoicing is in order. We were tied up missing God’s goal (aka sin). Jesus, our Master, set us free. We are now His slaves.
What is God’s kingdom like? It is spiritual, not physical. Now that brings celebration because we can have it now. We can be ecstatic.
We can embrace joy. We have great news!
What is self-control? Can we control what we say to others?
One of the proofs of God’s working in our lives is the ability to control our own thoughts, words, and actions. We are naturally weak-willed. Our fallen nature is under the influence of missing God’s goal (aka sin).
The Bible calls it being a “slave to sin” (Romans 6:6). One definition of sin is “filling a legitimate need through illegitimate means.” I think a good translation is “missing God’s goal”. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we are incapable of knowing and choosing how best to meet our needs.
Is joy evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives?
When the Holy Spirit moves, it is a stunning thing to behold. It makes us want to glorify God. We want to shout. It is clearly evidence of Jesus in our lives.
If we’re not getting happy and joyful about what God is doing, then we know we are in trouble.
The power of the Holy Spirit convicts us to change our minds (aka repent) about missing God’s goals.
- That leads to life.
- That is amazing.
It is a stunning thing to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is a gift to believers. It is joyous beyond words.
It is truly a great gift. What an amazing God we serve. Our King Jesus is now sitting next to God and bestowing on us the power of God. I must sell everything to buy into that.
We can’t stand in God’s way. Many, it seems, want to get bogged down in the Cessationism versus Continuationism debate. I must ask myself, “am I standing in God’s way”? Peter asked it of himself. Peter asked it of the other disciples and Apostles. Peter had an answer.
God is God. Nothing, I repeat, nothing, is impossible with God. I need to be careful. God’s power, in the Holy Spirit and His precious Son Jesus, is not to be messed with.
Will I stand in God’s way? May God have mercy on my soul if I do.
Regardless, am I happy about what God is doing or resentful God hasn’t “visited me”?
- Am I joyful about the power of the Holy Spirit?
- Are people repenting and coming to Jesus?
Joy – Is it evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work? Does it prompt believers to rejoice?
The answer is YES and AMEN!
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Master, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore, if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Master Jesus the Messiah, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.
Acts 11:15–18
- Matthew 13:44 — “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
- Acts 12:14: The servant girl was so overjoyed that God had rescued Peter from prison that she forgot to let Peter in the house.
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Susan Pons Book – “And There Was Evening and There Was Morning…”
Have you read Susan Corbett Pons book “And There was Evening and There was Morning”? It will make you laugh, and it will make you cry. Check out Susan’s book here.
Susan Pons grew up in Valdese, North Carolina. Prior to her marriage, she performed professionally on stage and dinner theaters. The mother of four and grandmother of six, she and her husband, Larry, direct Christian Training Center, International, a ministry dedicated to the restoration of families. She has loved her life.
Check out Susan’s book here.
Our programs are like an immersion into a new language – the language of living in Jesus. The goal is fluency in the language of relationships. Programs share a sequential vision, building an understanding of relationships and family culture. The foundation is an encounter with Jesus. This encounter is the means for both insight and vision. Encountering Jesus leads a radical change in living and relationships.
Learn more here.
Does love come from the Holy Spirit?
Fruit
Where does love come from? Love comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a gift. It is fruit that grows in me.
Because we have received the Holy Spirit, we can actually love, whereas before, we could not. I tried, but it was useless.
Is love optional? Yes, I get to decide whether to love or not. It is a gift. I can use it or not. It is a fruit that I can cultivate and grow, or not. So I get to decide. I often am not loving. I can be mean and cruel. I have no defense. “Master Jesus the Messiah, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Is self-control the mark of a wise person and an aspect of a disciples character?
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or temptation. It isn’t talked about alot and I surely can use more of it in my life. I can use a ton of it. Paul reminds me “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22
It is worth pointing out while it is called “self-control”, it comes from the Holy Spirit. It is not something I can just will, on my own, to happen. But it is still self-control. I have to make choices.
Who Is Our Helper?
Jedidiah Wright, summer intern, shares about what it means to listen to the holy spirit in your life.
If you would like to donate to the Christian Training Center, please click here.
Check out our upcoming ministry programs for young adults and families. Please click here.
Our programs are like an immersion into a new language – the language of living in Jesus. The goal is fluency in the language of relationships. Programs share a sequential vision, building an understanding of relationships and family culture. The foundation is an encounter with Jesus. This encounter is the means for both insight and vision. Encountering Jesus leads a radical change in living and relationships.
Heroes Semester is a 10-week residential, “family style” living experience like no other! | — Sept 2 – Nov 9, 2019 | Participants ages 18-26 come with one purpose – to go deeper with the Lord. ow.ly/Nhag30oRYRK
Strengthening & Restoring Family Relationships — Train to Reign Program — Oct 20 – Nov 2 | Family is the most vital relationship and the one under the most pressure and attack. Come strengthen your family in a strong relationship with God. http://ow.ly/l5SU30oS5pQ
Scripture
John 16 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Are God’s people called on to do good works and exhibit goodness?
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others?
It is a pretty telling question if I answer it honestly.
- How am I at giving to the poor?
- Am I visiting the sick?
- How is my prison ministry going?
Will God lead us in a direction that he won’t give us strength to endure?
Some people don’t get what God is doing. They see His powerful Spirit working in us and are confused about what it means.
They ridicule, scoff, mock and minimize His mighty work. When that happens, we are fortunate. Nothing like some abuse heaped on us because of Him.
God has a goal for us. It may require that to bring glory to God we must suffer. Others may mock us because of what God is doing. We should consider ourselves fortunate.
Is God strong?
Strong in the Lord
Some things are amazingly simple with God. Here is one of them.
God is strong. Nothing weak about him at all.
Like the energizer bunny he just keeps going and going.
- He is always strong.
- He never sleeps.
- He doesn’t grow tired.
- He has always been strong and always will be.
His desire for us is that we will always be strong as well. He sent Jesus to die for us and to share in the power of His resurrection.
He gave His mighty Spirit so we could be strong. He has given us all the weapons we need to be victorious.
So there it is!!!
God is strong, and he wants you strong. Ephesians 6:10
May we always be strong, just as He is.
If you would like to donate to the Christian Training Center, please click here.
Check out our upcoming ministry programs for young adults and families. Please click here.
How does Jesus know about the generosity of God?
Generosity of God. He is in a good mood.
Jesus knows first hand the generosity of God. Everything starts from God caring and His generosity. Jesus has been with God from the beginning.
Jesus knows that God is a loving Father. Jesus knows God’s very nature because Jesus shares that nature. Jesus is God’s son. God’s DNA is in Jesus.
When we ask for a drink of water, Jesus reminds us (challenges us) to focus on what is important. Water will only quench our thirst for a brief period of time.
Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit (living water) who empowers us for all of eternity. We have that now.
May I drink from the living water of Jesus and realize the power of His Holy Spirit.
May I realize that now.
“If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”~Jesus (John 4:10)
Why don’t the religious elites know these things from Jesus?
Jesus Teaching
I can get confused. Nicodemus did for sure. His whole world was the bible and theology. He is a member of the Jewish religious elite. I have a similar background having grown up in the church and studied scripture my whole life.
I can get confused. Like Nicodemus I ask”How can these things be?”
There is good news. Jesus sets me straight. Jesus explains it to me. Jesus is patient.
“How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.
“Are you a teacher of Israel [a member of the religious elite] and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. | John 3:9-13 (CSB)
Nicodemus had described Jesus as a teacher. Ironically, perhaps even sarcastically, Jesus returns the compliment — and adds “the” and “of Israel” to heighten the irony of Nicodemus’s teacherly ignorance.
Nevertheless, the high rank of Nicodemus doesn’t rise to the level of Jesus as a teacher who, according to Nicodemus himself, “has come from God”.
Why should Nicodemus have understood these things? Because Ezekiel 36:25–27 quotes the Master as saying, “Then I’ll sprinkle clean water on you, and you’ll be clean.… Moreover, I’ll give you a new heart and put a Spirit in you.… And I’ll put my Spirit in you.…”
Now we know why Jesus told Nicodemus why he shouldn’t marvel. As “the teacher of Israel” Nicodemus should have understood Jesus’ words in terms of Ezekiel’s prophecy.
Here is the literal translation:
Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can these things [being born from above, from water, even the Spirit] happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?”
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Sources:
Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 3:9–13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
Gundry, R. H. (2010). Commentary on the New Testament: Verse-by-Verse Explanations with a Literal Translation (pp. 360–361). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
Natural and Spiritual Sonship | Jay Fesperman (3/3)
As we have already said, “Those who are led by the SPIRIT OF GOD are SONS OF GOD.” Acknowledging this to be the Word of God, we need to be very careful about saying “the Spirit told me” this or that. If the Holy Spirit speaks to us, He does so because we are a “son of God”. So, since sonship is obedience, then that which we hear from the Spirit must be acted upon in complete obedience!
Natural and Spiritual Sonship | Jay Fesperman (2/3)
Now, I have said all this to bring us to a very practical place of understanding our roles as SONS in our relationship to our Lord and to one another. You see, we are told (Romans 8:14-15) “Those who are lead by the SPIRIT OF GOD are SONS OF GOD. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the SPIRIT OF SONSHIP. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father!'” Then verse 16: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are GOD’S CHILDREN.”
Natural and Spiritual Sonship
We’re hearing a lot of talk about the amazing work of the Holy Spirit in these days of spiritual renewal. We know the Bible talks a lot about the various ways the Holy Spirit works. . .The Holy Spirit hovered over the waters of the earth before the present form came into being. . .the Holy Spirit reveals God’s meaning in the Scriptures; He is the “Spirit of Truth”. . .the Holy Spirit speaks life into dead men.
But another role of the Holy Spirit is to be the BRIDGE between the FATHER and the SON. He is the RELATER of relationships! Beginning in the Godhead.