0:00:12.434,0:00:14.741 Ok, third question... 0:00:14.741,0:00:17.350 This also comes from the same guy, David Hopkins 0:00:17.350,0:00:20.730 he kind of squeezed two questions in there, 0:00:20.730,0:00:23.992 and I granted it because I think it's a good question. 0:00:23.992,0:00:30.196 He says, "Also, how does the Spirit bear witness 0:00:30.196,0:00:32.355 that we are children of God?" 0:00:32.355,0:00:35.942 Now, of course, that comes from Romans 8:16, 0:00:35.942,0:00:39.820 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit 0:00:39.820,0:00:41.623 that we are children of God." 0:00:41.623,0:00:44.809 Let me tell you this, 0:00:44.809,0:00:53.101 The witness is varied. 0:00:53.101,0:00:56.127 Let me explain. 0:00:56.127,0:01:03.075 Right there in the context of Romans 8:16, 0:01:03.075,0:01:07.413 the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit 0:01:07.413,0:01:09.916 that we're children of God. That's 8:16. 0:01:09.916,0:01:15.167 If you go back to 8:15, you know what you find? 0:01:15.167,0:01:17.513 We don't have a spirit of slavery, 0:01:17.513,0:01:23.484 we have a Spirit of adoption, 0:01:23.484,0:01:27.081 by Whom we cry "Abba, Father." 0:01:27.081,0:01:31.315 Now think about that, by the Spirit we cry, "Abba, Father." 0:01:31.315,0:01:33.234 You want the witness of the Spirit? 0:01:33.234,0:01:35.906 People wonder this all the time, what is the witness of the Spirit? 0:01:35.906,0:01:38.115 How can I know I'm a child of God? 0:01:38.115,0:01:39.879 Well, every true child of God has been given 0:01:39.879,0:01:45.551 the Spirit of God as a guarantee of their inheritance. 0:01:45.551,0:01:47.278 What is the witness of the Spirit? 0:01:47.278,0:01:49.585 I'll tell you one witness of the Spirit. 0:01:49.585,0:01:54.990 By that Spirit, that Spirit prompts all of God's true children, 0:01:54.990,0:01:57.248 being a Spirit of adoption, 0:01:57.248,0:01:59.650 it prompts us to cry "Abba, Father." 0:01:59.650,0:02:02.195 What do I mean by that? 0:02:02.195,0:02:06.701 You know as a Catholic, God was distant. 0:02:06.701,0:02:09.533 God was far away. 0:02:09.533,0:02:12.134 God was angry. Christ was angry. 0:02:12.134,0:02:14.854 Mary was happy. You'd go to her. 0:02:14.854,0:02:17.499 She's the mediatrix. 0:02:17.499,0:02:20.487 You know, she was loving. She was approachable. 0:02:20.487,0:02:24.221 God was mean. God was far. 0:02:24.221,0:02:26.251 Or He was kind of unknowable. 0:02:26.251,0:02:29.497 Or He was just a "big guy upstairs," 0:02:29.497,0:02:32.929 or you've seen some of Michaelangelo's deal 0:02:32.929,0:02:35.989 with an old man reaching off a cloud, 0:02:35.989,0:02:39.543 or just some kind of Santa Claus figure or something. 0:02:39.543,0:02:42.758 But do you know what happens when a person is truly born again? 0:02:42.758,0:02:47.057 And the Spirit of God, the Spirit of adoption comes in? 0:02:47.057,0:02:51.781 Suddenly, God is not distant. He's close. 0:02:51.781,0:02:57.946 He's dear. There's intimacy. "Abba" 0:02:57.946,0:03:00.568 "Father." 0:03:00.568,0:03:06.141 You Christians, don't you talk to Him that way? 0:03:06.141,0:03:07.972 Father. 0:03:07.972,0:03:11.079 It's like, all of a sudden - 0:03:11.079,0:03:13.208 I don't know why I just think of Craig riding his motorcycle, 0:03:13.217,0:03:15.545 all of a sudden a dog runs out, "Father!" 0:03:15.545,0:03:18.594 Or you know, you cry out right away. 0:03:18.594,0:03:21.131 There's this natural impulse as a Christian 0:03:21.131,0:03:23.833 to cry out to your Heavenly Father. 0:03:23.833,0:03:28.180 With me a lot of times it's "Lord." 0:03:28.180,0:03:32.381 But a lot of times I'm addressing Him as "Father" too. 0:03:32.381,0:03:35.180 You know what? There's that inclination. 0:03:35.180,0:03:38.608 It's not foreign. It's not forced. 0:03:38.608,0:03:41.784 It comes out. 0:03:41.784,0:03:43.359 Why? The Spirit of God - 0:03:43.359,0:03:46.657 by that Spirit we are compelled. 0:03:46.657,0:03:49.992 God is no longer a distant God. 0:03:49.992,0:03:53.358 He's a close God. 0:03:53.358,0:03:54.962 How else? 0:03:54.962,0:03:57.482 By the Spirit. 0:03:57.482,0:03:59.467 Again, another text that we come back to 0:03:59.467,0:04:03.330 over and over and over and over... 0:04:03.330,0:04:07.051 If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds 0:04:07.051,0:04:10.333 of the body, you will live. 0:04:10.333,0:04:13.733 People who have life, have the Spirit. 0:04:13.733,0:04:16.462 People who belong to Christ, have the Spirit. 0:04:16.462,0:04:18.040 People who have the Spirit, 0:04:18.040,0:04:20.170 put to death deeds of the body. 0:04:20.170,0:04:24.904 You not only have this compulsory cry to God, 0:04:24.904,0:04:26.729 there's this intimacy, 0:04:26.729,0:04:28.981 but there's this putting to death the deeds 0:04:28.981,0:04:31.681 of the flesh, of the body. 0:04:31.681,0:04:34.667 And if you're not seeing that consistently, 0:04:34.667,0:04:36.314 I'm not talking perfection. 0:04:36.314,0:04:39.302 But when you come, when there's this transformation 0:04:39.302,0:04:41.400 in your life, when there's a looking to Christ, 0:04:41.400,0:04:42.741 and there's true faith, 0:04:42.741,0:04:45.581 there's going to be a putting to death of sin, 0:04:45.581,0:04:47.300 and if there is not battle with sin, 0:04:47.300,0:04:49.915 and war with sin, and victory over sin, 0:04:49.915,0:04:51.551 and a conquering. 0:04:51.551,0:04:53.071 Yes, sometimes we're falling, 0:04:53.071,0:04:54.954 sometimes the battle is prolonged, 0:04:54.954,0:04:57.289 and it's aggressive and it's difficult, 0:04:57.289,0:05:01.034 but if there is not victory, if there is not 0:05:01.034,0:05:04.254 a pattern of victory that is identifable, 0:05:04.254,0:05:06.468 where all things become new, 0:05:06.468,0:05:08.103 and you see a newness, 0:05:08.103,0:05:10.602 and it's worked out by the Spirit of God, 0:05:10.602,0:05:15.101 then that's another witness. 0:05:15.101,0:05:16.252 How about another one? 0:05:16.252,0:05:17.793 Very closely attached to that. 0:05:17.793,0:05:20.199 We read in Galatians 5, 0:05:20.199,0:05:22.193 What are the fruits of the Spirit? 0:05:22.193,0:05:25.438 I guarantee where the Spirit is, He's working love. 0:05:25.438,0:05:27.623 Where the Spirit is, He's working joy. 0:05:27.623,0:05:32.183 Where the Spirit is, He's working peace, 0:05:32.183,0:05:34.661 patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 0:05:34.661,0:05:36.971 gentleness, self control. 0:05:36.971,0:05:48.371 If a person does not radically become possessed 0:05:48.371,0:05:50.729 by a love they never knew, 0:05:50.729,0:05:53.794 a love for God, a love for Christ, 0:05:53.794,0:06:00.205 a love for their fellow man, especially for Christians, 0:06:00.205,0:06:03.196 if that isn't a radical change, I can tell you 0:06:03.196,0:06:05.351 the Spirit of God's not there. 0:06:05.351,0:06:08.646 And joy, a joy that you never experienced before. 0:06:08.646,0:06:11.153 I don't mean the happiness, the drunken happiness 0:06:11.153,0:06:12.710 that goes along with parties 0:06:12.710,0:06:16.227 and rides at Six Flags and that kind of thing. 0:06:16.227,0:06:21.194 I'm talking a deep-seated joy. 0:06:21.194,0:06:24.685 It's attached to the things that Christ has done for you, 0:06:24.685,0:06:27.265 and salvation. 0:06:27.265,0:06:30.635 Those are the fruits of the Spirit. 0:06:30.635,0:06:32.243 And they will be there. 0:06:32.243,0:06:35.227 Yes, they're not always at peak maximum level, 0:06:35.227,0:06:37.167 they ebb and they flow, 0:06:37.167,0:06:39.494 but if you don't have a love like you've never had before, 0:06:39.494,0:06:41.495 if you don't have a joy like you've never had, 0:06:41.495,0:06:45.553 if you don't have peace like you've never had before, 0:06:45.553,0:06:49.112 that's one of the witnesses of the Spirit. 0:06:49.112,0:06:51.797 Let's go even further in this. 0:06:51.797,0:06:59.249 How about this one? 0:06:59.249,0:07:02.051 Romans 5:5, "God's love has been 0:07:02.051,0:07:04.894 poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit 0:07:04.894,0:07:06.927 Who has been given to us. 0:07:06.927,0:07:09.038 For while we were still weak, at the right time 0:07:09.038,0:07:11.013 Christ died for the ungodly. 0:07:11.013,0:07:13.155 For one will scarecely die for a righteous person, 0:07:13.155,0:07:15.998 though perhaps for a good person one will dare even to die. 0:07:15.998,0:07:17.802 But God shows His love for us in that 0:07:17.802,0:07:20.185 while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 0:07:20.185,0:07:24.237 Now follow this: God shows His love for us, 0:07:24.237,0:07:25.701 in that while we were still sinners, 0:07:25.701,0:07:28.034 Christ died for us. 0:07:28.034,0:07:31.062 That's right there in the context and attached to this: 0:07:31.062,0:07:33.280 God's love has been poured into our hearts 0:07:33.280,0:07:36.279 through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. 0:07:36.279,0:07:40.063 You know what one of the witnesses of the Spirit of God is? 0:07:40.063,0:07:43.359 He pours the love of God for us 0:07:43.359,0:07:46.464 into our hearts. 0:07:46.464,0:07:53.772 And that love is identifiable in the fact 0:07:53.772,0:07:56.779 that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 0:07:56.779,0:08:00.713 God shows His love for us in the cross. 0:08:00.713,0:08:04.886 The Spirit of God pours it into our hearts. 0:08:04.886,0:08:08.526 By that Spirit, it's poured into our hearts. 0:08:08.526,0:08:12.297 And it comes back to the cross. 0:08:12.297,0:08:15.866 I'll tell you this, one of the dearest 0:08:15.866,0:08:18.422 and most precious witnesses of the Spirit 0:08:18.422,0:08:23.112 is when the cross is personal, precious, 0:08:23.112,0:08:25.874 and overwhelms you with expressions 0:08:25.874,0:08:28.238 of the love of God for you. 0:08:28.238,0:08:31.837 I mean, it causes joy and tears, 0:08:31.837,0:08:34.043 and expressions... 0:08:34.043,0:08:36.773 and listen, I'll tell you this, 0:08:36.773,0:08:38.492 the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit 0:08:38.492,0:08:40.965 that we're children of God. 0:08:40.965,0:08:45.274 The Spirit of God is mighty. 0:08:45.274,0:08:47.457 And where He intends to bear witness, 0:08:47.457,0:08:49.603 you will hear it! 0:08:49.603,0:08:51.224 It's not this kind of thing where, well, 0:08:51.224,0:08:54.059 He just kind of whispers, and it's like, 0:08:54.059,0:08:57.338 I don't know, I can't be certain. 0:08:57.338,0:08:59.442 Listen: this is the Spirit of God. 0:08:59.442,0:09:00.705 When He means to bear witness, 0:09:00.705,0:09:05.043 He bears witness. And you hear it! 0:09:05.043,0:09:07.162 And I'll just give you one other thing, 0:09:07.162,0:09:09.856 do you know what Jesus Christ said of the Spirit of God? 0:09:09.856,0:09:10.765 When the Spirit of Truth comes, 0:09:10.765,0:09:12.290 He will guide you into all truth, 0:09:12.290,0:09:13.708 He will not speak on His own authority, 0:09:13.708,0:09:15.343 but whatever He hears, He will speak. 0:09:15.343,0:09:17.125 He will declare to you things that are to come. 0:09:17.125,0:09:18.752 He will glorify Me. 0:09:18.752,0:09:20.720 I'll tell you this, you know what one of the 0:09:20.720,0:09:22.403 witnesses of the Spirit is? 0:09:22.403,0:09:24.782 He glorifies Christ. 0:09:24.782,0:09:27.179 And I'll tell you this, 0:09:27.179,0:09:29.756 one of the witnesses of the Spirit 0:09:29.756,0:09:34.172 is not just God's love for us 0:09:34.172,0:09:39.083 in what He did with His Son on the cross, 0:09:39.083,0:09:42.396 but Christ becomes everything to us. 0:09:42.396,0:09:45.018 You see the Spirit of God came to exalt Christ. 0:09:45.018,0:09:47.860 And if the Spirit of God is indwelling you, 0:09:47.860,0:09:53.361 one of the Spirit's main witnesses within you 0:09:53.361,0:09:56.234 is going to be of Christ. 0:09:56.234,0:09:58.531 And if Christ isn't your chief love, 0:09:58.531,0:10:00.615 if Christ isn't your chief affection, 0:10:00.615,0:10:07.958 if Christ isn't receiving the focal attention of your life, 0:10:07.958,0:10:10.677 then you can be certain the Spirit of God is not operating, or 0:10:10.678,0:10:13.465 the Spirit of God is grieved in your life. 0:10:13.465,0:10:15.680 Because the Spirit of God has come into this world 0:10:15.680,0:10:18.805 to exalt Christ, and in those in whom He indwells, 0:10:18.805,0:10:21.594 He indwells to exalt Christ. 0:10:21.594,0:10:23.368 And He will make much of Christ. 0:10:23.368,0:10:24.955 And if He's within you, He will turn your 0:10:24.955,0:10:26.507 attentions to Christ. 0:10:26.507,0:10:28.906 He will make Christ real in the Word. 0:10:28.906,0:10:30.978 He will make that come alive. 0:10:30.978,0:10:34.502 These are basically the witnesses of the Spirit. 0:10:34.502,0:10:36.891 Don't take them lightly. 0:10:36.891,0:10:39.893 If you cannot identify with these things, 0:10:39.893,0:10:41.683 oh, run to Christ. 0:10:41.683,0:10:42.970 Run to Him. 0:10:42.970,0:10:46.815 Plead. Call upon the name of the Lord. 0:10:46.815,0:10:49.405 This is salvation. 0:10:49.405,0:10:51.146 That's what it's all about. 0:10:51.146,0:10:53.827 What is eternal life? 0:10:53.827,0:10:56.813 Somebody tell me. 0:10:56.813,0:10:59.605 To know God and the Christ Whom He has sent. 0:10:59.605,0:11:01.964 Knowing Them, intimacy. 0:11:01.964,0:11:06.508 Where is that? John 17:3.