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For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:15-17)
How has the sermon been today?
Before this preacher opens his mouth from this pulpit with words for your heart, there has already been many sermons preached.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
O, Lord, help us listen to this Preacher even before we listen to this preacher.
He’s already preached to us that we can’t do this service on our own, but He must begin it and be with us and for us, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
He’s already preached that we are sinners in thought, word, and deed. He’s already warned us that there are false prophets out there and they preach something that we by nature are quite interested in:
The Lord says through Jeremiah, “They preach falsely to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, “No disaster shall come upon you.”
And so we are warned to watch out in following our own hearts.
We have already been admonished that we are debtors, not the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if we live according to the flesh, we will die, but if by the Spirit, we put to the death the deeds of the body, we will live.
The Spirit Himself is bearing witness with our spirit – watch out! Look out! It looks good, but there’s a trap here! Don’t step there. Don’t go there! Don’t say that! Don’t think that!
The Spirit Himself has already been preaching. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
You are received into the family of God! You’re an heir of God – fellow heir of Christ! You are forgiven! Do not fear! You are not condemned! You are not alone! You have received the Spirit! You are receiving the Spirit! You are led by the Spirit! For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even unto to death. (Psalm 48:14).
The Spirit is bearing witness with our spirit…
This pastor can’t mess that sermon up that has already happened. I can mess this sermon up. But, then I take comfort that I can’t mess up the sermon that happens after this when the Spirit Himself enters into you again and bear witness to your spirit – the body of Christ given for you; the blood of Christ shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.
One pastor likes to pretend the body of Christ enters into you like a bomb exploding the desires of the flesh, exploding your fear, cleansing you, replacing all fear with the Spirit of comfort and faith and confidence that we are children of God.
But to help this pastor and all pastors preach, you should be praying that as God’s Word is read, God’s songs are sung, God’s liturgy is used to pray and praise – as the Spirit is bearing witness with your spirit that you are a child of God – that He would preach a similar sermon of God showing us our sin and God showing us our Savior.
Like: Brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
Jesus has paid it all. Jesus has forgiven our debts. We now belong to Jesus. We don’t owe the flesh, to listen and follow it. We are not slaves to sin. The Son has set us free. And so by the Spirit we put to death all that is in us that is in opposition to our Father.
We don’t owe the world, to listen and follow it. We don’t look for their favor and glory. We have God’s favor and glory and nothing can separate us from His love and the suffering we experience is not worth comparing to the glory to come and all things work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
We don’t owe the devil, to believe his lies that we deserve to be condemned for our sin. We did not receive the Spirit of fear, the Spirit of adoption and we cry out “Abba! Father!” There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
You’re in the family of God. You call God, “Abba! Father!” That means you’re in!
You ever had a father-in-law say, “Call me, Dad!” Or a boss that has a lot of authority over you say, “Don’t call me Mr. so and so, call me by my first name.”
In-laws and boss’s are sinners, so there’s no guarantee that once you’re in, you’re not going to be back out. But God is not a sinner.
He says you’re in. Call me “Abba! Father! You’re dependent upon me. You’re my child. You’ve been placed under my care and love and grace!” It’s what little children call their dad, “Daddy!” – completely dependent and utterly trusting!
You’re in. You’re not going to be out if you mess up or have doubts or have fears. You’re in.
And you’re also led as a part of the family of God. You don’t do the leading. You’re a child. The Spirit leads. But we trust the Spirit.
It’s the same Spirit the led Jesus into the wilderness to do battle against the devil for us (Luke 4:1).
It’s the same Spirit of the Christ who allowed Himself to be led to Caiaphas and Herod and the council of chief priests to be mocked and condemned and spat upon and whipped and yelled out by the crowd “Crucify! Crucify!” (John 18:13; 28; John 19:4; 19:13).
This Jesus allowed Himself to be led to Calvary and the cross and Father’s wrath and led into death.
All this He did so that we who by natural birth were slaves to sin, slaves to the fear of death, might receive the adoption as sons, placed into the family of God and promised that we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
All that Jesus has is ours. His righteousness is ours. We are children of God.
His victory over death is ours! We will be glorified with Him!
His defeat of all evil and the devil Himself is ours! Nothing can separate us!
God grant that sermon be preached long after you leave as the Spirit bears continual witness to your spirit that you are a child of God! Amen.