Testimony

It is not our intention in this article to rehash ground previously covered, such as the work of the Holy Spirit in the writing of the scriptures, or in the unveiling of the scriptures to God’s children or in the preaching of the gospel. Rather, in this article we are looking to show that at times the Holy Spirit testifies directly and without intermediary to the heart of God’s children. The following verses show us this direct testimony of the Holy Spirit to the hearts of God’s children:

1. Rom. 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” This teaches us that the Holy Spirit along with the spirit imparted to the children of God in the new or spiritual birth bears witness to God’s born again children that they are children of God. This is a direct testimony to the hearts of said children.

2. Heb. 10:14 “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” God puts his laws in our hearts and writes them in our minds when we are born of the Spirit of God. This sets up a courtroom in our hearts and minds which serves as a moral compass or guide to us by either convicting us of sin or excusing us when we do right.

3. John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”

4. 1 Cor. 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” Here, the Holy Ghost is said to teach us to compare spiritual things with spiritual that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God.

5. 1 Th. 4:9 “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” The first of the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is love. Having the Spirit in us through the spiritual birth we are taught of God to love one another. We, as men or preachers, do not have to teach God’s children to love one another.

6. Heb 8:11 “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

Again, this stems from the spiritual birth brought about through the operation of the Holy Spirit upon us when we were before dead in trespasses and sins. This spiritual birth makes us spiritual, gives us eternal life, and writes God’s love in our heart. God is love; God is a light (eternal life); and God is a spirit. As a result of the spiritual birth we have this nature of God as a part of us, therefore, we know God in that we are spiritual; we are light (eternal life); and we have love in our heart toward God and his people.