Experiencing the Assurance of the Holy Spirit

 

Summary

In our exploration of Romans 8:16, we delve into the profound assurance that the Holy Spirit provides to believers, affirming that we are indeed children of God. This assurance is not merely a byproduct of our conversion or sanctification but a distinct and direct work of the Holy Spirit. It is the highest form of assurance, a divine testimony that comes alongside our own spirit's witness. This experience, often referred to as the sealing of the Spirit, does not necessarily occur at the moment of conversion. Historical and scriptural evidence suggests that there is often a significant interval between conversion and this divine assurance.

The sealing of the Spirit is not a prerequisite for salvation. One can be a Christian without having this assurance, as salvation and assurance are distinct. The Spirit's witness is an additional confirmation, a seal upon the existing faith and belief in Christ's redemptive work. This assurance is experimental, meaning it is a tangible experience that brings great joy and love for God. It may or may not be accompanied by extraordinary gifts or phenomena, and its intensity can vary greatly among individuals.

The durability of this experience is not permanent; it can be fleeting and may not be repeated. However, the memory of such an encounter with the Spirit remains a lifelong source of strength and encouragement. This assurance is available to all believers, though not all will experience it. It often comes to those who have demonstrated exceptional faithfulness, self-denial, or have endured significant trials. It is a divine gift that strengthens and equips believers for their journey, providing them with the certainty and power to witness for God.

Key Takeaways:

1. The assurance of the Holy Spirit is a distinct work that provides believers with the highest form of assurance, confirming their status as children of God. This assurance is not a requirement for salvation but an additional confirmation of one's faith. [01:21]

2. The sealing of the Spirit is an experiential event that brings profound joy and love for God. It is not merely a theological concept but a tangible experience that strengthens and encourages believers in their faith journey. [14:33]

3. The intensity and frequency of the Spirit's assurance can vary greatly among believers. While some may experience it only once, others may encounter it multiple times. Regardless of its frequency, the memory of such an experience remains a lifelong source of encouragement. [23:11]

4. This divine assurance is available to all believers, though not all will experience it. It often comes to those who have demonstrated exceptional faithfulness, self-denial, or have endured significant trials, serving as a divine reward and source of strength. [34:24]

5. The Spirit's witness is not permanent and can be lost through sin or quenching the Spirit. However, it can be repeated, and its memory remains a powerful source of encouragement and strength for believers throughout their lives. [26:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Romans 8:16
- [00:30] - The Work of the Holy Spirit
- [01:21] - Assurance Beyond Conversion
- [02:09] - Timing of the Spirit's Witness
- [03:41] - Salvation vs. Assurance
- [06:15] - The Spirit's Seal
- [07:37] - Jesus' Baptism as a Model
- [09:27] - Believers and the Spirit
- [10:57] - Purpose of the Spirit's Witness
- [12:02] - Experiential Nature of Assurance
- [14:33] - Joy and Love from the Spirit
- [18:47] - Gifts and Phenomena
- [20:00] - Intensity and Variability
- [25:50] - Durability of the Spirit's Witness
- [34:24] - Availability to All Believers
- [39:21] - Conditions for Receiving Assurance
- [45:55] - Assurance Before Trials
- [50:25] - Assurance Before Death

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:16
- John 6:27
- Acts 2:1-4

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 8:16, what role does the Holy Spirit play in affirming our identity as children of God? How is this different from our own spirit's witness? [00:11]

2. In the sermon, it was mentioned that the sealing of the Spirit is not a prerequisite for salvation. What distinction is made between salvation and assurance? [03:41]

3. How does the sermon describe the timing of the Spirit's witness in relation to conversion? What examples from scripture or history were given to illustrate this timing? [02:09]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the variability in the intensity and frequency of the Spirit's assurance among believers? [23:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. The sermon suggests that the Spirit's assurance is an experiential event. How does this experiential nature impact a believer's faith journey and relationship with God? [14:33]

2. In what ways does the sermon describe the Spirit's assurance as a source of strength and encouragement for believers, especially during trials or significant challenges? [34:24]

3. How does the sermon explain the potential for losing the Spirit's witness through sin or quenching the Spirit? What does this imply about the believer's responsibility in maintaining this assurance? [26:18]

4. The sermon mentions that the Spirit's assurance often comes to those who have demonstrated exceptional faithfulness or self-denial. How might this understanding influence a believer's approach to their spiritual life and practices? [34:24]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt a strong assurance of your faith. How did that experience impact your relationship with God and your daily life? How can you seek similar experiences in the future? [14:33]

2. The sermon suggests that the Spirit's assurance can be a source of strength during trials. Can you identify a current challenge where you need this assurance? How might you seek it? [34:24]

3. Consider the idea that the Spirit's witness can be lost through sin. Are there areas in your life where you might be quenching the Spirit? What steps can you take to address these areas? [26:18]

4. The sermon highlights the importance of faithfulness and self-denial in receiving the Spirit's assurance. What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate faithfulness in your spiritual journey? [34:24]

5. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence in your life, especially during moments of doubt or uncertainty? What practices or habits might help you in this pursuit? [14:33]

6. The sermon mentions that the Spirit's assurance is not permanent but can be repeated. How can you create an environment in your life that is conducive to experiencing this assurance more frequently? [26:18]

7. Reflect on the sermon’s teaching that the Spirit's assurance often comes before significant trials. How can you prepare spiritually for potential challenges in your life? [45:55]

Devotional

Day 1: Assurance as a Divine Testimony
The assurance of the Holy Spirit is a profound and distinct work that provides believers with the highest form of assurance, confirming their status as children of God. This assurance is not a requirement for salvation but serves as an additional confirmation of one's faith. It is a divine testimony that comes alongside our own spirit's witness, offering a deep sense of belonging and identity in Christ. This assurance is not automatically granted at conversion but is a unique experience that can occur at any point in a believer's journey. It is a reminder of God's intimate involvement in our lives and His desire for us to know our place in His family. [01:21]

Romans 8:15-16 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit affirming your identity as a child of God? How can you remain open to this divine assurance in your daily life?


Day 2: Experiencing Joy and Love Through the Spirit
The sealing of the Spirit is an experiential event that brings profound joy and love for God. It is not merely a theological concept but a tangible experience that strengthens and encourages believers in their faith journey. This experience of assurance is often accompanied by a deep sense of God's presence and love, which can transform our understanding of Him and our relationship with Him. It is a moment of divine encounter that leaves a lasting impact, filling our hearts with joy and a renewed love for God. This assurance is a gift that enhances our spiritual walk, providing us with the strength and encouragement needed to persevere in faith. [14:33]

1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Reflection: Can you recall a time when you felt an overwhelming sense of joy and love from God? How did that experience impact your faith journey, and how can you seek similar encounters with the Holy Spirit?


Day 3: The Variability of the Spirit's Assurance
The intensity and frequency of the Spirit's assurance can vary greatly among believers. While some may experience it only once, others may encounter it multiple times. Regardless of its frequency, the memory of such an experience remains a lifelong source of encouragement. This variability highlights the personal nature of God's relationship with each believer, as He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. The assurance of the Spirit is a reminder that God is actively involved in our lives, providing us with the encouragement and strength we need to continue our journey of faith. [23:11]

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (ESV): "And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."

Reflection: Reflect on the times you have felt the assurance of the Holy Spirit. How can you cherish these memories and allow them to encourage you in moments of doubt or difficulty?


Day 4: Assurance as a Divine Reward
This divine assurance is available to all believers, though not all will experience it. It often comes to those who have demonstrated exceptional faithfulness, self-denial, or have endured significant trials, serving as a divine reward and source of strength. This assurance is a testament to God's recognition of our faithfulness and perseverance, providing us with the encouragement and strength needed to continue our journey. It is a reminder that God sees our struggles and rewards our faithfulness, equipping us with the certainty and power to witness for Him. [34:24]

James 1:12 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

Reflection: Consider a time when you faced significant trials or demonstrated faithfulness. How did you experience God's assurance during that time, and how can you remain open to His divine rewards in the future?


Day 5: The Impermanence and Memory of the Spirit's Witness
The Spirit's witness is not permanent and can be lost through sin or quenching the Spirit. However, it can be repeated, and its memory remains a powerful source of encouragement and strength for believers throughout their lives. This impermanence serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a close relationship with God and being attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading. The memory of past experiences with the Spirit can provide us with the encouragement and strength needed to persevere in our faith journey, reminding us of God's faithfulness and love. [26:18]

Ephesians 4:30 (ESV): "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you may be quenching the Spirit? How can you cultivate a more attentive and responsive relationship with the Holy Spirit to experience His assurance anew?

Quotes


The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. We come back again to this crucial and momentous and most encouraging statement in order that we may go further into its depths and have an increasingly clear understanding of its teaching. [00:19:12]

This is a work over and above all that. It's a distinct, it is a separate work from all that. It is the spirit himself bearing witness and testimony by the side of the witness of our own spirit which lead us to cry AB father. It is, in other words, the highest form of assurance that one can ever know or obtain in this world. [00:27:51]

You can be a Christian without having this assurance of your salvation. I mean by that that if you are aware of your utter sinfulness and realize that you can do nothing about commending yourself to God, if you rely entirely and solely on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in his active obedience to the Lord on your behalf and in his passive obedience in taking you a punishment in his own body on the cross, if you are relying upon that, well then I assure you that you are a Christian, though you may lack an assurance of your salvation. [00:45:36]

The sealing of the spirit is not experimental. Another Dr. Lewis Sper in his work on the Holy Spirit patology says there is no experience or feeling related to the spirit's baptism, and that is very common teaching. They identify it with regeneration and say that it's non-experimental. [12:06:24]

The whole object of the sealing of the spirit everywhere it is referred to is in terms of our inheritance, of what we are going to receive, generally coupled with the earnest that we even have a forest on it. It's essentially experimental. [15:59:48]

It is something and this FS of course which leads to great joy and love to God. There's no instance of it here in the Bible but that you get that. Can't you feel it as you read the second of Acts, the joy, the exuberant joy that was in Peter and the others, lifting them up above their circumstances and everything, a great spirit of joy and a great love to God. [17:31:64]

The intensity of the degree varies, the thing itself is always unmistakable. It is always unique, it is always separate, it is always different from everything else, and it is always quite unmistakable. But with regard to the degree of it, of course, it may vary a great deal. [20:40:28]

This is an experience that comes and then it may go. Indeed, there are some in whose cases we can say this, that they have literally never had it again. There have been instances where a man has known this witness of the spirit once and once only, never again. [26:18:56]

It is not once and forever, but thank God it is something which can be repeated and repeated many times. There are many illustrations of this as far as I'm aware of in my reading. There is no man, no single person who had such repeated experiences of this as the great and the mighty George Whitfield. [29:19:20]

It is open to all. It's not meant only for Apostles, it's not only meant for certain exceptional Saints, it is open to all. Indeed, the New Testament Epistles seem to teach and to assume that it was universal at that time. [34:24:00]

The spirit does his own writing, but he says the spirit it never seals but it first writes. The spirit does the writing first, it makes us Christians, begins the process of sanctification in us. There's the writing, then he seals what is already written. [36:40:00]

It is very often given to those who've been mourning for it and longing for it and seeking it. You'll see that very clearly in the case of Goodfield, you'll see it very clearly in the case of John and Charles Wesley. These three men almost became physically ill and sick in mourning their sins and longing after Christ. [44:01:00]

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Transcript
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