Experiencing the Holy Spirit: Assurance of Our Identity

 

Summary

In our exploration of Romans 8:16, we delve into the profound experience of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit, affirming that we are children of God. This experience, as testified by various theological traditions and historical figures, is distinct and deeply experimental. It is not merely a theological concept but a tangible reality that transforms the believer's life. We examined the teachings of early Brethren leaders like J.N. Darby, C.H. Mackintosh, and William Kelly, who emphasized that receiving the Holy Spirit is a separate and subsequent experience to conversion. This experience is not automatic upon belief but is a profound assurance and sealing by the Spirit, akin to what the apostles experienced at Pentecost.

The Apostle Paul's own journey illustrates this distinction. Though he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, he did not receive the Holy Spirit until days later, highlighting the separate nature of this experience. Similarly, Paul's question to the Galatians about receiving the Spirit underscores that it is not synonymous with initial belief. This experience is marked by a deep sense of assurance, clarity, and a profound understanding of one's relationship with God.

However, with the emphasis on experiential faith comes the risk of counterfeit experiences. The New Testament warns us to test the spirits, as false experiences can lead to pride, self-satisfaction, and a departure from true holiness. True experiences of the Spirit are accompanied by a sense of awe, unworthiness, and a deeper love for God and His Word. They lead to a greater desire for holiness, freedom in prayer, and a longing to know Christ more intimately.

As we seek this experience, we must differentiate between true and false manifestations. True experiences align with Scripture, glorify Christ, and result in humility and a deeper commitment to God. They are not about seeking phenomena but about deepening our relationship with Christ and living out our faith with authenticity and power.

Key Takeaways:

- The experience of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit is a distinct and profound assurance of our identity as God's children. It is not automatic upon belief but a separate, transformative encounter that deepens our relationship with God. [06:59]

- Historical and theological figures across various traditions affirm the separate nature of receiving the Holy Spirit, emphasizing its experimental and conscious reality. This experience is not merely theological but deeply personal and transformative. [13:23]

- The Apostle Paul's experience and his teachings to the Galatians highlight the distinction between initial belief and receiving the Spirit, underscoring the importance of seeking this deeper assurance and sealing by the Spirit. [11:11]

- With the emphasis on experiential faith comes the risk of counterfeit experiences. True experiences align with Scripture, glorify Christ, and result in humility, deeper love for God, and a commitment to holiness. [15:14]

- True experiences of the Spirit lead to a greater desire for holiness, freedom in prayer, and a longing to know Christ more intimately. They are not about seeking phenomena but about deepening our relationship with Christ and living out our faith authentically. [44:30]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to Romans 8:16
- [00:38] - Historical Perspectives on the Spirit's Witness
- [01:19] - Evidence from Protestant Traditions
- [02:13] - Teachings of Early Brethren Leaders
- [03:28] - Distinction Between Belief and Receiving the Spirit
- [05:15] - The Apostle Paul's Experience
- [06:59] - The Nature of the Spirit's Witness
- [08:11] - Paul's Question to the Galatians
- [10:23] - Testing the Spirits
- [14:31] - Differentiating True and False Experiences
- [19:04] - The Danger of Counterfeit Experiences
- [22:10] - True Antecedents of the Spirit's Witness
- [28:40] - Accompaniments of True Experiences
- [36:13] - Consequences of True and False Experiences
- [44:30] - The Desire for Holiness and Intimacy with Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:16
- Acts 19:1-7
- Galatians 3:2

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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 experience described in the sermon? [00:14]

2. In Acts 19:1-7, what distinction is made between being a disciple and receiving the Holy Spirit? How does this passage support the sermon's message about the separate experience of receiving the Spirit? [03:28]

3. What question does Paul pose to the Galatians in Galatians 3:2, and how does it highlight the difference between initial belief and receiving the Spirit? [10:23]

4. How does the sermon describe the Apostle Paul's experience on the road to Damascus and his subsequent receiving of the Holy Spirit? What does this illustrate about the nature of receiving the Spirit? [08:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the significance of the Holy Spirit's witness with our spirit as a transformative experience rather than just a theological concept? [06:59]

2. What are the potential dangers of counterfeit spiritual experiences as discussed in the sermon, and how can believers discern between true and false experiences? [14:31]

3. How do historical and theological figures like J.N. Darby, C.H. Mackintosh, and William Kelly contribute to our understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in the believer's life? [02:13]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true experiences of the Spirit lead to a deeper commitment to holiness and a greater desire for intimacy with Christ? [44:30]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you experienced a distinct moment when the Holy Spirit bore witness with your spirit? How did it impact your relationship with God? [06:59]

2. The sermon warns against counterfeit experiences that lead to pride and self-satisfaction. How can you ensure that your spiritual experiences align with Scripture and glorify Christ? [15:14]

3. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your daily life. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of the Spirit's presence and guidance in your decisions and actions? [44:30]

4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of testing the spirits. What practical steps can you take to discern true spiritual experiences from false ones in your life? [15:14]

5. How can you foster a greater desire for holiness and a longing to know Christ more intimately in your personal walk with God? What specific changes might you need to make? [44:30]

6. Reflect on a time when you may have quenched the Spirit due to fear or reluctance. How can you be more open to the Spirit's work in your life moving forward? [21:05]

7. Identify one area in your life where you feel a lack of assurance or clarity. How can you seek the Holy Spirit's witness and guidance in that area this week? [06:59]

Devotional

Day 1: Assurance of Our Identity as God's Children
The experience of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit is a profound assurance of our identity as God's children. This assurance is not automatic upon belief but is a separate, transformative encounter that deepens our relationship with God. It is a distinct experience that provides believers with a deep sense of belonging and identity in Christ. This assurance is akin to what the apostles experienced at Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit's presence was a tangible reality that transformed their lives. The experience of the Spirit's witness is marked by a deep sense of assurance, clarity, and a profound understanding of one's relationship with God. [06:59]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: Consider a moment when you felt uncertain about your identity in Christ. How can you seek the Holy Spirit's assurance today to reaffirm your identity as a child of God?


Day 2: The Transformative Reality of Receiving the Holy Spirit
Receiving the Holy Spirit is a separate and subsequent experience to conversion, as emphasized by historical and theological figures across various traditions. This experience is not merely a theological concept but a deeply personal and transformative reality. It is an experimental and conscious reality that goes beyond intellectual understanding, impacting the believer's life in profound ways. The teachings of early Brethren leaders like J.N. Darby, C.H. Mackintosh, and William Kelly highlight the importance of this experience as a distinct encounter that brings about a deeper relationship with God. [13:23]

Acts 19:2 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said, 'No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.'"

Reflection: Reflect on your own journey of faith. Have you experienced the transformative reality of receiving the Holy Spirit? What steps can you take to seek this deeper encounter with God?


Day 3: Distinction Between Belief and Receiving the Spirit
The Apostle Paul's experience and his teachings to the Galatians highlight the distinction between initial belief and receiving the Spirit. This distinction underscores the importance of seeking a deeper assurance and sealing by the Spirit. Paul's journey illustrates that encountering Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit are separate experiences, as seen in his conversion on the road to Damascus and the subsequent reception of the Spirit. This distinction is crucial for believers to understand, as it emphasizes the need for a conscious and intentional pursuit of the Holy Spirit's presence in their lives. [11:11]

Galatians 3:2 (ESV): "Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?"

Reflection: Think about your initial belief in Christ. How can you intentionally seek the Holy Spirit's presence in your life today to deepen your faith and assurance?


Day 4: Testing the Spirits and Differentiating True Experiences
With the emphasis on experiential faith comes the risk of counterfeit experiences. The New Testament warns believers to test the spirits, as false experiences can lead to pride, self-satisfaction, and a departure from true holiness. True experiences of the Spirit align with Scripture, glorify Christ, and result in humility, deeper love for God, and a commitment to holiness. It is essential for believers to differentiate between true and false manifestations, ensuring that their experiences are rooted in a genuine relationship with Christ and not merely seeking phenomena. [15:14]

1 John 4:1 (ESV): "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Reflection: Reflect on a spiritual experience you've had. How can you test its authenticity according to Scripture, and what steps can you take to ensure your experiences glorify Christ?


Day 5: The Desire for Holiness and Intimacy with Christ
True experiences of the Spirit lead to a greater desire for holiness, freedom in prayer, and a longing to know Christ more intimately. These experiences are not about seeking phenomena but about deepening one's relationship with Christ and living out faith authentically. A true encounter with the Holy Spirit results in a transformation that aligns with God's will, fostering a deeper commitment to holiness and a genuine desire to grow closer to Christ. This desire for intimacy with Christ is a hallmark of a Spirit-filled life, characterized by authenticity and power in one's faith journey. [44:30]

Philippians 3:10 (ESV): "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper desire for holiness and intimacy with Christ in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to prioritize your relationship with Him today?

Quotes



The experience of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit is a distinct and separate experience that it is something intensely experimental and that the men can know for certain whether he has ever received this witness of the spirit of this ceiling of the Scriven it's not something that is outside the realm of consciousness it is not something non experimental but indeed it is highly experimental. [00:06:59]

The Apostle Paul himself is as clear an illustration of this essential distinction between believing and this receiving of the Holy Spirit which means being baptized with the spirit being sealed by the spirit they're entirely different experiences. [00:10:23]

The New Testament exalts us to do this to test the spirits to try the spirit to prove the spirits the really the teaching is that every spirit is not of God there is a spirit of Antichrist there is a false spirit and these false spirits that manifested their activities even in the days of the early church. [00:15:14]

The hallmark August of the true experience is a sense of all and companied with it a sense of unworthiness why well because the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit and when he comes in great power as he does in this experience, he gives us some impression of the glory and the greatness and the majesty and the holiness of God. [00:33:52]

The Lord Jesus Christ is glorified he thought that didn't he he said that he sent the spirit and that the spirit would glorify him he shall glorify me he shall not speak of himself that means that he doesn't speak out of himself but he should take the things he says my things and reveal them unto you he shall glorify me. [00:36:13]

The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together so it's almost an invariable accompaniment of this experience that one is given a glimpse of that inheritance and of the glory. [00:38:40]

The man has ever known this is a man of soup desirous to know more of this I put it in terms of the apostle statement in Philippians 3:10 and 11 what is the supreme desire of the Apostle Paul sometimes it's unsurprising but this is how he puts it that I may know him and the power of his resurrection. [00:44:30]

The experience of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit is a distinct and separate experience that it is something intensely experimental and that the men can know for certain whether he has ever received this witness of the spirit of this ceiling of the Scriven it's not something that is outside the realm of consciousness it is not something non experimental but indeed it is highly experimental. [00:06:59]

The Apostle Paul himself is as clear an illustration of this essential distinction between believing and this receiving of the Holy Spirit which means being baptized with the spirit being sealed by the spirit they're entirely different experiences. [00:10:23]

The New Testament exalts us to do this to test the spirits to try the spirit to prove the spirits the really the teaching is that every spirit is not of God there is a spirit of Antichrist there is a false spirit and these false spirits that manifested their activities even in the days of the early church. [00:15:14]

The hallmark August of the true experience is a sense of all and companied with it a sense of unworthiness why well because the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit and when he comes in great power as he does in this experience, he gives us some impression of the glory and the greatness and the majesty and the holiness of God. [00:33:52]

The Lord Jesus Christ is glorified he thought that didn't he he said that he sent the spirit and that the spirit would glorify him he shall glorify me he shall not speak of himself that means that he doesn't speak out of himself but he should take the things he says my things and reveal them unto you he shall glorify me. [00:36:13]

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Transcript
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