Day 15 - Bearing Witness

The Spirit helps us know what to say—and how to say it—when we are in perilous or uncertain situations. He helps us to bear witness during these times.

Romans 8:16 (New English Translation)

The Spirit Himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s Children.

Romans 8:16 (Today’s New International Version)

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s Children.

What does it even mean to bear witness?

The word used here is equivalent to the concept of testifying or giving testimony. We know what a witness is—it is a person who saw and experienced something and then tells about it. We have learned in the last weeks and months about passive witness vs. active witness. But it doesn’t stop there—it’s not just testifying or giving testimony. It’s confirming testimony.

There are so many legal dramas on television these days. I confess that I do like both of the NCIS dramas, as well as CSI: New York. Have you ever noticed how pumped the good guys get when they find corroborating witnesses? You, know, witnesses whose testimonies match? That’s the concept here. The Spirit testifies with our spirit—we corroborate. I love being in step with the Spirit.

Have you seen many sailing movies? Every one I’ve ever seen has scenes in it where the sailor and the wind are as one—moving gracefully and powerfully across the water. This passage (Romans 8:16), is THE REASON we are in this series on the Holy Spirit. We have two powerful images, that when combined can transform our world. The Spirit is the wind. Our receptivity to His presence and influence in our lives is like a spiritual sail. The wind of the Holy Spirit is HIS WITNESS that you are God’s child! Of everything the Holy Spirit wants for us, His greatest witness is that you have royal identity. You have a future of eternal happiness, joy, freedom and security, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:5 and Ephesians 1:13-14). You are an heir of the King, a co-heir with Jesus, the child of God!

Imagine what life from this moment forward could be like if you had the wind of this Holy Spirit witness filling your sail!