The Witness Of The Spirit

The Witness of the Spirit
Romans 8:16 NKJ
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

God has a plan for guiding His children in all aspects of life, especially in matters that the Bible does not specifically address, such as decisions like which job to take or whom to marry. The primary method God uses to lead us in these areas is through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. This is not an audible voice, but an inner knowing communicated to our spirit.

Romans 2:15 NKJ
"Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them."

Another term for the witness of the Spirit is "peace."

Colossians 3:15 (Amplified)
"And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise…]"

An umpire is responsible for making decisions. Similarly, our "umpire" is the inner peace or witness in our spirit, which helps settle decisions and directs us.

1 John 5:10 NKJ
"He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself..."

One way Scripture describes the "inner witness" is with the phrase "it seemed good."

This phrase is how God has led many to understand His will in various situations. It is how I, personally, have determined which messages to preach—by praying and seeking God until it just "seemed good" to my spirit. While I couldn't always explain it, I knew it was God's direction for me.

I also saw this same "leading" in Scripture, as in how Luke decided to write the Gospel of Luke or how the early Church made decisions.

Luke 1:3 NKJ
"It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus."

Acts 15:25, 28 NKJ
"25 It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things."

An immature believer might misinterpret this guidance and claim that something "seemed good" to them when it is not in line with God's will. However, the witness of the Spirit is not about what "seems good" to our flesh or minds but to our innermost being—the spirit where God dwells, if we are believers in Christ.

We must always remember that the Holy Spirit will never lead us to do anything that contradicts God's written Word, the Bible. So, being familiar with and grounded in God's Word is essential.

SAY THIS:
God is helping me understand how to be guided by the inner witness of the Holy Spirit.