“16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:16, NIV.“

6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”” Galatians 4:6, NIV.

                    As we look at the promptings of the Holy Spirit, these  two listed in these verses are very real and much noticed by Christians.

                    The first is the inner confidence we have that we are God’s children.

                    The second is the crying out from within us of closeness of God to us.

                    What is this inner confidence?  Where does it come from?  Is this confidence that we are God’s children a product of wishful thinking, delusion or some other source?

                    The Bible clearly states that some people are spiritually deceived.

                    The minute I say that there are some who will ask me, “Who do you think you are to say that I’m deceived?  May be you are the one who is deceived?  You need to get off your high horse and stop thinking you are the only one who is right!”

                    The only response I can give to that kind of thinking is that I am not telling you what I think, I am telling you what the Bible teaches.  The only reason that I can say that I am not deceived on any issue is if the Bible clearly teaches different.  I didn’t write the Bible and I am not trying to make people followers of me.  But if you do not agree with the Bible and you think the Bible is wrong, then you are dealing with another issue.  I am talking to Christians and people to whom God has given the Holy Spirit.  I am preaching to the choir, but if you are not in the choir,  consider this an invitation to join it.  God wants you in his choir.

                    So what does the Bible say about certain people?

Joh 12:40* “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them.”

                    2Co 4:4* The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

                    1Jo 2:11* But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

                    So it is possible to be blinded, to be deceived as a Christian and as a non-Christian.

                    The question before us is this:  Do you know that you are a child of God?

                    If you answer, “yes”, then I will ask you how you know?

                    “12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12, 13, NIV.

                    Verse 13 is clear on this.  We are not children of God by natural birth, but we have to be born of God.

                    The words “natural descent” are literally “blood.”  The Jewish people believed that the sperm from man mixed with the blood from a woman to bring forth a child.  A person is not a child of God through natural birth.

                    The “human decision” is literally “will of the flesh.”  We are not a child of God through human passion.  This is not a physical thing that makes us a child of God.  The outcome of human passion might be a child.  But even if it were, that child would not be a child of God.

                    The “husband’s will” reflects the general thinking in the Jewish world that the man would take the initiative in sexual matters.  But even the child that is born by this union is not a child of God.

                    If you think you are a child of God because you were created by God, then you are deceived.  If your spirit tells you that you are a child of God because you are a good person, you are deceived.  If you believe that you are a child of God because you go to church, then you are deceived.  How does a person become a child of God?

                    The Bible is clear on this. “12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--” John 1:12, NIV.  We become God’s children when we believe in the name of Jesus.  We become God’s children when we receive Jesus. 

                    In other words, a person is not born a child of God, they become one sometime after they are born.  They become a child of God when they believe in Jesus, when they receive Jesus.

                    What happens spiritually is interesting.  What happens spiritually happens behind the scenes.  What happens at that moment we receive Jesus and believe on his name is invisible, but real. 

                    We receive the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit comes into our hearts at the moment of conversion and indwells the believer.

                    One activity that indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit is found in Romans 8:16.  “16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

                    It is hard to explain, but when your receive Jesus, you receive the Holy Spirit.  When you receive the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit prompts you to this claim, this right, to be called a child of God.  You know that you are not a child of God through human effort, but as an act of grace.  God has given you a gift.  That gift is Jesus.  And when you have Jesus, you have all that comes with having Jesus.  Included in that is the fact that if you believe in Jesus, you are in the family.

                    Have you ever sensed this in your heart?  Have you ever looked at your life and felt unworthy?  But then when you think about God, you find an inner voice saying, “You are not saved because you are worthy, you are saved by my grace...it is my gift to you through Jesus Christ.“  If you have sensed this, it is the prompting of the Holy Spirit that confirms that you are a child of God, born of God, born again by the Holy Spirit.

                    But there is a second prompting that comes from the Holy Spirit.  Not only do you feel that you are in the family, but you sense a new intimacy with God.  Notice how this intimacy is expressed in Galatians 4:6.  

“6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.””

                    “Abba” is a term of endearment towards a Father.  This term does not describe a stern Father who is only concerned that you do what is right.  This term does not describe the kind of Father who wants you to live right so you don’t embarrass Him.  This term does not describe the kind of Father who is only concerned that you obey the rules.  Abba, Father describes the Father whose presence you find comfortable, accepting, enjoying.

                    When you receive Christ, you will find the Holy Spirit prompting you to know and experience the loving Father.  You will find a prompting to accept grace.  You will find a prompting that says, “Get closer to the Father!”  “Don’t be frightened by God.”  “He is your friend.”  When you sense that prompting as a believer in Jesus Christ, that comes from the Holy Spirit.

                    So what do you do when you find this spirit within telling you that you have the right to call yourself a child of God?  What do you do when you find this voice within telling you that God is good and He is your Father and he wants you to come closer to Him?

                    I can think of two responses.  First, recognize that it is the Holy Spirit prompting you.  How can I say that?  Because I hope I have convinced you today that the Bible tells us that this is so.  If you are a child of God, the Holy Spirit confirms it and you will sense it when you approach God.  These thoughts, feeling and ideas come from the Holy Spirit within.

                    Second, let it happen.  However the Holy Spirit is prompting you, let it happen.

                    Don’t fight the Holy Spirit who is telling you that you are a child of God by negative thinking.  Don’t tell God that you are not good enough, that you are not worthy, that you don’t have the right to be a child of God.  If you trust Jesus you will understand and embrace the fact that salvation is a gift, not a reward.  Accept with tears the love of God towards you.

                    Don’t fight the Holy Spirit when he prompts you to get closer to God.  You are lying in bed and a voice says, “Pick up the Bible and read!”  Don’t ignore the voice.  You are driving along in your car and you hear a voice saying, “Take your troubles to God.  Pray about this.”  You need to start praying right away.  Don’t ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  You are making plans for the weekend and you hear this voice saying, “Don’t make plans that would interfere with worshiping me and hearing my voice on Sunday.”  Don’t ignore the Holy Spirit who is trying to create intimacy between you and your heavenly Father.  When you hear the Holy Spirit saying, “Get involved in this ministry to people” don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by saying “no” to his prompting to work together with Christ in his field.

                    What a blessing it is when people have the confidence in their own salvation.  What a blessing it is when people are close to God.  Receive the blessing.  Listen and respond to the Holy Spirit within you.