The Witness of the Holy Spirit

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Saturday, June 20, 2009

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. - John 6:63

Remember the day the Holy Spirit shined His light in your heart and showed you that you were a sinner? You thought you were an okay person, but suddenly the Holy Spirit began to convict you of your sin.

It was the Holy Spirit who brought about that change in your heart.

Jesus said, " 'Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit' " (John 3:5–6).

Not only does the Holy Spirit bring about the work of conversion, but after it has taken place-after Christ has come into your heart-the Holy Spirit personally gives you the assurance that you are a believer. As Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

As a result, you can have the inner conviction and witness of the Holy Spirit that you are a child of God.

And as part of this wonderful work of conversion, the Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells us. Romans 8:11 tells us, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

God is not asking you to do the impossible. He will give you the power to live the Christian life.

With the Holy Spirit empowering you-and as you yield to Him-you can live this life that God has called you to live.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Used with Permission