READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l We may not have counted but we say many little ‘amens’ every day – when we nod in agreement, things that resonate with our hearts, and affirmations. Do you know that the Holy Spirit also says ‘amen’? We must tune our hearts to the ‘amen’ the Spirit speaks in the middle of our doubts, in the silence of our hearts, and in the very core of who we are. Is it possible for me to be convinced that I am a Child of God? Yes, in Romans 8:16, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and this is the Spirit’s Amen!
1. Convicts us of our sonship in God’s family
John Wesley’s Aldersgate experience convicted him to preach about the witness of the Spirit, that salvation is more than an intellectual affirmation of doctrinal truth. It is a personal conviction stirred by the Spirit, prompting us to cry out to our Abba Father. The Spirit assures us of our identity as God’s children, and this assurance is available to all who trust in Jesus, whether experienced suddenly or gradually.
Belonging to God’s family brings both privileges and responsibilities. Through the Spirit, we are adopted as sons and daughters, deliberately chosen and fully accepted. Our adoption leads us out of old, sin-dominated patterns and into the freedom and love that only God can give, challenging us to renew our minds and attitudes.
Romans 8 describes two kinds of people: those who live by the flesh and those who live by the Spirit. The mind governed by the flesh resists God, while the Spirit leads us to delight in God’s ways. Our challenge is to renew our minds, allowing the Spirit to guide us away from sin and toward God’s purposes.
Like Jesus, we may face suffering before glory. Changes in our lives may prompt questions from others, but this is the Spirit at work, drawing us deeper into God’s family. As God’s children, we are freed from:
- Condemnation
- Control by sin’s power
- Fear of separation from God (abandonment)
2. Anchors us in God’s love
The Spirit’s witness is not a fleeting feeling, but a lasting assurance that anchors us in God’s steadfast love and draws us into deep intimacy with Him. Nothing can separate us from His love. The Spirit affirms our identity as God’s children, stirring our hearts to cry out “Abba, Father!” Jesus taught us to address God as “our Father,” granting us the same intimacy He shares with the Father. Through the Spirit, God pours His love into our hearts (Romans 5:5), assuring us that we belong to Him. Christianity persuades and enlightens through love, not force; the Spirit gently draws us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. To be led by the Spirit is to live under His influence, allowing God to transform our desires and convictions from within.
3. Guides us to faithfulness and fruitfulness
John Wesley suggested three safeguards for discerning the Spirit’s inner witness:
i. The testimony of scripture —The Spirit’s inner witness will never contradict the word of God. Our growth in fellowship with the Spirit comes not only through prayer, but also through faithful study of God’s word.
ii. Church —The Church, both past and present, represents teachings guided and sustained by the Spirit. Through fellowship, we experience the Spirit’s guidance, encouragement, and correction. The Spirit’s inner witness will always be in harmony with the ongoing witness of the Church. Small Groups provide accountability and support in our discernment and discipleship. The Church anchors us and points us toward Christ.
iii. Reason—God does not call us to be irrational. God calls us to use our minds. Reason enriches our understanding of God and helps us discern the Spirit’s leading.
The Spirit’s witness leads us to live faithfully and fruitfully, participating in God’s ongoing work of redemption. The fruit of the Spirit—described in Galatians 5:22-23—is evidence that we belong to God. The Spirit’s work goes beyond personal transformation; it calls us to bear fruit in the world. Salvation is not just about going to heaven but about bringing heaven to earth. God has rescued us from sin and death so we can actively join His mission to redeem the world as His children. God’s glory is revealed through the Spirit’s presence—shaping, guiding, and empowering us to live redemptively each day. This is seen in how we love our families, act with integrity at work, and serve our communities. We are called not only to receive salvation, but to join God’s mission to renew the world, bearing witness, serving others, loving deeply, and reflecting Christ wherever we are.
Let us make room for the Holy Spirit who is doing the job, so that we can live as God intends. May the hand of God fill every part of our lives, our minds, our hearts and our wills.
(Sermon notes by Honey Vreugdewater)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture: Romans 8:14-17
a. What does Paul mean when he says “all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God”? How does this shape our understanding of identity in Christ?
b. Read Romans 8 and Galatians 5: How are those whose live in the flesh contrasted with those who live in the Spirit? What implications does that have for our relationship with God?
c. Romans 8:16 says the Spirit “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” What do you think this means practically for believers? - Recall Sermon: The Spirit’s Amen
a. How did John Wesley’s experience at Aldersgate Street illustrate the Holy Spirit’s witness?
b. What are the three ways the Holy Spirit bears witness to our identity as children of God, as described in the sermon?
c. Reflecting on John Wesley’s suggested guides and safeguards for discerning the Spirit’s inner witness, can you explain how these have helped you recognise or confirm the Holy Spirit’s work in your life? Alternatively, share a personal experience where you applied one of Wesley’s principles to discern the Spirit’s leading. - Relate Personally
a. Have you ever experienced an “assurance” or conviction from the Holy Spirit about your relationship with God? What was that like?
b. What does it mean to you personally to call God “Abba, Father”? How does that shape your prayer life?
c. Recall how did the analogy of the glove and the hand help explain the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In what ways do you see the Spirit’s influence guiding your thoughts, actions, or decisions?
d. Are there areas of your life where you might be resisting the Spirit’s guidance or conviction? - Commit to Action
a. What is one specific way you can make more room for the Holy Spirit in your daily life? For example, is there a relationship, habit, or area of your life you feel led to surrender more fully to God’s Spirit?
b. How might you bear fruit – like love, joy, or peace – more intentionally in your community this week?
c. What step can you take to join God’s mission to “bring heaven to earth” in your family, workplace, or neighborhood?
