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sonship

In my study the other morning I came upon a passage in Isaiah about the [then] future outpouring of the Spirit. It reminded me of passages in Romans and Galatians...

"But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, 'I am the LORD's,' another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and name himself by the name of Israel." (Isaiah 44:1-5 ESV)

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God..." (Romans 8:15, 16 ESV; cf. Galatians 4:6, 7)

When the Holy Spirit comes into the life of the believer -- and we might add, when the Holy Spirit is filling and controlling us -- there is a removal of fear, a strong sense of belonging to God, and a delight in his relationship to us. This is demonstrated in both of the passages by the believer's voice, specifically, the voice of testimony in Isaiah and the voice of prayer in Romans. The Holy Spirit in both passages causes a delight of belonging-ness, the overflow of which is manifest in our speech.

This was so characteristic of my early Christian walk. Should we not continually seek this ministry of the Holy Spirit?
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