Our text today … Romans 8:16, a classic verse of verses!

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

This is speaking of God the Holy Spirit (indicated by the capital “S”) bearing witness to our human spirit (with the lower case “s”).

The human spirit is that part of man that has the capacity to commune with Almighty God. That part of us which possesses “God consciousness!”

When Jude speaks of apostates who are “twice dead” (Jude verse 12) … he is discussing men (or women) who are “dead” both in their human spirits as well as “dead” to God, to knowing Him! Hence his unique term, “twice dead!”

But when a person is saved by God’s Grace … that human spirit is born again! And the Holy Spirit moves into that life, actually into that body, physically even!

At that point … the Holy Spirit witnesses (testifies) that we are the children of God! In fact, the verb for “bearing witness” is framed in the present tense. Telling us we’re saved today and then tells us again tomorrow and yet again the next day! An ongoing conformation of our safety in Christ! A durative assurance, continuously so!

“Children” of God, “teknon” is the Greek noun used here … meaning genuine members of His Family! Members that might need to be chastened, trained, and matured along the highway of life! But clearly still “in” the Family!

Genuine, bonafide (derived from Latin meaning “in good faith!”) children, nonetheless!

Dear reader, do you have that abiding Holy Ghost produced WITNESS … proof that you are truly saved?

I do!

Though unworthy … yet a child of the King … via the shed Blood of Jesus Christ my Lord!

If you do not assuredly have that “witness,” begin seeking it today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The word “plodder” defined, at least as a verb: “to walk steadily, if slowly, with perseverance.” From my little perspective: “staying on task for the Lord, not quitting.”

Years ago one of my favorite Preaches wrote a book entitled “In Praise of Plodders.” A very encouraging little volume!

I just noticed a Book by an older Pastor in the Atlanta area named: “Plodders, the Improbables doing the Incredible.”  (Though I have not read this one.)

Just saying … the idea of trudging along for Jesus (instead of quitting) is well known in Christianity. “Plod” … even when you can’t run! That sort of idea.

A man long ago named William Carey (back in the 1700s) was saved, called of God to be a missionary and became known “the father of modern missions.” He, though a “nobody” in the eyes of the world, said: “I can plod on. I can persevere!”

I am writing today to anyone discouraged in the faith. You might have become “weary in well doing,” quoting Galatians 6:9.

Don’t quit!

Don’t turn back!

Plod ahead!

In that Aesopian story of the hare and the tortoise … it was turtle who (while not setting any speed records) won the race! How? Simply by being a “plodder!”

My “life verse” compels me to desire to be such a person, to the Glory of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 … “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE, always abounding in the work of the Lord …”

Dear friends, the Holy Spirit living inside every single Believer … “energizes” us to at least … keep on going!

Don’t be among one of the casualties!

After all, like Old Testament Gideon was promised … “THE LORD IS WITH THEE.” (Judges 6:12)

Assuredly, He is with us too!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Eight of them, “these things!”

Very important “things” in the Christian life, vitally so!

2 Peter 1 says if you have “these things” … that “they will make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Wow!

Peter adds that if a Christian does not have “these things” … “he will be blind, and not able to see afar off, and forget that he was purged from his old sins.”

Wow again!

Sounds like a sure formula for success (fruitfulness) in the Christian life, a recipe for maturity!

By now I MUST KNOW, what are these things?

Eight qualities I MUST DILIGENTLY ADD to my character if I am to enjoy an (Peter’s words again) “an abundant entrance” into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Peter then recaps with the startling truth that whoever possesses (in abundance) these “things” will “never fail!” The direct quote … “for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

Now, please tell me, what are these thing?

Faith!

Virtue!

Knowledge!

Temperance!

Patience!

Godliness!

Brotherly Kindness!

… and Charity, Love, “agape” Love!

Sounds like the “fruit of the Spirit” in many ways!

Yet Peter clearly says dogmatically we ae to “ADD” these traits to our daily deportment, lives, hearts, spirits!

Well, let’s get busy!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Most any Bible student is aware that Jesus’ favorite Word for the Holy Spirit was “COMFORTER.” At least four times our Lord employs this Title for the Third Person of the Godhead.

Those being John 14:16 and John 14:26. Followed by John 15:26 then John 16:27.

The Noun is “parakletos” in Greek. It means One Who is called (“kaleo”) alongside (“para”) to help and encourage and strengthen and even caution a fellow traveler!

Except the Holy Spirit is not only “beside” us, but “indwelling” us! Paul taught us that in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 … “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is IN you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Then as I grow in the Grace of God I learn that Jesus too is my “Parakletos!” In English we often use the word Paraclete. Our King James Bible translates the word differently when referring to Jesus though.

Let me show you. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1, where “advocate” is our Greek noun “parakletos!”

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter!

Jesus is our Comforter!

And now I learn that God the Father is my Comforter as well! “Blessed be GOD, EVEN THE FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the GOD OF ALL COMFORT; Who COMFORTETH US in all our tribulation.” 2 Corinthians 1:3

Now you can better understand the Lesson Title today!

THE TRINUE COMFORTER!

FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT!

We Christians are then “thrice comforted!”

How very blessed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Ultimately, the wages of sin is death. Based on God’s Word, particularly Romans 6:23. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

But there are some additional “benefits” (“curses” would have been a much better word) sins pays along the way to the grave.

And I will use Samson (the famous Old Testament Judge) today for a sad example.

The end of that physically strong man’s life of compromise, as recorded in Scripture …

“But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.” Judges 16:21

Look what disobeying God brought to Samson … what sin does:

Sin blinds!

Sin binds!

Sin grinds!

Look back up to Judges 16:21 again. All three facts are there firmly established!

Sin blinds whereas … “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Quoting Jesus in Matthew 5:8.

Sin binds … “Ye were the servants (bound salves) of sin.” Romans 6:20, Paul the Apostle.

And sin grinds, by that I mean it is (after the pleasures of a season wear away) listless, tepid, unfulfilling! Sin becomes a bore! “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Iniquity numbs. Matthew 24:12.

But … there is a solution for sin!

“And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Quoted from 1 John 1:7.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

So true!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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