So if you have a Bible, why don't you take it and open to Romans 8 and we're going to read

verses 12 through 17 and focus on 17.

And if I were to give a title to this, it would be a spectacular and scary promise.

A spectacular and scary promise.

So let's set the stage, starting in verse 12. So then brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh to live according to the flesh for if you live according to the

flesh you will die but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God.

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 which we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and fellow heirs with Christ, provided

we suffer with Him in order that we may be glorified with him.

Let's pray.

Father in heaven, my prayer now for these friends is that the Holy Spirit would

testify to them that they are the children of God. If any does not belong to Christ,

I pray that Christ would woo that person into a union where they too belong to the family

and have received the spirit of adoption by which they cry,

Abba, Father.

I pray that those who are wavering and fragile

and feel uncertain about that relationship of your lordship over their lives and your fatherhood

over their lives would rise in strength, that they would know by experience what it is to have the

witness of the Holy Spirit in their hearts that they are the children of God.

So do that now.

...