Bears witness with our spirit:

1 John 5:10-12

10     The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.

     11     And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

     12     He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Romans 8:16-17

16     The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

     17     and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

     

            Since we believe in Jesus, we have the evidence of our salvation Himself living inside us. He bears witness with our spirit that we have eternal life. For different people, the experience is diverse. Some actually at one time or another feel something inside them, while others never seem to feel anything. After I asked Jesus to come in and take control of my life, I went to a college basketball game. It felt like there was a hollow rubber ball surrounding my heart. It was like I could feel the arrows of the devil bouncing off the rubber ball. While I have sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit many times since then, it has never been that dramatic. Don’t be upset if you haven’t felt anything. If you have dedicated your life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is dwelling inside of you. It is a guarantee of God. As the verse says, if you have the Son, you have the life … forever.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are Mine. My Spirit within you tells you that you are Mine. No one can take you away from Me. No one is strong enough to harm you when you are in My hand. You know that you are Mine, and I am yours by My Spirit indwelling you. Trust in that knowing within you. You are My child, and I long to be with you daily.”

            54. I know that I am God’s because His Spirit who indwells me bears testimony to my spirit that I am a child of God.

A pledge (engagement ring):

2 Corinthians 1:22

22     who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

     

Ephesians 1:13-14

13     In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

     14     who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

     

            First we heard the Word about our need for salvation. This brought about a belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. After we believed in Jesus, the Father Himself sealed us with the Holy Spirit. The Greek denotes that He took a special interest in this sealing. It wasn’t just some rubber-stamping. The Holy Spirit was given as God’s pledge that He would fully redeem us. This was just the down payment. In Modern Greek, the word translated pledge is used for an engagement ring. The Holy Spirit is God’s engagement ring to us! If He is the engagement ring, what will the wedding band be?

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have promised you many things. As a token of My pledge, I have given you My Spirit. I have sealed you with My signet ring through His indwelling you. You are My own special prize, and I long to visit with you. Do not take it lightly that I have done this. I have sealed you not only to protect you but also to stake My claim to you. When anyone sees My seal, he knows that you are Mine and that no one should attempt to harm you.”

            53. The Holy Spirit of promise was given in my heart as an engagement ring. The Father, Himself, took a special interest in sealing me as His special possession!

Indwelling:

            God desires His Spirit in us:

James 4:5

5     Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?

     

            The Holy Spirit was with the disciples while Jesus was alive on earth. After He rose from the dead, He came to have His home inside them. We have that same Spirit making His residence inside of us. He’s not just visiting … He’s a permanent guest. God desires to commune with us through his Spirit indwelling us.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I desire to speak to you within your spirit. My Spirit talks to yours communicating My will and purpose for your life. He speaks with Me continually on your behalf. He will show you what you are to do and to say. You can talk with Me day by day through Him. I greatly desire that to happen. You are Mine, and He will unite us through your own spirit.”

            52. God has placed His Spirit inside me to dwell, and He greatly desires that Spirit.

Today, we Americans celebrate our Independence. People gave their lives for our freedom. As Christians, we should celebrate our Independence every day. Someone, Jesus Christ, gave His life for our freedom. Just as Americans can choose to live like they are not free, so we Christians can also choose to live like we are not free.  That doesn't mean we Christians are free to do anything we want; the same as Americans are not free to do anything they want. Let's use our freedom to choose to do what God wants.