Not the Spirit!

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16

Deep within our hearts the Spirit testifies that we truly belong to God.

When we are born again, something glorious happens—something that no eye can fully see and no human hand can create. God Himself, by His grace and mercy, gives us His own Spirit—the Holy Spirit—to live within us. This isn’t just a doctrine or a theological idea; it’s the very heartbeat of the Christian life. The Spirit we receive is holy, powerful, and full of love. He is not just with us—He is in us. And this Spirit is completely different from the spirits that once ruled our lives before we knew Christ.

The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” That is thrilling! Fear is not our portion. It does not belong to the born-again believer. God didn’t save us so we could shrink back in anxiety or live under the torment of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. No! He gave us power—to stand, to overcome, to rise. He gave us love—to walk in compassion, to forgive, to reflect His heart. He gave us a sound mind—clear thinking, steady faith, and heavenly perspective.

When we came to Christ, we didn’t receive the spirit of the world either. That old way of thinking—the pride, the self-reliance, the chasing after things that don’t satisfy—that’s no longer who we are. The spirit of the world deceives, distracts, and divides. But the Spirit of God reveals truth. He opens our eyes to see what God has freely given us in Christ: forgiveness, grace, peace, purpose, and eternal life. That’s why Paul says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

We also did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear (Romans 8:15). That spirit that kept us enslaved to sin, guilt, and religious striving—that’s been broken. We are no longer bound. We are no longer orphans. We are children of God, adopted by the Father, and the Holy Spirit is the witness within us, crying out, “Abba, Father!” He reminds us daily that we belong.

And while the world may follow after the spirit of error, we have the Spirit of truth (1John 4:6). The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. He doesn’t lie. He doesn’t confuse. He doesn’t mislead. He speaks what the Father speaks. He brings the words of Christ alive in us. He transforms our thinking and gives us wisdom from above.

Let us be discerning, because there are many voices in the world, and not every spirit is from God. Paul warned of “another spirit” that some might receive—a counterfeit, a deceiver (2 Corinthians 11:4). But the Holy Spirit is no counterfeit. He is real. He is personal. He is divine. He doesn’t flatter the flesh—He crucifies it. He doesn’t puff us up—He humbles us. And yet, in humbling us, He lifts us to heights we could never reach on our own.

When you are born again, you are not empty. You are not alone. You are not under the shadow of fear or confusion. You are filled—with the spirit of the living God! You are equipped. You are empowered. You are guided. You are loved. What a gift! What a God! Let us walk every day in the joy and confidence that we have received the Spirit of Christ—our Comforter, our Guide, our Helper, our Power from on high.

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

Kay Alli