“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God.” ROMANS 8:16
In this verse we see the dynamic that takes place in the mingled spirit. In verse 15 when we cry with our spirit of sonship, “Abba, Father,” then in verse 16, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” What did our spirit do that causes the Spirit Himself to witness with our spirit? In other words, what is the factor that causes the Spirit of God to respond? The answer is in verse 15 — it is our crying “Abba, Father” that causes the Spirit of God to respond and testify in us. In our religious mentality, we usually read these verses the opposite way. Our thought is that the Holy Spirit takes the initiative and does the crying, and then our spirit bears witness with His Spirit. But it is just the reverse — the Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit. To cry “Abba, Father” is to take the initiative to exercise Christ in our spirit.
Based upon this principle of the mingling of the two spirits, the church becomes the fullness of Christ. For example, when we come to the meetings of the church, we come exercising our spirit with Christ. When we do this, the meetings are brought into the realm of the reality of Christ. We do not wait for an inspiration or for someone to make the meeting happen. The meeting is not a spectator event like entertainment or sports. Nor is the meeting an impersonal program being carried out. No. The meeting is the mingling of the two spirits crying “Abba, Father.” This mingling, through the exercise of our spirit, causes the meeting to release Christ. When we pray, fellowship, speak, sing, and open up to each other as members of the Body of Christ, the dynamic of the two spirits is felt — His Spirit witnesses with our cooperating spirit.