How the Spirit Empowers Us to Pray

Romans 8:14-17 ESV
For all who have lead by the Spirit of God are 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 whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ . . .

1st The Spirit Replaces Fear with Freedom

Romans 8:15a ESV
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons . . .

Romans 8:15a MSG
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant . . .

2nd The Spirit Produces Intimacy with the Father

Romans 8:15-16a ESV
You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God . . .

F.F. Bruce, New Testament Scholar
"The term "adoption" may have a somewhat artificial sound in our ears; but in the Roman world world of the first century AS an adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his name and inherit his estate; he was no . . . inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary course of nature, and might well enjoy the father's affection more fully and reproduce the father's character more worthily."