Spirit of Faith

Introduction

The Apostle Paul, moved by the Holy Spirit as he wrote to the church at Corinth, encouraged them with the following passage:

"We having the same spirit of faith , according as it is written, 'I believed and therefore have I spoken'; we also believe and therefore speak." — 2 Corinthians 4:13

To what is Paul referring when he wrote spirit of faith? He was referring to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, the omnipresent God with us in the present world. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and the only right cure for it - faith in Jesus Christ (John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 12:3). On sincere confession of faith, believers are given the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 10:9-10), with two over-arching purposes.

To Mark with the Father's Seal

The moment you heard the Word of Truth and believed, a spiritual transaction occurred: you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). This seal is the "Spirit of Faith" entering your heart.

To Empower for a Life of Godliness

Once our journey of faith begins, it does not proceed based on our effort alone, it proceeds at under the direction and power of an indescribable gift; the indwelling Holy Spirit. In the Gospel of John (14:15-17), Jesus introduces us to the Comforter(Greek Parakletos) — the one called alongside to help. He is not a temporary visitor; He is the Spirit of Truth who abides with us forever.

Spirit Compels Testimony

In addition to marking the believer with the seal of salvation, and indwelling the believer as a helper, the Bible tells us much more about the dimensions in which the Holy Spirit will work in our lives. Let's look at the verse from Paul's letter to Corinth again, with emphasis on the second half of the instruction:

"We having the same spirit of faith , according as it is written, 'I believed and therefore have I spoken'; we also believe and therefore speak." — 2 Corinthians 4:13

Just prior to this passage, we find that Paul is explaining great trials and persecution due to the gospel. He explains in the present verse that the Holy Spirit not only dwells in them that believe, it also compels them to speak, to share the love of God through Jesus Christ. The compulsion to speak in this message is captured in the words of Reform commentator Matthew Poole as follows:

"We are partakers of the same faith, and are acted on by the same Spirit: and as David's spirit guided him to a profession of his faith, and speaking what he believed; so we also speak, and must speak, according to what we believe" -Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To see more what we must speak, we can look at dimensions of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit for each, and the testimony we are compelled to share.

Dimensions of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit of Truth

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would dwell in them once He ascended into heaven:

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." - John 14:16-17

We see in the above verse the beautiful reality that the Spirit will guide believers into"all truth". The Spirit of Faith replaces human searching and seeking with divine revelation through the Holy Spirit. Under this dimension, the Comforter acts as our Internal Validator.

• The Anointing: The anointing of the Holy Spirit abides in you so that you do not need a human teacher as your ultimate source; the Spirit Himself validates the Word in your heart. Of course, believers must keep in mind the authority of God's revealed will, submitting to the authority of Scripture, elders and those in authority.

  "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth" 1 John 2:27

• Spiritual Language: The believer's spiritual language begins with the Bible, which we have because"holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). We can only understand the Bible with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

  "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

• The Gifts: This manifests through the Word of wisdom and the word of knowledge, allowing us to see and speak with God’s perspective. Through prayer and reflection, God can and does answer prayers for wisdom and knowledge. When such prayers are answered, they should be shared in love with all those affected.

  "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit" 1 Corinthians 12:8

The Spirit of Adoption (Identity and Connection)

The Holy Spirit gives life and is the source of the believer's new Identity as a son of God (John 1:12; 3:3-36; 6:63). Born again believers can actually hear the testimony from the Holy Spirit to their spirit that they are children of God.

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" Romans 8:15-16

Identity: Faith redefines who you are. When you are born again, your body, soul and spirit are all brand new on the inside (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are now rulers in the present world (1 Peter 2:5-9; Revelation 1:6).

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17

• Connection: The Spirit of Adoption causes us to cry out to God, "Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:15-16). The Holy Spirit also offers the means for effectual prayer - knowing at all times what we should pray for and interceding in prayers according to God's will:

  "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" Romans 8:26-27

• The Gifts: The intimate family relationship with God, as Father and indwelling Spirit, makes the flow of communication more meaningful and impactful. Through the gift of tongues and interpretation the believer is edified, and the gift of prophecy builds up the church.

  "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church" 1 Corinthians 14:4

The Spirit of Power and Love

In his instructions to Timothy the pastor, Apostle Paul suggested that the Holy Spirit provides the believer a path away from fear and filled with power and love: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7). This works its way out in the life of believers in remarkable ways.

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" Mark 16:17-18

• Demonstrated by Power: The word power (Greek dunamis), defined as miraculous power or supernatural strength, appears 120 times in the New Testament, often referring to God's power acting through believers. Jesus promised that power would come to believers when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and by God's power believers today are empowered to miraculous works through the Holy Spirit. The purpose of these powers must always be kept in mind - they are powerful testimonies to the reality of the Gospel.

  "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

• Spreading the Gospel: The Gospel of Jesus Christ was never meant to be preached in word only. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). As we preach the Gospel, we must stand ready to pray for, lay hands on, rebuke and cast out, all in the name of Jesus to the glory of God.

  "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost" 1 Thessalonians 1:5

• Compelled by Love: In the fruits of the Holy Spirit we find that love is the first element of the list (Galatians 5:22). In koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, often times the first item in a list is foundational and all others proceed from the first. From love proceeds joy, peace and so much more:

  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

• Defined by Love: As we come to know the love that God poured out for us on the cross, we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Knowing that God is no respecter of persons, and all humankind is made in His image, we have love for one another.

  "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God" 1 John 4:7

• The Gifts: This is the staging ground for Gifts of Healings, Working of Miracles, and Special Faith. And, when it comes to using our power gifts, the Spirit reminds us to always use our gifts with love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

The Spirit of Sanctification

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24, Romans 8:13

The Spirit of Faith is also a refining fire, molding our new creature in Christ through our hearts and conscience. We are called to submit to the Spirit's lead in this process. Notice that Paul starts his encouragement to sanctification here with listening to the Spirit within.

"Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Thessalonians 5:19-23

• Through Mortification: As part of coming to faith, we are called to put to death our old life (Romans 6:1-5; Galatians 2:20, 5:24). Just as we were powerless to find salvation by our own efforts, the ongoing process of putting our old ways to death is a work performed only with the Holy Spirit.

  "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" Romans 8:13

• The Testimony: The transformed life of every believer is their personal testimony. The Apostle Paul, once a great persecutor of the church, referred to himself as "worst of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15). There is nothing more powerful than giving God the glory for the changes in your life after becoming a child of God. Notice how Paul tells the Corinthians"such were some of you" in the following passage, and wraps it up praising God in the name of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit:

  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

• The Gift: This process is aided by the Discerning of Spirits, Miracles, and Special Faith, allowing us to perceive what is holy. Sometimes sanctification requires that we call on higher forces, praying for miracles and faith, to be delivered from strongholds.

The Closing: The Importance of Speaking Faithfully

We circle back to 2 Corinthians 4:13. The Spirit of Faith is not a silent deposit; it is an echoing voice. We hear the Holy Spirit's guidance from within - whether a still small voice or at times a thundering call.

If the Spirit of Truth has revealed a promise, if the Spirit of Adoption has confirmed your sonship, if the Spirit of Power has stirred your heart, and the Spirit of Mortification has cleared your path—then you have a mandate. We do not speak to convince God to act; we speak because we believe He already has.

Since we have this same Spirit of Faith, let us believe, and therefore, let us speak.