The Spirit of Faith

The Spirit of Faith

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” Gen. 1:1-3.

As we can see, God was the first one who spoke in the Spirit of faith! As far as we know, this was the first work He did. “Let there be light”! He has also spoken to us in that same Spirit of faith. “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6. This gives us who believe in Him tremendous hope that His creative powers will do a saving work of monumental proportions in our inner man. Since it was God Himself who commanded light to shine out of darkness, we realize that salvation does not depend on our abilities or our resources as natural human beings. He knows that nothing good dwells in our flesh (Rom. 7:18), and He also knows that “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Rom. 8:7-8. Though mankind has been in the midst of this darkness and impotence since the Fall, God has nevertheless commanded light to shine in this darkness. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” 2 Cor. 4:7-10.

Just think of the power that was revealed by the life Paul lived! You can have a share in precisely the same power and the same abundant life! The gospel does not set any limits to what we can obtain of what dwells in God. For this to become reality in each person’s life we need the death of Christ, which is a mighty instrument against all the passions and desires in our flesh that want to obstruct this work of salvation.

Therefore Paul continues to write precisely about this mystery: “. . . always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. But since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” 2 Cor. 4:10-15.

When we think of the possibilities for those who have entered the new covenant, there is reason to examine and prove ourselves whether we are in the faith. 2 Cor. 13:5. The fire of faith should burn vigorously in our hearts, we who have received a heavenly calling. Think of the promises God has given you! Read God’s Word! Let your heart be set aflame at the thought of the glorious future God has in store for you! Behold your heavenly inheritance among the saints, both now and in all eternity!

What is written in the old covenant is written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Rom. 15:4. David stepped out in faith toward God in the days when Goliath mocked God’s army. When he came to the camp he asked the men who stood by him: “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Sam. 17:26. “And it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption in Israel.” V. 25. David was a poor shepherd. His father Jesse was old and weak; he had eight sons, but he didn’t have much of an inheritance to divide among them. David’s heart burned for God and God’s glory. He knew that it was a shame that no one had faith in God and step forward in the name of the Lord and stop this giant who mocked Israel. Through this Spirit of faith he entered into God’s work and gained an eternal name for himself with God. He secured a future for himself for time and eternity. He came forward in the Spirit and power of faith, only armed with his sling and the weapons in his shepherd’s’ pouch. The “unbelievable” thing about all this is that the stone he threw hit Goliath precisely in his forehead!

Now it is our turn! We also have our weapons—our spiritual weapons—in our “shepherd’s pouch.” Each “stone”—each word of God—that is hurled out in the Spirit of faith hits the target precisely where it is supposed to hit it. The Spirit of faith has always been the trademark of the saints. By that Spirit the saints have obtained tremendous things. By faith Moses forsook Egypt, “not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.” Heb. 11:27-35.

We only have a future in fellowship with God. Everything else will one day turn to ashes. If you want to gain a future in God’s kingdom, you must enter into the same Spirit of faith and be on fire as David was. Let your heart be ignited by God’s kingdom, and fight for God’s glory. Then you will also experience that the Lord will fight for you. Therefore it is important for us who live in the end times to be filled with the same Spirit of faith. By this Spirit we drive away darkness, unbelief, and doubt, and we will experience that God will abundantly bless our works. Then we will become energetic and decisive.

We are in dire need of such men and women of faith now in the end times—brothers and sisters who put their confidence in God and are willing to be filled by the Holy Sprit. They will be the vanguard in the battle that is being fought to lead the church to the point where Christ can present it to Himself in glory, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5:27.