The Life of Faith (Pt. 17) - The Spirit of Faith
In this final message of our four-month series, we’re reminded that faith isn’t just for crisis—it’s a daily lifestyle. Based on 2 Corinthians 4:13–16, we explored the spirit of faith—a mindset shaped by consistent trust in God.
This kind of faith isn’t event-based or reactive. It’s cultivated through intentionality, Scripture, and prayer until it becomes second nature. As Scripture says, “I believed, and therefore I spoke”—our words and actions reveal our true beliefs.
Faith also grows progressively. Like David facing Goliath, we draw confidence from past victories as God leads us from glory to glory. The life of faith is a daily, unwavering dependence on Him. Here’s how a life with a spirit of faith operates:
1. Captures and Cancels Errant Thoughts
Like a spiritual Iron Dome, it instantly intercepts thoughts that contradict God's Word. Our hearts are soil, and both truth and lies can take root there. If left unchecked, wrong thoughts grow rapidly into beliefs. The spirit of faith discerns these intrusions and immediately confronts them with truth. We are not to let doubt linger; instead, we must speak God’s Word to cancel it. Faith doesn’t allow space for spiritual passivity. It is alert, responsive, and grounded in Scripture.
2. Eliminates Fear and Anxiety
The spirit of faith produces supernatural peace. Like Jesus sleeping in a storm-tossed boat, we learn that faith does not require perfect conditions to rest. True faith trusts God in the storm, not just after it’s passed. This faith gives us the ability to remain calm when others panic, knowing that God is in control. It doesn’t deny problems but disarms their power to shake us. We sleep, rest, and move forward with peace because faith assures us that God is working all things together for good.
3. It Sees Differently
Faith is a spiritual lens that transforms how we view the world. It doesn’t ignore reality but interprets it through the promises of God. Where others see giants and impossibilities, faith sees opportunities and divine intervention. This was the difference between the ten spies who feared and the two who believed. The spirit of faith causes us to declare, “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain.”
4. It is Contagious
When we carry the spirit of faith, it impacts those around us. We become a source of inspiration, lifting others through our confidence in God. Our lives become testimonies of what God can do. Faith-filled people shift atmospheres. They are not pessimists or even just realists—they are believers who acknowledge facts but choose to live by truth. Their presence encourages others to trust God more deeply.
5. It is Joyful
Another hallmark of the spirit of faith is enduring joy. This joy is not rooted in circumstances but in the certainty of God’s goodness. Whether the bank account is full or empty, whether outcomes are clear or uncertain, we have a song in our spirit. Faith sustains a joyful outlook because we trust God’s sovereignty. This joy is both strength and witness, showing others that our peace and gladness come from a deeper source.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the spirit of faith must become our daily culture. It is who we are, not what we perform. It shapes our reflexes, instincts, and expectations. We don’t wait for crisis to activate faith; we live it constantly. Like Daniel, whose excellent spirit distinguished him in Babylon, we too are called to be known for unwavering faith. This is how we manifest the glory of God—not in occasional moments but in every aspect of life. Let us be a people marked by this spirit—resilient, joyful, and unwavering in belief.