The people in the world live in hopelessness because they do not know God neither are they familiar with the covenant of God. We enter into a covenant relationship with God the moment we accept Christ as our Savior. We have a living hope and worship a living God. Therefore, the way we deal with suffering in regard to our outlook and the patience shown in the whole process should be very different from the people of the world.
It is the spirit of faith that sets us apart from everyone else who might be going through similar difficulties. The reference to the spirit is not talking about the Holy Spirit, but something that refers to an attitude or an exceptional faith in God to believe that all things are possible with Him. It is similar to a “can do” spirit but it is anchored in the abilities of God and therefore it is phrased as “the spirit of faith”.
How do we position ourselves sufficiently in faith as we go through the tribulations? We should develop our faith in God and His word long before any kind of tribulation hits us. Once the tribulation comes to our doorstep, we should engage the faith without a shadow of doubt to believe that God will see us through it.
We will speak very differently when we are in faith.
Numbers 14:24(NKJV) But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
We have read about how Caleb along with Joshua were the two spies out of the twelve who came back with good reports regarding the Promised Land. The rest of the spies concentrated on the giants in the land saw themselves as grasshoppers compared with those giants. They were already defeated even before the fight began. They were speaking out of their concerns, fears and also the convictions that they would fail! Likewise, Caleb and Joshua were also speaking out of their convictions, but they were speaking in faith! They were speaking about how BIG God is. Each had their own response based on the convictions of their hearts, which couldn’t be hidden or contained because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak!
Numbers 13:30(NKJV) Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
Caleb wasn’t speaking out of pride but a deep conviction that God is well able to perform what He had promised. He was convinced that God was able to deliver the enemies into their hands. It was the spirit of faith speaking despite the impossible situation. It really depends on how one views God. If God is viewed and known as omnipotent, Almighty, El Shaddai and a covenant-keeping God then the answer or the conviction spoken from the heart will be very different. It also has to do with our experience and walk with God. And how much we know and trust Him as we walk with Him. Daniel 11:32 says that those who know their God will carry out great exploits.
Sermon Series: I Believe Therefore I Speak
信心的灵
歌林多后书4:13 但我们既有信心，正如经上记着说：“我因信，所以如此说话。”我们也信，所以也说话。
世人活在绝望中，因为他们不认识上帝，也不晓得上帝的约。在我们接受基督为我们的救主的那一刻，便与上帝立了约。我们有一个活泼的希望，崇拜一个活着的上帝。因此，我们按照自己的人生观应对苦难的方式，以及在这过程中所表现出的坚忍，就会与世人迥然不同。
信心的灵使我们有别于其他遭遇类似困境之人。这里所说的灵指的不是圣灵，而是指对上帝的一种态度或对上帝的超乎寻常的信心，相信在神凡事都能。它类似于“可以办到”的精神，但它锚定于上帝的能力，因此被表述为“信心的灵”。
在经历磨难时，我们如何在信心上充分定位自己？我们应该在遭受任何苦难之前就早早培养对上帝和祂圣言的信心。一旦苦难到了家门口，我们就应该毫不犹豫地握紧信心，相信上帝会看顾我们安然度过。
当我们坚守信念时，我们的口将说出不一样的言语
民数记14:24 惟独我的仆人迦勒，因他另有一个心志，专一跟从我，我就把他领进他所去过的那地；他的后裔也必得那地为业。
我们已经读过迦勒和约书亚的故事，十二个探子中唯有他们两个带回了关于迦南地的正面报告。其他的探子们都只提及那地巨人之高大，认为自己与之相比简直如同蚱蜢。尚未开战，他们就已落败。他们说出的是内心的忧虑、惧怕并且深信自己必败无疑！而迦勒与约书亚同样说出了心中的信念，但他们是凭着信心说的！他们说的是上帝之强大. 每个人都基于内心的信念而做出各自的回应，这是无法掩盖或遏制的，因为心里充满的，口里就说出来！
民数记13:30 迦勒在摩西面前安抚百姓说：“我们立刻上去得那地吧！我们足能得胜。”
迦勒的讲话并不是出于骄傲，而是深信上帝完全能够履行他的应许。 他坚信上帝能够将仇敌交到他们手中。 尽管周遭的情况看似不可能，这却是信心的灵在说话。 这实在取决于一个人如何看待上帝。 如果上帝被认为是有无限能力的，全能的，El Shaddai（我的神）和守约的上帝，那么从内心说出的回答或信念将大不相同。 这也与我们的对上帝的体验和与上帝的同行有关。 当我们与他同行时，我们对他的了解和信任有多少。 但以理书11:32说，惟独认识神的子民必刚强行事。
讲章系列：我因信，所以如此说话