Daily Bread - 06/06/07
2 Corinthians 4:13 - But we have the same Spirit of faith according to the scripture, I believed so I have spoken, we also believe and so we speak.
There are many who consider the "spirit of faith" as the attitude of the spirit of man. Yet it is more in keeping with the scripture as well as the context that Paul was not referring to the attitude of man regarding faith but to the Holy Spirit who is the one who creates faith (Romans 10:6-10; 1 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 3:2, 5, 14; 5:5; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7). Matthew Henry says in his commentary regarding this verse, "faith which is the operation of the Spirit."
Paul, like the Psalmist, is faced with death and affliction yet because of the Spirit of faith he, like the Psalmist, was inspired to testify of the glory and power of God that rested upon him. Paul makes it clear that for the Word of God to work it must be spoken, "for with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). When Paul speaks the word of faith by the Spirit he is doing so out of the treasure that was placed in his earthen vessel (mortal body- 2 Corinthians 4:7). He goes on to further describe the treasure as the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is out of this treasure that the power of God brings forth the Spirit of faith. The Holy Spirit has placed the word of faith in our hearts and upon our lips so that we may declare the wonderful works of God and become the beneficiaries of all the blessings that He has poured out (Romans 10:8; Ephesians 6:17, 1 John 2:27; Hebrews 8:10-11; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ephesians 1:3).
The same Spirit of faith that prophesied through the Psalmist of old was speaking through Paul (Acts 1:17; 1 Peter 1:11). Today, we have the same Spirit of faith inspiring us and impressing us to proclaim the Word of the Lord. When the Spirit of faith speaks then the promises of God are received and the riches of God are revealed (Hebrews 6:12; Mark 11:23; John 7:38-39).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
About Me
- Carol L
- San Diego area, California, United States
- I started this blog back in 2005, but in 2006 began dedicating it solely for the purpose of posting email messages called, Daily Bread, sent out Monday through Saturday by my pastor, Mark Spitsbergen. These daily emails contain fresh revelation that Mark gets from the Word of God by the Holy Spirit for that day for the church that God has called him to pastor, Abiding Place. 1 Peter 4:11 says, "If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God gives that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (John 14:6), and He says, "The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are Life." (John 6:63). For the Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).
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