Faith and Spirit

Faith is NOT positivity -> I believe my son will be healed, I believe the people will believe me one day, I believe I will be able to love that person one day, I believe I can overcome my failures one day.

Listen carefully – faith is NOT what will POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

Faith is firmly believing in the word of God [content of faith]

- because God said so, I believe

- because God said [I am your Lord your shepherd, you shall not be in want] – even though you have setbacks, you are in lack, God will surely satisfy you -> believing in this = faith [not going to have money => hoping]

- knowing God has chosen me before creation of the world è despite conditions and feeling lousy, firmly believing in this => seeing your condition in a different light, with God’s promise

The right faith gives you the right spirit.

And the WORD of GOD has to be the content of our faith.

1. The Right faith gives the Right Spirit

- the converse is also true

- the wrong/waivered faith gives rise to the confused/ambiguous spirit

1. Faith in Christ as the ONLY WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE

It means that denying everything in self, our feelings, and our sights.

Christ is the standard of blessings and favour.

When we have Christ, we have all. All our conditions are made perfect so that it can all glorify God.

When we have Christ, every pain, experiences, difficult people, difficult environment -> are not coincidence or UNLUCKY -> because God is purposeful in His leading

è He wants me to face God in all that we are doing

è He wants us to go through it with Him, so that you can give answers to others who will encounter these things in future

è He wants us to have this set of experience so that you know nothing in this world is worth your all but Christ as all, you already have everything

Many people have faith in Christ, but they don’t have this kind of spirit.

Without this spirit that look upon God and knowing His heartbeat [8 beatitudes], how is their positivity and passion going to bring real sense of change in their lives and others?

So we must be accurate and wholesome in our belief, not by feel, nor by sight but by Christ

What is Christ?

è identity -> God’s supremacy

è purpose

è Love

how faith grows?

è from the absoluteness of christ - the more you grow in it

è how much do you comprehend 'only Jesus' is the way the truth and the life

è often, our life -> we are always confused and made distorted in our faith => we do not have the 'only jesus' heart => we build our faith on the culture, the changing things

è Jesus is the rock -> CHRIST ONLY

è if you faith is march towards 'only jesus' -> then God is refining your faith

è if it isn't, then is it because you pray w/o focusing on God's will but on what you want to see, after knowing the perfect will, you cannot obey and see how God helps you along the way. => this is because the 'only Jesus' in you is not absolute

when do you know healing starts? -> it is when you see that God is all you need

2. Faith gives us a spirit to love and testify for the kingdom

- in another word, the right faith gives us a steadfast spirit upon the heartbeat of God

- love those God loves, testify in and out of season

- it is not about one having the fervour to preach or share on stage [works]

- despite us feeling lousy -> this will not reduce the accuracy nor absoluteness of the word of God

- because we are not testifying about what we can, but what God promised and what He can do through us; so whether you have testimony or not, whether you look like in favour or not, the right faith gives us the continued momentum to love those whom God loves, and protect those God put around us.

- Example

o Mother who has a child, she has her bad days also

o But taking care of the child was never a qn of feelings, but what she is called to be

o Imprint of motherhood in her > drives her to live on

- Not loving by feelings but by the real identity and belonging that is already given us in Christ

- Therefore Jesus said: Love each other as I have loved you

o An imprint of love in all people who believe in Christ genuinely

3. Faith gives us a spirit that seeks the HS convictions in all things we do

*Faith in God; not faith in something to happen

A person who truly put their faith in God will seek the Father’s will more than an ideal situation – good health, good job, successful studies

HS is given to us who truly believe in Christ -> to lead us in all things and remind us of what the Lord said. = spirit in us to want to seek Him

A spirit to truly seek the Lord is the spirit of Christianity -> driving motive of prayer

How do you know that your prayer is powerful? => you know who you are talking to, you are ready to listen to His voice

-> when you see God is working in your heart -> abide in the HS conviction, and be courageous in the grace of the Lord on the things bother you most => this is the start of healing - because you are in total depravation, powerlessness, sticking onto the word and live one word word, one conviction at a time.

2. The Spirit speaks to us infinitely, we need to learn to hear from Him. [do not ignore the HS conviction]

From the word of God, we know that, when Jesus ascended to heaven, He left us the Holy Spirit -> which is God, son and the Spirit in one.

What is the significance of this to you?

HS is here, whether you see him or not, but do you believe in its presence? Do you want to detect and see how it is at work within you using the word you received? For example, the word of God said – it is when you are weak that he is strong. In you situation when you are feeling totally defeated, or helpless, or lost at direction, do you want to seek the counsel in your heart because of the word of God – when you are weak I am strong?

The person with the right Faith will have the right spirit in him. And this spirit is with him all the time – as if Jesus is living in Him, interceding and talking to you.

So what is this spirit what we need to cultivate in us?

1. It is the spirit of sonship – that calls out to God as Abba Father

- Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

- 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.”

Have you read the story of the Prodigal son before? [Luke 15]

- the rich man had 2 sons. The younger son left the father and went on to lead his foolish living [in our terms – depart away from God, gratify our self desires thinking that’s the best, thinking that to work in the field is actually a pain, not worth it, when you can only live once [I have so much money, why dirty myself!]. when he was in extreme hunger à 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

I am not trying to tell you a touching story, but I just want to make you come to senses. Many times, we take it for granted that we need to be in blessed environment. But being in a blessed environment is the first step and first evidence of God is not giving up on you -> do you realize it?

To enjoy this blessing you need to listen like the prodigal son -> My Father has been waiting for me to go back to where I belong, where I call home, when I rest in sufficiency. What I thought was pain [working in the field] -> is actually ‘born in blessing’ -> but do you know the blessing?

Now, whenever we are not in obedience to God – our hearts know it. Because we fear that our disobedience enrages God, our disobedience leaves Satan a seep to attack us – and we are fearful that God will leave us and we cannot hear from Him anymore.

If anyone of you, have such fear, you are actually blessed – because you know that you cannot live without God. But why, turn your back against him? He says call Him ‘Father’ -> means what?

è when you want to be a servant [like the lost son] -> God actually gives you the ring and sandals and cut the calf to celebrate for you and feed you

è you thought that it is a reduction in blessing -> But God did not reduce the blessing -> this is how A FATHER LOVES HIS SON -> so he loves you still

è don’t use our poverty mindset to see God’s love

è understand God as father <> son love -> draw close to him even more when we are helpless or accused by the enemy

è rid ourselves of self dignity [I can be servant], self righteousness [I am not deserving of God’s grace and love for I am been disobedient], and self defensiveness

è pray until the right spirit comes to you

o a right spirit from the right faith -> faith grounded in the word of God -> generates in you a God embracing, God trusting, God revering spirit => spirit of sonship

o use your brokenness to come before God, as a son wanting to surrender to whatever the Father want to give unto him [like the prodigal son -> even though it means we are servant]

2. The spirit helps us in our weakness with moans and groans that words cannot express, and is in accordance to God’s will [Rn 8:26-28]

a. EVEN when we are unconscious about it, HS is still there giving us instruction

b. HS is always convicting us through what we have listened and understood about God – have you realized sometimes, you have a prayer topic after you have listened to something during the sermon?

c. How I know is – from listening to the book of revelation, when I realized that the end is near, I became more anxious in my heart -> I really want to pray for my family salvation.

d. We have to ask ourselves - have you neglected the HS conviction inside you? if you heed onto the voice, it will be stronger and stronger, you can be more sensitive to it

i. => this is relying on the spirit, relinquishing on your flesh [it is a spiritual nature we have to cultivate]

e. this wordless groans -> since it is wordless then how do we know? It is known through the transformed heart [born again – transformed in the inner being]

f. examples:

i. when we encounter danger -> feel peaceful – because we know God is telling us He will see us through, know that He is sovereign in the situation, and nothing will harm you unless God permits.

ii. If we are uncertain or fearful over certain outcomes [my results, whether we will remain single the rest of our lives, whether we will be lonely, whether our sickness will go away] à this uncertainty and fear is actually prompting us to pray and let go of certain of our ideals before Him [ eg my example of many sickness -> no wisdom/ intelligence in this world can beat the will of God -> the more you gain in your knowledge, the more Lord wants us to tear down the knowledge using the unknown – when you have the unknown then you will be meticulously seeking His voice, His leading; relinquish flesh, relying on the promise]

iii. When we hear some bad news about people, feeling very passionate about it -> this is something God feels very passionate about too -> God might be asking us to show more concern – eg Sanyi, Miki, Pastor’s resistance in Shanxi

g. There can be 1001 kind of moans and groans, yet it is inexpressible, but only known to one who has the word of God in his heart

h. Actually the more you receive the word of God, we have to notice that these moans and groans that generates in our everyday lives so that we know how HS is interceding for us, prompting us

i. Especially in our weakness, we tend to over focus on how we feel, our weaknesses

i. I am sobbing away in my bed, despite lying beside my sister

ii. I sob for my end of life, my parents sadness, the bills that are coming before me

iii. Yet this is the time the HS is interceding for us [I seek counsel from HJ]

iv. We need to closely turn to His prompting in our hearts more than dealing with our own feelings

v. When we hear Him right, we will feel right

vi. Let the word shape how we feel!

3. The Spirit promise us victory in all situations

- And the Bible says: In all these (trials and temptations), we are more than conquerors thru Him who loved us.

- Now, this is mentioned last week, but many a times, it has been so much reduced when we look at our own faults and inability.

- Dun think that u can determine yr own success. Rather, it is following God closely in what he is doing, with careful obediene, that gives us real victory. “In all these things”, now notice these are usually negative situation and trials that we fail to see the blessings and victory of it.

- We only think of having more, having success, having ideals, having no more trials and temptation, as love of God….Yet, Paul want us to see “right in these things” (even when the trials and weaknesses are not over yet), God want us to embrace and applaud God’s timely guidance, and see the love of God right there, in them.

- And that can only be possible when we are following God in careful obedience.

- Just as how Joshua, even when he failed in his battle in Ai, he seek the Lord, hear from him and do the right thing.

o Now, even in that trial itself is a victory, coz it creates a reverence for God and His holiness thru it.

o We have to learn to see trials and weaknesses with this kind of spirit, without which we’ll always waver.

o only when you focus and sensitive to the HS conviction can you have strength to obey God.

Lastly, having the right faith and the right spirit -> you cannot do it once, you need to go into it, pray about it again and again => Learn to start living with this kind of spirit repeatedly [test and approve à become spiritual nature], cultivate the right spirit

1. Do not be afraid of failures

a. God looks at the heart – the struggle, the pain; not the works [now you can spread gospel, not you are not weak and feel good]

b. The right faith is not one who can be successful rightaway à willing to keep trying and going in the right way [using the word of God]

c. By that we know that the person has put his trust in God à He will do it and can do it

d. Sometimes it can be so easy to afraid of failures

i. For example – I was just imagining our preacher HJ. For her to fall in love again, what if she fail again, and never be able to have a husband the rest of her life -> it is a scary thought for a girl too. But as she comes before God, and pray according to the word, nothing less, nothing more, and focus not on the outcome we desire, but on the word of God and see how God is interceding us at every moment of her life, to the point where she realized that she can don’t have a man, but she can never not have the God who loves her, comforts her in her life. It is God’s imprint in her life.

ii. Why do we often afraid of failures?

1. Sometimes, we are afraid what we share will not be able to give people answer

2. Sometimes, we are afraid that even after praying, our parents are still resistant to gospel, and far from salvation.

3. Sometimes we are afraid that we cannot be the salt in this world -> because we are easily attacked by the atmosphere in school and at work, we are afraid of others’ perception on us

iii. I pray about it, and would like to share with you some answers I receive

1. When you share God’s words, God’s words are the most powerful [stand alone], not you. you are just a vessel. And if God makes you share -> Phil 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

2. Why are we afraid that our prayers will not bring about the effect that we desire? It is because God wants us to not look at people’s expression and situations, look at Him alone and sensitive to God’s timetable -> equip and always ready to give the word

3. Sometimes we are afraid that we are not Christ like -> But God gives you the identity [the un-erasable identity] 1 Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light; He gave you hope in Him => Isa 40: 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

a. Did you realize that despite repeated failures -> You still come before God?

b. This alone, is the greatest evidence that your failure will not persist, continue to listen to the hs voice, obey Him, knowing He is Lord

2. Do not underestimate intercession of brethrens à open yourself to prayer

- a person living by the spirit will love the fellowship of the spirit

- do you now know why pastor always confide to his wife, preacher HJ and Elders like elder wg, and LW and many of us

- even pastor also confide in the brethrens

- this is true brethren living

- even as we come to EYF, don’t just come to attend a meeting, come here and know that God has prepared co-workers to run the heaven road with us in this life

- THE greatest change happen when we start to have real interaction with people who are similarly experiencing the spirit – even to open ourselves to prayer

- When I was having my r/s setbacks, that was few years back, it was so agonizing and I always just cried when the lights are off and really felt the hurt. But the spirit of God inside me didn’t allow me to remain like this, it led me to share it out with preacher HJ, and pastor

- They didn’t do much. They just listened. They understood the pain I am going through, and know that nothing man can do to ease the pain but God.

- And I realized one day I am no longer looking at the problem

o what they did is to give me the word

o even when I am sick of the word, they continued to pray for me

o when I am opened to the word, they confirmed with me for my eyes are opened

o and one day I realized that the problem is God’s way of leading me into His house all over again, to find my brethrens, people whom I can share the most trivial and greatest matter with

o so what if I fail, my brethrens will pray for me – for they have the same spirit. If they do not feel for me, Lord will have His timely leading in them

- therefore brothers and sisters, even when you go to forum sharing later, really share your prayer topics with others. The brethrens who really love you, intercede for you. and you don’t pick your co-workers, God give you the persons who can best co-work with you

- you think Paul go and pick Tychicus?

- No. God knew Paul needed Tychicus.

- Therefore, don’t underestimate the person you see in church meetings – they are people whom God has meticulously put beside us, value souls -> God will teach you how to love others, and find your co-workers

3. Start sharing your faith

a. Not by how well we do it, but because it is the truth

b. Everytime we relate a real testimony in our lives, or tell others how real jesus is in our lives, the HS truly works powerfully

c. You may not realize -> when someone heard you once, he might not yet believe, but when he met with struggles and problems in his life – the HS will remind him of what you have said to him.

d. And this is God who works, so we just need to walk in sync with Him