As we continue our look at the Fruit of the Spirit, the next that we’ll talk about is faith. I know that in many translations of the Bible, they call it faithfulness. But the actual Greek word used in Galatians 5:22 is faith.
Before we continue, there’s something that we need to understand. There are two types of faith. The first is a mental assent. That’s where I hear a statement and decide to believe it. That kind of faith is resident in my mind.
This mind-faith is not the fruit of faith talked about in Galatians. That faith-fruit is produced in us by the Holy Spirit. It’s cultivated by time spent in the presence of the Lord. This is what I’m posting about today.
This kind of faith goes beyond my understanding. That’s because it didn’t start with me.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
If Christ is the Author, then I can’t take can’t credit for it. That’s especially true if this is perfect faith. I only know half the story, so my mind can only believe what I see and understand. I need a faith that doesn’t rest on what’s visible. That’s the perfect faith given by the Spirit.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
This verse tells us exactly how we receive this faith. Unfortunately, our modern “Christianese” church language veils the truth. This verse is NOT talking about simply reading the Bible and getting faith from it.
According to the Greek text of this verse, faith comes through the hearing of rhema. The word, rhema, is used in Scripture to describe the spoken word of God. It’s a Word that we hear directly from the Holy Spirit. (For a detailed teaching on this, click here.)
The only way to receive the fruit of faith is through the spirit. I need to spend time with Him, listening to the voice of the Spirit speaking to my spirit. That’s how this faith is transferred from Christ to me.
Unfortunately, many of the Bible translators don’t understand this either. They have a hard time handing verses where this process is described.
Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Galatians 3:5
In this verse, the phrase because you believed what you heard; is literally because of the hearing of faith. The fruit of faith is heard in the spirit. It’s also the faith needed to see a manifestation of the miraculous.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit…
Jude 20, NKJV
The Apostle Jude understood this fact. He knew that our most holy faith – the faith resident in our spirit – was only built up by prayer in the spirit. That time spent in God’s presence is where perfect faith resides. Through prayer in the spirit, we can make the transfer of faith from the Lord to us.
Don’t rely merely on your own, imperfect, human understanding. Let the Spirit of Faith impart His fruit into your life. It will change how you look at the world.
Question: What was a recent time that you saw God’s faith operating through you?
© Nick Zaccardi 2017
The Spirit and the Word 