27.Mar.2008 Catching the Spirit of Faith
II Timothy 1:5 – Timothy was one of Paul’s most beloved disciples. This passage is about as emotional as we see him get. He is writing to one of his sons in the faith. “I know that you sincerely trust the Lord, for you have the faith of your mother and your grandmother.”
Towards the end of his life, Paul starts talking more not just about faith but of the spirit of faith. When you start talking about the spirit of something, you are talking about something someone has on them and something you can catch from them and pass on to others. There is your faith, and then there is the spirit of someone else’s faith. When Paul was raising up leaders, he talked a lot about catching his spirit and his faith.
v13 “Hold on to the pattern of right teaching you have learned from me.” In Corinthians he tells his disciples to catch his spirit and copy what he did in his ministry. In our individualistic society, you are almost looked down upon if you are willing to follow or learn from someone – to serve someone. The kingdom of God has nothing to do with independence. In the kingdom, you can’t do anything by yourself. You weren’t designed to do anything by yourself in God’s kingdom. If you think you can do what you are supposed to do by yourself, you have missed the whole premise.
Paul tells Timothy “pattern your life after mine. Catch my spirit of faith. I want my faith to be your faith.” This requires humility. This requires understanding that you don’t know everything and don’t have all the answers, which is a kingdom thought. “Remember to live in the faith and the love that you have in Jesus Christ. You have a faith and a strength, and with the help of the Holy Spirit guard that which has been placed in your heart.”
v6 – “This is why I remind you to fan the flames of the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” The kingdom of God is all about transfer from one to another. The spirit of faith is flowing from one to the next. In the same way a bad spirit can make a whole group or church go sour. When you catch the spirit of something, positive or negative, it is going to travel. Catch the spirit – get on board. Choose not to carry a negative spirit. Choose to forgive and let go. Choose to trust God and not get hung up on circumstances. Carrying a negative spirit holds you back from the destiny and the plans and the blessing God has form you.
Catch the spirit. Do it on purpose. Catch it and run with it whether it makes sense or not. Give it all you have. This is what happens when you don’t catch it: v15: “As you know, all of the Christians that followed me from Asia have deserted me!” These guys caught a different spirit – when the going got tough following Paul, the turned and fled. But then Paul went on to praise the ones who stuck with him and encouraged him. Those he imparted into and who believed in him and supported him. Some made it, some didn’t. But that is why we fight for people. Never give up on believing in people. God gave us the spirit of faith and encouragement to pass onto others.
