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THE HOLY SPIRIT Study No.14.
XIV. The gift of faith.
A. DEFINITION. the "gift of faith" is the God given ability
to believe Him for the impossible in a particular situation.
It is not so much the general faith which believes God for
provision, etc., but goes a step beyond, where one "just
knows" that a particular thing is the will of God and is going
to happen.
Again, we should point out the supernatural character of all
these gifts. Through them, the Holy Spirit manifests and
makes Himself visible or evident by His won activity.
This gift is specifically mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9, is
referred to in 1 Corinthians 13:2, and may be included in the
though of 1 Corinthians 13:13. Besides these references, the
gift of faith is illustrated and seen in its outworking and
operation throughout the Gospels and Acts.
B. What three kinds of faith are revealed in Scripture?
Any statement found in the Bible about, or characteristic of,
faith falls into one of three categories:
1. Saving Faith - John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8;
etc.
This is that initial faith response to God which brings
one into the Kingdom of God. In theology, it is often
called "prevenient grace" It is God's enabling a person
to accept and believe in Him.
God's means of saving us was G R A C E ; our means of
accepting it is F A I T H , or a "receiving response" to
His grace. We not only have a "faith grip" on Him, but
He has a "grace grip" on us.
--Ephesians 2:8 "for by grace ye are saved through faith:
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
The word "through" is very significant here. It is the
Greek word "DIA" and denotes the "channel of an act." It
is a connecting thought, as water goes from one body to
another "through" a channel. It speaks of a medium or
route by which God's grace is transmitted to us.
2. Faith as a "fruit of the Spirit" - Galatians 5:22;
Acts 6:5; 11:24; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Colossians
2:5; etc.
This speaks of faith as an attribute within the
character and personality of the believer. Paul
shows this as a developing factor in the life of
believers. In Romans 1:1,7, he uses the phrase
"from faith to faith", or as the Amplified puts it,
"springing from faith and leading to faith on
disclosed through the way of faith that arouses
more faith", Weymouth translates it, "depending on
faith and tending to produce faith," So
righteousness is received by faith, and after it is
received, it produce faith." So righteousness is
received by faith, and after it is received, it
produces more faith in our lives, and we go on to
"live by faith".
As we look at this general aspect of faith, we see
that it can either be wavering (James 1:6), or
string (Romans 4:2-0), ar it may be anywhere in
between. The Scripture speaks about weak faith
(Matt 6:30; 16:8), temporary faith (Luke 8:13),
unfeigned faith (1 Timothy 1: 5; 2 Timothy 1:5),
great faith (Matthew 8:10), unwavering faith
(Hebrews 10:23; 11:6).
It should also be understood that faith, just as
love, cannot stand alone. It is always connected
with other virtues and qualities, such as patience
(James 1:3;_2 Timothy 1:4; Hebrews 6:12), love (l
Thessalonians 5:8; l Corinthian-13:13), hope (l
Corinthian 13:13) power(2 Thessalonians 1:11), good
works (2 Thessalonians 1:3 ), clear conscience (i
Timothy 1:5), doctrinal soundness (Titus 1:13;
2:2), virtue (2 Peter 1:5), knowledge (2 Peter
1:6), importunity -(Luke 11:5-10), joy (James
1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:6-8); good confession (Romans
10:9-10; Colossians 3:16-17).
3. The "gift of faith" - 1 Corinthians 12:9; 13:2; Romans
12:6.
We suggest that this gift involves two general levels:
1) faith to function in individual ministries as is
mentioned in Romans 12:3-8 and
2) faith for specific miracles or acts which God would
perform in given circumstances. (1 Corinthians 12:9)
C. The Gift of Faith Illustrated:
In the life of Christ - Matthew 8:1-3 - Jesus did not display
any shade of doubt concerning the healing of this leper. The
words Jesus spoke to him as He touched him were, "I will, be
thou clean."
-- John 11:11 - Jesus knew that He was going to a dead man.
Lazarus had already died, but Jesus said He would "wake him
out of sleep."
--John 9:17 - Jesus knew that this man, who had been blind
from birth, was going to be healed so that the works of God
might be made manifest absolute faith in an act which had not
yet happened.
To these could be added a multitude of examples form the life
of Christ. His life was literally filled with the
manifestation of absolute faith.
In the lives of the Apostles-
--Acts 3:17 - Peter proclaimed this man's healing with
unflinching and-unwavering faith, then took him by the hand
and lifted him to his feet.
--Acts 5:1-10 - Peter fearlessly tells both Ananias and
Sapphira what God is about to do to the.
--Acts 13:8-11 - Paul received divinely imparted faith to know
what was to happen to Elymas the sorcerer. Immediately after
he spoke, Elymas was smitten blind.
--Acts 16:16-18 - Paul took absolute authority over evil
spirit in this young woman and commanded it to come out. It
came out "the same hour".
--Acts 20:7-12 - A young man of Troas fell from the third
story and was taken up dead. Paul went through a procedure
similar to that used by Elijah and prayed for the boy. He
then told the people not to be troubled, the boy would live.
--Acts 27:21-15 - Paul gave a word of faith to the crew in a
storm-tossed ship, assuring them that none would perish.
D. What key factor recurs over and over in the gift of faith?
The gift of faith rests on knowing the will of God. This may
come by special revelation such as dreams, visions, etc: it
may come by the inner voice of the Spirit; or by the written
Word of God, quickened for specific direction. It operates on
the same principle as all faith: "Faith cometh by hearing and
hearing the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) The sure knowledge of
His will produces absolute faith: This is the confidence we
have in Him. that if we ask anything according of His will, He
heareth us." (l John 5:14)
The gift of faith is dependent on the gift of knowledge. They
are mingled inseparably. When God reveals certain facts
concerning His will in a circumstance, one "just knows" it
will happen. This is an irresistible, unshakeable faith. He
then acts accordingly. It may be for the working of miracles,
meeting physical or financial needs, healings, reconciliation
of family relationships, etc. It may involve a broad spectrum
of things.
Notice this principle in the "faith chapter" of Hebrews 11:
--VS.7. - Noah acted in faith at the word of God concerning
the flood.
--vs.8. - Abraham's going out was on the basis of God's word
to him.
--vs.11. - Sarah believed she could bear a child because of
the word spoken to her by the Lord.
-- vs.30. - Israel compassed the walls of Jericho by faith
because of the revealed will of God.
We should note that the gift of faith often operates in
connection with the gifts of miracles and healings.
It nearly always involves a word of knowledge and possibly
even a word of wisdom and discerning of spirit. It may also
involve prophecy.