The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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THE GIFT OF FAITH (I Cor. 12:9; 13:2)
Purpose: Enabling
Description: The capacity to see a need and to believe God to meet it. The ability to see
something that God wants done and to believe that God will do it even though it looks
impossible. Unusual trust and confidence in the presence and power of God.
Though faith is necessary to even become a Christian, this is a special gift of faith.
This special gift of faith “is displayed impressively in an observable way, that is, resulting in
healings and other miracles. Gifts of healings and miracles immediately follow faith in this
list.” 34
Paul referred to this gift as “a faith that can move mountains” (Mt. 17:20; 21:21; I Co. 13:2).
Chrysostom, a 4th century theologian, described this gift as “faith not of dogmas, but of
‘signs.’”
“The gift of faith was displayed in works rather than in words.” 35
“Though all logic seems stacked against some course of action, this faith makes
decisions which seem senseless, then sees them through despite overriding
objections and massive roadblocks. This gift sees the will of God accomplished
despite all natural resistance. Specializing in the impossible—’rivers that are
uncrossable and mountains you can’t tunnel through’—the gift of faith “laughs at
impossibilities and cries, ‘It shall be done.’” 36
“The gift of faith goes beyond envisioning something that God wants done. It believes
that it will be realized despite its unlikeliness, then launches out to accomplish the
project in God’s name.” 37
Through faith, the potential becomes the actual, giving substance to William Carey’s motto,
“Attempt great things for God--expect great things from God.“ 38
Examples
Acts 27:25 Paul tells the men who sailed with him from Crete that God would rescue them
all by an angel in the midst of shipwreck.