The Gift of Faith

.... The last spiritual gift in our series from 1 Corinthians is simply referred to as ‘faith’. We have discussed faith in a previous module, and it is really very simple: God has spoken to man, and man has responded by believing God – and if necessary, by stepping out on that belief. The Bible tells us that God has granted to each of us a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Yet in referring to the spititual gift, Paul seems to be speaking of something more.

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.... The obvious intention of faith, as a spiritual gift, is that it will carry us much further than the average level of faith would be able to. This extraordinary ability speaks of extraordinary need, but it is not necessarily because the Lord has called us to some miraculous undertaking. For even our average level of faith would be enough for that:

.... "So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you’."

(Luke 17:6)

.... Instead, the gift of faith seems to refer to a dauntless level of faith, supernaturally granted in cases where extreme personal fortitude is required:

.... "And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren’."

(Luke 22:31-32)

.... In this example, Jesus prayed that Peter might have faith to stand; but Peter responded, instead, with self-confidence, which is the opposite of faith. We all know the outcome as he denied the Lord three times. Peter was miserable when this occurred, though he was eventually restored; yet Jesus was intimating that he may not have made it back at all unless this dauntless core of faith had not been granted by His own request on Peter's behalf.

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.... Like Peter, many of us may be tempted to boast of our zeal for the Lord, saying that we would stand for His sake until the end. But like Peter again, we would be making a terrible mistake to trust in ourselves in any way, especially in an hour of severe personal trial:

.... "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

(1 Corinthians 10:12)

.... In an hour of severe personal adversity, an attitude of humility and trust would be far more suitable. In the final extreme, we may even find that matters have gone far beyond our natural fortitude or ability to bear them. It is in this hour that the gift of faith is given, that our faithfulness may not fail. As such we find the best example of this gift when Jesus acknowledged and exhorted the church at Pergamos to endure the trial that would come to them:

.... "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells."

(Revelation 2:13)

.... Let us note in this example (if this is indeed the spiritual gift of faith), that the ultimate purpose of a spiritual gift is thereby maintained: that we should be witnesses for Jesus (Acts 1:8). In fact, the Greek word for ‘martyr’ literally means ‘witness’.
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.... Therefore when our own hour of trial comes, let us gird up the loins of our minds, be sober, and rest our hope fully upon the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. For this grace will be given in response to our faith, and if needed, through the super powerful level of faith that is bestowed on us by this spiritual gift, by the Lord's own faithfulness and prayer on our behalf. (1 Peter 1:13; Romans 4:16).

You have now completed the Gifts of the Spirit Module. To proceed to the Ministry Module, please click here

Daily Bible Reading: Ephesians 1