The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New TestamentChurch.
Course: The Gifts of the Spirit (10 Lessons)
Lesson Four
Lesson Title: The Gift of Faith
Text: ‘... to another faith.’ 1 Cor. 12:9.
Introduction: The empowerment of faith.
Greek word ‘heteros' meaning ‘another of a different kind’. Starts a new group of gifts.
Begins the second group of gifts that empower the Church to overcome the works of the enemy.
This group concerns direct confrontation in spiritual warfare.
What is the Gift of Faith?
The Gift of Faith is the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit upon the believer that empowers him or her to trust fully that God will act in a supernatural manner at a particular time.
The Gift of Faith often operates in association with other gifts of the Spirit.
For example: The Gift of Faith empowers the believer to trust the ‘rhema’ word of God, and this will be fulfilled through another gift such as the Working of Miracles or Gifts of Healings.
The Gift of Faith empowers the believer to speak with authority so that…
"He shall have whatever he says" (Mark 11:23);
"You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee" (Job 22:28);
The believer may operate the gift of faith without realising it because he or she is simply following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Different kinds of faith
The Gift of Faith is distinct from other kinds of faith.
There are three kinds of faith.
- Saving faith is faith that comes through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:31). This is the faith that brings a believer into the family of God. It is the faith that trusts in Christ alone for salvation.
- The Fruit of Faith is the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. (Gal. 5:22). This is a growing faith that develops through abiding in Christ and His word abiding in us.
- The Gift of Faith is an empowered of the Holy Spirit that comes upon the believer at a particular time. This is the faith that will move mountains, 1 Corinthians 13:2.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is seen in these three kinds of faith.
The Holy Spirit enlightens, produces growth, and empowers.
Introductory Illustration:
Question: What about natural faith?
Unsaved people do not live by faith.
They live by law.
- the law of probability
- the law of deduction (certainty)
Reasoning
I believe it is safe to fly as aircraft do not crash very often (probability).
I believe USA exists; I have been there (deduction – certainty).
I believe Neil Armstrong walked on the moon as I saw it on TV. (probability)
Devil believes in God; he has seen Him. (deduction – certainty)
The law of probability and faith
Faith in a persons character (law of probability)
Having faith that a person will live up to expectations is not Biblical faith.
This expectation may or may not be fulfilled depending upon the persons character.
Faith in Christ means to totally depend on Christ and His Word.
The limits of our faith depend upon the depth of our relationship with Christ and the extent of our trust in His word.
The Gift of Faith will lift the believer to believe for things not normally seen.
The Gift of Faith is one of the best gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31).
Empowering the believer to rest in the midst of great trial and affliction.
Faith is less spectacular than Miracles but Faith is a greater gift than Working of Miracles.
It is greater to have faith in the storm than to cry out for miraculous intervention.
The world admires great miracles.
Jesus spoke about ‘an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign’, Matthew 12:39.
The Gift of Faith trusts God through the trial without any great show of power.
Example: Faith the greater gift than miracles.
Jesus calmed the storm, Mark 4:35-41– Miracle.
Greater gift – Faith that can sleep in the storm.
The Gift of Faith must be joined to the Rhema word of God
The Gift of Faith requires a rhema word from God.
See Greek Word Studies ‘Rhema’
Main Points
- The Gift of Faith in Scripture
a)The Gift of Faith empowers the believer to trust God for His supernatural protection.
It brings peace in great danger. It brings a state of blessed assurance in the face of certain death.
(1)Daniel could rest all night in the lions den without being harmed, Daniel 6:22-23.
(2)Peter could sleep in the prison though James had already been executed, Acts 12:5-6.
(3)Jesus could calmly walk through the midst of those who wanted to kill Him, Luke 4:30.
b)The Gift of Faith empowers the believer to proclaim the word of the Lord boldly and with authority.
(1)In the face of great danger - Shipwreck. Paul received the ‘rhema’ word of God concerning the safety of the men on the ship. Paul was able to speak with authority and it happened according to his word. Acts 27:21-26 ‘But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.’
(2)Proclaim a time of famine. Elijah spoke with authority before the King and it happened according to his word. ‘There shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word’ (1 Kings 17:1). "And it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months " (James 5:17).
(3)Proclaim the Lord’s supernatural provision.
Elijah (1 Kings 17:2-16) – fed by ravens (v4).
The Gift of Faith led Elijah to wait for ravens to feed him and to be provided for by a poor widow woman (v13-16).
The Gift of Faith led Elijah to take the widow woman’s last food.
Jesus – coin in the fish’s mouth.
The Gift of Faith empowers the believer to have assurance of God’s supernatural provision and protection in times of great need.
Empowerment to trust the miraculous provision of God in a way not usually seen.
c)The Gift of Faith empowers the believer to have full assurance of faith that God will act according to His word. Hebrews 11.
(1)The Gift of Faith trusts God to do things not usually seen. ‘By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.’ Hebrews 11:7.
(2)The Gift of Faith expects the impossible. ‘Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.’ Hebrews 11:11.
(3)The Gift of Faith will enable us to give beyond natural ability. ‘By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son’, Hebrews 11:17
2. Testimonies concerning the Gift of Faith
Examples from Church History
Luther at Worms in 1521.
Luther’s hymn ‘A mighty fortress is our God’ is also the testimony of his great faith in God.
Luther could not have achieved what he did at the Diet of Worms without Faith.
Was it the gift of faith?
Luther’s testimony at the Diet of Worms was so important to the spread of the gospel.
Luther was just a monk but he stood alone against the power and influence of Rome.
This was spiritual warfare that required supernatural faith.
The faith to trust God in such dangerous and difficult circumstances is a supernatural gift of faith.
Luther’s words
‘Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.’
a)George Muller
The Gift of Faith brings calm assurance even when there is a lack of provision.
b)Missionary pioneers
Always need for new missions and new works – pioneers who trust God.
Pioneers will sometimes experience times of great need.
Trusting a denomination is more comfortable – natural provision through God’s people.
Regular support through God’s people is natural provision.
The great missionary pioneers had to trust the Lord without the backing of a denomination.
(1)Willie Burton and the Congo Evangelistic Mission
(2)Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission
(3)Gladys Aylward went to China with a one way train ticket and no missionary society behind her.
3. Why is the Gift of Faith necessary today
a)The Gift of Faith will provide supernatural trust in…
Times of great hardship – giving assurance of provision
Times of distress – giving confidence in His presence
Times of danger – security in His protection
- The Gift of Faith provides supernatural faith for…
Overcoming the power of evil that seeks to destroy.
Deliverance from evil that seeks to prevent God’s plan for our lives.
Supernatural manifestations of power
- The Gift of Faith produces unstoppable determination.
Supernatural empowerment of faith produces boldness to stand against all difficulties and circumstances.
spiritual enemies, and makes us ‘more than conquerors’ in spiritual warfare.
Summary:
1)The Gift of Faith requires a rhema word from God.
2)The Gift of Faith to trust God for His supernatural protection.
3)The Gift of Faith to trust God for His supernatural provision.
4)The Gift of Faith to trust God for the impossible