Spiritual Gifts: Faith
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
Introduction
Holy Spirit still works today. The supernatural work of Christ did not end when He ascended, nor when the last capital “A” apostle died. In fact, Jesus said greater things we would do! He said it was better for Him to leave so His Spirit could come. He sent His Spirit so we could co-labor with Christ and expand Kingdom territory. The gifts are given for the common good and for the edifying of the body. We all get a gift and are all meant to bring that gift to the table. We can have more than one gift, we can ask God for more gifts, but no one gets them all because then we wouldn’t need the body. We may operate in some gifts for a season or to fill a need, but only Christ could walk in them all because Christ was the PERFECT model for us! Now, there are a number of spiritual gifts. Each one of those spiritual gifts fall under at least one category. They are: the Gifts of the Spirit, the Gifts of the Son, the Gifts of the Father. Today will continue with the gifts of the Spirit: the gift of faith.
What is the gift of faith?
The gift of faith is an empowerment from Holy Spirit to believe God for the impossible. This gift is usually referred to as one of the power gifts because the results of this gift are supernatural.
4 reasons why the gift of faith is given:
To glorify God
Always for Him, never for us
For the common good
The gift of faith in us should confirm our testimony of Christ and lead people to Him, not us.
To provide you with the confidence needed to believe
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb 11:1
The assurance it will happen
Make way for miracles, signs and wonders
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Heb 2:4
Mark 11 provides a good example of the gift of faith in action:
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
For this mountain to move the gift of faith is required. Remember the Spirit manifests for the common good. (Sometimes we ask for things that won’t benefit the common good or are for our own benefit) Therefore, if the mountain needs to move…it must be for His Glory. Then the mountain will move and Holy Spirit will empower you with the gift of faith to believe it will move, no matter the obstacles in your way. When you operate with the gift of faith, the faith and the results of faith are supernatural. You could not have believed it for yourself, nor could it be achieved through your own strength. Holy Spirit gives you the faith for it and God does it.
Biblical Example
Jesus is the perfect model for operating in the gift of faith. (Others models include Daniel, Abraham, Noah) Remember Jesus was fully man and fully God. However, He EMPTIED Himself of His divine privilege. (Phil 2:7) This means that He relied on the empowerment of Holy Spirit to perform miracles. He did only what He saw His Father do. The Father showed Him what to do and He did it. (John 5:20)
Jesus desires us to live as He did.
John 17:
21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me
Church, today God wants to impart the gift of faith. Especially to the members of East Gate. He has promised us big things! Things that are impossible to achieve without Him. God desires to be one with us. He wants to show you what He will do & wants to do so you can join Him in doing it. However, faith is required, not just any faith, but the gift of faith. The faith that no matter the obstacle, no matter what people say, no matter what you see with the natural eye, you believe God for it! God has shown us what He has for us and today He wants to impart us with the faith for it.
John 11 provides the perfect example of the gift of faith. In this story, Mary and Martha (Lazarus’ sister’s) send Jesus a message that Lazarus is very sick. However, this does not shake Jesus. In fact right from the start Jesus has an understanding for what God wanted to do.
***Secret Place: keeps us close to the Father’s heart and one with Him. We become aware and alert of the Father’s plans, motives and intentions. Time spent with Him prepares us for what’s to come so we aren’t shaken, but ready to step into what He wants to do!
Read John 11
V. 1-6 Jesus had been given the gift of faith to believe God for the impossible. (Remember, He emptied Himself of His divine privilege.) Because He was aware of what God wanted to do, though He loved Mary and Martha, He waited to go.
He understood that God had a bigger plan, that He would be glorified and that this was for the benefit of many, not just Mary and Martha
We love people the best when we are led by God.
V. 6 The gift of faith doesn’t allow us to settle for half a miracle or a portion of the breakthrough. The gift of faith enables us to believe God for ALL HE HAS PLANNED AND HOW HE HAS PLANNED FOR IT! It doesn’t allow us to settle here.
V. 17-19 The gift of faith prevents us from operating in a hurry. (Remember: the enemy drives us, Holy Spirit invites us) The gift of faith enables us to operate on God’s time. We submit to when, where and how God wants to do something-never our time table or OTHER’S TIME TABLE!
V. 25-26 The gift of faith empowers us to believe God is who He says He is and will do what He says He is going to do!
V. 33-38 Faith pleases the Father!
“And without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6
V. 35 Jesus could have been weeping for many reasons
Lack of faith in others
His love for Lazarus
Empathy
Compassion
An emotional response to a situation doesn’t always equate to a lack of faith. Use the gift of discerning spirits here.
“Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” John 11:40
THIS IS A WORD FOR US!
V. 41-42 This was done for His Glory and for the common good!
Evidence of the Gift of Faith:
It was done to glorify God
v.4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”
v.40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”
For the common good (that they would know Him)
15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”
The gift of faith in us should confirm our testimony of Christ and lead people to Him, not us.
Confidence that what was hoped for would be seen
Pressure placed by man didn’t move Him
Disciples: v. 8,12 (You are really going to go?)
Society: v. 8 (People tried to stone you!)
Martha: v.21 (If only you had been here…)
Mary: v.32 (If only you had been here…)
Pressure placed by Time didn’t move Him
4 days v. 17
Led to the miraculous
41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!
Impartation
“Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” John 11:40
God’s promises over this house
10%
Prodigals
House of supernatural growth and provision
Established as the house of His glory
The place where we revel in who God is
We experience the weight of Him
Kabod
All of these things would be miraculous
We need the impartation of the gift of faith
A word over the house, not specific individuals
This is YOUR word!
We all play a role and need an impartation of the gift of faith!
With the Gift of Faith we will:
God will be glorified.
The common good would benefit. (Our city, this nation)
Walk in confidence. (Beyond a shadow of a doubt, we believe God for this!)
We will see the miraculous. (Miracles, signs and wonders!)
