By OLUMOFIN Kehinde Benjamin

This gift was first specifically mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9 as one of the spiritual gifts listed in that chapter of the Bible. Though prior to this time, faith has been mentioned many times in the Bible, especially in the New Testament as the basis of our believe and conviction. Faith is the Kingdom currency, without faith we cannot be saved. Faith is the link that connects the physical to the spiritual. It is the bridge between the realm of Man and the realm of God.

Righteousness of the saints is by faith, as it is written, the just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4). Abraham pleased God, because He believed (had faith) in God and His promises and it was reckoned (accorded) to him as righteousness.

All saints of old walked with God, received excellent report and got answers to prayers by faith (Hebrew’s 11:2). No man can walk with God without faith, for without faith, it impossible to please God. All good and godly gifts come by faith, for whoever will come to God, and expecting to receive anything from Him, must believe (have faith) that God exist, and He is the Rewarder of everyone that truly seeks Him (Hebrews 11:6).

That is why faith is the inner conviction of things not seen and the certainty of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). Every child of God who has been redeemed in the Blood of Jesus has faith, though we all operate from different level of faith, depending on the proximity of our walk with God, and the depth of our conviction in what He has said and promised. However, irrespective of what, every one of us is blessed with a “measure of faith”. This simply means there is a general faith we all share and have in measures, according as God had dealt with everyone.

Romans  12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

But aside this general faith, there is another kind of faith, scripturally refered to as spiritual gift of faith. The general faith is applicable to all believers but gift of faith is given to some believers as spiritual gift. Just like any other spiritual gift, some have spiritual gift of word of wisdom, some other gift of word of knowledge, some other, faith and so are all blessed with divers kind of spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

Though this kind of faith are mostly demonstrated by believers who have been endowed with the spiritual gift of faith, an exceptional ability to believe God, even in an extremely hopeless situation, yet, at least once in a life time, each one of us believers, will demonstrate this level of faith, even when spiritual gift of faith is not on ones personal list of spiritual gifts so blessed with.

This truth was demonstrated by the woman with the issue of blood, who was healed by her exceptional faith…”For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole” (Mathew 9:21). That was no ordinary faith. Another like it was the centurion who asked Jesus to come heal the servant. Even though Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him” (Matthew 8:7). “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Mathew 8:8-10). This was no ordinary faith and the word of Jesus confirmed it. These two examples, among many, are examples of occasional display of gift of faith by the people concerned.

There comes a time, an occasion and or a situation where nothing else works, all options exhausted, and hope lost and the believer is left with no other option than the radical faith of the woman with the issue of blood, or the conviction of a centurion who felt unworthy to received the Lord coming under his roof but ask, just a word from the Lord will suffice him or the woman of Canaan who asked Jesus to help set free her demon possessed daughter. Though, Jesus likened answer to her request as giving children’s bread to dogs, yet she got what she asked for because of her “great faith” (Mathew 15:22-28). All these examples are pointers to the fact that, certain situations can necessitate a believer to demonstrate the gift of faith, even when not so blessed with the spiritual gift of faith. There is always a point like that in a believer’s life, when nothing else count except prayers and faith in God. In this instances, the display of exceptional gift of faith is for personal benefits.

But for those blessed with spiritual gift of faith, it is not an occasional thing but the gift can be exercised anytime, especially when ministering to others. However, like other spiritual gifts, the gifts of faith, for those who have it, is mostly exhibited, for the benefit of others, than for the one that is the carrier of the gift.

To them, the gift is not because they are in a particular need that requires an exceptional faith for victory, but they simply demonstrate God’s grace of the spiritual gift of faith and attend to the needs of others as a tool of service and blessing to the body of Christ employed mostly when preaching or doing spiritual services in church, meetings or any spiritual gathering, just like any other spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Bible examples of men with the spiritual gift of faith, include the Lord Jesus Himself, Who with exceptional faith in His Father did many wonderful works. Aside Him was the man Stephen, described as a man “full of faith and of the Holy Ghost and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:5,8). Time will fail me to talk of Peter, Paul, and even David who fought with beasts and giants and wrought victories in God’s Name, and many other heroes of faith (Hebrews 11). You will notice all the victories these people recorded were not for themselves but for others who God brought their ways in the course of their lives. Spiritual gifts, including the gifts of faith, are not for personal enrichment but for the benefits of the people of God.

So spiritual gift of faith are great faith that God has blessed some of His children with as a weapon of service to intercede, and plead and receive miracles on behalf of others in the church, who are not so blessed with spiritual gift of faith, though may be blessed with other spiritual gifts by the same Spirit. So as others are blessed under the gift of those with gift of faith, they too in turn are blessed with the gift of others around them. And so the Body of Christ is blessed by one another.

And as explained earlier on, occasionally in order to receive something from God or to turn situations around by God’s supernatural intervention in the affair of the person concerned, individual believers can demonstrate this great level of faith as well.

The topic as earlier announced is SPIRITUAL GIFT OF FAITH.

What it means?

How can it be identified?

How is this gift different from FAITH, as described in Hebrews 11:1?

How do I know I have the gift of faith?

How can one get this gift if and where desired?

And many more.,…..are questions we hope to answers in the course of this teaching.

Now, I have identified the gift of faith, and what it means.

And I have explained how the gift of faith differs from faith itself.

Now, how do I know I have this gift?

That you have big FAITH and you got big testimony does not mean you have the Spiritual gift of faith…….but to your credit…you have FAITH…may be great faith….as long as the results of your faith is your personal testimony.

It is a great thing to have faith, it makes you a true son/daughter of God….

But if you want to be a blessing to others as a true servant of God and believe God for others in the place of prayers and intercede for others until they have their testimonies…..then you need the spiritual gift of faith, because the ultimate results is for that person, not you.

So if you find yourself joyfully laboring and receiving answer to prayers on behalf of others, then you are most likely operating in the spiritual gift of faith

Every one of us is blessed and given one spiritual gift or more, as a tool of service to God and the body of Christ….so if the above description fits you, then your gift is the gift of faith. Most prayer coordinators operate with this gift among others.

And the benefit is this, aside increase spiritual growth and improved walk with God, the carrier of this gift is always blessed with unspeakable joy in the spirit, each time victory is gotten for a believer or family and God is glorified by the testimonies that are shared.

It is a beautiful thing to be a part of the process of bringing a spiritual victory to a life or family.

How do I get this gift?

That you are even desiring it, may be an indication you are already given…

Ephesians  4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

1 Corinthians  12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.  12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

By divine providence, God put the thirst for the gift He already deposited in us.

Which mean, I will most likely hunger and thirst for that which He has already given me. If you don’t have thirst for any spiritual gift at all, it might indicate an underground spiritual lukewarmness on its own, or just out of sheer ignorance of your right in Him

So once you are always happy praying for others and trusting God till results are gotten….faith is the gift you are manifesting. You only need to grow it and develop it.

And you can also covet the gift so as to complement other gifts in your life……at least we are asked to covet the best gifts…

1 Corinthians  12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Take note the word gifts in that scripture is in plural….GIFTS.

So we can covet as many as can make our work and service to God and to His people easy, efficient and effective.

Me…I’m still coveting more gifts. What about you?

All spiritual gifts help our work and walk with God, but we have to be specific in our asking and thirst for spiritual gifts.

What is best for Brother A, who carries the gift of a prophet might be inadequate for Sister B who carries the gift of faith.

We must be specific in our asking and yarning according as the prompting (utterance) of the Spirit of Christ in us.

1 Corinthians  1:5  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

2 Corinthians  8:7  Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.  

Ephesians  6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

So, we don’t just covet spiritual gifts, we have to be specific in our thirst and asking, in order to make walking with God and working for God less burdensome as Holy Spirit grant us utterances, according as we desire each gifts

And lastly I must add this, though have said it in past lectures. Spiritual gifts are FREE. Fully paid for by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (His blood paid the full price).

You don’t get spiritual gift by fasting but by faith. Fasting may help sharpen your spirit sensitivity to receive but it is not the reason why God blessed with the gifts.

I think we can end the class now, but questions are still welcome.

Please go and put to action all the lessons learnt, just like any other spiritual gifts, you won’t know you possess them until you start putting them to use.

So start praying and interceding for others, and see how well God honour your prayers of faith on their behalf. If you don’t give it a try, you won’t know you have the gift.

Spiritual gifts are not for pastors and leaders alone, they are for all children of God who are willing and thirst for more of God in them.

God bless your heart with grace and gifts in Jesus Name. AMEN!