The Pentecostal Experience- The Operation of the Gift of Faith. Part 5.
Introduction.
We will continue in describing and teaching the gift of faith. The gift of faith is the supernatural endowment by the spirit of God whereby that which is uttered or desired by man or spoken by God so eventually come to pass. The gift of faith is distinctly different from the working of miracles although both guests produce miracles. The gift of working for miracles is active whereas the gift of faith is passive. It doesn’t work; It passed certainly receives. In other words, the difference between the gift of working of miracles and the gift of faith is that one does and the other receives. The working of miracles is more of an action and the gift of faith is more of a process. The gift of working of miracles performs a miracle whereas the gift of faith receives a miracle. This is because the working of miracles employs faith which actively works a miracle, but the gift of faith employs faith which passively expects a miracle as sustained or continuous miracle. Also, the gift of faith in operation, the belief in miracle may not manifest immediately. It may manifest over a long period of time.
The Gift of Faith for Supernatural Blessings
We see that the gift the faith was used by the patriarchs of Old Testament, to proclaim supernatural blessings, or fulfillment of human utterances. When they were about to die, they would lay their hands on their sons, and would command blessings upon them. Often these blessings that would come to pass many years later. We see this in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph. These patriots believed their announcements would come to pass at the appointed time in the future. This was a gift of faith in operation.
The Gift of Faith for Personal Protection
The gift of faith for protection, we see in Daniel 16:16-17,19-21 Daniel received Miracle he was the lion’s den. Those days throughout history. Many others were thrown into the lions and they were killed. Why did these lions kill DANIEL? The Bible says that Daniel believes in his God. There’s no doubt that God gave DANIEL special faith a special manifestation to receive deliverance. DANIEL didn’t do anything, he just laid down and went to sleep.
The Gift of Faith for Supernatural Sustenance
In 1 Kings 17:2-6 we see an instance where the gift of faith was used for supernatural substance at the time of famine. Elijah received supernatural faith given to him, by God, because it was beyond human reasoning to expect Ravens to feed humans. Nevertheless, Raven brought food to Elijah in the morning and evening. And by the supernatural faith, Elijah passively received a miracle.
The Gift of Faith for Raising the Dead
As I mentioned previously, the gifts of the spirit offered operate together. In the case of raising the dead, three gifts operate together – the gift of faith, the gift of working miracles, and the gifts of healing. This is one reason we don’t see too many people raised from the dead. Some Christians may have one or more of these gifts and operation and their lives, but not too many have all of them in operation. First, raising of the dead, takes supernatural faith – this gift of faith – to call a person’s spirit back when it’s left his body. It takes a working of miracles to raise a person and it takes a gift of healing. Otherwise, if the person is not healed, he would immediately die again. Therefore, all the power gifts are manifestations when someone is raised from the dead there are many instances in the Old Testament when Elijah prayed and God raised from the dead a young boy (1 Kings 17:17-24). Elisha raised from the dead the Women of Shunem (2 Kings 4:32-37). Also, in the ministry of Smith Wigglesworth, and John G. Lake, through the gift of faith people were raised from the dead. And even Jesus when He raised Lazarus and Tabitha from the dead.
The Gift of Faith for Casting Out Evil Spirits.
We know, of course, from Mark 16: 17 that general faith also is effective and casting out evil spirits as the Lord God stated. But they’re also a gift of faith that may be used to cast out unclean spirits from those bodies who have been defiled by them. Again, more than one gift in operation must be working. The gift of discerning, the spirit, and or the word of knowledge will be manifested, as well as the gift of faith. If that doesn’t discern or see, the spirit of the spirit is revealed through the word of knowledge. But the gift of faith still will be exercised to cast out the evil spirit.
The Gift of Faith for Ministering the Holy Spirit
Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Gal. 3:5.
This gift of Faith comes into operation and laying hands for people to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Any believer can lay hands on people in general faith, and appropriate God, blessings, and believe God. But the difference between believing God, with general faith and appropriating his promises, that whom those supernatural manifestations, which is passed from one division, or another, is for the gift of faith. It is possible in general faith, to lay hands on a person for healing, or other blessings, although nothing may perceptibly manifest. If it is received, it is still a demonstration of God ‘s power, however when a person lays hands on another person, and there is a ministered through them healing, or the infilling of the Holy Spirit by supernatural manifestation, that is a gift of special faith and operation. God works in both ways by our general faith of appropriating his promises, and receiving power that that way and by a supernatural manifestation of God ministered from one person to another, which is a gift of faith and operation.