Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, NIV)
Faith has been the motivation behind my life! Right from the beginning I’ve wanted to please God. When I received the Holy Spirit aged 15, I knew 1 Corinthians 12 says there are nine gifts, and Paul says choose, covet the best gifts… I can pray in tongues ‘more than anybody’, I can prophesy. But the one gift I wanted more than any other was the gift of faith. I saw faith as a GIFT, not just as a way of ‘thinking’, but as a GIFT from God that would change my life and enable me to do all the impossible things that, at that time, I didn’t yet know God was going to ask me to do!
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:28-31, KJV)
Of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, the one gift I chose, the only gift I was interested in, was that same gift of FAITH we see here in Hebrews 11! According to the internet (and most Christians), the two main evidences of a ‘Pentecostal’ experience are speaking in tongues and healings. Anyone can speak with tongues and we should all believe in what, in my early days, was called ‘Divine Healing’. But from the beginning, growing up, influenced not only by the Welsh Revival, but by Smith Wigglesworth, George Jeffreys, and expecting to see greater, I knew that I needed not just ‘faith’ but an EMPOWERED GIFT of FAITH!
Yes, that kind of faith that I want can only come as a gift. It is not normal, it’s supernatural, but it is what I have spent my life seeking for. I don’t think that I have yet found it, that’s why I have to go on, I don’t want to stop or to die until like those in Hebrews 11, I have found it! My trouble is that I will never claim that I have received that ‘gift of faith’ from the Holy Spirit, because faith is only as good as what I do today!
Faith is demonstrated by what you do!
There are nine gifts of the Holy Spirit: three vocal gifts: speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy. There are three intellectual gifts: word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and the word of prophecy. And there are three practical gifts: working miracles, gifts of healing, and the gift of faith. Of all the nine gifts, I decided to ask for only one, the gift of faith. Why? Do you want to please God? The Bible says in Hebrews 11 that without faith it is impossible to please God. So if you want to really please God, you need that Gift of Faith. Faith is trust; don' think of it as something mysterious. If I ask most people if they have faith, they'll say yes. And I would simply say, show it! Isn't that what it says in the book of James? '"You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds' (2.18). I'm challenging you, get faith! Trust God! But demonstrate it by what you do!