I’m Duane Matz and
welcome to Today’s Living Word.
We’ve been talking about
spiritual gifts spoken of in 1 Cor 12, and as we look at them let us not forget
their purpose. They are given to exhibit the presence of the Holy Spirit amongst
believers, and are used to profit the Body of Christ. The presence of these
supernatural manifestations link individuals and congregations to the one true God of the
Apostles.
I think a close
examination of these “gifts” will show us that they were evidenced in the ministry
of the Apostles, and therefore it should not be strange that they would show up
in the church then and dare I say even now!.
These gifts are listed
for us beginning in verse 8 and the third is “faith.” This gift of faith is not
to be confused with saving faith since all Christians have been given that
gift. Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not
of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9
not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The gift of faith here is
an extraordinary, fearless trust, in God’s Word that prompts an outward act of
obedience led by the inward guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The first incident that
comes to my mind in the apostolic use of this gift would be when Peter healed
the beggar outside the temple. The beggar was asking for money but listen to
Peter’s Holy Spirit led reply: “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do
have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and
walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and
immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and
entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God. (Acts
3:6,7)
Later Peter would give
credit to this miracle by attributing it to “faith,” He said, in Acts 3:16,17, "And His name,
through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know.
Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in
the presence of you all.
Oftentimes the gift of
faith is what kicks the other spiritual gifts into gear. In this case faith in the Living Christ prompted
Peter to exercise this gift, and when he followed the prompting of the Holy
Spirit, a healing occurred.
Faith fearlessly pulls
the trigger of Holy Spirit promptings and the one who has such a gift, is never
left with egg on their face. They always come through, because God comes
through. How can they not? Their action has been prompted by God the Holy
Spirit!
A person or church with
this gift moves mountains that appear to be insurmountable, and it doesn’t take
much, just a mustard’s seed worth,
because it is of God and taps into His
power and will.
The gift of faith is an
action gift. If it is truly present in your midst, it will show up somehow,
some way, and when it does you’ll experience the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.
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