What is the gift of faith?

Faith, or the reliance upon God, is an intricate part of every believer’s life.  The author of Hebrews explains this very principle with the words, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)  However, the spiritual gift of faith involves the Holy Spirit entrusting a believer with a surmountable amount of belief for overcoming seemingly overwhelming obstacles.

The Apostle Paul includes the gift of faith in his letter to the Corinthians.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given though the Spirit the message of wisdom…to another faith by the same Spirit…and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (I Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV)

In the New Testament, we find a man who approached the disciples for healing his son from seizures, but the disciples were unable to heal the boy.  The same man later approached Jesus Christ in a crowd and asked him to have mercy on his son.  Jesus Christ had the man bring his son to him and Jesus healed him at that moment.  The disciples later approached Jesus Christ in private and asked him why they could not drive out the same demons from the boy and Jesus responded with the following words.

“Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20-21 NIV)

Jesus Christ later used a similar analogy about faith after his disciples questioned him about a fig tree he withered in front of them.

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.  (Matthew 21:21-22 NIV)

 

Jesus Christ compares a believer’s initial faith to the relatively small size of a mustard seed.  As a mustard seed grows, much like a believer’s faith, it grows into one of the largest of the garden plants.  Believers with the gift of faith our great visionaries for the local church, since they can envision God doing the impossible…such as starting churches in the least likely of places, restoring the lives seemingly unremorseful criminals, or changing the hearts of one our loved ones.  In other words, a believer can start out with very little faith, but as the Holy Spirit entrusts him or her with the gift of faith he or she can help others realize God’s sovereign providence in fulfilling His will on earth.