The Gift of Faith
12: 9a
While it is true that Paul considers the “faith” that leads to salvation to be the work of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh in the believer’s life (see the commentary on Revelation, to see link click Cc – For We Must All Appear Before the Bema Seat of Christ), what he has in mind here is the special gift of supernatural faith that can move mountains.367 Those with this gift of faith have a special ability to lay claim to the promises of God. It is an unusual amount of trust in God not exercised by most believers that results in tangible results. It is a faith that looks where nothing exists and sees what can be. They are firmly persuaded of God’s power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose, and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction. They expect God to move and are not surprised when He answers a prayer or performs a miracle (Hebrews 11:1-40).
When Paul was sailing to Rome as a captive, the ship encountered a terrible storm. After throwing all the cargo and tackle overboard, they went for many days without food and without any relief from the storm. At the height of danger, Paul told his fellow travelers: But now, my advice to you is to take heart; because not one of you will lose his life – only the ship will be lost. For this very night, there stood next to me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve. He said: Don’t be afraid, Sha’ul! you have to stand before the Emperor. Look! God has granted you all those who are sailing with you (Acts 27:22-24). Paul’s confidence took special faith. His great faith exercised in the midst of disaster laid hold of God’s promise and brought hope and safety to everyone with him. Abraham was also strengthened by his faith (Romans 4:20).
The gift of faith is primarily expressed toward ADONAI through prayer, appealing to and trusting in God to do that which is His normal provision. Yeshua said: 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). Paul alludes to that type of faith later in this letter: If I have all faith – enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing (13:2). Paul was not disparaging faith but simply pointing out its emptiness without love. His phrase all faith seems to indicate that it is possessed in degrees.
On the basis of one person’s strong faith others are always helped and served. Throughout the history of the Church, thousands of believers with the gift of faith have believed in God in the face of great danger and often death. And in exercising their faith have strengthened the faith of their brothers and sisters in the Lord. Hudson Taylor believed ADONAI would win many Chinese converts through him, and without any money or support, refusing to ask for a penny of help, he began what became the great and fruitful China Inland Mission. George Muller, solely through trusting God in prayer, continually saw Him provide for his orphanage in miraculous ways. Countless missionaries have claimed tribes or nations for the Lord, and evangelists have claimed cities for the Lord, and seen Him faithfully respond to their faith. Their prayers are answered and their faith itself strengthened and multiplied.368
It is possible that faith stands at the head of this next grouping of gifts because they especially depend on the power of faith. Indeed, it would seem that it would not be possible to differentiate them. Healing (see Cn – The Gifts of Healing) and miracles (see Co – The Effecting of Miracles) are plainly related to faith (Matthew 16:8, 21:21; Mark 5:34, 10:52, 112; Luke 17:5-6; Acts 3:16, 27:25; Hebrews 11:29-30; James 5:15). We may also assume that the gift of discernment also takes root in faith.369
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