Faith

Pastor Keith Hassell

KENNETH HAG1N: "Those who possess the gift of faith believe God in such a way that He honors their word as his own and miraculously brings it to pass." Concerning Spiritual Gifts, p. 70

LESTER SUMRALL:  "The gift of faith is different from other types of faith. It is a special faith that supernaturally achieves what is impossible through human instruments." The Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit, p. 84

DENNIS BENNETT:  "It is a sudden surge of faith, usually in a crisis, to confidently believe without a doubt, that as we act or speak in Jesus' Name it shall come to pass." The Holy Spirit and You, p. 134

I.          DEFINITION: The Gift of Faith is an instantaneous and divine impartation of faith in such a way that the one receiving it can believe God without any doubt for that which is humanly and naturally impossible.

II.         There are several types of faith

A.      Natural Faith (Romans 12:3): This faith is common to every human being. We all have faith in something. The farmer has faith to plant seed and expect a harvest. We sit in a chair because we have faith in it's ability to hold us up, etc.

B.      Saving Faith (2 Thessalonians 3:2; Ephesians 2:8-9): This is the faith given to us by God in order to be saved. It comes through hearing the Word (Romans 10:17).

C.      The Fruit of Faith (Galatians 5:22-23):  In the Greek language this is not "faith" but "faithfulness". The Fruit of the Spirit is the inner working of the Spirit that produces character. Fruit grows and matures —— so does faithfulness.

D.      General Believer's Faith (Mark 11:23.24): This faith is the type of faith we exhibit toward God and His word for answers to prayer. Many can use this faith without the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and receive answers to prayer and miracles from God.  Feeding on the Word of God and exercising it every day can increase our faith.

E.         The Gift of Faith (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

III.     What is the Gift of Faith?

A.        It is a supernatural occurrence of faith in a person through the inspiration of the Spirit of God.

B.        This supernatural occurrence of faith is totally void of doubt or fear. Other types of faith may be tinted with doubt or fear.

C.        This is a supernatural faith by the Spirit of God through which anything spoken or desired by man or spoken by God will eventually come to pass.

D.        In this type of faith it is important to note that the object of the gift may not occur immediately but will occur in the course of time.

E.         Once the anointing for the Gift of Faith lifts from a person, many times they will experience a rush of natural doubts and fears which only proves that the faith was not their own.

IV.     What is the difference between the Gift of Faith and the Working of Miracles?

A.        The Gift of Faith is the divine ability to RECEIVE miracles.

B.        The Working of Miracles is the divine ability to WORK miracles.

V.        The Gift of Faith can come for many reasons:

A.      To give divine pronouncement

B.      To pronounce a miracle before it occurs

C.      To give absolute assurance and confidence

D.      To pronounce divine blessing

E.      To pronounce divine curses

F.      To receive the impossible

G.      To pronounce judgment

H.      To pronounce removal

1.       To pronounce alteration and change

VI.     The Gift of Faith can be seen demonstrated in the Bible

A.      Supernatural pronouncement of blessing by the Patriarchs upon their children

B.      Personal protection from imminent danger

1.       The Three Hebrews and the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:8-27)

2.       Daniel and the lion's den (Daniel 6:16-23)

3.       Paul and a Storm at Sea (Acts 27:21-25, 34)

C.      Faith for supernatural sustenance

1.       Elijah and the ravens (1 Kings 17:2-6)

2.       Elijah and the Widow (1 Kings 17:9-16)

D.      Faith to pronounce divine curses or judgments

1.       Elijah pronounces a three-year ban on rain (l Kings 17:1)

E.      Faith to pronounce and receive blessings from heaven

1.       Elijah pronounces an abundance of rain (l Kings 18:1-2, 41-46)

F.      Faith for Divine Challenges to the Enemy

1.       Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal (1Kings 18:21-39)

G.      Faith to cast out stubborn devils (Mark 9:28-29)