11.What is faith? .

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A supernatural ability given to some members of the Body of Christ so they may be able to believe God for the bringing about of conditions and circumstances that are in accordance with God’s will, the prevailing conditions and circumstances being confusing and destructive because of the work of Satan and sin.

This is not referring to the saving faith given to each individual at the time of receiving Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9); neither is it speaking of the fruit of faith that is the creation within us of rock-like confidence and trust in the Person of God and in His Word; nor is it indicating the faith given each member of the Body to find and exercise his or her place in ministry (Romans 12:12:3-6).

Rather, the gift of faith is an extraordinary impartation of Divine virtue that may come to a Christian when an unusual need arises, and that results in the building of the Body of Christ and the establishing of the Kingdom of God on the earth.

We find that special faith was given to Paul when a storm arose: "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Acts 27:25). The gift of faith brings "good cheer" and may be based, as in this case, on a revelation of God’s will.

Perhaps the reader may recall an instance in his own life in which God imparted unusual faith in order to help him through some particular difficulty, or to give assurance his prayer had been answered even though he had not as yet seen the answer come to pass.

This brings up a much-discussed point. Are all these gifts given to every saint to be used as the Holy Spirit directs?

Or does one saint have this gift and another saint have that gift?

First, the logic of the chapter suggests that to certain saints are given specific gifts and ministries in the Body of Christ. The result of this distribution of manifestation is that we are dependent on each other for our growth. This is what Paul teaches.

It is obvious that in the twentieth century there have been Christians who have been given extraordinary gifts and ministries, such as Billy Graham with his gift of evangelism; Kathryn Kuhlman with her gifts of healing.

It is also true that all Christians may do the work of an evangelist, but they are not another Dwight L. Moody. All Christians may pray for the sick, but they may not be as gifted as Aimee Semple McPherson. All Christians may prophesy, according to the Apostle Paul, but there are saints who have a ministry of prophecy considerably beyond what most of us experience.

This is true in the natural as well as in the spiritual. Anyone can plant grass and bushes around his house but that does not make him a farmer. Every intelligent person can speculate on the relationship between energy and mass or the nature of light; but Albert Einstein was peculiarly gifted in the ability to analyze physical phenomena.

We may say, then, that the expressions of the Holy Spirit are given to the saints so there may be an interdependence of the members of the Body of Christ. All have something to give so all are needed.

It is also true that the disciple of Jesus can pray for and expect to receive supernatural help when a more gifted believer is not available.

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