ICS Daily Devotions
Using the Gift of Faith
Acts 3:1-9 (NKJV) Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “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.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Observe the gift of faith in operation in Apostle Peter’s life. The first fact states that this man was lame from the time he was in his mother’s womb and had to be carried around. The second fact states that he was known to be asking for alms at the temple gate for a long time, therefore everyone knew him. Anyone who wanted to minister or share the Gospel would have been hesitant to pray for this man who had been lame since birth. We are so used to looking at the facts, the circumstances and the possible consequences if he was not healed after prayer. Many of us have general faith that needs to be developed from little faith to strong faith which will enable us to pray based on the scriptural promises. However, for Peter who had the three power gifts in his life (Faith, Healing and working of Miracles), he ignored all the facts, had no unbelief nor any other hindrances to belief, took the man by the hand and commanded him to stand and walk!
That’s the difference between general faith and the gift of faith.
Gift of faith is defined as a supernatural endowment of faith to fulfil an impossible task which a person could not do otherwise. Doubt and fear are absent when someone operates in this gift for that particular moment to receive a miracle. It is not always in operation, only as the Holy Spirit wills.
When we allow someone, who has the gift of faith to minister to people when the gift is in operation, the members will profit and benefit from their gift. We must allow such gifts to flow so that the church will grow too! God will confirm with signs the preaching of the Gospel. When the Holy Spirit moves, the person who has the gift will operate in it. He then RECEIVES ON BEHALF of the recipients.
Not everyone has the gift of faith, but everyone is given a measure of faith that can be developed from little faith to strong faith. Therefore, those who have the gift of faith should not be proud, impatient or chide those without this gift because it is given by God for certain projects.
Sermon Series: CG Campaign – Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow
