In 1 Corinthians 12:7–11, Paul lists some spiritual gifts that are distributed among the body of believers ‘for the common good’. He talks about one person getting one, and another getting another, and so on, given out by the Spirit as he determines. So, when he mentions ‘faith’ in the list, he must mean something different from what we think of as saving faith, the trust that we have in Jesus as Lord and Saviour because presumably, every believer has that!
Over the years I’ve seen and experienced the ‘gift’ of faith, which seems to come to particular people in order to accomplish particular tasks for the furthering of the Kingdom. It’s a specific and identifiable gift and it has certain characteristics to it. The best illustration I’ve found in the Bible of the gift of faith is in 1 Samuel 17, in the story of David and Goliath.
The writer to the Hebrews describes faith as ‘confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’ (Heb 11:1). In some ways this applies both to saving faith and to the gift of faith, although even with saving faith, many people experience doubt and would perhaps not identify with this verse at all times and in all circumstances. In relation to the gift of faith though, Hebrews 11:1 is the perfect description. What does the gift of faith look and feel like?
A sense of certainty
The gift of faith begins with a sense of certainty that what has not yet happened will happen and is related to something specific. This could be for anything: provision of money, the establishing of a new initiative, a healing, a deliverance, the success of a project or a relationship.
Having said that, we all know that there’s a fine line between faith and delusion and that wishing and longing can cloud our judgment. The only way of telling the difference is whether what was anticipated and promised by the person of faith happens! We can’t just keep on believing even when it’s all collapsed around us!
On the other hand, when we do see the gift of faith in someone, we want to get behind it and join in. How do we know when we see it?
Support and help
People with a gift of faith infect other people around them with it and it bears good fruit. It lifts whole groups or whole churches into a new level of peace, assurance and action. It dispels anxiety, spreads joy and lightens the load — it’s attractive and catching! Apart from David’s older brother, Eliab, David had an astonishing amount of support for a young shepherd boy who promised to save Israel armed with nothing but a loincloth and five stones! There will always be Eliabs when we step out in faith (normally people who think they know us too well!) and one of the tests is how much we’re able to brush them off and turn to the Sauls. There will also always be Sauls — the people who catch on and help to make it happen.
Prepared for the task
David’s speech to Saul in verses 34–37 is the clincher. He was super-confident in both God’s ability to save and in his own ability as a warrior. This wasn’t based on nothing or plucked out of the air. David knew what both he and God were capable of from his years in the desert. He’d had hours and hours with nothing to do but practice with his slingshot, protect the sheep, pray and kill animals just as scary as Goliath. David knew what a life-and-death situation felt like. He knew how to keep his cool. And he knew God. He had absolute confidence in the outcome and no fear. If you look at what Saul risked to let him ‘have a go’ (the entire nation could have ended up in slavery), you can imagine just how much confidence he must have communicated in his speech. Saul had good grounds though for trusting David — he’d made his case.
The outcome
David won! That’s one way of knowing if someone really does have the gift of faith because what we thought would happen does. We can’t always be 100 per cent sure when we set out on a journey of faith either of our own convictions or of others. But we can ask: Do we have the assurance? Do others support us? Have we been prepared for the task? Then, did what we thought would happen, happen?
If it didn’t, it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Do we still love and trust one another? Was the process valuable even if the outcome wasn’t what we wanted? If people are thoughtful, humble, kind, loving, and prayerful, good will so often come of the journey anyway.
I’m sure that more people have the gift of faith for more adventures with God than we know. It’s a life-giving gift that gets things done, brings freedom, and advances the Kingdom. Gifts are just gifts and never earned or deserved, so why not ask? You never know what you might suddenly have the confidence and assurance to achieve with God’s help.
Lucy Peppiatt is the Principal of Westminster Theological Centre where she lectures on Christian Doctrine, Spiritual Formation and Leadership. She is the author of The Disciple: On Becoming Truly Human and Women and Worship at Corinth and leads Crossnet Community in Bristol.
Lucy is speaking at our Women’s Day at Emmanuel Centre, London on Saturday 11 November 2017. Come and join with hundreds of other women for a day of vibrant worship, inspirational teaching and Spirit-filled ministry.
