GOD'S MINISTRY
THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OF
BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Revs. Mr. and Mrs. H. Dean Daniels
E-mail: gods-ministry@hdd-gods-ministry.com
Web-site: http://www.hdd-gods-ministry.com/
A COMPLETE STUDY ABOUT FAITH IN GOD
Deut. 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Matthew 16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Mark 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Mark 10:52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Luke 12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Luke 17:5-6 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. [6] And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Luke 17:19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Acts 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Acts 6:7-8 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. [8] And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Acts 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Romans 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 3:30-31 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. [31] Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Romans 4:11-14 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: [12] And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. [13] For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. [14] For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Romans 4:19-20 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: [20] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Romans 14:22-23 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. [23] And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
1 Cor. 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1 Cor. 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1 Cor. 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1 Cor. 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Cor. 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1 Cor. 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1 Cor. 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
2 Cor. 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
2 Cor. 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
2 Cor. 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Cor. 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
2 Cor. 10:15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Galatians 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:7-9 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. [8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. [9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Galatians 3:11-12 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. [12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:22-26 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:5-6 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. [6] For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Ephes. 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Ephes. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephes. 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Ephes. 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephes. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Ephes. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Ephes. 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephes. 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philip. 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
Philip. 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philip. 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Philip. 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Col. 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
Col. 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Col. 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Col. 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col. 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
1 Thes. 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1 Thes. 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
1 Thes. 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
1 Thes. 3:5-7 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. [6] But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: [7] Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
1 Thes. 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
1 Thes. 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
2 Thes. 1:3-4 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; [4] So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2 Thes. 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2 Thes. 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
1 Tim. 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Tim. 1:4-5 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. [5] Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1 Tim. 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Tim. 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1 Tim. 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
1 Tim. 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
1 Tim. 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1 Tim. 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Tim. 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Tim. 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1 Tim. 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Tim. 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
1 Tim. 5:12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
1 Tim. 6:10-12 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. [12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Tim. 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
2 Tim. 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
2 Tim. 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Tim. 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
2 Tim. 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Tim. 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2 Tim. 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2 Tim. 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Titus 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Philemon 1:5-6 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; [6] That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 10:22-23 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:3-9 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. [4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. [5] By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. [6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. [7] By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. [8] By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. [9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Hebrews 11:20-24 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. [21] By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. [22] By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. [23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. [24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Hebrews 11:27-31 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. [28] Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. [29] By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. [30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. [31] By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1 Peter 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Rev. 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Rev. 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Rev. 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev. 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Faith questions:
What is faith?
Deut. 32:20
[faith] One of only two times faith is found in the O.T. (Deut. 32:20; Habakkuk 2:4). The common word for faith in the O.T. is "trust."
pistis, Greek 4102, Strong’s
pistis, pis'-tis; from Greek 3982 (peitho); persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstract constancy in such profession; by extensive the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself :- assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
Faith
The word "believeth" denotes the act and process of faith. It comes from the Greek verb pisteuo (NT:4100) which occurs 248 times in the New Testament. This use of the present tense indicates that faith must be continued in to receive its benefits (Acts 14:22; Ephes. 6:16; Col. 1:23; Col. 2:5-7; 1 Thes. 5:8; 1 Tim. 2:15; 1 Tim. 3:9; 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 3:8; 2 Tim. 4:7; Titus 1:13; Hebrews 10:23-38; 2 Peter 1:5-10). It can be lost (Luke 8:13; 1 Tim. 1:19; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 Tim. 5:8,12; 1 Tim. 6:10,21; 2 Tim. 2:18; 2 Tim. 3:8; Jude 1:3; Rev. 2:13).
Faith
Means:
1. To be persuaded of (Romans 4:17-22; Romans 8:38-39; 2 Tim. 1:12)
2. Place confidence in (Ephes. 3:12; Phil. 1:6; Hebrews 3:6,12-14; Hebrews 10:35; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 5:14)
3. The substance or conviction of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen (Hebrews 10:19-38; Hebrews 11:1,6; Romans 4:17; Romans 8:24)
4. Absolute dependence upon and reliance in the Word of God and of Christ (Matthew 8:8-10; Matthew 15:28; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:1-12:3)
5. Full surrender, yieldedness, and obedience to all known truth (Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26; Romans 6:11-23; James 2:14-26; 2 Cor. 10:4-7; Hebrews 11:6)
6. Trust wholly and unreservedly in the faithfulness of God (Matthew 6:25-34; Matthew 12:21; Luke 12:28-31; Ephes. 1:13; 1 Tim. 4:11; 1 Tim. 6:17; 1 Cor. 10:13)
7. Give one's self over to a new way of life (Romans 1:17; Romans 6:11-23; Romans 8:1-16; 2 Cor. 10:4-7; Galatians 5:16-26; Col. 3:5-10; Hebrews 12:1-15; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:8-10; 1 John 4:17; 1 John 5:1-5,18)
8. The attribute of God and restored faculty of man whereby both can bring into existence things that are unseen (Romans 4:17; Galatians 5:22; Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 17:6; Hebrews 11)
9. The whole body of revealed truth (Luke 18:8; Jude 1:3; Romans 10:17; 1 Tim. 4:1, 6; 1 Tim. 6:10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
10. Joyful faith in, and acceptance of Christ as the substitute for sin and our Savior whereby one receives salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 4:12; Acts 10:43; Romans 1:16; Romans 3:24-31; Ephes. 2:8-9); access into grace (Romans 5:2); fulfillment of the promises (Hebrews 6:12); the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:14); righteousness (Romans 4; Romans 9:30,32; Romans 10:6; Phil. 3:9); sonship (Galatians 3:26); healing (James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24); eternal life (John 3:15-18,36; John 5:24; John 6:47); and answers to every prayer (Matthew 7:7-11; Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 18:1-8; John 14:12-15; John 15:7,16).
Greek: apollumi (NT:622), to destroy (Matthew 10:28); lose (Matthew 10:39); die (John 18:14); be lost (2 Cor. 4:3); be marred (Mark 2:22); and perish (Matthew 8:25; Matthew 18:14; Hebrews 1:11). It never means annihilation. Here it simply means the loss of the souls in eternal hell.
Easton’s definitions which must all
be qualified accordingly, therefore they must “all” be proven according to the
Holy Word of God;
Faith
Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is based on trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests (even though faith is a spirit which includes much more than as defined with Easton’s definition(s) or determination).
Faith produces evidence, such as teaching (Rom. 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent. Faith produces works, which is an act of the will in addition to the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is of the essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any revealed truth rests is the veracity of God.
Historical faith is the apprehension of and assent to certain statements which are regarded as mere facts of history.
Temporary faith is that state of mind which is awakened in men (e.g., Felix) by the exhibition of the truth and by the influence of religious sympathy, or by what is sometimes styled the common operation of the Holy Spirit.
Saving faith is so called because it has eternal life inseparably connected with it. "Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel."
The object of saving faith is the whole revealed Word of God. Faith accepts and believes it as the very truth most sure. But the special act of faith which unites to Christ has as its object the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:38; Acts 16:31). This is the specific act (response) of faith by which a sinner is justified before God (Rom. 3:22, 25; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9; John 3:16-36; Acts 10:43; 16:31). In this act (response) of faith the believer appropriates and rests on Christ alone as Mediator in all his offices.
This assent to or belief (deep personal conviction) in the truth received upon the divine testimony has always associated with it a deep sense of sin, a distinct view of Christ, a consenting will, and a loving heart, together with a reliance on, a trusting in, or resting in Christ. It is that state of mind (deep personal conviction) in which a poor sinner, conscious of his sin, flees from his guilty self to Christ his Saviour, and rolls over the burden of all his sins upon Jesus Christ The Son of God, asking Jesus Christ and The Heavenly Father to Forgive him of his sins and come into his heart forgiving him of his sins. It consists chiefly, not in the assent given to the testimony of God in his Word, but in embracing with great reliance and trust the one and only Saviour whom God reveals. This trust and reliance is of the essence of faith. By faith the believer directly and immediately appropriates Christ as his own Elder Brother and thereby calls Christ his LORD And Saviour. Faith in its direct act makes Christ ours. It is not a work which God graciously accepts instead of perfect obedience, but is the hand by which we take hold of and the Personal Redeemer which is the only grounds for our Salvation.
Saving faith is a moral act, as it proceeds from a renewed will, and a renewed will is necessary to believing assent to the truth of God (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 4:4). Faith, therefore, has its seat in the moral part of our nature fully as much as in the intellectual. The mind must first be enlightened by divine teaching (John 6:44; Acts 13:48; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 1:17, 18) before it can discern the things of the Spirit.
Faith is necessary to our salvation (Mark 16:16), not because there is merit in it, but simply because it is the sinner submitting to God in repentance, taking the place assigned him by God and his being obedient unto God.
The warrant or ground of faith is the Divine testimony, not the reasonableness of what God says, but the simple fact that God actually said it (John 1:41). Faith rests immediately on, "Thus saith the Lord," once it is a known fact that God actually said it. However, in order and before this faith, confidence, sincerity, and truth of God is known, claimed and appreciated, it must be proven without a doubt that God actually said it. God's word encourages and emboldens the sinner personally to transact with Christ as God's gift, be close to him, embrace him, give himself to Christ, and take Christ as his. That word comes with power, for it is the word of God who has revealed himself in his works, and especially in the cross. God is to be believed for his word's sake, but also for his name's sake and His name’s sake is His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ.
Faith in Christ, can secure for the believer freedom from condemnation of sin and justification before God; a participation in the life that is in Christ, the Divine life (John 14:19; Rom. 6:4-10; Eph. 4:15, 16, etc.); "peace with God" (Rom. 5:1); and sanctification (Acts 26:18; Gal. 5:6; Acts 15:9).
All who thus believe (and remain) in Christ will certainly be saved (John 6:37, 40; 10:27, 28; Rom. 8:1).provided, that he does not fall away from God and become apostate. The faith=the gospel (Acts 6:7; Rom. 1:5; Gal. 1:23; 1 Tim. 3:9; Jude 1:3).
True
Heart Faith Always Works
The doctrine of faith: there is a difference between mental faith and heart faith; the latter one is the ACTIVE FAITH that we have studied about. One can feel that he has lots of faith when he has mental faith only, but this is not enough. One must have true active faith that acts upon the Word of God and that will cause one to act (respond) as if the prayer has already been answered when prayer is offered. This kind of faith will not take no for an answer. It will not place blame on God and try to excuse one's self for the failure. It will not once question or waver concerning the answer. It counts things done whether they are seen or not. On the other hand, mental faith will begin to question the will of God if the answer is not given immediately. It will reason, wonder, begin to doubt, and constantly seek for some grounds to stand upon and is easily reconciled to defeat.
One can always tell his true state and whether he is exercising true faith or not if he will be honest and consider things in the light of the Holy Bible. True faith is taking God at His Word. Faith in God maintains that the answer to prayer has been granted regardless of what he sees, thinks, or feels. It does not look to circumstances and possibilities in the least. Faith acts like it did through Abraham of old who simply believed God, and who was fully persuaded by the word of God alone that what God had promised He was able to perform. Abraham had his faith built upon what God said and not what he could see or feel. He was occupied with what God had said, not what he thought were his possibilities. He refused to reduce in the least degree his confidence in God. He held firm to his conviction that God was true to His word and would do as He promised. He even glorified God before he received the answer, and he acted (responded) as if the request was already fulfilled.
True faith will always bring results if one will intelligently seek to know what God says and base his faith upon the Word of God and be determined to obey to the letter of the Word of faith, he will get whatsoever he saith (Matt. 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 16:23-26).
Let no one be discouraged if he does not get immediately what he has asked of God. Keep reading the lessons on faith and prayer and following the instructions in the supplements until your faith is built up to the point where you get what you ask of God. It may take time to build up faith, but it is worth all the work that is necessary to get a strong and unwavering faith (Jude 1:20). It will provide rich rewards in the end, so keep up an intelligent program of finding out what to do and how to do it.
What
Faith is and How to Use it
One must have faith in God to please God! "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6). This is one sure way to please God. If God can be made happy and well pleased in such a simple way, why shouldn't everyone who loves Him put forth the utmost effort to have faith in Him? None of us would be pleased if our friends constantly made us a liar every time we opened our mouths. Not one of us would feel like doing anything for those who did this. The same is true with God. He is a person, and we should learn to treat Him as a person and not insult Him by questioning and doubting every promise that He makes. How can we expect to get answers to prayer as long as we continue in such a bad attitude? Naturally, it is then that we must repent of our bad attitude and have the nerve to come to God and ask Him for His help and then tell Him innermost feelings begin to trust Him. One of the greatest miracles is, that He is willing to answer us even once. God is under no obligation to answer, if we do not have faith in Him for what we ask.
Faith is simple. It is believing God without a waver, without doubting and without questioning what He says. It is taking God at His Word and believing that what He has promised He is able to perform it. It is believing not only that He is able, but that He will do it. It is the quality of counting those things that "be not as though they were" (Rom. 4:17). Faith is also the absolute conviction that what God has promised and what we have asked according to His Word is done already. It is "the substance of things hoped for" and the first payment on things that we desire from God (Heb. 11:1-3).
The way to get faith is by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). The way to use faith is to take God at His Word and count Him faithful in granting what is asked in the name of Jesus. Ask and then believe that it is done. Thank God for it as if it were already done. Expect the complete answer whether you see it at once or not. Forget symptoms, feelings, impossibilities, or anything to the contrary and it shall be done regardless of how impossible it may appear outwardly. Faith laughs at impossibilities and cries, "It is done." It leaves all results and all answers with God as being God's part, and it assumes that it is done. Our part then is to cooperate with faith and not hinder its working by doubting and questioning the how and when of the answer.
If a Christian will truly exercise faith that he knows is necessary, there will be no question as to the answer. One can get healing, health, success in business or in any undertaking, prosperity, happiness, or anything that would cause one to be victorious in any phase of life (Mt. 17:20; 21:22; Mk. 11:22-24; Jn. 15:7, 16; Rom. 8:32: Heb. 11:6; Jas. 1:5-8).
THE RIGHT KIND OF FAITH IS NECESSARY
Active living faith is necessary in order to get answers to prayer. One must learn to use this kind of faith in God. He must learn to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of God and His Word. He must learn that he is surrounded by an unbelieving world and that he lives in an atmosphere of doubts. Demons, fallen angels, and evil men have lived for centuries in unbelief and wickedness creating currents of doubt and mistrust that are very subtle and deceiving to those who desire to have faith. The fall of man has left deep wounds of doubt and wavering that must be healed. One must learn that he has to wrestle with powers of darkness and currents of mistrust and unbelief which make it a struggle to exercise active living faith for things that are not seen. He must not only learn how to do this, but he must do it in order to get results.
What Faith is Not
Faith is not feeling that prayer is answered. The average person who seeks to exercise faith depends upon what he can see, hear, or feel. Testimonies concerning faith are usually expressed in connection with feelings and emotions, or the various senses. Sense-faith is based upon physical evidence or upon the emotions and feelings of the soul. All who take this road as the basis of faith will sooner or later be deceived. Faith should be based upon the Word of God regardless of any sense-knowledge, or feeling-evidences. People are constantly looking to feelings as to whether prayer has been heard or not. If they happen to feel good, or if something happens that encourages them, they think that it is easy to believe, but if reverses come and feelings take wings, these same people are in the depths of despair. They are quick to accuse God of being unfaithful and untrue to His Word. If they do not go this first, they are quick to imagine that it was not God's will to grant the answer. They become satisfied to go without what God has plainly promised.
Faith has not the slightest relationship with feelings and sense-evidences. At the times when men think they have all the faith in the world because of feelings, they have the least in the world, and when they think they have the least, they have more than at any other time in their lives. Many people are surprised to get answers to prayer because when they prayed they thought their faith was nothing. People should not believe they are healed because the pain is gone, or that they are saved because they feel they are forgiven. They should not think that their prayers are answered because things are working out that way. Instead, they should always maintain faith because of what the Word of God says. The Word of God should have first place in their lives instead of the senses. All basing of faith upon what we have done, how well we live, or what experiences we have had will lead to failure in answered prayer. God does not answer upon these grounds. He answers solely upon the grounds of grace and faith in Him and in His Word.
True faith is not trusting in the goodness and in the faith of another man. It must be personal faith in God and His Word. People continually go about seeking someone who has faith and who can get answers to prayer for them. This may work temporarily while one is learning about God and His Word, but if we do not properly learn and develop a personal faith that refuses to be denied, we shall eventually revert to failure and unbelief, and we shall have to be satisfied with the modern theory that answered prayer is not for everyone.
The faith that will grow is that of having personal faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ, faith in the Holy Spirit, faith in the Word of God, faith in the atonement, and total consecration personally to believe God regardless of anything that might happen to hinder prayer. The right program is not talking about faith, or the need of it, but the actual exercise of it. Simple faith in the Word regardless of feelings and circumstances is never possible to the man who lives only in the realm of his senses, for he believes only what he can see, feel, hear, or understand to be possible. This was the kind of faith Thomas the disciple had when he declared that he would not believe until he had seen. It was the kind that Martha had when she could see nothing but the natural fact that Lazarus had been dead four days and "by this time he stinketh." This is the Wind of faith taught and encouraged by modern religious leaders, but it is not the kind required by the New Testament.
Neither mental faith nor mere assent to truth and dependence upon feelings is enough. The individual must come to life and action before he will realize the benefits of active, living faith that refuses to know defeat and failure. A man must learn to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of God and His Word. Man must learn that he is surrounded by an unbelieving world and an atmosphere of doubts. Demons and fallen angels and men have lived for centuries in unbelief and wickedness creating currents of doubt and mistrust that are very subtle. The effects of the fall of man have left in the lives of fallen men deep wounds of doubt, that wavering and wondering must be healed. One must learn that he has to wrestle with powers of darkness and currents of mistrust and unbelief which make it a struggle to exercise active living faith for things that are not seen (Ephesians 6:12). He must not only learn how to do this, but he must do it in order to get results.
Not only must we have personal faith in God, but our faith must be in the right Person (God). Our faith must be in God (Mark 11:22-24); in Christ and His atonement (Acts 3:16; Rom. 3:25); in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1-11; Gal. 5:22); and in the Word of God (Rom. 1:16). We must consecrate to believe God regardless of anything that might happen to hinder prayer. The right program is not talking about faith, or the need of it, but the actual exercise of it. Simple faith in the Word regardless of feelings and circumstances is never possible to the man who lives only in the realm of his senses, for he believes only what he can see, feel, hear, or understand to be possible. This was the kind of faith Thomas had when he declared that he would not believe until he had seen. It was the kind that Martha had when she could see nothing but the natural fact that Lazarus had been dead four days and "by this time he stinketh." This is the kind of faith taught and encouraged by modern religious leaders, but it is not the kind required by the New Testament.
“The Law of Faith Must be Obeyed”
The law of faith is: "As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee" (Matt.8:13), "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matt. 9:27-29), "O Woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt" (Matt. 15:21-28), "And ALL THINGS, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, BELIEVING, ye shall receive" (Matt. 21:21-22), "If thou canst believe, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH" (Mark 9:23), "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, BELIEVE THAT YE RECEIVE THEM, AND YE SHALL HAVE THEM" (Mark 11:22-24), "He that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6), "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering" (James 1:4-8).
It is an unchangeable law of God that one must believe exactly what he asks in order to receive it. It would be impossible for a sinner to be saved if he did not believe that it is the will of God to save him and that He does save him when he confesses his sins (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9). It is impossible for one to be healed unless he believes it is the will of God and that it is done when he prays. This applies to prayer for prosperity, health, or whatever it may be that is asked of God. Faith must rest upon the will of God that is fully known by the Word of God. It cannot rest upon mere human desires and wishes and the senses. True faith that appropriates what is asked, is not believing that God CAN, but that God WILL.
Faith has not the slightest relationship with feelings and sense evidences. At the times when men think they have all the faith in the world because of feelings, they may have the least in the world, and when they think they have the least, they may have more than at any other time in their lives. Many people are surprised to get answers to prayer because when they prayed they thought they had no faith. People should not believe they are healed because the pain is gone, or that they are saved because they feel they are forgiven. They should not think that their prayers are answered because things are working out that way. Instead, they should always maintain that their prayers are answered because of what the Word of God says. The Word of God should have first place in their lives instead of the senses. All basing of faith upon what we have done, how well we live, or what experiences we have had will lead to failure in answered prayer. God does not answer upon these grounds. He answers solely upon the grounds of grace and personal faith in Him and in His Word.
Mistaken Faith (for an example): is faith (confidence) that he (man) has in himself. It is the kind of faith that claims (braggingly) that he (man) can whip an Alaskan Kodiak bear with a switch or a tree limb. That bear being approximately fourteen to twenty four foot tall and the bear and the man are out in the wild (forest, timber, trees or woods) in the State of Alaska by themselves. The man has confidence in himself, thinking that he can whip that bear or any other bear with a switch, until he personally meets up with that wild Kodiak bear. Whereas, at that time, the man had best realize that it would be much better if he prayed and placed his faith in God, instead of himself, because God also, created that bear.
When Your Faith Seems Weak
Some Necessary Steps to Follow When Your Faith Seems Weak and Victory Seems Lost.
1. Recognize the source of the opposition as being of Satan.
2. Be sure that the promises of God cover the thing asked for.
3. Be sure that you are not living in open or secret sin.
4. Be sure that no doubt or unbelief is permitted in the life concerning the promises.
5. Sincerely desire the benefit that you ask of God.
6. Ask of God in faith, nothing wavering, believing that what is asked is yours.
7. Do not tolerate for one single moment a thought to the contrary.
8. Count the thing done that you have asked.
9. Give glory to God even before you receive what you have asked.
10. Act as if you have received what you have asked.
Remember the moment that you begin to doubt God or wonder why God has not answered yet and you look around for reason why He did not hear your prayer or begin to accept a delay for the answer as the will of God for you not to have what you have asked for, you are defeated. It is right then that you failed to hold firm in unwavering faith in God for the answer. Never under any circumstance question the will of God in the matter of answered prayer. If He has promised that you can have whatsoever you ask, if you do not doubt, then do not for a moment think that it may be God's will to hold from you that which He has promised and which you have asked for in faith. It is always God's will for you to ask and get what you will; so do not make the mistake that multiplied thousands are making in always wondering and wavering concerning the will of God in anything that is promised by God. If you will faithfully follow the above listed steps and settle on what God's will is, according to His Word and hold to it through all opposition, you cannot fail to get what you want. In the final analysis the answer to your prayer depends upon you more than it does upon God. For the simple reason that God does not fail or change and there is no possible failure on His part. The only failure that is possible is on your part. Man is so used to living by feelings instead of faith and so used to being swayed by circumstances instead of counting those things that be not as though they were, that he does not always persistently hold to the practice of the necessary steps in the answer to prayer. You must see to it that your faith is in God, He does not fail, and then you cannot possibly fail, because God is not a failure.
Active Faith (James 2:14-26; Heb. 10:19-39)
This is the kind that acts (responds, reacts) upon the Word of God as it is made clear. James put it this way: "shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." All men must have this faith to receive anything from God. As long as faith is purely mental and passive no action will be taken to obey the truth. Men must get beyond the stage of hearing only and into the act of doing what God says before they get results. Active living faith moves to obey every truth of God to the letter and to appropriate what God has promised. It acts as if the things that are not seen are a reality. It is quick to provide works to prove that it is sincere and obedient.
Think of having a real, active, living faith of your own! Imagine the thrill of having your own prayers answered! As I write I have on my desk a large stack of letters marked "Testimony." These letters, which have been received in recent months, tell how God has answered prayer. People hear the radio programs and are inspired to take God at His Word. As they act they are answered.
One lady says that she had been sick for ten long years and had not done any of her housework. She heard me say on the air that if you will believe God and refuse to be sick and defeated, you can have whatever you want. She said, "I acted upon the Word and got out of bed and God met my faith. I have been doing my work ever since." Another one is so thrilled that her prayers have been answered three times from laying her hands on the radio and praying with us. Many more are deeply stirred to a new life and deeper consecrations because they are learning to act upon the Word.
Multitudes of people have never had an answer to prayer, and they are missing the greatest blessings of life by such neglect. Most people depend upon others to get answers for them. They pray, so they think, but they want someone else to do the believing. In reality, they are not praying. They are merely saying words and going through a form of prayer. True New Testament praying is always heard of God and the answer is always sure. God has planned that all men should have this kind of faith and results. "These signs shall follow them that believe," and "all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23; Mk 11:22-24; Mk 16:15-20; John 14:12-15; John 15:7-16).
Faith can be developed into a mighty living force through God which cannot be defeated or know defeat. You can know and have Christ’s authority over all evil powers and circumstances through Jesus Christ (Luke 10:19). You no longer need to be a slave to fear, timidity, weakness, failure, sickness, poverty, helplessness and despair. You can be a conqueror in the very thing wherein you have suffered defeat. "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7, 16).
You must awake to the consciousness of the new life you have in Christ. As a branch, you have His life, His health, His power, His love, and His nature flowing through you. You are the fruit-bearing part of Christ in the Earth. You are in Him and He is in you. You have His words abiding in you, giving you faith for whatsoever you ask. You have as much right in Him (because of Salvation) to be asking and receiving from God as He had. You have a right to expect the same answers from God that He got (if you have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ). You as a child of God are a representative of God here on earth as He was and is. Do not be satisfied of going without the benefits for which He died that you that you might have them.
You are commanded to be a doer of the Word, and this means ask and receive. You are not to be merely a hearer. You are not deceiving yourself when you act upon the Word. It will be confirmed, for it is truth (2 Cor. 1:20). It must be a living, active faith, not a mere mental passive something that all sinners can have. You are in Christ, and as God's child and heir, you have the authority to act on the Word. You are a fruit-bearer, a producer for God, so get busy and produce for Him according to His Word (John 15:1-16).
Divine Faith (Heb. 11:3; Heb 12:2; Gal. 2:20;Gal 5:21).
Faith is not only a natural attribute of man. It is an attribute of God. It is God's absolute confidence and conviction in His own Being and Word. The first passage listed above teaches that the ages were planned by faith through the Word of God and that things were brought into existence that never existed before. God had faith in Himself when He planned the worlds. He believed that He could do what He commanded, and He counted those that were not as though they were (Rom. 4:17). The third passage listed above speaks of "The faith of the Son of God," thus proving that He also has faith as does the Father. In fact, God is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:1-2). The last passage mentioned above speaks of "Faith" abiding along with hope and love, which means that these three qualities are eternal as attributes of God.
General Facts Concerning Faith
FAITH CAN grow (2 Thess. 1:3), lead to utterance (2 Cor. 4:13), work through love (Gal. 5:6), clothe the naked (Matt. 6:30), heal the sick (Matt. 8:1-17; 9:2, 22, 29; James 5:14-16), dispel fear (Matt. 8:26), make whole (Mark 10:52), save from sin (Luke 7:36-50; Eph. 2:8-9), fill believers (Acts 6:5-8), purify the heart (Acts 15:9), sanctify (Acts 26:18), impart revelations (Rom. 1:17), justify (Rom. 3:28-31; Gal. 3:24), give access into grace (Rom. 5:2), produce righteousness (Rom. 9:30-32; 10:6-10; Phil. 3:9), give security (Rom. 11:20; 2 Cor. 1:24), bring blessings (Gal. 3:9), impart the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:14), make men children of God (Gal. 3:26), bring hope and salvation (Gal. 5:5; Eph. 2:8-9), make conscious of Christ (Eph. 3:17), quench fiery darts of Satan (Eph. 6:16), produce works (Phil. 1:17; James 2; 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:11), edify (1 Tim. 1:4), produce inheritance (Heb. 6:12), and keep one true to God (1 Pet. 1:5).
THE EVIDENCE OF FAITH CAN BE seen (Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5), obeyed (Acts 6:7; Rom. 1:5), turned away (Acts 13:8), and continued in (Acts 14:22; Col. 1:23). Faith can be made without effect (Rom. 3:3), it can be increased (2 Cor. 10:15), examined (2 Cor. 13:5), destroyed (Gal. 1:23), perfected (1 Thess. 3:10), shipwrecked (1 Tim. 1:19), departed from (1 Tim. 4:1), denied (1 Tim. 5:8; Rev. 2: 13), cast off (1 Tim. 5:12), erred from (1 Tim. 6:10, 21), overthrown (2 Tim. 2:18), followed (2 Tim. 2:22), rejected (2 Tim. 3:8), made sound (Titus 1:13; 2:2), kept (2 Tim. 4:7); and tried (James 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:7; 5:9).
“God Never Rebukes Faith”
Men have been rebuked for lack of faith, but never for faith, or for asking great things from God (Matt. 6:30; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 24:25; James 1:5-8). There should never be a doubt of receiving from God if a believer will see to it that he has faith without doubting and questioning anything about the answer. The answering part is God's work, and why should puny man worry so much about that phase of answered prayer? Leave all such worry to God, who is responsible for the answer and who will answer if true faith is exercised by man. Man's part is to ask and simply believe and refuse to doubt after prayer. If man would take care of his part of the program, God would take care of His part, and there would be no failure. However, when man meddles (because of his pride) claiming that he is God or a god, then God will chastise him for doing so and he (man) could end up in the eternal lake of fire!
If the law of faith is that no answer is granted until all doubting, questioning, unbelieving, and worrying cease, then let it be settled once and for all that God is not going to break His law to please some whining unbeliever, who lives more in criticism of God for not answering than in praise for the answer. Let those who want answers cease from worry about how and when God is going to carry out His part of the contract (Covenant). God will always be in control, even though man does not always believe it nor accept it to be so.
How
to Get Faith
There are several ways to increase faith. One who truly wants to believe God must take the following steps:
1.
GET INTO CHRIST
This is the first step of the Christian experience. One who is in Christ is a new creature, and old things, including unbelief, have passed away, and all things have become new, and all things are of God (2 Cor. 5:17). Anyone who has had any experience with God in a real, personal way will remember that the beginning of the new life was of utmost simplicity and child-likeness in many ways. In the matter of faith, the newly born-again one was so confident and simple that he would believe God for anything. There were not the many arguments of unbelief or the many questionings about what is the will of God in prayer. It was taken for granted that anything which God had promised as good for one is the will of God for every believer. It was easy to get answers to prayers and to believe God for anything that was wanted. It was only when questionings and reasoning’s about truth occurred and when one began to hear that God doesn't answer every prayer. It is God’s will to give everything that He has promised and that He knows best what to give and what not to give, and that all prayers should not be expected to be answered the way it is expected. Many like theories began to be more revealing and are unveiled. As long as one was simple and child-like and believed that God was good enough to give to His children anything and everything that was good, prayers were answered in such supernatural ways as to make a believer know that he is indeed a child of God.
A simple faith is naturally born into the new child of God by the Spirit. Faith at once takes root, and God is taken at His Word. There is not a doubt to begin with that God will answer prayer. If this confidence in God would be nourished and developed normally as one grew in grace and knowledge we would never fail to get prayers heard.
Christ is the author and finisher of faith in everyone and naturally a life of faith begins when Christ is received in the life (Heb. 12:1-2). As men receive Christ they are to walk in Him (Col. 2:6-7), and if they would continue as they started, faith and zeal would never be dampened, and one would never revert to a life of failure and constant questioning as to what the will of God would be in the matter of getting the benefits as God has promised.
2.
KNOW THE WORD OF GOD
The second step to take in getting faith is to get thoroughly familiar with the Word of God. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17; Acts 10:44; 15:7; 1 Cor. 1:18-21; Gal. 3:11; 2 Thess. 2:13). After getting into Christ, the next thing to do is to start reading the Word of God and meditating on it day and night. We are promised that if a person would do this he would be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that will bring forth its fruit in its season and that whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Ps. 1, Josh. 1).
So many people while praying never think of what God says about what they are asking. If one should ask the average person what promise of God he was depending upon as the basis of his faith to get what he was asking, he would not have in mind any particular Scripture or particular answer. It is no wonder that such people seldom receive their desires from God. Jesus said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). The Word of God and prayer must go together if definite results are to be expected. There is no ground for answered prayer outside of the Word of God. It is the Holy Bible that reveals the will of God in all things and promises certain benefits through Christ and faith, and no man can get prayers answered who does not know or accept truth.
3.
DO NOT PRAY FOR FAITH IN GOD AND HIS WORD
Prayer “for” faith is a prayer that lacks knowledge of God. The Word alone can give you the basis for answered prayer. Simple faith in the Word of God may not be considered sufficient or even sensible to the natural man who lives by his senses and who wants always to see and feel everything with which he has to do. Having undeniable and unquestionable faith in God is necessary, if one wants what the promises of God offer. We are not told to pray for faith, but to "have faith in God" (Mark 11:22-24; Romans 12:3).
4.
HAVE FAITH IN GOD
If men would learn to put confidence in God as they do in men and if they would have unwavering faith in the promises as they do in the word of men, answered prayer would be a great success. Prayers would be answered without so much effort on the part of man. Prayer would be a simple transaction of everyday business between God and man. It is sad to say that men will trust men and put their whole confidence in men more than they will God and His Word. At the same time they do this they claim that they believe God more than any man. They would not boldly declare that they do not have confidence in God or that they do not believe that God is faithful to His Word, but by action they prove this to be so. If somebody says to them that it may not be God's will to answer, or that if He does not answer He knows best, or some such excuse for unbelief, it is generally accepted that this is so. Very seldom do such people go to the Holy Bible to see exactly what it says and intelligently follow it. Even if they find that they are definitely promised the answer, the average person questions the will of God by some unreasonable argument of unbelief. Such people would not possibly be turned aside so easily if man had made such promises. They would go to court or fight to the last breath to hold man to his obligations, but they are so full of unbelief that they don't want to bother God with the same problems, or they will not put forth the least fight against evil or demonic powers of unbelief to get what God has promised or to hold God to His obligations.
God never ignores any requests for things that He has promised, He is faithful even when we are not. In spite of man's failure, God goes on year after year, seeking to prove to man that He means what He says and says what He means. He is constantly trying to show man that He is faithful to His Word and that He will not go contrary to His Word for any man. He will meet His own obligations all right, but on the grounds of His own revealed terms of faith, nothing wavering. Satan is to blame for all failure and man for listening the seductions of the devil.
5.
LISTEN TO GOOD PREACHING
When we hear constantly the stories of the triumphs of faith in the Holy Bible when we read of miracles such as God's dividing the waters, raining manna from heaven, sending quails, giving water from rocks, multiplying food, quenching fire, raising the dead, healing the sick, defeating His enemies, and causing the hundreds of other miraculous events that are written in Scripture for our instruction and to build up our faith, our faith runs high. We fully realize that what God has done He can and will do again in meeting His obligations to give to men what He has promised. Our faith naturally becomes powerful and expectant. Personal experiences of men in all ages are also a good source in building up faith. Accept and believe any record of any dealing of God with any man if it is in harmony with the Word of God.
6.
REJECT ALL BAD PREACHING
Do not participate or approve of any untruth or go to a church where the ministers question the miracles that are recorded in the Holy Word of God. Those that make fun of them as being mere fairy tales and they try to explain away such facts by high-sounding, clever, pseudo-scientific generalizations (Romans 1:25), our faith is hindered. There must be a consecration on our part to renounce all such foolish theories as of the devil and cleave to the plain Word of God in all things. No man can expect to build up faith and get to the place where benefits can be received who spends his time going to such places where the Word of God is criticized. If one wants a simple, unwavering faith he cannot listen to this kind of preaching and come out without some questioning as to some things.
Yes, all faith-killing, Spirit-quenching, truth-destroying, must be rejected and renounced once and for all. Don't tolerate any man or church to slander God or His Word, which is the source of your faith and eternal life.
7.
OBEY THE WORD OF GOD
Obey the Word of God to the letter, regardless of how foolish it may appear. God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are as high as the Heaven above the Earth compared to our ways; so accept His Word as the right thing on every question and obey it to the letter, and it will be proved the right thing to do. It will be proved to be true in every respect. Men who fail in obedience to the faith will be rejected of God in the end and consigned to eternal Hell for their failure. Thus it is all important that we conform to the Word and obey to the letter what is plainly written.
8. EXERCISE YOUR FAITH
By exercising your faith in God, God will cause it to grow (Rom. 1:17). One of the best secrets of how to increase faith is the use of what faith that one does have for use. It is a divine law that whatever we do not use we lose: "Whoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have" (Luke 8:18). Just as any muscle that remains useless becomes dead and lifeless, so it is with faith. We must use what we have if we want it to become strong and dynamic.
It is not only a natural law that faith will increase when it is used in all the problems of life, but God will supernaturally see to it that it is increased. He will impart more faith, the divine kind of faith to them that show the proper exercise of faith. Our faith must work by love; that is, we must exercise our faith for the good of glory of God that others mighty come to the knowledge of the Truth. Unless we have fervent love towards God for all men our faith can never attain to the highest peak of efficiency. Where there is love there is faith, for both are the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
Where love, unity, peace, and true fellowship with God exists, there will be found little sickness and defeat and few failures in prayer. Where malice jealousy, gossip, and constant division and strife exist, there will be much more sickness and failure in prayer than in the other kind of church. Experience, observation, and Scripture establish this fact (1st John 2:15).
The fall of man would not have been possible without doubt and unbelief in God and His Word. God demands man to learn that He is faithful to His Word and that He means exactly what He says, before He redeems him and before He answers prayer. God must demand faith and freedom from doubt in order to redeem man from the fall. These steps must be retraced in the redemption and complete reconciliation of man to God. Man must learn the lesson of faith and absolute confidence in God sooner or later if he expects to live with God forever; so there is no better time than while he is on probation to learn this lesson. This is why God requires faith in all that He says. At first there is naturally a struggle on man's part to trust God whom He cannot see, but after he learns to trust, believe and obey God, his part of faith in God has just begun to grow.
9.
YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Faith is not only a natural ability or exercise of a created faculty of man, but it is a fruit of the Spirit and a gift from God (Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:4-11). When man uses his own confidence (faith), in God and God’s Word properly he makes contact with God in a glorious and wonderful way, and he becomes a partaker of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:3-4). He is then free to walk and live in the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit will naturally be manifest in his life (Gal. 5:16-26). He should constantly add to his faith the virtues of God by yielding to God in daily life (2 Pet. 1:4-10). This kind of faith becomes a natural fruit of the Spirit and of holy living. It is not an effort to have this faith. It grows in the life of one who is yielding to God and who loves God enough to draw near to God in daily Prayer, Communion and fellowship. It is a fruit, not a work. It is a gift, not something we earn by works (Rom. 12:3; 2:4-5; 12:4-11; Gal. 5:22-23).
The human faith and union with the Divine, will make all things possible to the believer. Let us all have faith in God, in Christ, in the Holy Spirit, in the Word of God, in the atonement, and in all the gospel truths. Have faith in God and look to Him for needed daily grace for body, soul, and spirit. The more we love God and conform to His Word the more faith will grow. This faith will grow until it rests solely in the Infinite. In this place in God, we can reach up and pull down the unlimited blessings of God for ourselves and others.
Human Faith (Mark 11:22-24)
This is simply the exercise of human faculties in having confidence and conviction that we believe God, and that God is true to all that He has promised. All men are capable of trusting in themselves’ and trusting in anyone else that makes any statement of promise to them. Faith is an attribute of man's created being. It was natural for man to believe God before the fall. There was no such thing as a doubt, a question, or any unbelieving reasoning on the part of man before that time. It was Lucifer, Satan, that old serpent also called, the devil that injected doubt and unbelief into man's moral and spiritual makeup. And since man's fall and because of the almost total depravity of his being, it becomes one of the greatest struggles of his redemptive career to have that same simple and unwavering faith that was natural before the fall. It was lack of knowledge, and lack of the fear of God, doubt and unbelief that caused the fall, and it is of the greatest importance to get rid of all such sin and that by redemption (repenting of your sins and asking Jesus Christ to come into your heart and confessing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, Romans 10:9-13).
IT
IS GOD'S WILL FOR ALL MEN TO HAVE FAITH
It is the will of God to have unwavering, unshakeable, and absolute faith in God. It could not be anything but His will for all men to have faith in Him. Could it be possible that God would rather have unbelief in Him than to have faith? Would God rather have men doubt Him and call Him a liar in everything He says than for them to have utmost confidence in Him? Could it be the highest will of God for men to question everything that He says rather than to accept it as truth? Shall men pray to know whether it is the will of God for them to have faith? Shall they constantly pray, "If it be thy will, O God, please show me whether it is thy will for me to have faith in you and your Word"?
I hear you say, "Certainly not, no man should pray such a prayer. He should have faith in God and in what He says without praying to know whether it is His will or not." This is true, and this is what every man would answer if he were asked the question concerning the will of God for all men to have faith in Him. Yet some men constantly affirm that it is hard to have faith in God, that they cannot have faith enough to get answers to prayer that they cannot know whether it is the will of God to do what He has promised, and that they cannot get their prayers answered and they do not know what is wrong.
Kinds
of Faith
There are several kinds of faith mentioned in Scripture, of which the following list will be helpful in arriving at the kind of faith one should have:
1. COMMON FAITH (Titus 1:4). It is called "the mutual faith" (Rom. 1:12). This is the faith that is common to all men who claim to be Christians. It is common because of the few commonly accepted truths held more or less alike by all Christians, such as belief in Christ as a Saviour and in eternal life. The uncommon kind is that rare faith in apostolic power and in the fullness of God in the lives of all Christians. It is faith in these truths that brings controversy because the average church member has not been taught that he can have all the benefits of the gospel which were experienced by early Christians. That all men can have this uncommon faith and power has been made clear in Lessons Twenty and Twenty-two.
2. WEAK FAITH (Rom. 4:19; 14:1-23; 15:1-4; 1 Cor. 8:1-13). This is the kind of faith that constantly limits personal benefits and privileges in the gospel, due to wrong teachings and personal scruples concerning non-essentials of life. There are literally thousands of people who spend much of their time arguing and condemning each other over small details of life that are not essential enough to mention in particular in Scripture. These consist of what one may or may not eat, drink, wear, or do in life and still be a Christian. In the above-cited Scriptures it is clear that the Kingdom of God does not consist in meat, drink, and personal details of life that are not specifically forbidden in Scripture, but that it is "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17).
If
the devil cannot get men to commit great sins that are
forbidden in Scripture, he will urge honest-hearted people to go to the extreme
and condemn this or that in personal liberties that are not strictly condemned
by God. Multitudes today go to the utter extreme and condemn in some degree
almost every phase of human living. The law of Scripture concerning anything
that is not definitely forbidden by God in Scripture is: "He that doubteth
is damned if he eat, because he eateth not in faith: for WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN" (Rom. 14:23).
The Christian law of love to others is: Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. [20] For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. [21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.[22] Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. [23] And he that doubteth is dammed if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let everyone of us please his neighbor for his good to edification
3. STRONG FAITH (Rom. 4:20). This faith is the kind that refuses to be defeated. It refuses to take no for an answer. It laughs at circumstances, symptoms, all outward appearances, and what is seen, heard, or felt, and it effectually and fervently holds to the fact that what has been asked of God is granted. Abraham had this kind of faith: "Who against hope believed in hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not WEAK IN FAITH, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb [who was about ninety years old]: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was STRONG IN FAITH, giving glory to God; and BEING FULLY PERSUADED that, what he had promised, he was able to perform. And it was counted to him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:18-22).
This is the kind of faith all men should have and could have if they would only persuade themselves that God is true to His Word. Most men claim that they have faith in God to this extent, and not one wants to say boldly that He is a liar and that He will not do as He said, but when it comes to exercising or applying his faith, he will not doubt or waver in prayer. Very few will maintain such a strong faith and thank God for the answer even before it is realized. Very few will simply refuse to question or waver in the least when it seems that things are going contrary to what has been asked of God. This is exactly why they do not get definite answers from God. There is no person who will exercise faith as strong as that of Abraham who will go very long without an answer from God. Such a thing, that God would refuse one who came to Him in such unwavering faith is literally impossible and unheard of (James 1:5-8; Heb. 11:16). All men are definitely assured of getting from God those things which He has promised if they will "walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham" (Rom. 4:12. 23-25).
4. LITTLE FAITH (Matt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; Lk. 12:28). This is the same as no faith because it is the wavering kind (Heb. 10:23; James 1:5-8).
5. GREAT FAITH (Matt. 8:10; 15:28). This is the true, unwavering faith that will always move God to answer according to His abundant promises (Heb. 11:6).
6. UNFEIGNED FAITH (1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:5). This faith is the kind that knows no hypocrisy, sham, or counterfeit. Nothing can change their mind, regardless of the circumstances. It is the kind that does not brag or put on outward show, that it is real. It is simply genuine and real and sincere in its every aspect. It proceeds out of a pure heart and from a good conscience, as stated in these Scriptures. It is not hereditary, although in 2 Tim. 1:5 Paul speaks of it as being in three successive generations. It is the kind that all honest, pure, and sincere men have. It is the unselfish, holy, and godly kind that naturally increases in the life of every true child of God, as he grows in grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 1:4-9; 3:18).
7. TEMPORARY FAITH (Luke 8:13). This is the kind of faith that believes for a while and springs up like a mushroom, but because of shallowness, lack of root it fails in time of temptation and test. People through the ages have been of this type. They receive the Word of God with great joy, and it seems that they are going to outstrip everybody else in faith, but after a few days or weeks they are not heard of again, or if they are heard of again it is in another revival meeting where their emotions become again stirred temporarily and they make another start in faith, soon to fall again. They never fully come clean with God or make the full surrender of their lives except for the moment. They do not prepare the soil so that the seed can take root and produce fruit.
Some teach that this cannot happen, but it does in spite of the so-called impossibility of falling away from the faith and being renewed in repentance again. Some teach that one cannot fall from the faith, but Jesus certainly said that some would "receive the word with joy; and these have no root, WHICH FOR A WHILE BELIEVE, and in time of temptation FALL AWAY" (Matt. 13:20-21; Luke 8:13). Paul speaks of these as those who "concerning faith have made shipwreck" (1 Tim. 1:19), as "having cast off their first faith" by going "aside after Satan" (1 Tim. 5: 12-15), and as having "erred concerning the faith" (1 Tim. 6:21). Many Scriptures say that men can depart from and fall from the faith (Acts 14:22; 1 Tim. 2:15; 4:1; 5:8-15; 6:10,21; 2 Tim. 2:18; Heb. 3:6; 12-14; 6:11-12; 10:22-28). Men are repeatedly told to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22; Col. 1:23; 2:6-7). Anybody with common intelligence knows that he can disbelieve anything that he chooses to lose faith in, especially in things that are not seen.
8. HISTORICAL FAITH (1 John 5:10-13). This is faith in the history or the record of God concerning the past and concerning His own work for men. One can believe the record of God to the letter and still not be saved. It is simply believing in the record of anything of the past. No consecration to God is necessary to believe history.
9. MENTAL FAITH (James 2:14-26). Mental faith is similar to historical faith in that it believes history but goes further and believes every part of the Holy Bible, past, present, and future, as well as all the truths of the blessings of God, but it does not act (respond) upon the Word of God. Faith without works is dead, being alone. It is passive faith or mere mental assent to truth. Thousands of sinners have mental faith in God and the Holy Bible, but they keep neglecting the definite action (response) of obeying truth
True faith is not mental assent to truth as a fact. Most people have such assent. Men will believe that God is able, that He has promised to do certain things, and that He would if true faith were exercised, but there is little effort put forth to co-operate with God or to get what He has promised. It is merely a mental assent to truth without active faith in it. It is the kind of faith that will turn to every source of help but God, and at the same time maintain that it does believe in God and His Holy Word. It is just like believing that food is good without ever eating to get the benefits from it. Mental assent, or passive faith, is one of the most dangerous enemies of true faith in God. It claims all the faith in the world and is satisfied easily with either anything or with nothing from God. If it does not get what it wants, it does not care. It would accept something from God if He would come personally and lay the answer in the lap and beg one to keep the gift, but apart from this there is little or no effort put forth to act (respond) in faith concerning anything God has promised. Mental faith may go as far as to maintain belief in every truth and in every part of God's program, and it may even claim to be contending for certain benefits; yet it dares not act (respond) upon the promises of God.
10. ACTIVE FAITH (James 2:14-26; Heb. 10:19-38). This is the kind that acts upon the Word of God as it is made clear. James put it this way: "shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." All men must have this faith to get anything from God. As long as faith is purely mental and passive no action (response) will be taken to obey the truth. Men must get beyond the stage of hearing and into the act of (responding), doing what God says before they get results. Active living faith moves to obey every truth of God to the letter and to appropriate what God has promised. It acts (responds) as if the things that are not seen are a reality. It is quick to provide works to prove that it is sincere and obedient.
Think of having a real, active, living faith of your own! Imagine the thrill of having your own prayers answered! As I write these letters, which have been received in recent months, tell how God has answered prayer. People listen to the CD’ that have been recorded and are inspired to take God at His Word. As they act (respond to God by expressing their faith in Him) they are answered. If you will believe God and refuse to be sick and defeated, you can have whatever you want. Many more are deeply stirred to new life and deeper consecrations because they are learning to act (respond) upon the Holy Word of God.
Multitudes of people have never had an answer to prayer, and they are missing the greatest blessings of life by such neglect. Most people depend upon others to get answers for them. They pray, as they think, but they want someone else to do the believing. In reality, they are not praying. They are merely saying words and going through a form of prayer. True New Testament praying is always heard of God, and the answer is always sure. God has planned that all men should have this kind of faith and results. "These signs shall follow them that believe," and "all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; 16:15-20; John 14:12-15).
Faith in God can be developed into a mighty living force that will know no defeat. You can know that Jesus Christ gave every True Child of God (born again believer) over and against all powers of the enemy (evil) and circumstances through Jesus Christ (Luke 10:19). You no longer need be a slave to fear, timidity, weakness, failure, sickness, poverty, helplessness, and despair. You can be a conqueror in the very things wherein you had suffered defeat. "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7, 16). Again, "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5; Phillip. 4:13).
You must awake to the consciousness of the new life you have in Christ. As a branch, you have His life, His health, His power, His love, and His nature flowing through you. You are the fruit-bearing part of Christ in the Earth. You are in Him and He is in you. You have His words abiding in you, giving you faith for whatsoever you ask. You have as much right in Him to be asking and receiving from God as He had. You have a right to expect the same answers from God that He got. You represent God here as He did, so do not be satisfied to go without the benefits that He died to give to you.
You are commanded to be a doer of the Word, and this means ask and receive. You are not to be merely a hearer. You are not deceiving yourself when you act (respond) upon the Word. It will be confirmed, for it is truth. It must be a living, active faith, not a mere mental passive something that all sinners can have. You are in Christ, and as God's child and heir you have the authority to act (respond) on the Word. You are a fruit-bearer, a producer for God, so get busy and produce for Him according to His Word.
11. WAVERING FAITH (James 1:5-8). This is faith doubting God and refusing to believe. Truly to believe and to have faith is to act (respond) on the Word. It means taking what is already yours. To believe on Jesus means to take Him for all that the Holy Bible declares Him to be. It means that you take salvation from sin, healing for the body, answers to your prayers, and all that He died to bring to you. Believing is an act (response) of the will. When you really believe you have acted (responded). You have taken the necessary step to get what you want from God. Faith is action in counting those things that be not as though they were (Rom. 4:17; Mark 11:22-24). Doubting is refusing to act (respond) on the Word. Unbelief is either refusing to act (respond) according to the knowledge that you have, or it is a manifestation of ignorance of the Word of God. If you do not know, you cannot act (respond) because you do not understand. If you do not understand you are afraid to act (respond) because you do not know how to act (respond). The cure for all unbelief is a thorough knowledge of the Word and consecration to obey it to the letter, regardless of how impossible it may seem at the moment (Mark 9:23, 10:27).
A wavering faith is called double-mindedness, a constant change of the mind as to what is wanted or whether the thing asked for is wanted or not. It is the attitude of yes-no, yes-no, and yes-no, until God Himself cannot tell whether it is yes or no. One minute it is decided that a thing is wanted, and it may be wanted with some real desperation, but the next minute it is not so important. People who have wavering faith do not really make up their minds that they are going to see the fight of faith through to an answer. They would accept the answer if it would come without any hesitation or effort on their part, but to take the necessary steps to get an answer or to fight in the least for the thing that is asked, is another question.
12. UNWAVERING FAITH (Heb. 10:23; 11:6). This is faith taking God at His word without any question. God commands us to "ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:5-8). We are told to "Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)" (Heb. 10:23). Again, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6).
This is faith refusing to doubt, wonder, question, or reason about one detail of what one has asked for from God. It has absolute confidence that what was asked is according to the Word of God, and therefore it knows that prayer is answered. It rests upon the promises as the basis of the answer, instead of upon feelings and things seen. It refuses to act contrary to what it has asked or to question in the least any delay in an answer. It counts the thing done regardless of all outward evidences to the contrary. It laughs at impossibilities and goes on in utmost confidence that what God has promised He is able to perform. It gives thanks for the answer from the moment it asks and looks forward in child-like expectation of getting it.
13. HUMAN FAITH (Mark 11:22-24). This is simply the exercise of human faculties in having confidence and conviction that he can believe God, and that God is true to all that He has promised. All men are capable of faith in themselves (remember the bear as we stated earlier) and faith in anyone else that makes any statement of promise to them. Faith is an attribute of man's created being. It was natural for man to believe God before the fall. There was no such thing as a doubt, a question, or any unbelieving reasoning on the part of man before this time. It was the devil that injected doubt and unbelief into man's moral and spiritual makeup. And since man's fall and because of the almost total depravity of his being, it becomes one of the greatest struggles of his redemptive career to have that same simple and unwavering faith that was natural before the fall. It was doubt, unbelief, listening to seducing spirits and believing Satan’s lies that caused and causes the downfall of man. It is of the greatest importance to repent of your sins asking Jesus Christ for forgiveness and for Him (Jesus Christ) to come into your heart, getting rid of all sin by redemption (being covered by the Blood of the Lamb of God).
14. DIVINE FAITH (Heb. 11:3; Gal. 2:20; 1Cor. 13:14). Faith is not only a natural attribute of man. It is an attribute of God. It is God's absolute confidence and conviction in His own Being and Word. The first passage listed above teaches that the ages were planned by faith through the Word of God and that things were brought into existence that never existed before. God had faith in Himself when He planned the worlds. He knew that He could do what He commanded, and He counted those that were not as though they were (Rom. 4:17). The second passage listed above speaks of "the faith of the Son of God," thus proving that He also has faith as does the Father. In fact, He is the author and finisher of faith (Heb. 12:1-2). The last passage mentioned above speaks of "faith" abiding along with hope and love, which means that these three qualities are eternal attributes of God.
Men will have to exercise faith in the infinite throughout eternity, for there will always be the necessity of having confidence in God and His eternal plan concerning those matters that the finite has not yet comprehended of the infinite (Isa. 32:17). If faith will be necessary in eternity, how much more is it needed now when we do not know as we are also known. This life is the probationary period of the eternal existence of human beings, and it is necessary to learn faith and obedience to carry out the plan of God for man both now and forever. Faith is acting (responding) on the Word of God, and this will be necessary throughout eternity because God will eternally give the saved His Word and make known His will concerning all things to come.
Thus it is clear that God has faith, Christ has faith, the Holy Spirit has faith angels have faith, and men must have faith in God, in order to please God (Heb. 11:6). Faith in God is absolutely necessary in the carrying on of Divine Heavenly Government(s).Childlike faith and confidence in God with utter abandonment of self-interests, trust in Him to leave everything in His hands for the common good of all, is not only demanded by God but it is the only reasonable attitude to take on the part of man.
The history of mankind and of angels proves that God has been good, merciful, loving, kind, and consecrated to the best good of all creation. Not one person under Heaven (with the exception of Satan) can point a finger of accusation that God has dealt with him unjustly. No one can today testify that God has been unfaithful to him if he has done the will of God and conformed to the Word of God in faith. Not one free person can accuse God of the least degree of unfaithfulness in any dealing. Not one will be able in all eternity to accuse Him of being a respecter of persons. He longs to bless all men today. He will heal of every disease, save from every sin and bad habit, deliver from failure and poverty, and answer every prayer that is prayed in faith in the name of Jesus Christ. He will do what He has promised to do. He desires to supply all needs of men, but He will not break His own law by blessing those who do not have faith. He has laid down plain laws of faith whereby any and every man can get what he wants in life (provided the individual meets God’s qualifications) and He as going to hold man to obedience to these laws before He grants the desires of man. If man wants the benefits, then let him intelligently obey the laws of God to the letter, and by so doing he will get what God has promised. If the benefits are not worth the price, then let him not complain that he is not supplied. If they are not worth the simple effort to get them as God has made clear, then don't doubt or waver one moment at to the outcome. It is already settled that the benefits are guaranteed sure, if true, simple, childlike faith is exercised. There is no longer any question about this if we believe the Holy Bible; so let this be settled forever.
MENTAL
OR HISTORICAL FAITH
Mental
(mind, knowledge, by study, that learned at a school, that confidence being
taught by another or that which had been recorded and that which “was not”
necessarily truth but was “logical,” “appeared” reasonable, “appeared” to be
truth, Historical but “not necessarily” Truth and therefore cannot, should
“NOT” be excepted by “blind faith” (without questioning).
Therefore, True historical Faith by the Spirit of God will “always” prove to be absolute fact (1 John 5:10-13).
This is faith in the history or the record of God (believing God’s Holy Word is True), God’s Holy and infallible Word (2nd Timothy 3:16) concerning the past and concerning His own Work for men. One can believe the record of God (Holy Bible, Torah, Holy Writ) to the letter and still not be saved. It is simply believing the record of anything of the past. No consecration to God is necessary to believe history. Logical faith, (reasoning) may believe (perceive, comprehend) every part of the Holy Bible, past, present, and future, as well as all the truth of the blessings of God, but if it does not act (respond) upon the Word of God it falls short of true heart faith. Faith without works is dead, being alone. It is passive and not taken to heart or considered important enough to need compliance. Thousands of sinners have knowledge faith in God and His Holy Bible (Word), but they keep neglecting the definite action of obeying truth.
True heart faith is not only a knowledgeable assent to truth but is a fact. Most people have such assent. They will believe that God is able, that He has promised to do certain things, and that He would if true faith were exercised, but there is little effort put forth to co-operate with God or to get what He has promised. It is merely a mental assent (agreement, approval) to truth without active faith-in it. It is the kind of faith that will turn to every source of help but God, and His Word. It is just like believing that food is good without ever eating to get the benefits from it. Mental assent, or passive faith, is one of the most dangerous enemies of true faith in God. It claims all the faith in the world and is satisfied easily with either anything or with nothing from God. If it does not get what it wants, it does not care. It would accept something from God if He would come personally and lay the answer in the lap, but apart from this there is little or no effort put forth to act in faith concerning anything God has promised. Knowledge faith may go as far as to maintain belief in every truth and in every part of God's program, and it may even claim to be contending for certain benefits, but as long as it remains only knowledge, it will not dare to act (respond) upon the promises of God.
Romans
10:14
Seven Steps in Gospel Faith:
1. The gospel was given by Christ (Romans 10:14).
2. The gospel must be preached (Romans 10:14).
3. A preacher is necessary (Romans 10:14).
4. The preacher must be sent (Romans 10:15).
5. The gospel must be heard (Romans 10:14-15).
6. The gospel must be believed (Romans 10:16).
7. The gospel must be obeyed (Romans 10:9-17).
Hebrews
11:33
Seventeen Works of Faith (Hebrews 11:33-38):
1. It subdued kingdoms (Joshua 12; 2 Samuel 8).
2. It worked righteousness (Genesis 15:6).
3. It obtained promises (Numbers 14:30).
4. It stopped the mouths of lions (Daniel 6).
5. It quenched fire (Daniel 3).
6. It escaped swords (1 Samuel 17; Exodus 18:4).
7. They were made strong (Hebrews 11:11; Romans 4:19).
8. They became valiant in battle (2 Samuel 23:8-23; 1 Samuel 14:13-15; Judges 7).
9. They put armies to flight (1 Samuel 17:51).
10. Women had children resurrected (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:18-37).
11. They endured torture (Genesis 39:20; Judges 16:21-31).
12. They endured mockings, scourgings, bonds, and imprisonments (Hebrews 11:36; Genesis 39:20; Jeremiah 37:16; Jeremiah 38:6; 1 Kings 22:27).
13. They suffered stonings (2 Chron. 24:21).
14. They endured death by sawing (Hebrews 11:37).
15. They suffered temptations (Genesis 39:1-17).
16. They suffered martyrdom by the sword (1 Samuel 22:18; 1 Kings 19:10).
17. They suffered wanderings and afflictions (Hebrews 11:37-38; 2 Kings 2:8,13).
Strong Faith (Rom. 4:20)
This faith is the kind that refuses to be defeated. It refuses to take no for an answer. It laughs at circumstances, symptoms, all outward appearances, and what is seen or felt, and it doggedly holds to the fact that what has been asked of God is granted. Abraham had this kind of faith: "Who against hope believed in hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not WEAK IN FAITH, be considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb [who was about ninety years old] : He staggered not at the promise of God though unbelief; but was STRONG IN FAITH, giving glory to God; and BEING FULLY PERSUADED that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And it was counted to him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:18-22).
This is the kind of faith all men should have and could have if they would only persuade themselves that God is true to His Word. Most men claim that they have faith in God to this extent, and not one wants to say boldly that God is a liar and that He will not do as He has said, but when it comes to exercising faith that will not doubt or waver in prayer, very few will maintain such a strong faith and thank God for the answer even before it is realized. Very few will simply refuse to question or waver in the least when it seems that things are going contrary to what has been asked of God. This is exactly why they do not get definite answers from God. There is no person who will exercise faith as strong as that of Abraham who will go very long without an answer from God. Such a thing, that God would refuse one who came to Him in such unwavering faith is literally impossible and unheard of (James 1:4-8; Heb. 11:6). All men are definitely assured of getting from God those things which He has promised if they will "walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham" (Rom. 4:12, 23-25).
Temporary Faith (Luke 8:13)
This is the kind of faith that believes for a while and springs up like a mushroom, but because of shallowness or lack of root it fails in time of temptation and test. People through the ages have been of this type. They receive the Word of God with great joy, and it seems that they are going to outstrip everybody else in faith, but after a few days or weeks they are not heard of again, or if they are heard of again it is in another revival meeting where their emotions become again stirred temporarily and they make another start in faith, only to fall again. They never fully come clean with God or make the full surrender of their lives except for the moment. They do not prepare the soil so that the seed can take deep root and produce fruit.
Some teach that this cannot happen, but it does in spite of the so-called impossibility of falling away from the faith and being renewed in repentance again. Some teach that one cannot fall from the faith, but Jesus certainly said that some would "receive the word with joy; and these have no root, WHICH FOR A WHILE BELIEVE, and in time of temptation FALL AWAY" (Matt. 13:20-21; Luke 8:13). Paul speaks of these as those who "concerning faith have made shipwreck" (1 Tim. 1:19); as having "cast off their first faith" by going "aside after Satan" (1 Tim. 5:12-15); and as having "erred concerning the faith" (1 Tim. 6:21). Many Scriptures say that men can depart from, and fall from the faith (Acts 14:22; 1 Tim. 2:15; 1 Tim 4:1; 1 Tim 5:8-15; 1 Tim 6:10,21; 2 Tim. 2:18; Heb. 3:6,12-14; Heb 6:11-12; Heb 10:22-38). Men are repeatedly told to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22; Col. 1:23;Col 2:6-7). Anybody with common intelligence knows that he can disbelieve anything that he chooses to lose faith in, especially in things that are not seen.
The Definition and Use of Faith
The word faith is found only twice in the Old Testament, but 245 times in the New Testament. The word believe with its various endings occurs 45 times in the Old Testament and 268 times in the New Testament. The word trust is the other Old Testament word for faith and believe. It is used with its various endings 154 times in the Old Testament and 35 times in the New Testament.
These words simply mean to confide in, so as to be secure without fear; to flee for refuge to or to take shelter in; to put faith in; to stay or rest on; to rely on; to believe or to take one at his word; to rely upon the promise of another: and to put absolute trust in a person without any questioning or doubts as to His faithfulness.
The Holy Bible definition of faith is, "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).
Paul, in Rom. 4:17, expresses true faith as an attribute of God, "who quickeneth the dead, and CALLETH THOSE THINGS WHICH BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE." Faith is a union of assurance and conviction, the counting or reckoning a thing done as though it were already done. Faith does not to see it before it believes, if that is the circumstance, then you will never have Faith in Almighty God, Jesus Christ The Son of Almighty God or the Holy Ghost because God is a Spirit (John 4:24). Whereas, faith laughs at impossibilities and all circumstances that may be contrary to the laws of the physical world and counts the thing done that it asks from God. Faith is not swayed to believe God only when things seem possible, and it is not moved to waver or question in the least when things can and does go contrary to what has been asked. It effectually and fervently moves right along counting the impossible as possible, counting it as done, which are not seen, and counting the things that are not as though they were.
THE
DEFINITION OF FAITH
The words faith, trust, and believe simply means: excepting it and knowing that it is, because (it is God that doeth the works, John 14:10), so as to be secure without fear; to flee for refuge to or to take shelter in; to put faith in; to stay or rest on; to rely on; to believe or to take one at his word; to rely upon the promise of another; and to put absolute trust in a person without any questioning or doubts as to His faithfulness.
The Bible definition of faith is, "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).
The
Importance of Faith
The Bible definitely declares that faith is all-important: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6); "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1); "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" (James 1:5-8); "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23), "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Eph. 6:16); "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.... Now the just shall LIVE BY FAITH: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Heb. 10:35-39); "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive" (Matt. 21:21); "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23); "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive theme and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:22-24).
These Scriptures, which clearly set forth the importance of faith, need no interpretation. They plainly promise all men that they can get whatsoever they have faith for. There are no limitations or qualifications concerning known needs of this life or the life to come; so do not limit them. They are clear that faith is absolutely necessary to get what is desired in life. No man should expect to get anything from God if he refuses to have faith. There is no such thing as the impossibility of having faith, so the fact that one does not have faith is his own choice and responsibility. Jesus commanded men to "Have faith in God," and such is possible, or it would not be mandatory.
It is all-important to have faith, because no prayer will be answered without it, God cannot be pleased without it; man will not get anything from God without it- and he will be disobedient to God without it. If faith is commanded, then not to have faith is to break the law of God and commit sin. If believers would realize this fact they would become desperate about this law-breaking, as much as they are about breaking other laws of God. If they could only realize that it is sin to have unbelief and to doubt God they would at least become moved to the point of action against such law-breaking. The trouble all along has been that most men consider unbelief and doubt as part of human nature and something to be expected and not to be changed. The attitude has been that of being indifferent about it. When it is easy to believe there is no problem, but when it becomes a struggle and hard to believe it is passed off as something that cannot be helped at all. This is where the devil has got the upper hand of men who pray. He makes them think that not all men can believe God and that if one cannot do so, then it is perfectly right to live in unbelief and to doubt and waver all that one pleases.
God always answers every prayer of the born again child of God, however, when they don’t feel that their prayer is answered, most men take it for granted that it is not the will of God to grant an answer. They are quickly turned aside from the purpose of getting an answer and feel defeated because they refuse to be faithful in faith unto God (James 5:16). Most of the time, people that doubt God, will lay the blame for such defeat upon God and is considered the will of God without any question, while the truth is that this attitude has surrendered to the devil and evil spirit-forces who oppose the person and causes doubt and unbelief for his answer to prayer. It then becomes habitual for the average Christian to be defeated and he gives little thought to it, unless he repents and begins to praise the Lord for all things (Romans 8:28). People try to put the blame on God for their own bad choices and failures (Zeph. 3:5; Isaiah 58:11)
This condition in the lives of praying people has been created by wrong teachings in the churches for years upon years. The average preacher, if he reads our arguments, will be quick to defend such failures and such teaching of failures as being perfectly biblical and the will of God. This proves that we are right in stating that the most modern day preachers are largely to blame for such a condition of unbelief and such resignation of confidence in the Lord is their defeat in prayer. If each preacher would wake up to acknowledge truth and wage aggressive warfare against satanic forces. Then, Satan would soon be defeated in their lives. If they would teach the truth as it is plainly written in Scriptures, faith and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ would soon be evident. It would put a stop to defending unbelief and failure.
Too many times people’s failures are misunderstood for prove that it is not God's will to answer. They ignore the plain word of God for their lives as proof of anything. The truth is that because of their unbelief and their choosing to doubt God, their prayers remain unanswered and such results are never the true will of God.
Suppose God did not answer their prayer; does this do away with His promises and make null and void His Word, or does it prove that man failed to have faith? What does the Holy Bible say? If it says that God will always answer faith, then the lack of an answer simply shows unbelief. When the disciples asked Jesus, "Why could not we cast him out?" The answer was, "Because of your unbelief" (Matt. 17:14-21). Not one Scripture says that unanswered prayer indicates any other cause. When we try to excuse our unbelief and blame God for the failure, we sin against Him. In Heb. 12:1-2 we are told, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, AND THE SIN which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." Unbelief is the sin that so easily overthrows the saints. It is not the major sins of the flesh that we permit to dominate us, but it is the sin of doubting God. If man would not doubt God there would be no failure to get an answer to prayer every time one prays for anything that is covered by the promises of God.
The
Law of Faith
According to all the above-stated studies all the blessings of God come through faith. If one wants to attain to the known needs of this life as well as those of the life to come he must have faith and exercise it. There is nothing more clear in Scripture than the fact that faith is absolutely necessary to receive the benefits of the gospel. It is also equally clear that we receive according to our faith. The law of faith is-"nothing doubting ... according to your faith, so be it done unto you.... If thou canst believe, all things are possible" (Matt. 9:28-29; Mark l:15; 9:23; 11:22-24; 16:17; James 1:5-8, Heb. 11:6, Rom. 12:6.
If men receive little, they have little faith. If they receive much, they have much faith. If they waver they get nothing. If they believe for one thing and not another, then they get only the one thing. One can always tell how much faith one has by what one receives. If a person gives up in a battle and quits believing for what he has asked, it is not the fault of God that he does not receive. It is one’s own fault.
THE
NATURE OF FAITH
Paul,
in Rom. 4:17, teaches that true faith is an attribute of God, "who
quickeneth the dead, and CALLETH THOSE THINGS WHICH BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY
WERE." Faith is a union of assurance and conviction; the counting or
reckoning a thing done as though it were already done. Faith does not
have to see before it believes. It laughs at impossibilities and all
circumstances that may be contrary to it and counts the thing done that it asks
from God. Faith is not swayed to believe God only when things seem
possible. It is not moved to waver or question in the least when things
seem to go contrary to what has been asked. It effectually, fervently and dependently plugs right
along counting the impossible as possible; counting as done the things that are
not seen; and counting the things that are not as though they were.
Twenty Facts about Faith
1. It can be shipwrecked (1 Tim. 1:19).
2. Put away or thrust away (1 Tim. 1:19)
3. Turned away from (Acts 13:8)
4. Made void (Romans 4:14)
5. Exercised in vain (1 Cor. 15:17)
6. Held to or let go (1 Tim. 1:19)
7. Departed from (1 Tim. 4:1)
8. Denied (1 Tim. 5:8; Rev. 2:13)
9. Cast off (1 Tim. 5:12)
10. Erred from (1 Tim. 6:10,21)
11. Overthrown (2 Tim. 2:18)
12. Abandoned (2 Tim. 3:8)
13. Kept or lost (2 Tim. 4:7)
14. Found missing (Mark 4:40; Luke 8:25)
15. Adequate or fail (Luke 22:32)
16. Made without effect (Romans 3:3)
17. Dead (James 2:17,20,26)
18. Obeyed or disobeyed (Acts 6:7)
19. Built up or destroyed (Jude 1:20)
20. Continued in or discontinued in (Acts 14:22; Col. 1:23; Hebrews 10:39)
1
Tim. 1:20
A man who thrust away and made shipwreck of his faith, becomes a blasphemer (1 Tim. 1:19-20) and a false teacher, overthrowing the faith of others (2 Tim. 2:16-18).
Another man who thrust away and made shipwreck of his faith (1 Tim. 1:19-20) and who became an enemy of the gospel (2 Tim. 4:14-15; Acts 19:33). Both of these men had faith and a good conscience before making shipwreck of them (1 Tim. 1:19). Thus, we not only have reference to a possibility of such shipwreck, but also a record of examples.
Perhaps like in 1 Cor. 5:5.
Unfeigned Faith (1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim 1:5)
This faith is the kind that knows no hypocrisy, sham, or counterfeit. It is the kind that does not brag or put on outward show, that it is real. It is simply genuine and real and sincere in its every aspect. It proceeds out of a pure heart and from a good conscience, as stated in these Scriptures. It is not hereditary, although in 2 Tim. 1:5 Paul speaks of it as being in three successive generations. It is the kind that all honest, pure, and sincere men have. It is the unselfish, holy, and godly kind that naturally increases in the life of every true child of God, as he grows in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 1:4-9; 2 Peter 3:18).
Unwavering Faith (Heb. 10:23; Heb 11:6)
This is faith taking God at His Word without any question. God commands us to "ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:5-8). We are told to "Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)" (Heb. 10:23). Again, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6).
This is faith refusing to doubt, wonder, question, or reason about one detail of what one has asked from God. It has absolute confidence that what was asked is according to the Word of God, and therefore it knows that prayer is answered. It rests upon the promises as the basis of the answer, instead of upon feelings and things seen. It refuses to act (respond) contrary to what it has asked The Lord for or to question in the least any delay in an answer. It counts the thing done regardless of all outward evidences to the contrary. It laughs at impossibilities and goes on in utmost confidence that what God has promised He is able to perform. It gives thanks for the answer from the moment it asks and looks forward in child-like expectation of getting it.
Unwavering
Faith (James 1:5-8)
This
faith in God is “absolute,” unshakable, unmovable and refuses to doubt.
To believe and to have faith is to act (respond) on the Word. It means
taking what is already yours. To believe on Jesus means to take Him for
all that the Holy Bible declares Him to be. It means that you receive and
confess salvation from sin, healing for the body, answers to your prayers, and
all that He died to bring to you. Believing is an act (response) of the
will. When you really believe, you have acted (responded). You have
taken the necessary step to get what you want from God. Faith is action
in counting those things that be not as though they were (Rom. 4:17; Mark 11:22-24).
Doubting is refusing to act on the Word. Unbelief is either refusing to
act according to the knowledge that you have, or it is a manifestation of
ignorance of the Word of God. If you do not know, you cannot act
(respond) because you do not understand. If you do not understand you are
afraid to act (respond) because you do not know how to act (respond). The cure for all unbelief is a thorough knowledge of
the Word and consecration to obey it to the letter, regardless of how
impossible it may seem to you at the moment.
A wavering faith is called double-mindedness, a constant change of the mind as to what is wanted or whether the thing asked for is wanted or not. It is the attitude of yes-no, yes-no, and yes-no, until God Himself cannot tell whether it is yes or no. One minute it is decided that a thing is wanted, and it may be wanted with some real desperation, but the next minute it is not so important and it does not matter much whether it is received or not. People who have wavering faith do not really make up their minds that they are going to see the fight of faith through to an answer. They would accept the answer if it would come without any hesitation or effort on their part, but to take the necessary steps to get an answer or to fight in the least for the thing that is asked, is another question.
Weak Faith (Rom. 4:19; Rom 14:1-15:4; 1 Cor. 8)
This is the kind of faith that constantly limits personal benefits and privileges from God, due to wrong teachings and personal scruples concerning non-essentials of life. There are literally thousands of people who spend much of their time arguing and condemning each other over small details of life that are not essential enough to mention in particular in Scripture. These consist of what one may or may not eat, drink, wear, or do in life and still be a Christian. In Romans, chapter 14 it is clear that the Kingdom of God does not consist in meat, drink, and personal details of life that are not specifically forbidden in Scripture, but that it is "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."
If the devil cannot get men to commit sin (for all sin is forbidden and separates man from God), he will urge (seduce) honest-hearted people to go to the extreme and condemn this or that in personal liberties that are wrong and are not of God (James 4:17) and confuse them, causing them not to believe God.
Be
Faithful in Faith believing
as a designation of Christians, means full of faith, trustful, and not simply trustworthy (Acts 10:45; 16:1; 2 Cor. 6:15; Col. 1:2; 1 Tim. 4:3, 12; 5:16; 6:2; Titus 1:6; Eph. 1:1; 1 Cor. 4:17). It is used also of God's word or covenant as true and to be trusted (Ps. 119:86, 138; Isa. 25:1; 1 Tim. 1:15; Rev. 21:5; 22:6).
Faithful
Sayings
1. Christ came to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Tim. 4:10; Matthew 1:21; John 3:16: Galatians 1:4).
2. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of life now, and of that which is to come (1 Tim. 1:4:8-10).
3. If we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him (2 Tim. 2:11-13).
4. They which believe must maintain good works (Titus 3:8; cp. 1 Tim. 3:1; Rev. 21:5; Rev. 22:6). This gives the whole span of redemption from the fall of man to the eternal reign with Christ.
Proverbs
14:5
Five
Examples of Faithful Witnesses:
1. Joseph (Genesis 37:2)
2. John the Baptist (Matthew 3; John 1:7-28)
3. Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5)
4. The apostles (Acts 5:32)
5. Paul (Acts 20:21-27; Acts 22:15)
Four Examples of False Witnesses:
1. Ten spies (Numbers 13:32)
2. False prophets (1 Kings 22:6-27)
3. Jewish men (Matthew 26:60-61)
4. Tertullus (Acts 24:1-9)
Three Examples of Not Finding Truth:
1. Jews in Christ's ministry (Matthew 13:15)
2. Jews in Paul's ministry (Acts 13:41)
3. Athenians (2 Cor. 1:23; 2 Cor. 2:8)
Knowledge is hard for the one who rebels and won't believe truth when he hears it; but it is easy for him to understand who is open to truth and will believe what he hears (Matthew 13:10-17; 1st John 4:1).
Four Examples of Following False Ways:
1. Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:27-33; 1 Kings 14:7-11)
2. Josiah (2 Chron. 35:20-24)
3. Paul (Phil. 3:4-7; 1 Tim. 1:13)
4. Jews (John 16:2; Acts 13:50)
Five Examples of the End Result of the Wrong Way:
1. Nabal (1 Samuel 25:36-37)
2. Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-8; Eccles. 2:2)
3. Belshazzar (Daniel 5)
4. Israelites (Amos 6:3-7)
5. Judas (Acts 1:25)
The
“Gift” of Faith in God!
1 Cor. 12:1-13 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. [2] Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. [3] Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. [4] Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. [6] And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. [7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. [8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; [9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; [10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: [11] But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. [12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. [13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The
Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit
The subject of gifts of the Spirit is one of the most misunderstood doctrines of Scripture. We have repeatedly pointed out that the terms "children of God" and "sons of God" mean something. When we say that God is our Father and that we are His children, we mean that God has not only accepted us but that He has endued us with power to become the sons of God with power to represent Him in the world as He would represent Himself. As children of God, we are partakers of the Glories and Divine power that is God’s.
God has made full provision for the full manifestation of His power and life through His people. In previous lessons, we have proved what God's plan is and for the needs of man and how that every believer has the power of attorney to act (respond) in the presence of Christ among men. Believers are partakers of the Divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). They have access to God and instructions (written authority) from God to exercise His Divine power that all may know that Almighty God is God and beside Him is no other.
Everything in existence partakes of the same nature, powers, attributes, and characteristics that belong to its particular kind. The fish partakes of all the powers and traits of its own kind. The birds partake of every bird-like faculty and characteristic. The various animals also follow their own kind. The human race is the same. And so it is with the family of God. The moment anything is born it has certain authority of its parents. The offspring of a fish can swim and live in water; the bird can fly, and the dog can bark. It would be a miracle for the dog to live in water or the fish to live and fly in the sky. This would be contrary to God’s design and creation.
It is likewise contrary to God that men be born of God spiritually and partake of His Spirit and live and act (respond) contrary to God. The Sons of God (if they are born again by the blood of Jesus Christ) would manifest a spiritual attitude in life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by faith in the name of Jesus Christ and His atonement. God has provided the baptism in the Holy Ghost and the gifts of the Spirit for such manifestation of Divine life in His Sons.
There is nothing more specific and detailed in Scripture than the plan of God for divine-human sons endued with power to represent God in the Earth. In previous lessons we have given hundreds of Scriptures to prove this. The spiritual tools of God are the gifts of the Spirit which He wants exercised in full by all of His Earth-sons. He has repeatedly demonstrated His will through the prophets, through Jesus Christ, and through early believers. He has repeatedly promised such power to every believer, so there is no excuse for ignorance concerning this subject.
Paul started his discourse of God’s spiritual gifts by saying, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU IGNORANT" (1 Cor. 12:1), and he ended his discourse by saying, "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant" (1 Cor. 14:38). It seems that the more simple and detailed the truths of God are, the more people are ignorant of them. Every time Paul uses a statement such as "I would not have you to be ignorant" the subject is one of the most simple in Scripture to understand. If it is at all difficult it is simply and clearly explained in detail so that there can be no misunderstanding if one wants to understand at all. (See Rom. 1:13; 11:25; 1 Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 2 Cor. 1:8; 1 Thess. 4:13-17). The only reason that anyone could possibly misunderstand is that he deliberately refuses to understand, as plainly expressed by the statement above, "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."
In these lessons, we have seen that the gifts of the Spirit were manifest in all Old Testament ages with the exception of the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues. Saints of old had great power with God and even greater power in many instances than manifested today through modern believers. Let any honest heart compare what power he has with what some of the saints of the Old Testament had and with what Christ and the apostles exercised, and he will have to acknowledge that he is falling far short of what men of God in His Old and New Testament History days experienced. Is this normal? Is this the teaching of the Holy Bible? Is it the will of God for this condition to be true of modern believers?
We cannot bring ourselves to say that this is God's best in view of the many hundreds of Scriptures on the subject. God has been a God of signs and wonders in both Testaments. He is ever the same. His faculties are constant, His attributes are eternal, and His Divine powers are immutable. He has never changed in power nor will He ever change. He is not evolving and He will never evolve. He is today as ever He has been or ever will be. He will never be what He is not, and what He ever was, He is. God's energies do not grow, and His plan of using His Authority for the highest good of all creation never changes.
The gifts of the Spirit are not new. They have been exercised of old in greater power than we see manifest by modern saints. These were not just temporary loans of power to the Old Testament saints, as some teach. They were permanent anointings and gifts, and they were just as much "without repentance" on the part of God, as they are today (Rom. 11:29). No calling of God or no gift of the Spirit in any age has been a mere loan or a temporary faculty if it was really given to any person. Solomon said of His gift of wisdom after he had backslidden, "Also my wisdom it remained with me" (Eccl. 2:9). There is no statement of any kind that says the Old Testament gifts and anointings were only loans and were only temporary. This is just a theory of man and is to be valued only as such.
Gifts
and Fruit: First Eight Chapters
1. Tongues (Acts 2:3-11)
2. Prophecy (Acts 2:16-21; Acts 3:19-21)
3. Word of Knowledge (Acts 2:23-36; Acts 5:3-11; Acts 8:22)
4. Word of wisdom (Acts 2:37-40; Acts 3:19; Acts 4:8-12; Acts 5:29-33; Acts 6:3-10)
5. Miracles (Acts 2:43; Acts 3:6-16; Acts 4:22; Acts 5:12-16; Acts 6:8; Acts 8:6-17)
6. Healings (Acts 3:6-8,16; Acts 4:22; Acts 5:16; Acts 6:8; Acts 8:6-13)
7. Discernment (Acts 5:3-11; Acts 8:22)
8. Faith (Acts 3:3-16; Acts 5:12-16; Acts 6:8)
9. Fruit of the Spirit (Acts 2:1,42-47; Acts 3:3-20; Acts 4:29-33; Acts 5:12-16,26-42; Acts 7:54-60; Acts 8:8)
Spiritual
Gifts are of God
The condition stated above should never be tolerated by any church. When it is, then that church is dead and ceases to be a Christian church. It becomes only a center of amusement and social activity. We have given sufficient Scripture to prove that there is a real baptism in the Spirit, real power in God for believers, and real gifts of the Spirit that should be in every church and every member of every church. Instead of shunning these spiritual experiences and the people who teach them, church members should welcome all good news about these blessings. They should be eager to know all they can about them. Has God given hundreds of Scriptures to make these things clear to us if He meant that we should not have them?
No
Excuse for Ignorance or Controversy
There can be no ignorance of these spiritual blessings if men will only read their own Bibles and see for themselves what God says on any subject. Neither can there be any excuse for controversy concerning spiritual experiences if men will be only half honest and open to the Bible truths that are so plainly stated in many Scriptures. A popular excuse among fighters of certain doctrines we have discussed is the failure in Christian living and in demonstrating the power that such experiences are supposed to bring. Such critics seem to forget that some people in all churches fail to live and demonstrate the Christian life. Shall we class all these churches of the devil because of the failure of some of the members? Shall we condemn certain doctrines embraced by these churches because a few members do not live right? Regardless of the failure of men we must accept plain truths of Scripture as being of God.
Eight
Gifts of God
1. Christ (John 3:16; John 4:10); called the heavenly and unspeakable gift (2 Cor. 9:15; Hebrews 6:4)
2. The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33, 38-39; Acts 5:32; Acts 8:20; Acts 11:17)
3. Salvation (Romans 5:15-18; Ephes. 2:8-9)
4. Eternal life (Romans 6:23)
5. Grace (Ephes. 3:7; Ephes. 4:7)
6. Spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6; 1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Cor. 12:4-11,28-31; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Peter 4:10)
7. Ministers (Ephes. 4:11)
8. All good things (Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13; Phil. 4:17; James 1:17)
Greek: doma (NT:1390). Only here; Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13; Phil. 4:17
All blessings are Jas
1:17; 2Pe 1:3.
Are dispensed according to his will Ec 2:26; Da 2:21; Ro 12:6; 1Co 7:7.
Are free and abundant Nu 14:8; Ro 8:32.
Spiritual
Christ the chief of. Isa
42:6; 55:4; Joh 3:16; 4:10; 6:32,33.
Are through Christ. Ps 68:18; Eph 4:7,8; Joh 6:27.
The Holy Spirit. Lu 11:13; Ac 8:20.
Grace. Ps 84:11; Jas 4:6.
Wisdom. Pr 2:6; Jas 1:5.
Repentance. Ac 11:18.
Faith. Eph 2:8; Php 1:29.
Righteousness. Ro 5:16,17.
Strength and power. Ps 68:35.
A new heart. Eze 11:19.
Peace. Ps 29:11.
Rest. Mt 11:28; 2Th 1:7.
Glory. Ps 84:11; Joh 17:22.
Eternal life. Ro 6:23.
Not repented of by him. Ro 11:29.
To be used for mutual profit. 1Pe 4:10.
Pray for. Mt 7:7,11; Joh 16:23,24.
Acknowledge Ps 4:7; 21:2.
Temporal
Life. Isa 42:5.
Food and raiment. Mt 6:25-33.
Rain and fruitful seasons. Ge 27:28; Lv 26:4,5; Isa
30:23.
Wisdom. 2Ch 1:12.
Peace. Lv 26:6; 1Ch 22:9.
All good things. Ps 34:10; 1Ti 6:17.
To be used and enjoyed. Ec 3:13; 5:19,20; 1Ti 4:4,5.
Should cause us to remember God. De 8:18.
All creatures partake of. Ps 136:25; 145:15,16.
Pray for. Zec 10:1; Mt 6:11.
Illustrated Mt 25:15-30.
A
Gist of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
1.
The Gifts of Revelation, or the Mind Gifts
We
call these mind-gifts because they are pertaining to the mental powers of man
more than the others. These are three in number as follows:
(1) THE WORD OF WISDOM. This is insight into the divine acts as to how God would Himself do things. It is the unfolding of His plan and purpose concerning any specific thing in His government of free moral agents. It is the divine revelation of how to apply best God's will in governments and churches. The word of wisdom conveys divine instructions to men, and it may be manifested by dreams, visions, audible voices, angels, or by divine utterance in prophecy and tongues and interpretation.
The word of knowledge is a revelation of things past, present, and future, while the word of wisdom is revelation concerning things present and future. This gift is used mainly in the exercise of government, not only in human governments, but in church government. Governmental ability is essential to rulers of any community state, nation, or to pastors, evangelists, teachers, and elders of any church. When any special problem arises that is not covered by God's written revelation or there are no specific rules to go by, the gift of wisdom should be used in solving the problem. When the two women were brought to Solomon to decide which one the child belonged to, the gift of wisdom was manifested in calling for a sword to divide the baby and give half to each woman. This brought out the truth as to who the mother really was, for the true mother had enough compassion on the child to want to save it alive, and she requested that it be given to the other woman.
There are numerous problems that come up in churches and civil governments that could be easily solved by this gift if men would reverence God enough to seek for it and depend upon the Spirit for the word of wisdom. A few examples of its use may be seen in Matt. 2:20; Luke 22:10-12; John 2:22-24; 4:16-19; Acts 26:16; 27:21-25; 1 Cor. 5:1-5.
(2) THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE. This is supernatural revelation by the Spirit of certain facts in the mind of God. It may be a revelation concerning God's will, His plan, the secret plans of others, or their acts, thoughts, motives and ambitions. It is a miraculous revelation like the speaking in tongues. The Spirit is the agent, and man is the recipient of it. Man has nothing to do to get it except receive it by direct communication of the Spirit.
This knowledge does not come through natural ability, observation, study, education, or experience. It is a supernatural gift. It is not even a profound knowledge of the Holy Bible illuminated by the Spirit. It is the revelation of knowledge that man could not have known of himself, such as the knowledge of creation, the church, and other truths that were hidden from man from eternity. Neither the gift of wisdom nor the gift of knowledge is given to interpret and to preach and teach the Bible. They are two of the gifts that confirm the Word of God. The anointing of the Spirit is sufficient to equip one for the speaking ministry of giving out the truth, while all the gifts are miraculous abilities to confirm what is spoken (Heb. 2:3-4, Mark 16: 15-20; Rom. 15:18-19, 29). The young and inexperienced may be the recipients of this knowledge as well as the old and experienced people, for it does not depend upon natural ability, but upon the direct acts of the Spirit. This knowledge will help make a scholar, but being a scholar will never help one to attain this knowledge.
Examples of this gift can be seen in Gen. 1:1-2:25; 1 Sam. 3:7-15; 2 Kings 6:8-12; Acts 9:11-12; Matt. 16:16; John 1:1-3: Acts 5:3-4; 21:11; Eph. 3; etc.
3. DISCERNING OF SPIRITS. This gift completes the gifts of revelation in the realm of knowledge. Everything that could be known concerning the past, present, and future of all the creations, or what may be known of God and His plans and purposes all come within the range of these three gifts: wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. They can make known all that God knows or sees fit to reveal to men. The gift of discernment is limited in scope to a single class of objects-spirits. It is just as much miraculous as the others, but it operates in the spiritual realm only. Its purpose is to give an insight into the spirit realm and reveal the kind of spirit working in and through a person and to make known thoughts and motives. It conveys information concerning spirits that could never be imparted otherwise or that never could be learned apart from this gift. Discernment of things outside the spirit realm is the work of wisdom and knowledge.
Clairvoyance, psychism, hypnotism, magic, occultism, witchcraft, sorcery, spiritism, fortune telling, crystal ball reading, and other sources of information, are the work of demons, as we have seen in other lessons. Power to discover the faults of others is not a work of true discernment, for no supernatural power is necessary to do this. All of us are richly endowed by fallen nature with the gift of fault-finding, which is forbidden in Scripture (Matt. 7:1, 15-20). All traffic with familiar and evil spirits are also forbidden in Scripture.
The
use of the gift of discerning of spirits is to help deliver people from
(all evil) seductive and familiar spirits (Mark 5:5; Luke 9:39; Acts 5:16;
8:1-8; Matt. 12:22), to reveal the servants of Satan (Acts 13:9-10), to defeat
the work of demons (Acts 16:16), to expose error (1 Tim. 4; 1 John 4:1-6), and
to unmask demon-inspired miracle-workers (Acts 8:9-22; 2 Thess. 2:8-12; Rev.
16:13-16). This gift merely discerns, does
not cast out, hence other gifts become necessary (Luke10:19).
2.
The Gifts of Inspiration, or the Vocal Gifts
The gifts of inspiration are three. We call them inspirational or vocal gifts because they are manifested by direct inspiration through the vocal organs. They are prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Their purpose is to inspire men by the Power of The Holy Ghost in public gatherings and to make known the presence of Almighty God by speaking under the Holy Anointing of God as a Direct Representative of God
These particular gifts are mainly for public worship to instruct, edify, correct, direct, rebuke, exhort, and teach the direct will of God and make known His direct will to His people. They are as follows:
(1) PROPHECY. This is Divine utterance in the known tongue. The word prophecy means to flow forth or to forthtell and foretell (tell it forth). It is a miracle of divine utterance that has nothing to do with human thought and natural reasoning. The human will and faith are necessary for its use. The Old Testament prophets were primarily preachers of righteousness speaking under the direct unction of the Spirit in divine rebuke, correction, exhortation, edification, curse, or comfort. There was an element of foretelling in all the forthtelling of the prophets. They made known God's immediate will to the people to whom they spoke as well as they made known things to come. The New Testament prophets were mainly speakers of edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3). Some of them were also foretellers of future events (Acts 2:16-21; 11:28; 21:11; Matt. 24:25; 2 Thess. 2; Rev. 1:1-3; etc.).
These utterances, whether for edification and comfort or for revelation of things to come, were Divine and direct from God by The Holy Spirit (John 4:24). They were not the common utterances of preachers under the anointing to preach, for this would rob the gift of the Divine element and accuse the Holy Spirit speaking many things contrary to the written revelation. For many false preachers speak many things in sermons that are in direct conflict to the Word of God, and yet many of them are to some degree inspired or excited to preach. The gift of prophecy is direct utterance of things that are not premeditated and which are not the fruit of the intellect of the speaker. The word “preach” is not the same as prophesy. The two are distinct from each other. One is inspired utterance without the fruit of the intellect in study, and the other is the result of study though it may be anointed or stated with excitement (being a difference). One is the direct speaking through man by The Holy Spirit as He gives utterance in the known tongue. Whereas the gift of tongues is the direct utterance of The Holy Spirit in unknown tongues, while the other is the fruit of the intellect and the natural man's faculties, giving utterance under an unction from God. The true exercise of the gift of prophecy is every bit Divine, as is clear in examples of its use (1 Tim. 4; Acts 2:16-21; 3:21; 11:28; 21:11; 2 Pet. 1:21). Preaching can be called prophecy in one form, depending upon the degree of yieldedness and the direct control of the speaker and the purpose of The Holy Spirit on the occasion. The purpose of the gifts are for edification (as may be seen in) 1 Cor. 14:3, 4, 24, 25, 31.
It is clear that this gift can be exercised by both men and women (1 Cor. 11:5; 14:31; Acts 2:16-21), and all should use them in turn, being decent and in order (1 Cor. 14:1-3, 24, 31). Prophecy is greater than tongues without interpretation, but both are equal when tongues are interpreted (1 Cor. 14:5). It is simply The Holy Spirit speaking through a believer in his own tongue, while tongues is the same operation, only it is not in the native tongue of the speaker (1 Cor. 12:7, 11; 14:1-3, 23-31). It may accompany tongues (Acts 19:1-7). That which was spoken by The Holy Ghost in The Unknown Tongues of The Holy Ghost which was NOT recorded (by some means to be viewed by all) can be easily forgotten by both the giver and the recipient. Therefore, in that sense only, unless what was spoken and permanently recorded for all to view, it is not equal to the written Word of God and it will cease or possibly be lost (1 Cor. 13:8) but the written Word will abide forever (1 Pet. 1:25; Ps. 119:89). It is to be judged to see if it is in harmony with the written Word (1 Cor. 14:29). The responsibility of what is uttered rests with the prophet and the recording angel of God (1 Cor. 14:32; Deut. 18:20-22; Ezek. 13). The acid test of all gifts is the Word of God.
Further
(for clarification), simply because the spoken Word (Rama Word) was “not”
recorded (written) first before it was given (uttered) by the inspiration of
God “The Holy Ghost,” simply does NOT cause or mean what was spoken of God to
(or have any less effectiveness) be less effective or to have no power
(authority).
For
example: Were the words spoken by Moses, David, Daniel, Elijah, Elisha or Jesus
Christ The Son of God of “no effect” unless they were recorded in the Holy
Scripture first? That answer was NO, they were in effect, because the very
words in which they spoke WERE the very words of God and they were spoken,
“first” and then recorded later, therefore becoming the LOGOS Word (written
Word of God).
One should never misuse or suppress true utterances, but false ones should never be tolerated. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets (1 Cor. 14:32), God does not force any person to utter anything.
Please do Remember, Satan does have his chants, spells and naturally are NOT of God which should NEVER be confused with, stated, classified as from God or the Holy Ghost, which is an abomination to God.
If a message is of the wrong spirit (attitude, personality, does NOT glorify God), the speaker is detected (proven, 1st John 4:1) by what he utters, and generally it is some rebuke or unseemly and unscriptural utterance without regard to God or man or the Word of God (if the utterance is NOT of God, the utterance will not be comforting, clean, Holy, peaceful or righteous before God, giving glory to God). And the speaker becomes angry if his message is not taken and obeyed as from God. It is generally the source of contention and trouble. The true prophet will always act (respond) in the fear of God and in harmony with the Word of God. He will be open to teaching and criticism and will be Tilling to adjust himself to what he is taught that is best for all (Deuteronomy !8:18-22).
(2) THE GIFT OF DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES. This is Divine utterance in tongues by which the language is totally unknown to the speaker, but is known somewhere in other parts of the world, or they would not be languages. The word "unknown" in 1 Cor. 14 is in italics, and that means it is not in the original Greek. It was supplied by the translators to make sense and to express the idea that the tongues are unknown to the speakers. The idea never was that they were not real languages spoken by someone in the other parts of the world (universe). Tongues may be that of men or of angels (1 Cor. 13:1-3). It may sound to the hearers that it is not a real language being spoken, but it demonstrates ignorance for anyone to argue this, for there are many hundreds of languages and dialects, and many of them do not sound like a real language. Some sound like a language to one more than another, but all such judgment is purely human and means nothing.
We do not want the reader to get the idea that we are giving more prominence to the gift of tongues than to other gifts, but this one gift is so much misunderstood that the whole church world seems to be poisoned against it, and it is our duty to plainly state what The Holy Bible says about it, just as we are doing with every doctrine of Scripture. We are giving an impartial study of The Holy Bible and all of its doctrines, nod we must be faithful to do this regardless of the narrow-mindedness and unfairness of the multitudes concerning certain truths of Scripture. When a truth is being rejected, as is the doctrine of speaking in tongues, then it is the duty of every man to state fairly and honestly what The Holy Bible says about it to correct these false ideas. It is one of the three gifts Paul gives so much prominence to in 1 Cor. 14. It is peculiar that not one of the other gifts is dealt with in this chapter, thus proving that the vocal gifts are the three main ones to be used in the meetings of believers. The vocal gifts are so evidently Divine and Holy that they naturally challenge at once those who reject such gifts (Acts 2:1-21; 10:44-48; 19:1-7; 1 Cor. 14). Scripture is so simple and clear on this subject that it is easy to answer all questions concerning it.
It has nothing to do with linguistic ability nor with the mind or intellect as far as the understanding is concerned. It is simply the Spirit employing the vocal organs and other faculties of speech. Man's will and spirit are active and in perfect accord with God who is the one directly speaking through the man by the Spirit. This is merely a miracle of utterance in unknown languages, the fact of God directly speaking through man spiritual mysteries unknown to the individual, that we cannot understand in the natural or carnal (Rom. 8:26-27; 1 Cor. 14:2-5). It is God's way of speaking directly by the Spirit to the spirit of man and through man's spirit and imparting to it Divine power and strength. One of the dearest truths of The Holy Bible is that of the weakness of man's spirit, which has been under the domination of satanic power for 50 many centuries. Tongues is the provision of God to communicate and edify man's spirit and strengthen the inner man (1 Cor. 14:2-4).
Can it be possible that in this one Bible doctrine God has given something to the church that is of no value, that is to be the object of ridicule and slander, and that is to be the object of blasphemy on the part of man? Can we afford to reject this blessing of the Spirit because we are ignorant of its purposes and benefits? Would He have spent so much time and effort and said so much about it if it were of no importance? Shall we reject gifts because they are not possible to reproduce or cultivate in human schools? Must His ways be lowered to the human plane before people can believe that He has a good purpose in them?
Like prophecy, it is God's desire that speaking in tongues be practiced by all, but many of us cannot do it because of our lack of understanding, faith, consecration, and yieldedness to the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:5, 39; Mark 16:15-20; Isa. 28:9-11; John 15: 26; 16:13-16). We must control this gift like all others (1 Cor. 14:32). We are not to forbid the use of it (1 Cor. 14:39). It should be used for public edification in public meetings (1 Cor. 14:45, 12-40). The Spirit of God is also for personal leading and for personal edification (1 Cor. 14:2). If used in private, it is speaking to God alone, but in public it is for public edification (1 Cor. 14:2-5, 12, 26-28). There are twenty-eight passages in the Bible on the subject
(3) THE GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. This gift is the only one that is dependent upon another, because it is useless unless there are tongues to interpret. It is the same in principle and operation as the tongues, only it is the interpretation of the tongues that are spoken. The interpreter looks to God for the interpretation, and his exercise is not dependent upon the exact words and phrases of the tongues for he does not know them. It is the Spirit Divinely making clear what was spoken in tongues. Its purpose is to make tongues clear to the church (1 Cor. 14:5, 27-28), or to make the speaker in tongues know what he has said (1 Cor. 14:13-16, 27-28). It is the interpretation of tongues, not the translation of them. Interpretation is the rendering of the sense and meaning, while translation is the rendering from one language into another by the equivalent words and phrases. This is why the interpretation may appear briefer or more enlarged than the tongues spoken. Only one interpretation to each message in tongues is permitted (1 Cor 14:27). In one public meeting two and three messages are permitted, and those are all (1 Cor. 14:26-30).
3.
The Gifts of Power, or the Working Gifts
These are three in number. We call them the working gifts because they are the ones that manifest the omnipotence of God and deliver men from all the works of the devil and intervene in nature when it is necessary to accomplish the will of God. They are as follows:
(1) FAITH. The gift of faith is a Divine endowment of the Spirits hereby that which God has said is recognized as a settled fact to be done regardless of what it is. It is the backbone of the spiritual gifts into which and from which all the life-cord and nerve-centers of communicating power are centered. It is the miraculous assurance that guarantees to every man those things which he has asked of God according to the promises. It is the spinal-cord of the body of Christ and the very life of the church. Faith works in conjunction with the gifts of healing and miracles, and without it they would not be exercised with power. We shall deal fully with faith in the next two lessons, so we shall pass by further comment here.
(2) THE GIFTS OF HEALING. This gift is the imparting of power to heal, cure, repair, and make whole the physical body and deliver it from demons and diseases. It heals without human aids and medicines or natural means of any kind. The purpose of it is to completely banish human ills, whether they be acute or chronic, organic functional, or nervous. It is exercised by simple faith through believers who have no knowledge of physiology, diseases, symptoms, drugs, or surgery. Supposition that Jesus heals through medicines and doctors is no more scriptural than that He saves from sin through the theories and methods of men. The above-stated way is the way of the world, but Divine healing is God's way.
The purposes of the gifts of healing are to deliver the sick and to destroy the very works of the devil in the body (Matt. 8:16-17; Acts 10:38; 1 Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:3 5; Ps. 103:1-3; James 5:14-16), to confirm the Word of God (Mark 16:18-20; Heb. 2:3-4), to establish the claims of Jesus (Matt. 9:1-8; John 10:10, 36-38; 14:11), to establish and prove the doctrine of the resurrection (Acts 3:15-16; Rom. 8:11), to attract people to the gospel (Acts 4:4; 20:11-20), to turn people to God (Acts 4:4; 5:12-16; 9:35), and to carry on the work that Jesus started (Acts 1:1-2; John 14: 11-15).
(3) THE WORKING OF MIRACLES. This is Divine power to intervene in the course of nature when the work of God can be furthered thereby It is also worked by faith. When God sets aside His laws or suspends the laws of nature, this action is a miracle. God is not bound by natural laws of His own making, else this limitation would reduce Him to the plane of a creature and do away with His sovereignty.
The purpose of miracles is to confirm the Word of God (Heb. 2:3-4) and display the power of God over all powers in the universe (Ps. 107; Ex. 7:10-14:31; 2 Kings 4:1-44; 6:17; etc.). The program of Satan is to discount all the miracles of The Holy Bible. So-called scientists have sought to explain The Holy Bible miracles, but there are many they have never found the slightest answer for. The Holy Bible is a book of miracles and those today who believe the whole Bible are still seeing them in answer to simple prayer and faith. Every child of God is promised power to do miracles and get what he wants (Matt. 21:21-22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; 16:15-20; John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 27-31). The great need of today is the full restoration of the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). May God speed the day of normal Christian power in the church for the glory of God!
Gifts of the Spirit in Acts:
1. Tongues (Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7)
2. Healings (Acts 2:43; Acts 3:6; Acts 5:12-16)
3. Miracles (Acts 2:43; Acts 4:22; Acts 5:12-16; Acts 6:8)
4. Prophecy (Acts 2:17-21; Acts 3:19-21; Acts 13:1)
5. Knowledge (Acts 2:15-40; Acts 5:3-11; Acts 8:19-25)
6. Wisdom (Acts 3:12-26; Acts 4:5-22; Acts 6:10)
7. Faith (Acts 2:43; Acts 3:6, 16; Acts 5:12-16)
8. Discernment (Acts 2:15; Acts 3:4-6; Acts 5:3-11)
All the gifts of the Spirit of 1 Cor. 12:4-11 are recorded in the lives of the believers in the early chapters of Acts after the reception of the Spirit baptism, except one, and no doubt this was also manifest.
Other Miraculous Manifestations:
1. Executing judgment (Acts 5:1-12; Acts 13:6-12; 1 Cor. 4:18-21; 1 Cor. 5:4-5)
2. Miraculous deliverances (Acts 5:19-28; Acts 9:3-9,31; Acts 12:1-19)
3. Holy Spirit imparted by laying on hands (Acts 8:14-25; Acts 9:17-19; Acts 19:1-7)
4. Imparting spiritual gifts to others (Romans 1:11; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6)
5. Immunity from poisons (Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:19; Acts 28:3-6)
6. Raising the dead (Acts 9:40; Acts 20:10)
7. Earthquakes (Acts 4:31; Acts 16:26)
8. Special miracles (Acts 19:11-12)
9. Fullness of the Spirit manifest (Romans 15:18-19,29; Hebrews 2:3-4)
Miraculous power is mentioned in all New Testament books (Matthew 10:1-8; Mark 16:17-20; Luke 10:19; Luke 24:49; John 14:12; John 17:18; Acts (see above); Romans 1:11; Romans 15:18-19,29; 1 Cor. 1:4-7,18-24; 1 Cor. 2:1-7,12-13; 1 Cor. 4:18-21; 1 Cor. 12:1-11,28-31; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 1 Cor. 14:1-40; 1 Cor. 16:10; 2 Cor. 1:20-22; 2 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 3:6-15; 2 Cor. 4:7; 2 Cor. 6:3-10; 2 Cor. 8:7; 2 Cor. 10:4-7; 2 Cor. 12:12-18; 2 Cor. 13:10; Galatians 3; Ephes. 1:3-19; Ephes. 3:7-4:13; Ephes. 6:10-18; Col. 1:11; Col. 2:10; Phil. 1:7,27; 1 Thes. 1:3-8; 1 Thes. 2:13-14; 2 Thes. 1:3,11; 2 Thes. 2:17; 2 Thes. 3:1,9; 1 Tim. 1:16; 2 Tim. 1:7; 2 Tim. 2:4,19-21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5,16-17; Titus 2:11-14; Titus 3:4-6; Hebrews 2:1-4; Hebrews 3:6,12-14; Hebrews 4:11-16; Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 10:19-39;11:1-12:2; Hebrews 13:8,21; James 1:5-8; James 2:17-26; James 4:6-10; James 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Peter 5:5-10; 2 Peter 1:3-10; 1 John 2:6,13-27; 1 John 3:1-3,20-24; 1 John 5:13-14; 2 John 1:2-4; 3 John 1:2-4; Jude 1:3-25; Rev. 1:9; Rev. 19:10).
Paul
Had All Gifts of the Spirit
1. Word of wisdom (1 Cor. 2:7; Ephes. 1:8; Col. 1:28; 1 Cor. 12:1,7)
2. Word of knowledge (1 Cor. 2:14; 1 Cor. 11:6; 1 Cor. 12:1,7; Ephes. 3:4; 2 Peter 3:18)
3. Faith (1 Cor. 13:2; 2 Cor. 4:13; Galatians 2:20; Ephes. 3:12; 2 Tim. 4:7)
4. Gifts of healing (Acts 14:3,10; Acts 15:12; Acts 19:11; Romans 15:18-29)
5. Working of miracles (Acts 19:11)
6. Prophecy (1 Cor. 13:2; 1 Cor. 14:3; 1 Tim. 1:18; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 6; 2 Peter 3:18)
7. Discerning of spirits (Acts 13:10; Acts 14:9; Acts 16:18; 1 Cor. 13:2)
8. Tongues (1 Cor. 13:1; 1 Cor. 14:18)
9. Interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 14:13-16)
Paul had "the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:29)
Classification
and Definition of Gifts
Gifts
fall into three natural divisions
1. Gifts of revelation-the mind gifts:
(1) The word of wisdom. This is supernatural revelation, or insight into the divine will and purpose, showing how to solve any problem that may arise (1 Kings 3:16-28; Matthew 2:20; Luke 22:10-12; John 2:22-24; John 4:16-19; Acts 26:16; Acts 27:21-25; 1 Cor. 5).
(2) The word of knowledge. That is supernatural revelation of divine knowledge, or insight in the divine mind, will, or plan; and also the plans of others that man could not know of himself (Genesis 1:1-2:25; 1 Samuel 3:7-15; 2 Kings 6:8-12; Acts 9:11-12; Matthew 16:16; John 1:1-3; Acts 5:3-4; Acts 21:11; Ephes. 3).
(3) Discerning of spirits. This is supernatural revelation, or insight into the realm of spirits to detect them and their plans and to read the minds of people (Matthew 9:4; Luke 13:16; John 2:25; Acts 13:9-10; Acts 16:16; 1 Tim. 4:1-4; 1 John 4:1-6).
2. Gifts of inspiration-vocal gifts:
(1) Prophecy. This is supernatural utterance in the native tongue (1 Cor. 14:3). It is a miracle of divine utterance, not conceived by human thought or reasoning (Acts 3:21; Acts 11:28; Acts 21:11; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor. 14:23-32). It includes speaking to people to edification, and exhortation and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3).
(2) Divers kinds of tongues. This is supernatural utterance in other languages which are not known to the speaker (Isaiah 28:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7; 1 Cor. 12:10,28-31; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 1 Cor. 14:2,22,26,27-32).
(3) The interpretation of tongues. This is simply supernatural ability to interpret in the native tongue what is uttered in other languages not known by the one who interprets by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:10; 1 Cor. 14:5,13-15,27-28).
3. Gifts of power-working gifts:
(1) Faith. This is supernatural ability to believe God without human doubt, unbelief, and reasoning (Romans 4:17; James 1:5-8; Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 12:1-3).
(2) The gifts of healing. This is supernatural power to heal all manner of sickness without human aid or medicine (Mark 16:18; John 14:12; 1 Cor. 12:9).
(3) The working of miracles. This is supernatural power to intervene in the ordinary course of nature and to counteract natural laws if necessary (1 Cor. 15:10,27-31; Hebrews 2:3-4; Psalm 107; Exodus 7:10-14:21; 2 Kings 4:1-44; 2 Kings 6:1-7; Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12).
Classification
and Definition of the Gifts
The gifts fall into three natural divisions. They are not in this order in 1 Cor. 12, but for the sake of clarification we will list them in the following order:
1. The Gifts of Revelation, or the Mind Gifts
(1) THE WORD OF WISDOM. This is supernatural revelation, or insight into the divine action. It is the application of divine knowledge according to the will of God.
(2) THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE. This is supernatural revelation of divine knowledge, or insight into the divine mind and will of God.
(3) DISCERNING OF SPIRITS. This is supernatural revelation, or insight into the realm of spirits to detect them and read even the thoughts of the mind.
2. The Gifts of Inspiration, or the Vocal Gifts
(1) PROPHECY. This is supernatural utterance in the known tongue.
(2) DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES. This is supernatural utterance in unknown tongues.
(3) THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. This is supernatural utterance in the known tongues of what was uttered in the unknown tongues.
3. The Gifts of Power, or the Working Gifts
(1) FAITH. This is Divine confidence and trust in God for the miraculous manifestation of the Divine power according to the Word of God.
(2) THE GIFTS OF HEALING. This is supernatural power to heal diseases, to cast out devils, and to cure, repair, and make the body whole and healthy.
(3) THE WORKING OF MIRACLES. This is supernatural power to intervene in the ordinary course of nature and the common natural laws that govern the material universe.
The gifts as a whole form one unit of the supernatural, enabling the church to act for God on Earth and accomplish in His stead the things that God Himself would do if He were here doing the work. They are gifts that are fully and completely supernatural and miraculous in their operation. There is no element of the natural in the reception of them at all, although the natural soul and spirit absorbs and acquires from them certain effects and powers that become natural abilities after they are imparted to the individual.
Human
Excuses for Not Having the Gifts
1. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE GIFTS ARE OPTIONAL AND THE CHURCH CAN LIVE WITHOUT THEM. This is very true, but how does it live and how does it work? It is possible for the human body to live without certain bodily members, but every one it has to get along without, it is handicapped that much, and it cannot carry out its full creative purpose for which these members were made. Spiritual gifts are as optional as these members that we can get along without. We can walk without eyesight, but we cannot see. We can talk without limbs, but we cannot walk. We can do some things with the members of the body that we have, but we cannot do the things that a normal and perfect body can do.
The modern church is lacking in many of the gifts of the spirit and multitudes of individuals are as helpless as a new born baby without the gifts. They can carry on and barely exist spiritually without them, but they cannot be mighty in God without them. They may live good lives without them, but it must be understood that holiness will never heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, cast out demons, or do the work of God that should be done. It takes power, the kind that comes with the gifts to do these things. Even the claim to Christian living and holiness is weakened when the gifts are rejected and spurned and any degree of lack of interest is shown in them, for holiness consists of obedience to all the will of God and the commands of the gospel-even the commands to "covet earnestly the best gifts" and "desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1).
The present trend of indifference to the gifts must cease, and we must get back to the New Testament pattern of Christianity. There is too much satisfaction among Christians in being without them. It is just like a blind man being satisfied to be without eyes, or a deaf man without ears, or a dumb man without speech. Some men are satisfied to be without one part of the body or another for various reasons. Some have never known anything else but to be this way, and others are content with their lot in life for the sake of making a living or because of being resigned to the fact that they could be much worse.
2. THE THEORY THAT GIFTS HAVE CEASED IS COMMON AMONG SOME DENOMINATIONS. This cannot be anything but an excuse for unbelief. If one is in the least degree honest with himself and the Word of God he can see that gifts are for all believers. We have already proved that in points above; so it is useless to argue this point again more than to say that we may as well argue that salvation ceased with the apostles. Such a position is impossible to prove and to maintain with Scripture. The main argument used to prove this theory is that Christians today do not have these gifts, and therefore they are not for them. One may as well argue that because all sinners do not have salvation, it is not for them. One who argues this way is a willful unbeliever, and he merely wants an excuse to continue in his state. The truth is that whether anyone ever gets saved or not, salvation is for him. Whether anyone ever gets the gifts of the Spirit or not, they are for everyone.
3.
THAT THE GIFTS WERE FOR THE TWELVE APOSTLES ONLY IS ALSO ANOTHER COMMON EXCUSE.
This also has been proved false in the above points on the gifts; so we shall
pass this by as being just as unscriptural as the last excuse above. One
reading of Rom. 1:11; 1 Cor. 1:7; 12:1-31; 13:1-12; 14:1-40; 16:10; 1 Tim.
4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6; John 14:12; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 11:13; 24:49; Acts 1:4-15;
2:1-21, 38-39; 5:32; 9:17; 10:44-48; 19:1-7; Matt. 3:11; John 1:31-33, and
scores of other Scriptures will prove that
gifts and the baptism in the Spirit were promised to, and received by others
who were not of the twelve apostles.
4. THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHICH ONES HE HAS OR HOW TO USE THEM. This excuse is a senseless one, and it is just like saying all men have ears, eyes, and bodily parts, but they do not know which ones they have, or how to use them. Anyone knows that every person who has certain normal bodily parts knows that he has them, and he also knows that he can use them. Lack of power to use them proves that one does not have them or that they are not normal. It is clear that not all Christians do have the gifts, or they would not be commanded to covet and desire them (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1).
5. ANOTHER EXCUSE IS THAT THE GIFTS ARE IN THE CHURCH SOMEWHERE AND THAT WHEN GOD DESIRES TO MANIFEST THEM HE USES ONE AND THEN ANOTHER. This amounts to the idea that gifts are not personal and this is contradicted by the statements that God "worketh ALL IN ALL .... the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EVERY MAN to profit withal .... To one is given .... to another .... to another .... dividing to EVERY MAN severally as he will" (1 Cor. 12:4-11). To hold that they are the property of the church and not of individuals is the wrong idea, for the church is made up of individuals; so if they do not have the gifts it is certain that the church does not have them. Suppose we would argue that salvation is only for the church and not for individuals; how many persons would have salvation, and where would the church be?
6. OTHERS ARGUE THAT GIFTS ARE ONLY FOR PREACHERS, BUT THIS TOO IS AN EXCUSE FOR THE ONES WHO TEACH SUCH A THEORY. Jesus said, "He that believeth" and not for the preachers only (John 14:12; Mark 16: 15-20). Paul is writing to "them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (1 Cor. 1:1-2) and he tells them to covet and desire the gifts for God gives "to every man" and not to preachers only (1 Cor. 12:4-11).
The
Importance and Necessity of the Gifts
Spiritual gifts in the believers are absolutely necessary if the church is to function properly and accomplish for God in the Earth what He has purposed in this age. They are necessary to God and man in carrying out the will of God as the members are necessary to the natural body. This is certainly what is taught in 1 Cor. 12:12-26: "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? .... If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? . . . And if we were all one member, where were the body? . . . Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it."
These verses plainly teach that without the gifts the body of Christ is like a human body without bodily parts. It would be a mere limbless body or a paralyzed one. We make the members to the body of Christ, and the gifts are His eyes, feet, hands, ears, and lips. Believers are saved and endued with power to be His lips to speak for Him, His hands to work for Him, His eyes to see for Him, His feet to walk for Him, and His other necessary bodily parts to function for Him in defeating satanic forces in the world.
Twenty-one Facts and Questions about the Gifts:
1. Their names and number (1 Cor. 12:8-10)
2. By whom imparted (1 Cor. 12:4, 8-11)
3. Who operates them? (1 Cor. 12:4-6, 11)
4. Purpose: to confirm the Word of God (Mark 16:17-20; John 14:12; Acts 1:1-8; Romans 12:3-8; Romans 15:18-19, 29; 1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Cor. 12:11,28-31; 1 Cor. 14:1-40; Hebrews 2:3-4)
5. Who may have them? Every believer (1 Cor. 12:8-11; 1 Cor. 1:7; Romans 1:11; Romans 12:3-8; John 7:37-39; John 14:12; Mark 16:17-20)
6. Can one have all of them? Yes (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12; John 15:7, 16; Ephes. 3:19; James 1:5-8)
7. Has one ever received all of them? Yes (John 3:34; Romans 15:29; note, Acts 5:12; note, Acts 14:9)
8. Were they manifest in Old Testament days? Yes (note, Acts 1:5; note, Acts 2:4)
9. Can gifts be misused? Yes (Eccles. 2:9; Numbers 20:7-13 with Deut. 32:48-52; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 1 Cor. 14:1-40)
10. Can gifts be exercised in a backslidden condition? Yes (Eccles. 2:9; 1 Cor. 13:1-3)
11. Should one be afraid of getting an evil spirit manifestation? No “true” child of God can (Luke 11:11-13)
12. Are gifts permanent or temporary? Permanent if received as a personal gift (Romans 11:29)
13. Are gifts exercised at will when needed? Yes (1 Cor. 14:15, 23-32; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6)
14. Can gifts be neglected in use? (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6)
15. When should gifts be used? When needed (1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Cor. 14:3-6,12,17,26; Romans 12:3-8)
16. Where should gifts be used? Where needed (1 Cor. 12:7, 12-31; 1 Cor. 14:1-40)
17. How can they be received? By faith and prayer (1 Cor. 12:31; 1 Cor. 14:1; Matthew 7:7-11)
18. Do we need gifts today? Yes, for the same reason others of old needed them (Mark 16:15-20; John 10:10; Acts 1:8; Acts 10:38; Romans 1:11; 1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Cor. 12:1-31)
19. Can we choose which gifts we need today? Yes (1 Cor. 12:31; 1 Cor. 14:1, 12)
20. How can we know when we have received them? When the Spirit operates them through us to accomplish their intended purpose (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28-31; 1 Cor. 14:1-40)
21. Are gifts to continue throughout this age? Yes (Matthew 3:11; Matthew 28:20; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; Mark 16:15-20; John 7:37-39; John 14:12-17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:13-15; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 5:32; 1 Cor. 1:7; etc.)
Pertinent
Questions Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1. HOW MANY GIFTS ARE THERE? There are nine gifts as follows (1 Cor. 2:4-11):
1) The gift of the word of wisdom.
2) The gift of the word of knowledge.
3) The gift of faith.
4) The gifts of healing.
5) The gift of the working of miracles.
6) The gift of prophecy.
7) The gift of discerning of spirits.
8) The gift of divers kinds of tongues or languages.
9) The gift of the interpretation of tongues or languages.
2. WHOSE GIFTS ARE THEY, AND WHO WORKS THEM? They are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and He is the one who operates them in the lives of believers. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For TO ONE is given BY THE SPIRIT the word of wisdom; TO ANOTHER the word of knowledge BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER faith BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER the gifts of healing BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER the working of miracles; TO ANOTHER prophecy; TO ANOTHER discerning of spirits; TO ANOTHER divers kinds of tongues; TO ANOTHER the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that one and selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally AS HE WILL (1 Cor. 12:4-11).
3. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE GIFTS? The purpose is to enable all believers to do the works of Christ and to carry on the work that He began both to do and to teach (Acts 1:1-2, 12-15; 1 Cor. 1:7; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 14 1-40; Heb. 2:3-4). They were given to confirm the gospel and demonstrate the power of God among men: "These signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover .... And they (early believers) went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and CONFIRMING THE WORD with signs following" (Mark 16:15-20). "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was CONFIRMED UNTO US by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" (Heb. 2:3-4). "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, THROUGH MIGHTY SIGNS AND WONDERS, BY THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have FULLY PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST .... And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I SHALL COME IN THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST" (Rom. 15:18-19, 29). "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father" (John 14:12). "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues . . . But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way . . . Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor. 12:28-30; 14:1).
These and other Scriptures state the purpose of spiritual gifts. God's purpose has not changed. It will be the same throughout this age. Man only has changed and has lost the powers of the original church. When he changes again to a normal New Testament faith he will again see the gifts of the Spirit in perfect and full operation in the modern church.
In chapters twelve to fourteen of First Corinthians the apostle deals with the Divine equipment for service and worship and the use of certain gifts of the Spirit in a public believers' meeting. There cannot possibly be a true New Testament meeting of believers in public without the exercise of spiritual gifts of some kind. These gifts are essential not only in service but also in worship. With all of our claims to godliness and loyalty to church ordinances and rituals we fail God if there is no knowledge and respect for or use of spiritual gifts.
In the first place, it is God's will for men to be highly enlightened about spiritual gifts, as proved in 1 Cor. 12:1, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." The ignorance of the modern church concerning these spiritual abilities is simply appalling. Seldom, if ever, are these gifts preached upon in the average church. Whenever they are referred to it is generally in a slanderous way. Some of them are often ridiculed and made fun of and classed as of the devil and fanatical, whereas those that make fun of and ridicule the Holy Ghost are BLASPHEMYING THE HOLY GHOST (Matt. 12:31-32) . If they were exercised today in most churches they would be rejected. If the Corinthians, who had these gifts, were referred to as being ignorant of their uses in public meetings, how and by what term should modern churches be referred to as to their knowledge of them? The average preacher today does not even know what such gifts are, much less the purpose and right use of them in local churches. The average church member does not know that there are such gifts for believers.
The Corinthians had been hopeless idolaters and were acquainted with Divine powers and their operations. The Corinthian church were acquainted with Spirits of all kinds with the Gentiles, but also among the Jews there were magicians, wizards, sorcerers, and soothsayers yielding themselves to demons (familiar spirits), and satanic powers. These Gentile converts were in many cases ignorant of the difference between these demonic powers and the true spiritual gifts and their operations by the Holy Spirit. Their idols were deified demons (1 Cor. 10:16-21).
Paul taught them the law of discernment (discerning of Spirits) between good and bad spirits, "Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed; and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Cor. 12:2-3). John said, "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist . . . and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:1-6).
In other words, any power doing miracles and otherwise manifesting itself, if it calls Jesus accursed, or claims that He did not come in the flesh, it is of the devil and not God. There are numerous false religions today that are doing miracles, and they deny the reality of Jesus, His deity, His humanity, His atonement, and His Salvation for man. Some of them claim that He (Jesus Christ) is merely one of many prophets and leaders God has raised up through the ages. They class Him (Jesus Christ) with Mohammed, Buddha, Moses and other religious founders. Other false religions deny altogether the reality of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the devil, demons, sin, sickness, and all material and spiritual substance. Any religion that denies the reality of these things is of the devil and is an agent of Satan. On the other hand, those Christians whose lives and voices proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that He has come in the flesh, and that the gospel in its entirety is truth, should be accepted as a child of God.
The early believers lived in an atmosphere charged with the supernatural, where signs and wonders were daily occurrence, where such manifestations were expected and where counterfeit, demon-workings were always pressing for recognition as being divine. In all of the spiritual revivals of the past and present these counterfeits have been in evidence, so much so in some places as to turn the worldly and formal religionists against all manifestations of God.
What a change in the modern church from the ways of the early one! Of old, God's ministers would throw down rods that would swallow up all those of demon powers (Ex. 7:10-14). They would totally destroy all the counterfeit workings of Satan through Simon Magus, Bar-jesus, and others who bewitched the people to believe that they were the great ones in the Earth (Acts 8:5-24; 13:6-13). Must the modern prophets of the Lord bow the knee to the power of Satan and cut themselves with knives and stones to get an answer from their God who has gone on a journey, or is asleep, or has ceased to care for the lost, sick, and dying of the world for whom Jesus died (1 Kings 18) ? Must the modern church be satisfied with seeing the Holy Ghost defied and the powers of the demon-world enthroned in religious circles? Must the church constantly cry like Gideon of old, "If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of? But now the Lord hath forsaken us" (Judges 6:13-14).
The church must awake from its slumber and quit all of its criticism of spiritual gifts, experiences, and manifestations. It must repent and cry mightily to God for the endowment of power from on high until signs and wonders will again be manifest in the defeat of sin and Satan. It must covet earnestly again the gifts of the Spirit and contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
4. WHO MAY HAVE THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT? Every believer can have one or all the gifts, as he covets them and seeks God for the anointing of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8-31). In this passage we read that every member of the body of Christ should normally function in some capacity for the edifying of the whole body of Christ. Paul wrote to this church saying, "That in EVERY THING ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge. Even as the testimony of Christ was CONFIRMED IN YOU. So that ye come behind in no gift" (1 Cor. 1:5-7). He wrote the Roman church, "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established" (Rom 1:11). Again he wrote, "According as God hath dealt to EVERY MAN the measure of faith.... Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministry; or he that teacheth, on teaching" (Rom. 12:3-8).
Jesus Christ taught that "He that believeth" should be able to do the works that He did and that "these signs shall follow them that believe" (John 14:12; Mark 16:15-20). He said that all things would be possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23) and that all things that any man would ask in prayer believing he should receive (Mark 11:22-24; Matt. 21:21-22).
This is proof that every believer can attain to the gifts of the Spirit in fullness and that there is no limitation to how many one can have. Everyone can have them all and must have them all before he can do the works that Christ did. There are so many assurances of no limitations stated in so many Scriptures that each person can have faith for and get every thing that he wants from God. He can limit the gifts and grace of God in his life, or he can have unlimited faith and not come short in any gift or grace. This is truth, or the above Scriptures are plain lies, and this no child of God will dare believe. Men have taught for so long that we can have only one gift and that we cannot get what we want from God that it is second nature to live in unbelief and question every truth of God which is not normal among men. No person has to remain in this state of constant questioning and doubting God. He can quit such a practice here and now, and he must if he is to attain to the fullness of God, as Paul prayed for all believers to do in 1 Cor. 1:7; Eph. 3:19.
In 1 Cor. 12:4-11 we are told that the gifts are for "every man" and for "all" and that "to one is given .... to another .... to another .... to another .... to another" and so on. Gifts then are for every man and for all who will believe in them and ask God for them and receive them. How many believers claim one or more of these gifts? Most of them are full of questions and arguments against their being for every believer. Most of them are more afraid of the words miracle, sign, and wonder than they are of sin and the devil. The gifts of the Spirit are signs of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, showing that one is a normal New Testament Christian in spiritual things.
5. ARE THE GIFTS THE SAME AND ARE THEIR OPERATIONS THE SAME? We have already seen that there are nine different gifts and that there are different operations. The gifts are different but the Giver is One. The source is the same, but the streams are many. The variety of the operations of the Spirit is that of unity, not of division. The diversity is corporate, not competitive. The differences of administration fit perfectly into the different types and dispositions of the various peoples and accomplish perfectly the various necessities and purposes of the will of God in the redemption of, and the blessing of all creation. The gifts are the division of the omnipotence and omniscience of God into varied divine abilities for use by the children of God in defeating the works of the devil and in confirming the Word of God among men.
In the gifts we have the divine abilities that will meet every known need of man in this life as well as in the one to come. These nine gracious elements make available to all believers the powers of God for the known needs, wants, and deliverances of sons of God in the rebellious world of evil spirits and the sin-darkened Earth. In them we have the glorious revelations of God in wisdom and knowledge the unwavering faith that brings into reality those things that be not; the disease-withering and demon-destroying beams that come from the Sun of Righteousness, Who has healing in His wings; the miraculous powers that know no defeat and create the necessities and wants of life; the radiant prophetic insight into things past, present, and future; the illuminating ability to impart eternal truths to men and to know the minds and discern the activities of both men and evil spirits; the linguistic powers to converse in tongues of men and of angels with God and man; and the life-giving, soul-cleansing, and spiritual helps that are capable of defeating all satanic powers and opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God's program is still "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts" (Zech. 4:6). The divine energies and abilities of the unchanging Spirit of God are still available for the desperate needs of the whole Earth and of the church in particular. The stone which was rejected by the builders will yet become the chief corner stone. The world will yet see the full power of the gifts of the Spirit in modern believers and that not long from now.
6. CAN ONE PERSON HAVE ALL THE (GIFTS, OR ARE THEY LIMITED ONE TO AN INDIVIDUAL, OR TO ONLY A FEW SPECIAL INDIVIDUALS AS THE SPIRIT WILLS? It is true that 1 Cor. 12:4-11 states that the Spirit gives the gifts as He wills, but there is no statement that He does not will to give all of them to every child of God, or that He wills to give them to a few special persons. It is also stated that He gives "to every man' and not to only a few and that the Spirit "worketh all in all." There is no statement of limitation in any Scripture to the effect that God will give only one gift to one person and no more. There is positively no limitation. On the other hand, in many passages The Holy Bible teaches that no one believer is limited and that every saved person can get from God what he wants. If you limit your knowledge you limit your faith, and if you limit your faith you limit what you get from God. If you want only one gift and that is all that you believe you can have, that is all you will get. If you want all the gifts and you believe that you can have all, you will get all, as you believe and receive in your life. Jesus taught that all men could get all the gifts He had (Matt. 9:29; 21:21-22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; John 14:12-15; 15:7,16; 16:23-26; Heb. 11:6; James 1:5-8; Ps. 84:11).
7. HAS ANYONE EVER RECEIVED AND EXERCISED ALL THE GIFTS? There have been a number of men in the Old Testament that had a number of them, but some of them were not yet given to men, such as the gifts of divers kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. These were foretold by the prophets as being given to men in this age (Isa. 28:9-11; Joel 2:28-31; Mark 16:15-18; John 15:26; 16:13-15; Acts 1:4-5; 2:14-21,38-39; 10:44-48; 19:1-6; 1 Cor. 12:1-14:40; etc. ).
Men in this age have received and exercised all the nine gifts of the Spirit, for this is the age in which the FULLNESS OF GOD is promised men (John 1:16; 3:34; 7:37-39; 14:12-17, 26; 15:26; 16:13-15; Mark 16:15-20; Eph. 3:19; 1 Cor. 1:7; 12:4-11; etc.). Jesus Christ was the first ever to receive the fullness of the Spirit (John 3:34). The whole nine gifts can be traced in the operations of the Holy Spirit in His ministry. Note the following gifts of the Spirit in the life of Christ:
(1) The gifts of wisdom and knowledge (Luke 2:40-52; 22:10-12; John 2:24-25; 4:16-19; 6:64; 13:1; 16:30; 21:17).
(2) The gift of faith (Matt. 8:23-27; 14:22-32; 16:8-12; 17:15-21; 21:21-22; Mark 9:17-29; 11:12-24; Heb. 12:1-2; Gal. 2:20).
(3) The gifts of healing (Matt. 4:23-24; 8:16-17; Acts 10:38).
(4) The gift of the working of miracles (Matt. 8:26; 14:22; 15:32-39; 17:27; 21:18-22; Luke 22:49-51; John 2:1-12; 6:21; 11:43-44).
(5) The gift of prophecy (Matt. 5:7; 16:21; 24:1-25:46).
(6) The gift of discerning of spirits (Matt. 9:4; 12:25; 16:23; Mark 1:34; 2:8; Luke 7:36-50; 8:2; John 1:48-51; 2:24-25; 4:16-19).
(7) The gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues. These are the only gifts of the nine that men had never experienced before Pentecost except by Christ, who received the Spirit in all fullness (John 1:16; 3:34). We could not, therefore, question His ability to exercise both of these gifts.
Paul was another person who had all the gifts of the Spirit and the fullness of God in his life. He had power to impart gifts to another (Rom. 1:11; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). He had power to impart the baptism of the Spirit to others (Acts 19:1-7). He had the gift of knowledge and wisdom as proved by his many writings (Gal. 1:11-17; Eph. 1:8-19; 3:1-20; etc.), the gift of faith (Gal. 2:20; 3:2), the gifts of healing and miracles (Acts 13:6-13; 14:3-10; 15:12; 13:16-24; 19:11-20; etc.), the gift of prophecy (Rom. 11:25-27; 1 Cor. 14:6; 15:21-58; 2 Thess. 2; etc.), the gift of discerning of spirits (Acts 3:9-11; 1 Cor. 1:10-12; 13:1-3; 2 Cor. 10:3-6), and the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 14:6-22).
The other apostles and ordinary believers exercised many gifts of the Spirit, as can be seen in Acts 2:14-21,43; 3:6-9; 4:33; 5:3-16; 6:5-10; 8:4-40; 9:17, 32-43; 11:21; etc. God confirmed His word with signs following and gave His early workers gifts of the Holy Ghost to defeat Satan (Mark 16:15-20; Heb. 2:3-4). Jesus promised the fullness of God to every one who would believe on Him (John 14:12- 15). If every person is promised power and divine gifts to enable him to do the works of Christ, then it is certain that all the gifts can be received by anyone who will follow the Lord in the fullness of the gospel. Paul prayed for the early Christians to be filled with all the fullness of God, and if such were not possible he would not have prayed thus (Eph. 3:19). He taught that every believer should be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work (2 Tim. 2:19-21). He speaks of Timothy as being able to do all the works he did, and if he had all the gifts, then it is also clear that Timothy also had all the gifts (1 Cor. 16:10). Ordinary presbyters had power to impart spiritual gifts (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim 1:5-6) and have signs following them (Mark 16:15-20).
These and other facts prove that early Christians were far ahead of modern ones in the exercise of spiritual gifts and that in no Scripture are the gifts limited to a few or to a certain period, as taught by certain denominations today.
8. HOW MANY GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT WERE MANIFEST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? At least seven of them were given to men in ages before Pentecost.
9. ARE GIFTS ONLY FOR THOSE BAPTIZED IN THE SPIRIT? No, they are for children of God, whether they are baptized in the Spirit or not. Saints in the Old Testament times, before men were baptized with the Spirit at Pentecost, had at least seven of the gifts, as proved in the point above. Many men since Pentecost who have never received the real baptism in the Spirit have received gifts and have done great things for God. Such men would have done a greater work for God if they had been baptized in the Spirit. No person should be satisfied with only one gift of the Spirit, and certainly they should not be half satisfied without any of the gifts. A man without gifts is like a man who has a job to do and no tools to work with. Why should Christians carry on a sham battle with satanic forces and work hard all their lives to do what God commands without the spiritual tools known as the gifts of the Spirit when they can have power to defeat these forces?
10. CAN GIFTS BE ABUSED AND MISUSED? Yes, they can be. Solomon while in a backslidden state used the wonderful gifts of wisdom and knowledge to further his own rebellion against God (Eccl. 1:12-18; 2:4-11). Moses misused his gift of miracles, and therefore, for smiting the rock instead of speaking to it he was forbidden to enter Canaan (Num. 20:7-13; Deut. 32:48-52). Paul taught that one may have the gifts of the Spirit and still not have love and they would profit nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3). He further corrected many abuses of the gifts in local churches, as is clear in 1 Cor. 14:1-40.
11. CAN GIFTS BE EXERCISED BY MAN WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT? At least certain gifts, or to be more specific, the abilities of certain gifts that become part of the individual soul and spirit can be exercised by any man even in a backslidden condition. This was true of Solomon. The wisdom and knowledge God gave him became part of his natural ability, and he continued to use them while backslidden. Any knowledge that a man learns by divine revelation, or by experience, or by being taught, he can still use whether saved or not (Romans 11:29), because it becomes part of his mental knowledge and wisdom. So it is with some of the other gifts. Paul said, "Though I may speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [the “giving” with Divine love], I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing" (1 Cor. 13:1-3). At least, this passage teaches the possibility of having and exercising certain gifts without “giving” with Divine love and the direct unction of the Spirit.
It is possible to exercise abilities imparted by the Spirit that become part of the natural abilities. It is possible to use them at any time and place whether backslidden or not. It is just as possible to use them as any other ability. Anyone who receives one of the gifts and normally exercises it for any length of time is bound to imbibe some of these abilities, and he will be able to use all that becomes part of his human makeup even after he backslides. The reception of these abilities is by Divine inspiration and is of God, but the continued use of them may not always be directly unctionized by God, especially that which man can exercise of himself.
A man who is endued with wisdom and knowledge will always retain these powers to a great extent, even when he ceases to be anointed of the Spirit. Wisdom and knowledge become a part of the person who has received these Divine abilities. Discerning of spirits will enable a man to have insight into things he never could see before and to discern between good and bad spirits. This to some extent also becomes a Spiritual ability of the person. (Matt 7:20-23)
The gift of prophecy not only includes foretelling but also forthtelling. Prophecy is mainly the ability to speak to men to edification, exhortation, and comfort by direct unction. The prophetic element was not the main part of this gift (1 Cor. 14:3, 29-33). The prophets were primarily preachers of righteousness and any man who receives a gift along this line can still outwardly use it when backslidden. In other words, he can still speak to men to edification, exhortation, and comfort. He may be living in sin, but he can still use his gifts in an outward form because he retains certain truths, knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence that can help people to live right whether he lives right or not. Most of us have heard men who were great preachers, but who were living in open sin while still carrying on an outward ministry of teaching and preaching the things they knew to be truth (Matt 7:20-23).
The gifts of faith, miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretation of tongues also leave their natural marks on men who have been greatly exercised by them.
Many times God speaks of false prophets prophesying out of their own hearts (this is not to be miss-understood), who follow their own spirits. The outward manifestations of true and false prophecy were real and visible, but the test was that if the prediction should come to pass it would then be classed as true (Deut. 18:9-22; 1 Kings 22; Jer. 23:16-17, 26-28; Ezek. 13). Outward forms of prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, discernment, tongues, or whatever it may be, may appear to be real and genuine, but is not always so. If the manifestation is in harmony with the written Word of God and the prophet's life is above reproach, it is certain that it is of God. If in any way it contradicts the Bible laws of spiritual manifestations, or calls attention to self instead of Christ, it is a mere manifestation of the personal spirit, or some evil spirit, or an abuse of some ability given by God and used by the individual without direct unction of the Spirit.
12. SHOULD WE NOT BE AFRAID OF GETTING AN EVIL SPIRIT THAT WILL TRY TO IMITATE THE HOLY SPIRIT? One should NEVER try to imitate the Holy Spirit! Remembering that The Holy Spirit is given to them that OBEY HIM (obey “God” The Heavenly Father, not Satan Acts 5:32). This should be one of the least worries of the true child of God. Jesus taught us that "If any man shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:11-13). Thus it is clear that God will not give the wrong Spirit to His children or permit them to be deceived if they will follow the Holy Bible. All one has to do is to be simple, childlike, trustful, have faith in God, keep under the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and ask God for the right Spirit and then yield to the Holy Ghost in any way that He desires to operate through that one.
13. ARE THE GIFTS PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY? They are always permanent if they are real gifts given to any person, "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Rom. 11:29). That is, God does not change His mind when He sees it is proper to give gifts or call a person to some particular work in life. The person may backslide, and God will cease to use him, but if and when he comes back to God his original gifts and calling are there to be exercised through him again. There is no doctrine of a temporary gift or calling mentioned in Scripture. There may have been instances when God used someone and exercised some gift through him for the moment, but such uses could not be classed as permanent gifts and callings. It was merely necessity as circumstances demanded, or it was some one thing that God wanted done at the moment, and so He used whom He could to accomplish it.
We would not say that when God spoke through the ass that the dumb animal received a permanent gift to speak. We could not say that Jesus Christ gave the apostles permanent gifts and powers when He sent them forth on the one mission of visiting cities before Him (Matt. 10; Luke 10). Soon after this, they failed because they had not received permanent power (Matt. 17:17-21). There have been instances today in which God exercised a certain gift through one person at the moment and he has never been so used again in that way.
14. ARE GIFTS EXERCISED AT WILL? If they are permanent abilities given to the person they can be exercised by him at his will at any time and in any place. This is proved by the fact that Paul had to rebuke the free use of gifts in the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 14:1-40). There is no teaching in Scripture that man becomes a mere automaton. Paul said to Timothy to "neglect not" and to "stir up the gift" that was in him, proving that he could let it remain dormant or he could use it at his own will (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6).
Man is free to use these gifts as he sees fit for the glory of God. They are given him to be so used and God leads and guides in their use. He instructs in the proper use and makes clear His will as man seeks to be led of the Spirit. God never forces His will on anyone. He seeks willing service and intelligent action from man. Demons work just the opposite way, demanding passivity and unintelligent action on the part of man. With God, man is always free to choose yieldedness to God and to act freely of himself as the Spirit directs. Demons demand yieldedness without choice and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit is temperance or self-control, and the fruit of demons is total abandonment of temperance and intelligent cooperation.
15. WHEN SHOULD GIFTS BE USED? They should always be used when any known personal and public need is manifest. The gifts are for personal edification (1 Cor. 12:7; 14:4) and for public edification and profit and to build up the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:4-31; 14:2-3, 5, 12, 17, 26, 31; Eph. 4:7-11; Rom. 12:3-12). When there are sick to be healed, demons to cast out, miracles that need to be performed, the public to be edified and instructed in the things of God, sin to be rebuked, or any human need to be met, it is time for the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit. They are all-inclusive and cover every human need. They are for the purpose of enabling workers of God to accomplish for God anything that needs to be done in preaching the gospel and confirming it. They are to defeat all the works of Satan's and when conflict with Him is evident, the time is right to use the gifts.
16. WHERE SHOULD THE GIFTS BE USED? They should be exercised wherever there is need for them in defeating the works of the devil and in edifying any individual or group of people who are gathered together in the name of Jesus Christ. They should be used in the home, in the church, or in any place where men need God and His help (1 Cor. 12:12-31; 14:1-40; Acts 2:46; 16:13).
17. HOW CAN GIFTS BE RECEIVED? They should be coveted and desired and asked for in prayer just like other things that we need from God (Luke 11:13; 1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1). They are received from God as any other blessing that God gives If a believer wants any one of them or all of them he is free to ask and he will receive according to his faith. Never limit your faith concerning anything that you want from God. If you do, you will receive a limited answer.
Solomon
received his gifts of wisdom and knowledge by prayer (l Kings 3:5-15), Elisha received his gifts of
healing, miracles, discernment, and faith by asking Elijah (2 Kings 2). Jesus
received His gifts by prayer and fasting (Matt. 3:16-17; 4:1-11; 17:19-21; Acts
10:38). The disciples received the Holy Spirit and various gifts by tarrying
for the enduement of power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 6:3-8).
Paul received his anointing of the Spirit by fasting and prayer (Acts 9:8-17).
The Gentiles received the Holy Spirit baptism while listening to the Word of
God (Acts 10:44-48). Others received it by the laying on of hands (Acts 9:17;
19:1-6). Certain gifts have been bestowed by the laying on of hands (Rom. 1:11;
1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6; Heb. 6:1-2).
If
we do not have anyone with power to bestow gifts upon us we can still get them
by personal prayer and fasting or ordinary seeking of God by faith until He
gives us the gifts that we desire for His glory (Luke 11:13; 1 Cor. 12:31;
14:1; Matt. 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12-15; 15:7).
18. DO WE HAVE NEED OF GIFTS TODAY? It is evident on every hand that we need the gifts of the Spirit today as ever. The church needs them to be able to cope with satanic powers and defeat the works of the devil in the lives of men. Each child of God needs them in order to be able to meet the needs of his own personal life and carry out his responsibility in his work for God. Jesus said, "These signs shall follow them that believe" for the purpose of "confirming the word" (Mark 16:15-20). The devil is still loose; demons are manifest on every hand; and men are sick, suffering, and defeated everywhere. There is no question of the need for the gifts.
19. CAN WE CHOOSE WHICH GIFTS WE WANT? Yes, this is clear from such statements as "covet earnestly the best gifts" and "desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1). Paul told the Corinthians, "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church" (1 Cor. 14:12). Naturally, the gifts must be sought for, as much as any promise of God we want fulfilled. We can ask what we will and it will be done (Mark 11:22-24; John 15:7).
20. HOW CAN WE KNOW WHEN WE HAVE RECEIVED GIFTS AND WHICH ONES WE HAVE RECEIVED? It is just as easy to know when we have received gifts and which ones as to know when we have received any other thing in life. These gifts are real and can be easily discerned in their operation. It is impossible to have them without knowing it. When we receive the divine ability to do miracles, we shall be able to do them. The miracles themselves prove that we have the gift. Healings will prove that we have the gifts of healing. Ability to prophesy will prove we have that gift. Power to speak in tongues, interpret, discern spirits, or whatever divine ability we receive is sufficient proof of such gifts. If one would claim to have the gifts of healing and cannot heal, then it is clear that the person does not have the gift. If one claims to be anointed of God to work miracles and cannot do them, that fact is proof that one does not have the gift. This applies to any one of the gifts. The proof of having certain gifts is the ability to exercise them. All claims to have them do not amount to anything without ability to manifest them.
21. CAN WE HAVE GIFTS AND NOT KNOW HOW TO USE THEM? Yes, such is possible. Every one who receives the divine anointing in any faculty must learn how to use his sift. This is the purpose of Paul in giving instructions how to use them. (See Rom. 12:3-12; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; 13:1-12; 14:1-40.)
22. ARE GIFTS TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THIS AGE? Yes, gifts, like all the other blessings of the gospel, are to continue all through this age. This fact is clear from many Scriptures. Tongues, prophecy, knowledge, and other gifts were to cease "when that which is perfect is come" (1 Cor. 13:8-13). We still have knowledge and prophecies and all these gifts; so that which is perfect (Jesus Christ) has not yet returned to earth yet. At that time these gifts shall cease "that which is in part shall be done away." Since we still know in part, then we know that the other gifts continue. Because the "perfect" has not yet come, the gifts continue. The very ones who teach that gifts ceased in 64 A.D. still have a little knowledge; so it is clear that the other gifts have not been done away.
The "perfect" that is yet to come refers to the completeness of that which we now have in part. Then the partial knowledge, prophecies, tongues, and other abilities will be superseded by the more complete abilities of the same kind. The Greek word teleios translated "perfect" means completeness or that which has reached the limit. Since the apostle is speaking of partial knowledge, prophecies, tongues, etc., it is clear that it simply means when the complete knowledge is attained and we shall know as we are known, the partial will be superseded by the more complete knowledge.
According to Matt. 3:11; John 7:38-39; 14:12-17,26; 15:26; 16:13-15; Acts 1:4-5; 2:38-39; 5:32; Luke 11:13; Mark 16:15-20 and other passages, every believer is promised the baptism in the Holy Spirit and power to do what Jesus and the apostles did; so it certainly is true that every believer in this age can receive the gifts of the Spirit. Many people other than the apostles received these blessings in the early church (Acts 1:4-15; 2:1-21; 5:32; 6:3-10; 8:4-20; 9:17; 10:44-48; 11:14-18; 15:5-11; 19:1-7). Only willful rebels against plain truth will deny the fact that these blessings are for all who believe.
Why All Saved Men Do Not Have the Gifts
1. Because of ignorance of them.
2. Because of unbelief in them.
3. Because they are ashamed of them.
4. Because they do not seek for them.
5. Because they do not want them.
6. Because they do not realize their importance.
7. Because they are not yielded to God.
8. Because they have grieved the Spirit.
9. Because of the many excuses of unbelief.
10. Because they think they have them.
All of the above-listed excuses and reasons are unscriptural. To ask men to produce chapter and verse for such excuses is to show the utter lack of Scripture to prove these claims. If men do not believe in miracles and in the Divine power of God for believers, such excuses may be somewhat consoling, but to those who do believe they are foolishness.
How
to Exercise the Gifts-The Fruit of the Spirit
All the gifts should be exercised in conjunction with THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, which is stated to be "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22-23). The nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is for character, not for power. The nine gifts are for power not for character. Love is the crowning grace of all this fruit and is the impelling force of God in the true exercise of the gifts. Every element of the fruit of the Spirit should be in every life as well as the nine gifts if one attains to all the fullness of God.
In 1 Cor. 13 the nine-fold fruit is summed up in the one word charity or divine love. God is love, and all that He is, is embodied in His love (1 John 4:8). No character can be complete without this fruit, and no gift should be exercised without it. This fruit is expressed in 1 Cor. 13:4-8 thus: "Love suffereth long [longsuffering], and is kind Kindness]; love envieth not [goodness]; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up [meekness]; doth not behave itself unseemly [temperance], seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil [meekness]; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth [joy]; beareth all things Gentleness], believeth all things [faith], hopeth all things [trust], endureth all things [patience and longsuffering]. Love never faileth."
A character may be complete with no gift, but it must have all the fruit of the Spirit in order to be Christ-like and normal. One may have the gifts and backslide and still retain outwardly some of the abilities imparted by the Spirit. He may even exercise these abilities in himself and by his own spirit, but if he does so without the fruit of the Spirit he is nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
Gifts must always be exercised with the fruit of the Spirit, and then their manifestation will always be edifying. The possessor of the gifts if he is impelled by love will not manifest impatience, unkindness, envy, or boastfulness. He will not be puffed up or be inflated in spirit. He will not be disorderly, act shamefully and manifest indecent acts or the many carnal traits. He will never rejoice when others go wrong, but he will always rejoice in truth and goodness. Anyone who is stubborn self-willed, harsh, commanding, unmerciful, and fervent in pushing himself forward to show off his gifts, is plainly out of the Spirit and is acting in himself, and he will do more harm to the cause of Christ than he will do good.
Those in Christendom who are normal in the quality of divine love will never reject truth, poke fun at spiritual manifestations, reject the power of God, or remain content to be without God's best for them. They will desire spiritual gifts. They will not despise them. Those who are always critical of every supernatural manifestation and who reject all the gifts because they don't want the so-called least of the gifts, are never sincere and open to truth concerning the gifts. Many know every poisonous dart that the devil shoots at the gift of tongues. They know all the arguments of unbelief concerning this gift, but they never get to know one detail of the truth about it or learn its benefits.
There is no gift that is unimportant. It is usually argued that the gift of tongues is the least of the gifts, and the attitude is that it is so unimportant that it should never be desired. The trouble with such rebels against truth is that they don't want any of the gifts that are unpopular. It is certain that if they do not get the least gifts they do not get the so-called greater ones. In fact, if they had old-fashioned religion of any kind or degree they would at least be open to all that the Bible teaches and to all that God promises to give to the church to make it invincible in the world. The gift of tongues is one of the tools of the church and it is important, or it would not be of the Spirit and would not have been given to the church as part of its equipment. We are not told which gifts are the best, and all that anyone says about them is mere human theory. None of them can be bad and worthless and still be of God; so because they are all of God let us desire them all as honest people should and not be poisoned against any one of them just to be a good fellow with the crowd that fights them. Let us not attribute any one of these gifts to the work of the devil, or we shall be in danger of committing the unpardonable sin of Matt. 12:22-37. If you do not want any of the gifts you can at least be honest and reject them as being of God, but do not add to your sin by attributing to the devil the gifts of God.
Revs. Mr. and Mrs. H. Dean Daniels
Suri Juris