Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done. All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.â€Â     Matthew 21:21-22 (WEB)
Do you have the gift of faith? I know two people very well who do. My daughter, Janet, and, my friend, Hannah have the gift of faith.
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 (WEB)
Each of us has been given a measure of faith. I believe that God wants to give us more faith. As we walk along with Him and learn of Him and trust Him and hear the testimonies of others, we build our faith.
1 Corinthians 12-14 teaches us much about the gifts God gives to His children. It is not an exhaustive list. There are many gifts that God gives for the work of His Kingdom that aren’t specifically listed in the Bible. My friend, Hannah, that I mentioned has a gift of art. She creates beautiful banners and pictures that inspire us all to worship God. I have another friend, Cindy, that plays piano and just knows what song to blend into next, weaving a path with songs that celebrates, heals, and certainly leads us to God’s feet to worship Him.
The gift of faith is certainly like the other gifts from God’s Holy Spirit – wonderful, spectacular – and meant to build us personally and corporately within the Body of Christ. I am blessed to have people in my life that have been instrumental in my spiritual growth. I listened to their wise words as we prayed for my son to be healed. Their faith joined with others as we watched James leave, preceding us into Jesus’ promised reward. Their faith continues as we all learn to rejoice at the assurance of his eternal reward while we all miss James in our day-to-day lives. I am grateful for their gift in the Body. Jesus uses them to lift me up!
Each of us has a gift given by God. Jesus tells us the parable about ‘talents’ (Matthew 25:14) to describe how His Kingdom is to work. (Note: a ‘talent’ was a measure of currency. Its present day definition of ‘gift’ works in this parable also.) We are not to bury our talents but instead we are to invest them and use them so that multiplication occurs and the Kingdom grows. If we ignore a gift, refuse a gift, or do not use it for God to be praised – God will not allow His gift to be wasted or abused and so someone else will receive the blessing.
If you do not know your gifts, ask God. Ask Him for revelation in this area. Ask God for an increase in your gift. Ask Him to show you opportunities to use this gift to honor Him. He will answer! If you see gifts in others – mention it to them! Encourage them! Let them know that you appreciate them and then follow that up with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for them.
