Our last blogs on the gifts of the Holy Spirit dealt with the three gifts of revelation given in I Corinthians 12:7-11. We move on now to the next category, the gifts of power, which are faith (v.9), gifts of healing (v.9) and working of miracles (v. 10).

We can divide all the miracles of Jesus into faith, working of miracles, and gifts of healing. It is almost impossible to understand the miracles of Jesus without a good understanding of these three gifts. The human mind cannot fathom the powerful ways of the Holy Spirit. And yet, we are granted a small view, just enough to participate in this supernatural manner of serving and healing. Here are some thoughts based upon my years of experience with these powerful gifts:

1 - Faith is the first of the power gifts. This type of faith is a move of the Holy Spirit in a situation or person, a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It gives the person faith above and beyond what they already have. It is actually a supernatural increase of faith. When such faith fills your soul, anything can happen. In Luke 8:48, Jesus said to the woman with a flow of blood, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” The faith Jesus saw in her was above and beyond. It was a move of the Holy Spirit in the life of this woman.

2 - We are familiar with the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” However, the gift of faith found in I Corinthians 12:9 is a different kind of faith. It is a special faith which begins in heaven and is imparted by the Holy Spirit. It is a move of God to a person, for a person and in a person. Its main purpose is to produce a miracle. The faith of the centurion in Luke 7:1-10 caused Jesus to say, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel” (v. 9, NIV). The gift of faith is the key for every other gift to operate. It convinces you that what has been revealed by the Holy Spirit will be accomplished.

3 - In every example in the scripture where this type of faith is manifested, a clear indication occurs: the heart of the person involved in the miracle has qualities that distinguish him or her above others. In the case of the woman with the flow of blood, her insistence to touch Jesus in the midst of a pressing crowd reveals special faith. After the miracle had occurred, Jesus waited for her to manifest herself and He then blessed her even more. The centurion not only distinguished himself as a man of integrity, but he spoke to Jesus using faith terms: “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Luke 7:7). Not only did special faith move here, but the centurion was praised by Jesus.

4 – The Holy Spirit appears with special faith not only when there is need for healing, but also when there is need for a supernatural movement to create and establish a situation beyond human capability. A miracle can be physical, mental, or situational. Remember the definition of God’s attributes according to the Apostle Paul in Romans 4:17- “He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed - the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” (NIV).

5 - This powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit is easily detected in someone. When the gift of faith is operating, it has a way of letting you know that something is happening in front of you. When Jesus met the synagogue ruler, Jairus, there was something extraordinary about him that let the Lord know that He would be going to Jairus’ house. His faith, his demeanor, his heart, and his desire to believe was above and beyond. The Holy Spirit works powerfully when the heart of someone believes and will not doubt.

6 – Finally, environment is crucial to the manifestation of special faith from the Holy Spirit. An environment of praise and worship, unity, humility, and brokenness invites the Holy Spirit to distribute this gift of faith amongst the congregation. Faith opens the door for all of the other gifts to operate. In Mark 6:5-6 we read, “And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief.” If we want to experience a manifestation of this special faith given by the Holy Spirit, we must create an environment which is “Holy Spirit friendly.”

Rick Bonfim

Edited By Betty Mckinney