The nine gifts of the Spirit
The Lord commanded His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they had received this power when the Holy Ghost had come upon them (Acts I : 8). The Lord had told them much about the 'Comforter' which would come after His departure from them.
The Lord commanded His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem
until they had received this power when the Holy Ghost had
come upon them (Acts I : 8). The Lord had told them much
about the 'Comforter' which would come after His departure
from them.
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given to us, through which we are being 'made perfect' (vs. 40).<br />
God's plan with us is so much greater than we have ever known,<br />
but it is all through faith. It is our faith that overcomes <strong>the</strong> world<br />
(lJohn5:4).<br />
<strong>The</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r aspect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> faith is <strong>the</strong> communication<br />
<strong>of</strong> faith to o<strong>the</strong>rs. With all we do and speak, it is necessary to<br />
exercise this operation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> faith. With our preaching,<br />
witnessing and singing, everything should be directed at<br />
building up <strong>the</strong> faith in o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
Many people are <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> OpInIOn that <strong>the</strong> Lord Jesus<br />
performed miracles regardless whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>re was faith or not.<br />
But this is not so; where <strong>the</strong>re was no faith, even Jesus could do<br />
very little. 'And He did not many mighty works <strong>the</strong>re because <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>ir unbelief' (Matt. 13: 58).<br />
'And He could <strong>the</strong>re do no mighty work ... And He<br />
marvelled because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir unbelief' (Mark 6 : 5,6).<br />
When a fa<strong>the</strong>r who had no faith came with his possessed<br />
boy to <strong>the</strong> Lord Jesus, we see how Jesus, through carefully<br />
chosen words, works faith in <strong>the</strong> heart <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> man. 'If thou canst<br />
believe, all things are possible to him that believeth'<br />
(Mark 9: 23).<br />
With <strong>the</strong> Canaanite woman, <strong>the</strong> Lord exercised her faith<br />
by not answering her immediately. It is evident from <strong>the</strong><br />
conversation how sure she was that <strong>the</strong> Lord would help her. At<br />
last Jesus answered her: '0 woman, great is thy faith: be it unto<br />
<strong>the</strong>e even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from<br />
that very hour' (Matt. 15: 28).<br />
Two blind people came to Jesus and He asked <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong><br />
question: 'Believe ye that I am able to do this?' When <strong>the</strong>y<br />
answered Him: 'Yes, Lord', He said: 'According to your faith be<br />
it unto you' (Matt. 9: 28-29).<br />
We <strong>of</strong>ten ask <strong>the</strong> question: 'Do you think Jesus can heal<br />
you?' Very <strong>of</strong>ten this question does not seem to be too difficult:<br />
'Yes, <strong>the</strong> Lord is able.' But <strong>the</strong>n, when we ask <strong>the</strong> second<br />
question: 'Do you think Jesus will heal you?', we <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
encounter doubt and unbelief.<br />
Would it be <strong>the</strong> Lord's will? 'Thy will be done' is <strong>of</strong>ten used<br />
as a weapon against faith. <strong>The</strong>n, when we have explained from<br />
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