Faith Beyond Faith

 DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

FAITH BEYOND FAITH

1 Cor 12:7-11

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.   11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

NIV

It is time to talk about faith and not the type of faith when we say that we have faith in God. Again, we cannot be sure that even that type of faith comes from within us, for we know that God gives every man a measure of faith. That is recorded for us in the letter that Paul wrote to the Romans. Because we know that God does not show favoritism which is also recorded for us in the letter to the Romans. Because of this, we would have to conclude that whatever the measure of faith is, it would be the same amount for each and every person. To say,” I have more faith than you” would be so wrong on so many levels. First, that would be saying God does show favoritism. Second, that would be prideful, or thinking more highly of ourselves than we should. It may be true that one might exercise his faith more than another, and in that one’s faith would be stronger than the others, but it is the same amount of faith. Now, about this gift of faith, we have to know it is completely different that the measure of faith God gives without favoritism. This is the spiritual gift of the Spirit, and it is a supernatural faith needed for a specific time and it is used for the common good. This gift of faith cannot be conjured up by a person, nor can it be learned by any amount of study. However, we can study this faith from the standpoint of understanding how it functions, and its purpose, but that is all we can learn. We cannot be sure just how this gift of faith is more than the simple faith or conviction that God exists, which He gives to all of us, but because it is among the gifts of the Spirit that are for the common good, that puts this gift in a completely different category then the conviction that God exists type of faith that is given to all by God. When this faith is manifested in a person, they must move upon something that is extraordinary, far above their normal belief in God. That gift of faith must be stupendous, astonishing, fantastic, remarkable, breathtaking, and mind blogging, for it comes from the same Spirit who gives all the other gifts that are all above human self-expression. We are not sure if we have ever been in the presence of this supernatural faith expressed by the Spirit within someone, or for that matter within us, but we know it is real and it has happened and will happen so that the common good will prevail. This gift of faith is beyond faith.