VIKTOR SAARI MINISTRIES

 There are four different kinds of faith. They are saving faith, general faith, the fruit of faith and the gift of faith. Ephesians 2:8 shows us saving faith: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Everybody has the capability to be saved, but many have hardened their heart to the word of God. In Romans 12.3 we are given an example of general faith:

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. We all have a measure of faith to use in our lives. It will meet some of our needs, but it is up to us to make our faith grow. Galatians 5.22-23 tells about the fruit of faith.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Faith is a fruit, but how do we make this fruit grow? Through our faithfulness to God’s word we make our faith grow. Because if we are led by the Spirit, we will do nothing but be faithful to God. The fourth kind of faith is the subject matter, the gift of faith. The gift of faith is a supernatural work and is released by the Holy Spirit as He wills and as you allow Him to move. 

When you have the gift of faith in operation, you believe in such a way that you receive whatever God has told you or anything you have requested immediately in the natural. Obviously you have to ask for things in line with the word of God. If you are not in line with the word of God, the gifts of the Spirit do not have free will. Instead you are in the flesh and being led by it, instead of being led by the Spirit.

Miracles happen when the gift of faith is in operation, because it allows you to receive from God. Whether it be supernatural protection or casting out any kind of demonic spirit, raising the dead or impartations of supernatural manifestations. In simple form, what the gift of faith really does is let the supernatural works of God (what He has already done for you) manifest themselves.

Now faith always has works, without works it is dead (James 2:20). The gift of faith works the same way; it is something you must act upon. Yes the Holy Spirit wills it, but you have to act upon the gift of faith and all the rest of the gifts. Samson had the gift of faith in operation in Judges 15.14-15.

Judges 15.14-15:

¹⁴And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.

¹⁵And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

Samson was strong, but he needed the Holy Spirit to flow through him to do something like this. It would take an extraordinary amount of faith to do this. This is exactly what the gift of faith is, extraordinary! Daniel also had the gift of faith flowing through him, and is why the lion’s mouths were shut and did not eat him.

Daniel 6:16-20:

¹⁶Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

¹⁷And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. ¹⁸Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

¹⁹Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

²⁰And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

²¹Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

 ²²My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Now, you may say that Daniel’s faith was not active, but it was. In Daniel 6.10 we see Daniel was showing his faith. He was showing his faith even when all the rulers and authorities of the land made a decree that no one should ask any god or man a petition. Daniel showed his faith by praying, giving thanks to God three time’s day. He showed total faith and was faithful to God while he was going through difficult times and before difficult times hit. This is a valuable lesson and we should all put it into practise.

The gift of faith works together with other gifts of the Spirit as well. When Jesus was making miracles happen such as feeding the five-thousand, He was using both the gift of faith and the working of miracles. The difference between the gift of faith and working of miracles is, faith does and a miracle receives. But, they both work together to receive the blessing. The raising of dead has many gifts of the Spirit in operation. Faith, the working of miracles, the gifts of healing and discerning of spirits may all be in operation at one time. This is why it is not done very much, because a person must be very open and let the Holy Spirit flow freely through them. The gift of faith is very special, but you cannot make it flow through you. It is only as the Holy Spirit wills, so just be open to Him and let Him work through you.