SPIRITUAL GIFTS ~ The Gift of Faith Each and every true Christian has received the gift of the Holy Spirit. No believer can say that they have no gift of the Spirit from God. God has given all believers the gift of the Spirit itself and at least one gift and some have received several gifts. These gifts of the Spirit are given to the believer for building up the Body of Christ. The gifts are to help make the body function as a complete body. These gifts are intended for the Ekklesia, to edify it, to strengthen it, to feed it, to exhort it, to encourage it and to have the whole Body empowered to do the work of Christ. These gifts are always to exalt God the Father and Christ, to witness of God's power, to build up the spiritual temple of God, and to do the work of warning and proclaiming the Gospel to all nations, and then teaching them to observe all things that are written in God's Word. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 1st Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. In 1st Corinthians chapters 12-14 Paul teaches about specific spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit and lists them. They are not things that Christians can generate through their own human efforts, but are gifts bestowed upon us freely by God; therefore as believers we have no cause to brag or be proud about the gifts we have been given. If we take human pride in our spiritual gift, we are taking credit for something that was given to us and for something we did not earn. It is a gift that was freely given to us that we are to share with others by exercising it for the good of all. 1st Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Now that we have studied into the purpose for spiritual gifts these past couple of weeks, we will begin to address each of the gifts that are given to God's children and how each gift benefits the Ekklesia. There are nine gifts of the Spirit listed in 1st Corinthian 12 and seven gifts listed in Romans 12. 1st Corinthians 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit (1) the word of wisdom; to another the (2) word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another (3) faith by the same Spirit; to another (4) the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another (5) the working of miracles; to another (6) prophecy; to another (7) discerning of spirits; to another (8) divers kinds of tongues; to another (9) the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. Romans 12 lists seven more gifts of the Spirit and they, too, are to be used in building up [edifying] the Body of Christ. Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether (1) prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or (2) ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or (3) he that teacheth, on teaching; Or (4) he that exhorteth, on exhortation: (5) he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; (7) he that ruleth, [manages, administers] with diligence; (8) he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. In this series of articles on the Gifts of the Spirit we will go into the study of each of these gifts beginning this week with the "gift of faith." A measure of faith is the very first prerequisite to having the other gifts for we must first believe and have faith in the very existence of God, believe what He says in His Word, believe in His promises and then have faith that God is all powerful and is able to perform His will in miraculous ways. We must also believe that He can work through weak human beings who are His called-out faithful children who are striving to live in all of God's ways. He is able to use them to do good works that bring Him glory, just as He used the first century apostles and brethren in the early church. Faith is the key that enables us to believe in God and to know that His Word is true and then marrying that belief with OBEDIENCE to what He teaches. If we seek to grow in having more faith, we must walk as Jesus walked in all obedience to His Father's commandments; and as we do we will have more and more opportunities to be used by God in doing good works and furthering His purpose here on earth through the power of God's spiritual gifts. It is imperative that we have faith to receive and experience the supernatural blessings that come from believing, for without faith in God to trust in God's Word, it is impossible to even come to the knowledge of the truth wherewith we may be saved, let alone do the works of God. The "gift of faith" is found in 1st Corinthians 12 and verse 9, and refers to the fact that God's people are given the "gift of a deeper faith" in addition to the initial faith that all believers receive when they first come to know God. How can it be considered a "gift" for the special purpose of edifying the Body of Christ when all believers are given faith and that too is a gift from God in order to be saved? Faith is absolutely necessary for believing the Gospel, repenting of our past sins and believing that Jesus atoned for our sins by His sacrifice. It takes faith to believe that Christ rose from the dead and to live a godly Christian life. So a measure of faith is necessary to even begin the process of becoming a converted child of God. Faith is defined as believing in God and also to believe that what He says in His Word is true and right. We are convinced from the heart that it is imperative to obey Him in all things and to use our life to live for Him. Faith is also believing that God keeps all of His promises, and that all that He says will happen exactly as it is written in His Word. Faith is always a gift from God, and never something that can be conjured up by men and women. For the believer, faith is God's "divine persuasion" and therefore is distinct from our own human belief; godly faith is a spiritual Gift of God. When a believer continually yields himself to the will of God, his faith will grow and God will provide even more faith. It is the JUST who walk by faith. (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38) The Greek word for "faith" that is used in 1st Corinthians 12 is pistis (Strong's #4102) it means: faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness. (Strong's Concordance) 4102 pístis (from 3982/peithô, "persuade, be persuaded") -properly, persuasion (be persuaded, come to trust); faith. Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis ("faith") for the believer is "God's divine persuasion" (HELPS Word-Studies) 1st John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Paul describes saving faith in Ephesians and this faith, too, is very much a gift from God. God begins the process by calling us, He opens our eyes to see that what He says in His Word is true, and helps those who respond to His call understand His Word, something that they could not do before they were called. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. When we respond positively to God's call and we embark on our journey through life dedicated to serving Him, Paul tells us that the righteousness we attain is by the faith of Jesus Christ. That is, the faith of Christ in God the Father, is given to us as a part of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and nature of Christ. Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: Faith involves belief but it goes beyond human believing because it involves the personal revelation of God in the inner most being of a person. Godly faith is always God's work in us. Our believing has eternal worth when it becomes "faith-believing" by the Gift of the transforming Spirit of God. There is very little true faith in the world and even though many people say that they are true Christians and that they follow the Bible; they refuse to believe what God says and refuse to obey the words of Jesus; because of so little faith there are not that many mighty works of God among them. In 1st Corinthians 12 "faith" is placed in the category of extra "spiritual gifts," gifts that are given to individuals for the purpose of benefiting the body of believers. All true Christians are given the faith to become believers but not all Christians are given the spiritual gift of a deep extra faith. For Paul says that the gifts are varied and different believers are given different gifts according to how God distributes them. Later in the chapter, Paul says that not all have all the same gifts but to each one a gift or gifts are given so that the whole Ekklesia benefits from the gift. This kind of super abundant faith is given by God as an expansion of our faith and an abundance of faith poured out for the express purpose of edifying the spiritual temple. The gift of deep faith is often a gift to those who appear weakest in other ways. An old sick person may having nothing yet they can be filled with the deepest most powerful faith, and their prayers can be most effectual because of that passionate powerful faith. Those who want to help and do good, and seem to have nothing to give; can accomplish much through their prayers of abiding faith. 1st Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every [each] man to profit [for the good] withal. There are different kinds of gifts, but each gift is a reflection of the same God who distributes them. No two gifts are the same and generally no two believers have exactly the same gifts; but always these gifts are given for personal growth and the common good of the Ekklesia. The Greek word for "every" is hekastos (Strong's #1538) and means "each". 1st Corinthians 12:11 But all these [gifts, achievements, abilities] worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every [each] man severally as he will [exactly as God chooses]. 1st Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 1st Corinthians 12:27 Now ye [collectively] are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [each part is individual and distinct and each with his own place and function]. 1st Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? Since the spiritual gift of faith is included in the gifts that are dispersed on an individual basis; and not all members have all the gifts, but each person receives according to what God has ordained for each, not all will have the special Gift of extra Faith if that is not the specific gift that God gives them. Faith is a foundational gift which enables all other gifts; the other gifts do require special faith as well, such as the gift of healing and the working of miracles. In addition, a person's gift of faith may be manifested in different kinds of administrations of that faith; So this gift works in conjunction with some of the other gifts as the empowerment for these other gifts. It may be that God grants more than one gift to certain individuals and the gifts work in tandem with each other especially the gift of faith with the gift of healing, working of miracles, etc. The parable of the talents shows that individuals are given more or less of the talents [gifts] according to their abilities and according to what God determines. God knows each of us even better than we know ourselves and God decides what He would have us to do. It is how well we do with what we are given, that brings commendation or correction to each servant. (Matthew 25:21,23) From this list in 1st Corinthian 12 and from the examples in the Bible of the men and women that exemplified this kind of faith, we see it is somewhat different than the saving faith that all believers are given. It is an extraordinary faith that God gives to certain individuals as a gift that enables them to edify the Body of Christ, meaning to build up the Ekklesia by their extra measure of faith in God's promises, power and presence. This extra measure of faith equips them to powerfully take a stand to defend the things of God, to fight for the sound doctrines of Scripture versus false doctrine, and to do extraordinary feats because they have faith that God is with them helping them and that it is really God that is doing the works. 1st Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, [human philosophy], but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Those who have this faith believe from the depths of their hearts that obeying God and His commandments are more important than pleasing men, material gain, prestigious positions or even losing one's life. We see this kind of faith in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who when threaten to be thrown into the fiery furnace because they would not bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image of gold, told the king: "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."(Daniel 3:17-18) Even if God were not to deliver them out alive from the fiery flames, they had the extraordinarily faith to know that they would still be saved in the resurrection of the just and ultimately be saved out of King Nebuchadnezzar's desire to have them killed; for they believed God's promise that they would be saved eternally if they were to die physically. Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. They did what they knew that they had to do to stay right with God and left the outcome totally up to Him. That is extraordinarily faith! If we are serving and obeying God with all our hearts and we were to be put in a similar position, we would need to trust that God would supply us with the gift of faith to sustain us through such a trial. Can we ask God to have this kind of faith? There is an example given in Mark of a man that had some faith but recognized his need to overcome His doubt and he asked Jesus to help him to have more faith. Mark 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. We quoted Luke 11:10-13 last week and read that Jesus taught His disciples that they could ask for the gifts of the Father that pertain to the Holy Spirit. We know that faith is a gift from the Father and He gives gifts as He determines, but Scriptures indicate that we can ask for certain things and to ask for a gift that we can use in our own spiritual growth and also use it to help others grow in their Christian walk pleases Him. Luke 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? The disciples also asked the Lord to increase their faith. Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. The Bible gives us a very clear definition of faith and it is found in Hebrews 11:1. Hebrews 11 is the chapter that is often called the "heroes of faith chapter" for it gives many examples of people who had tremendous faith in the face of impossible odds. These men and women who lived during the time of the Old Testament are described as those who had the extraordinary faith that enabled them to do great and superhuman things for God. Please read this chapter carefully noting the extraordinarily faith displayed by plain ordinary men and women who were able to do what they did because they believed God and looked to His promises and not at their own weaknesses. Hebrews 11 begins with the Biblical definition of faith, and then following the definition the rest of the chapter gives us a synopsis of some of the Bible heroes that had this kind of faith with a short description of how their faith was played out in their lives. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Please see the rest of chapter Hebrews 11) In this chapter Paul gives examples of certain ones like Noah who spent 120 years building a huge ark when, up to that time, Noah had never seen rain as it had not fallen yet. But he believed God and obeyed as God told him to do, having faith that God was faithful and what He had revealed to him was going to happen. His actions of building the ark served to prove that he did indeed believe God and had extraordinary faith that He keeps His promises. Look at the faith of Abraham who left his own country to go to a distant land that he know nothing about because God told him to go. He had faith enough in God to obey Him. Afterward Abraham and Sarah had faith that they would have a child when their natural ability to do so had passed. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, because he had faith that God was able to raise him up again even from the dead. Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he [Abraham] considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Moses had this kind of faith to do what he was called to do; performing mighty miracles to demonstrate the power of the One True God to Pharaoh and to the people of Egypt. Moses had faith that God would deliver the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt and faith that God would supply for their needs as they wandered through the wilderness. Rahab had great faith in the God of the Israelites even though she was a foreigner living in the very land that was to be possessed by them. Her faith enabled her to provide the spies a way of escape even at great risk to her own life. God honored her faith in Him by sparing her and her family when the city was later taken. The list goes on and on of so many that we have all read about and studied whose examples are there for us to be encouraged and inspired to do similar exploits when we face obstacles, or when God wants us to do something that looks too hard. Without this special kind of extraordinary faith given as a gift from God, such heroic achievements would have been impossible.
Those members of the Ekklesia with the "gift of faith" are meant to be an inspiration to their fellow brethren, exhibiting an absolute faith in God and His Word that is demonstrated in all they say and do; thereby edifying Christ's body which is the spiritual temple. The gift of faith not only benefits the possessor of it, but more importantly, is meant to help others to have faith by their courageous examples of exhibiting unshakeable faith in God, His Word and His promises even when things look impossible. Like all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gift of extra faith is apportioned to certain individuals as God sees fit and that person is to use it for the "common good," which means the edifying of the Body of Christ. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." (1st Corinthians 12:7) Christians that possess this gift of extraordinary faith show a humble godliness and reliance on all of God's promises, and are not afraid to take a stand for the truth, when called upon to do so; therefore they are often known by others in the Ekklesia to be fearless and unflinching, zealous and passionate because of their faith: that with God all things are possible even though those things may seem impossible in the natural order of things. Those who have the spiritual gift of faith are so certain that all obstacles to doing the work of God and the furthering of God's purposes on earth will be defeated, that God can then use them as His instruments. "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23) Because of their faith they are more apt to be willing to faithfully carry out the works of God because of their belief that it is really God that is doing the works within them. Therefore they are able to achieve more than those who may be more talented and skilled, but who do not have this kind of deep held faith. Why does God give some this extraordinary kind of faith that goes even beyond the faith to believe the Gospel, repent and be saved? Because God sets some as godly leaders as examples for others in the Ekklesia and true leaders of God need to have extraordinary faith to direct God's people in the right direction. That is why Jesus taught and trained the disciples for 3 ˝ years, why He called Paul, Barnabas and Silas, Apollos and some of the women who were leaders in their own sphere of influence like Phoebe and Priscilla, and many others. Godly leaders that have unshakeable faith are to be examples for those who are new in the faith; and examples for younger people who lack experience, and for others that may be weak in faith for any number of reasons. As those under their care and guidance witness their faith and zeal to do whatever it takes to proclaim the Gospel, to defend the truth and to teach the brethren, they are encouraged and inspired to do likewise and they too will grow in the spiritual gift of faith as God sees fit. The gift of extraordinarily faith has a ripple effect just as the waves circle out from a stone thrown in a pond of water. It starts with one wave in the center and the effects of the stone hitting the water branch out until the whole pond has waves of motion moving right up to the shoreline. This is the precept behind gifting certain men and women in different ways to give them opportunities to learn to be godly leaders and then train and be an inspiration to others so that some day they too will become godly leaders following in their footsteps. We think of how Paul mentored and taught young Timothy and then Timothy went on to become a godly leader in the early church. God wants righteous leaders that will lead His people in the way of salvation; people who will promote God's standards of teaching sound doctrine no matter what, and people who refuse to budge from what God teaches in His Word. God has called us to train in this life to be future leaders and priests in His Kingdom; therefore to be the right kind of leader in whatever capacity God has placed us in today, is extremely important. It is when men seek positions of leadership for themselves to seem important and to exalt themselves over the brethren that they have gone astray. There are those who lead their followers to compromise with God's commandments and ordinances in order to hold fast to the traditions of men whom they themselves have exalted as being in authority in lieu of God and His Word. (Matthew 20:25-26) We need to walk away from these kinds of leaders for they will lead us astray and influence us to compromise as well. (1st Corinthians 11:1) That is why it is so very crucial to look to the Bible to see all these men and women of faith and to study what true servant leadership looks like. (Please see Revelation 2:2, 1st Thessalonians 5:21, Acts 17:11) It is to these kinds of leaders that God showers the gifts of the Spirit upon. Romans 12:3 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 mentioned earlier a few of the many in the Old Testament who had faith to believe God and to act on that faith even when their circumstances seemed so contrary to what they were told to do by God. Another example is the example of Joshua and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb were outnumbered ten to two but stood their ground and tried to encourage the people to move forward to take possession of the Promised Land as God had commanded them to do. They showed by their actions that they had the gift of extraordinary faith. They truly are our examples for we too are living in perilous times and it is going to get even more dangerous as we approach the prophesied events that happen just before the tribulation and then during the tribulation. These men were fearless and we are going to need fearless leaders in the Ekklesia that point us to God and what He tells us to do rather than looking to false teachers and their organizations led by corrupt men. We can all be fearless leaders if we set our hearts and minds on God and put Him first in all things and draw close to Him in our day to day life. 1st Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Numbers 13:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3 And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel. 17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes. 21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. The ten spies could only see the walled cities and the great statures of the men and how strong they were. They had forgotten about the All-Powerful God who had miraculously protected them from Pharaoh's army, had divided the Red Sea and had supplied for all their needs in the wilderness. This was the Great God that was telling them to go forth and possess the land; yet because of their lack of faith they cried "we are not able to overcome it." But look at the faith that Joshua and Caleb had compared to those who lacked faith. The ten saw themselves as grasshoppers that could be crushed in a moment. On the other hand Caleb said "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." In the next chapter the ten spies spread their fear to the rest of the Israelites and persuaded them to want to turn back to Egypt.
Numbers 14 :1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
Joshua and Caleb are the kind of faith-filled leaders that we desperately need in the modern day Ekklesia in these end times; men and women who look at the surrounding circumstances but refuse to swerve from what God says to do in spite of what their peers may think. We need more leaders like Joshua and Caleb who are willing to step up to the plate and be proper examples of faith for others. We need people who are not afraid of what superiors, friends and family will do to them or say about them when they refuse to join them in their compromise of God's commandments; and refuse to allow themselves to put church leaders before God as others do.
We need strong leaders that have the faith to acknowledge sin in the Ekklesia when they see it, repent of it themselves, and then are willing to tell the people their sins; who will encourage them to turn back to God and keep His laws and ordinances instead of listening to false teachers or following after corrupt leaders. How do we become godly leaders that are strong in faith and good works? We draw close to God in prayer, study of His Word, meditating on Gods Word and applying the principles we learn to our daily walk with God, keeping all of His commandments and refusing to compromise when we are tested to do so. Faith grows as we do these things and the more we set our mind on the things of God, rather than being a part of this Babylonian world, the more our faith will grow. Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. It is a tried and proven fact that the more one believes and obeys Christ and studies the Bible the more understanding of the Bible he will attain and the more he will grow in faith. Paul admonished Timothy, and this is instruction for all God's children to "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [or explaining] the word of truth." (2nd Timothy 2:15) Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. If our desire is to be more like our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, and to walk as they walk in our Christian life, God will grant us the gifts we need to accomplish this desire. In summary, our heavenly Father gives all true Christians saving faith at the time of conversion and they are to grow in that faith. The spiritual "gift of extra faith" is given to some, and they then exhibit extraordinary confidence in God and in His promises by their Christian walk and their actions. They are therefore, by their gift of faith, an example, an inspiration and an encouragement to others in the Body of Christ. Constance | 
