Faith, Love, and Spiritual Gifts Work Together

Faith vs Spiritual Gifts?

People who reject the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit in the church today often tend to emphasize “faith” and “love” as substitutes for and reasons to eliminate the supernatural works of the Holy Spirit. This logic sounds spiritual but is inconsistent with the life and ministry of Jesus, the practices of the New Testament church, and the ministry of the apostles. The paragraph in italics below (written by an acquaintance of mine) is an example of this type of thinking.

“The trial is to walk in faith alone......no miracles...faith alone.....that is the true miracle to stay strong without inventing additional reasons to be blessed. He said so himself, I am the way, through me is salvation........period...no debate....and that we will have to live on faith alone......no miracles...no tongues.....no gimmicks.....faith alone.” 

On the surface these words sound spiritual, but a logical reflection will show the error of such thinking and how inconsistent it is with the very scripture my friend uses to support his position.

 The concept of “faith alone” is found in Paul’s letters and in Peter’s preaching. It means we are saved by faith alone rather than by works or merit. But “faith alone” for salvation does not eliminate its other functions and its role in the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit. Faith permeates every area of our Christian walk. It is the instrument of salvation, it sustains us in our daily walk and when it seems God’s presence is far away. It also releases the supernatural works of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, “O Woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”  And her daughter was healed from that very hour. The scripture also says that Jesus could do no mighty work in His home town because of their unbelief. The Apostle Paul said, “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Faith invites God’s miraculous presence; it does not remove the need for it.

Jesus’ statement saying “I am the Way” was not meant to contradict or do away with His miraculous works. Obviously He was performing miracles, healing the sick, and casting out demons in the very context in which these words were spoken.  Jesus did not say to the multitudes, “I am the Way. It is by faith alone, therefore, I will not work miracles.” 

The early Christians walked in the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit and recognized them as God’s very presence at work. They did not consider these experiences to be gimmicks. We should be as comfortable with the supernatural presence of God as were those first followers of Christ.

Love and Spiritual Gifts

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts.” 1 Corinthians 14: 1

So many people approach the subject of the manifestations or gifts of the Holy Spirit from a purely doctrinal or analytical point of view. To do this is to miss the real significance and wonder of all it all. A person’s ability to fully appreciate the magnificent gifts and tools the Lord has placed in his hands depends on the depth of his vision and motivations. What a person sees determines what he reaches for. What a person desires (and why he wants it) determines the passion and enthusiasm with which he pursues it.

The apostle Paul covered the issues of desire and motivation when he said we should “pursue love and desire spiritual gifts.” When we move in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit we are expressing our hunger for God’s active presence among us and we are showing our love and care for those around us. Jesus healed people because He was moved with compassion. We will move in the gifts of the Spirit as we are moved with His compassion. The gifts therefore are instruments of God’s love. It is Pharisaical to argue the theology of healing when you have people around you sick and in need of healing. I want to move in prophetic insight because there are people who need an encouraging word from God. I want to have a word of wisdom because someone is perplexed or confused and asking God for direction. I want to see miracles because so many people are facing impossibilities and need the “waters to part.”  I want to pray in the Spirit because it strengthens my prayer life, strengthens my spirit, and helps release my ability to move in the other gifts of the Spirit, which will in turn touch others with the compassion, presence, and power of God.

When we speak of spiritual gifts, we are speaking of the presence of Jesus Christ working among us. We are not focusing on the spectacular and the dramatic, although these do occur from time to time. But mostly we look for those unobtrusive and often unnoticed acts of the Holy Spirit working in the background and which flow among us as life and grace, quietly, yet deeply touching and blessing the lives of those around us. It is those daily, obscure, and non-spectacular acts of obedience that strengthen the church. It flows out of the individual’s desire to be used of God, and his willingness to reach out to people with love and compassion. It is to these that I direct you.