Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

There are different levels of faith. There is the simple measure of faith. We read, “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). The word measure is the Greek word metron and is a term used for measuring. In this case it refers to a set measure of faith. 1 One of the nine fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of faith (Gal. 5:22, KJV ). Fruit will automatically grow on a healthy tree. The fruit of the Spirit, all nine, should grow and develop in the life of every believer as he or she matures in his or her walk with Christ. This type of faith should mature with a person’s spiritual growth. There is also a gift of faith, listed as one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7–10). This gift is a supernatural impartation of faith that is often combined with the gifts of healing and the working of miracles. As a teenage evangelist, I recall spending days fasting and hours daily in prayer, beseeching for God to touch the people attending a revival in Alabama. It was a Saturday night, and I had preached a faith-building message on Christ’s healing power. Suddenly I sensed a surge of faith that was so strong that at that moment I felt no unbelief or doubt anywhere in the sanctuary! I immediately began forming a prayer line to minister to the people’s needs. In that one service, practically everyone was either healed or received a visible touch of the Holy Spirit. This is an example of the gift of faith in action. When we pray, we must exercise the measure of faith we have been given. To seek the face of God through