SPIRITUAL GIFTS
What are gifts?
1. A gift is a present/thing given willingly to someone without payment (the gift => The Holy Spirit Himself)
Jesus instructed them, “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait here until you receive the gift I told you about, the gift the Father has promised.
Acts 1:4 TPT
2. A gift is a natural ability or talent (supernatural gifts given by the Holy spirit)
It is the same Holy Spirit who continues to distribute many different varieties of gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4 TPT
The Gift of the spirit is the Holy spirit himself who dwells inside of us as promised to us by God.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are spiritual abilities the Holy spirit gives in variety to believers for the common good of the body of Christ.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS:Who gives them and who are they given to?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17 KJV
These gifts are from God and are available for ALL believers, those who have received salvation through Christ so that they may grow and mature in their faith.
Why Spiritual Gifts?
Spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the church and growth of the body of Christ in Love and unity. Through these gifts, God displays His love for his children and also reaches out to the unbelievers by demonstrating His glory via these same gifts.
Spiritual gifts are given to us when we receive Christ and are cultivated through our walk with God.
(See: I Cor 14 vs 12, 1 Cor 12 vs 7).
What are the spiritual gifts?
I will be sharing these gifts with scriptural references. Please note that some are repeated.
Romans 12 vs 3-8: Prophecy, giving, exhortation, leadership, mercy, service and teaching
Ephesians 4 vs 11: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
1 cor 12 vs 8-10: Wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse tongues, interpretation of tongues.
Every believer has at least one of these gifts but most are yet to discover which.
Most people are born with natural gifts but they don't know till they start growing. Same with spiritual gifts, they are available at the second birth but most are only "activated" or discovered while growing.
We all have different gifts but they all come from the same Holy Spirit. Mr A might have the gift of healing while I have that of interpretation of tongues. It is the same spirit that provides all and they are ALL useful to the body of Christ. Whatever we gift we have/possess, it (its expression) must conform to the word of God.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:4 KJV
As defined that gifts are presents giving willingly without payment, we do not pay to get them. Spiritual gifts are not rewards. They are given by God's Grace.
We have to understand that it is not about us. There is a need to be met with these needs and we are vessels.
As Christians, we all should earnestly desire spiritual gifts. Not to boast or brag that we have them. Whatever gift we receive is of benefit for the common good of the body of Christ.
This Spirit dwells in believers so you must first believe in Christ and receive salvation through Him.
I know someone is thinking in their head, "but so many Christians do not have these fruit"
This is because they are not led by the Holy spirit dwelling in them. We have to yield to His leading. If a believer doesn't yield to the leading of the Spirit, you won't see any fruit. The fruit is not produced by the believer but by the Holy Spirit and there is a process of production
Physical fruits take time to grow and this is evident, same with spiritual fruits, they do not grow overnight.
In order to produce these fruit above, we have to yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him weed out the works of the flesh which have become behavioral patterns from the old man.
As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life.
Romans 12 vs 3-8: Prophecy, giving, exhortation, leadership, mercy, service and teaching
Ephesians 4 vs 11: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
1 cor 12 vs 8-10: Wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse tongues, interpretation of tongues.
Every believer has at least one of these gifts but most are yet to discover which.
Most people are born with natural gifts but they don't know till they start growing. Same with spiritual gifts, they are available at the second birth but most are only "activated" or discovered while growing.
We all have different gifts but they all come from the same Holy Spirit. Mr A might have the gift of healing while I have that of interpretation of tongues. It is the same spirit that provides all and they are ALL useful to the body of Christ. Whatever we gift we have/possess, it (its expression) must conform to the word of God.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:4 KJV
As defined that gifts are presents giving willingly without payment, we do not pay to get them. Spiritual gifts are not rewards. They are given by God's Grace.
We have to understand that it is not about us. There is a need to be met with these needs and we are vessels.
As Christians, we all should earnestly desire spiritual gifts. Not to boast or brag that we have them. Whatever gift we receive is of benefit for the common good of the body of Christ.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Fruit means yield, result, produce or outcome of something.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the produce, yields or outcome of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.
The fruit are evidence of godliness as they can only grow out of a live that is dead to self and alive by the spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit expresses our new nature in Christ through our characters/way of life.
But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
Galatians 5:22-23 AMPC
How do we have or produce these fruit(s)?
Since they are fruit(s) produced by somebody, then you must have the producer (The Holy Spirit).This Spirit dwells in believers so you must first believe in Christ and receive salvation through Him.
I know someone is thinking in their head, "but so many Christians do not have these fruit"
This is because they are not led by the Holy spirit dwelling in them. We have to yield to His leading. If a believer doesn't yield to the leading of the Spirit, you won't see any fruit. The fruit is not produced by the believer but by the Holy Spirit and there is a process of production
Physical fruits take time to grow and this is evident, same with spiritual fruits, they do not grow overnight.
In order to produce these fruit above, we have to yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him weed out the works of the flesh which have become behavioral patterns from the old man.
Galatians 5:16 TPT
Now I want us to look at these behavioral patterns and carefully examine ourselves.
Which of these things are still very much evident in our life?
The cravings of the self-life are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior. Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!
Galatians 5:19-21 TPT
These things mentioned above are very much contrasting to the fruit of the spirit.
The Bible goes ahead to tell us those who do these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
This tells us very much the bulk doesn't stop at confessing and accepting Christ as our Savior.
I know majority of us still exhibit some of these traits of the flesh. Some of us see it as not too much of a big deal, if you are on this table, now is the best time to allow the Holy Spirit break it completely. He can't work in you what you don't allow Him to.
Some of us also want to let go of these things but we slip and keep going back. Don't feel sad, you can't do it on your own so stop trying and allow the Holy Spirit.
Now I want us to look at these behavioral patterns and carefully examine ourselves.
Which of these things are still very much evident in our life?
The cravings of the self-life are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior. Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!
Galatians 5:19-21 TPT
These things mentioned above are very much contrasting to the fruit of the spirit.
The Bible goes ahead to tell us those who do these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
This tells us very much the bulk doesn't stop at confessing and accepting Christ as our Savior.
I know majority of us still exhibit some of these traits of the flesh. Some of us see it as not too much of a big deal, if you are on this table, now is the best time to allow the Holy Spirit break it completely. He can't work in you what you don't allow Him to.
Some of us also want to let go of these things but we slip and keep going back. Don't feel sad, you can't do it on your own so stop trying and allow the Holy Spirit.
Those of us with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit now have the ability to control our desires and say NO to our flesh. We have the power to say yes to the Holy Spirit so He can work in us a bountiful harvest of Spiritual fruit.
Gloryyyyyy!💃💃💃💃💃.
Everything we see in the fruit of the spirit is the nature of Christ and we as Christians have been called to mirror the image of Christ.
As believers we are to have ALL the fruit(s) of the spirit, that is why the Bible uses singular term for it; Fruit of the Spirit.
Nine of them mentioned come as one package. There is nothing like I have love and I don't have self control. It is one ninefold. We can't pick and choose. This ninefold characterizes all who truly walk in the Holy Spirit.
So examine yourself again.
Are you missing out on one or 3 or all? Then there is a little problem.
Go to God and stay in fellowship with Him. yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit and watch these fruit manifest. Not one will be left out.
The fruit of the spirit is what will ultimately determine if we truly know the Lord. Without these fruits, everything else is worthless, all our spiritual gifts are nothing. If we prophesy from now till we die and no fruit, it is all in vain.
CONCLUSION
- The fruit of the spirit is the goal of every believer. Developing a Christ-like life/nature is the life long goal. When we get to heaven, this is the nature we will exhibit and only those who have exhibited these on earth will be there.
- Both the fruit and the gifts have one source, The Holy Spirit. Please hold dear your relationship with Him. We can't do this on our own, allow Him help you. He is here for you!
- The fruit of the spirit deals with our attitude and way of life, the gifts deal with our actions in service. Both are important!
- The fruit of the spirit is the same in all believers. This is why we can easily associate them with Christ. It defines who you as a Christian is or who you are becoming. It is about the kind of person God wants you to be for eternity.
Finally, God is forming His character, His very nature in you. His spirit which now dwells in us will help us develop our spiritual gifts for you in His perfect timing.
Keep growing In the gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit.
God bless you all.
Oluremi Akinfaderin.
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