The Gifts Of The Spirit
The Gifts of the Spirit are those special abilities bestowed upon believers by the power of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are designed to strengthen the Church and to help believers edify and confirm each other in the faith.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (5:17), he explains that Christians should be filled with the Spirit, who is the source of all spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, the leader of the Church and the one who equips the Church to carry out its mission. The gifts of the Spirit are God’s way of helping us live more like Him and glorify Him.
The Bible speaks of nine distinct gifts of the Spirit. The two most commonly accepted categorizations of these gifts include: a) the manifestation gifts and b) the functional gifts. The manifestation gifts are often referred to as the “Fruits of the Spirit” and are found in Galatians 5:22-23. The fruits of the Spirit include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The functional gifts are found in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and include the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretations of tongues.
These two categories of gifts of the Spirit can be found throughout the Bible. The manifestation gifts are evident in Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels. In Mark 7:35, Jesus “put his hands on the man’s eyes, and immediately he received his sight and followed him,” showing that Jesus had the gift of healing. In Luke 4:18, Jesus proclaims the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him to proclaim the good news to the poor, and in John 2:11, Jesus performs His first miracle, turning water into wine, demonstrating His power.
The functional gifts can also be seen in the Bible. In Acts 2:17-18, Peter describes a time of pouring out the Holy Spirit and prophesying, showing the gift of prophecy. In Acts 6:5, Stephen is said to have had great wisdom and miracles, suggesting the gift of faith and miracles. In Acts 8:14-17, God grants Philip the gift of understanding, enabling him to interpret the Scriptures, displaying the gift of the word of knowledge.
In summary, the gifts of the Spirit are essential for Christians to receive and demonstrate in their lives. These gifts are directly linked to the Holy Spirit, who equips believers to live according to God’s will. By understanding and utilizing the gifts of the Spirit, we can become better equipped to live out the life God has planned for us.
Christ’s Teachings
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus teaches us many things about living in accordance with the Fruits of the Spirit. These lessons are found in His parables, teachings, and conversations with His followers. In Matthew 5, Jesus speaks of the correlation between the Fruits of the Spirit and showing love for our neighbor. He reiterates this teaching in Luke 6:31, where He says to love our enemies. He encourages His followers to practice the Fruits of the Spirit in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7), as well as in His other recorded lessons.
In the book of John (14:15-17 [15]), Jesus promises His followers that if they keep His commandments, He will send the Comforter (the Holy Spirit), who will remind them of everything He said. This promise demonstrates Jesus’ desire for us to live out the Fruits of the Spirit, as they are the best way to demonstrate His teachings. Additionally, in Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus commands us to take up our cross and follow Him, reminding us that living the Fruits of the Spirit is a life of service and sacrifice.
Additionally, Jesus often directed His disciples to prayer when faced with difficult situations. This shows that prayer, a form of communication with God, is essential for allowing the Fruits of the Spirit to manifest in our lives. This is reiterated in Ephesians 6:18, when Paul instructs believers to pray in the Spirit. In this way, prayer brings us closer to the Holy Spirit and helps us to better understand and apply the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives.
Finally, throughout His ministry, Jesus demonstrated the Fruits of the Spirit in the way He lived His life. His self-sacrificing act of dying on the cross, as well as His love and care for the sick, the poor, and the outcasts of society, are just a few examples of His embodiment of the Fruits of the Spirit.
The Purpose Of The Fruits Of The Spirit
The Fruits of the Spirit are an essential part of the Christian faith, and each Fruit has its own unique purpose. The Fruit of Love is arguably the most important of the Fruits, as it is the root of all of them. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 states, “and now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” In this way, love serves as the foundation for all the other Fruits.
The Fruit of Joy gives believers a sense of hope and contentment in the midst of difficult circumstances. The Fruit of Peace helps bring believers closer to each other, as it allows them to rest in the comfort that comes with knowing God is in control. The Fruit of Patience allows us to trust in God’s timing, while the Fruit of Kindness allows us to show compassion to others.
The Fruit of Goodness comes from a place of humility, and teaches us to trust in God to bring us what we need. The Fruit of Faithfulness allows us to stay focused on God’s promises, no matter the situations or circumstances we find ourselves in. The Fruit of Gentleness teaches us to lead with compassion, and the Fruit of Self-Control reminds us to keep our temptations in check.
Living Out The Fruits Of The Spirit
The best way to live out the Fruits of the Spirit is to continue to pursue a closer relationship with Jesus. Only He can empower us to live out the Fruits of the Spirit. As Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” In this way, Jesus calls us to walk in the Spirit and surrender our lives to Him.
Additionally, one of the most important things Christians can do to live out the Fruits of the Spirit is to read the Bible and pray regularly. In the Word, we find comfort, guidance, and a reminder of God’s promises. Prayer opens our hearts to hear from God and to learn how to put His will into practice. Spending time in worship, reading the Bible, and praying connects us to the Holy Spirit and helps us to build a closer relationship with Jesus.
Finally, living out the Fruits of the Spirit can be hard in a world that is filled with sin and brokenness. As we strive to remain faithful to Jesus and to live out the Fruits of the Spirit, we must remember that He is with us every step of the way. As Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” In this way, no matter how hard it may seem to live out the Fruits of the Spirit, Jesus gives us the strength to stay faithful and loyal to Him.
The Power Of Testimony
Sharing our testimony of how Jesus has worked in our lives is one of the best ways to demonstrate the Fruits of the Spirit to a world in need. This can be done through a formal sermon or speech, or through casual conversation with friends and family. Our testimony can be used to uplift and encourage others, to draw others closer to Jesus, and to give hope to a broken world.
Additionally, our testimony can be used to inspire change and to challenge those around us to take a stand for faith and justice. In this way, the power of our testimony can help create a spiritual revolution in the Church and in the world. As Acts 4:31 says, “When they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” In this way, we can use our testimony to speak boldly and to inspire a spiritual movement.
Finally, our testimony can be used to guide and encourage others in the midst of their own personal struggles. We can use our story to remind others that they are never alone, and even in the darkest of days, Jesus is with them. Our testimony can be used to inspire others, anger others, and to bring hope to those who are struggling.
Conclusion
The Fruits of the Spirit, though often overlooked, are essential for Christians to display in their lives. These Fruits are given to us by the Holy Spirit as a way to glorify God and to demonstrate His love in a broken world. Through the teachings of Jesus, we learn how to live out the Fruits of the Spirit, and through our testimony, we can share the power of the Fruits with the world. In this way, the Fruits of the Spirit can be a powerful tool in our arsenal, equipping us to follow God’s will and spread His message of love and hope.
