Receiving the Gifts and Cultivating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Receiving the Gifts and Cultivating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Introduction

For the past two months, we have been studying the subjects of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. In this lesson, we will be trusting God to teach us how to operate in the gifts of the Spirit and to show forth His fruit.

Main Texts: Mathew 25:14-30, Galatians 5:16-18

Spiritual Gifts, Availability, and Commitment

Mathew 25:14-30

The parable of the talents teaches us that if we do not use what God has already given us, we run the risk of losing it. We are always looking for more, but what are we doing with what we already have? God forbids that the little responsibility we have is given to someone else. When God looks into His church and sees needs, He looks around for available vessels and fills them in order to meet the needs. Why should the Holy Spirit endow us with His gifts if we are not available to use them? As the master in the parable was away for quite a while, for enough duration for the servants to do business and make good profits, only God knows how long He has been waiting on us to start doing more with what we have. The following are worthy of note:

  • Use what you have now, be available and be committed.
  • God knows us and we are responsible to Him. The unprofitable servant was unhappy because he was entrusted with little. But he failed to realize that the master knew his ability. In fact, all the servants were given a little (Mat 25:21,23).
  • Be humble. The servant with one talent was arrogant. Why would a servant talk to his master in the manner he did, saying his master wanted to reap where he had not sown. The hope is that we are not doing the same.
  • The reward for hard work is more work (Mat 25:28-29) but God will reward us (Heb 11:6) and will not forget how hard you have worked for Him (Heb 6:10 NLT).

Love is a More Excellent Way

1 Corinthians 12:27-31, 1 Corinthians  13, 1 Corinthians 14:1

Given the choice of receiving all the gifts of the Spirit and receiving the ability to love, would you go for the gifts rather than love? After Paul enumerated the gifts and even encouraged believers to earnestly desire the best, he went ahead to show a more excellent way – pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy (1 Cor 14:1).

Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit

The components of the fruit of the Spirit are not a to-do list. We grow into them as we live in the Spirit. They are traits that we develop as we continue in our walk with the Holy Spirit. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:25).

The Father is looking for those who will worship Him in truth and in Spirit. The flesh accomplishes nothing, it is the Spirit that gives life. The fruit of the Spirit is not to be cultivated or attained by human effort, any more than we can attain salvation by our strength.

What Does it Mean to Walk in the Spirit?

We walk in the Spirit when we align our lives with the Holy Spirit, letting Him take the lead and we, simply willing to follow. The more we do that, the more the fruit of the Spirit finds expression in us. Who instructs us to love? Who teaches us to refrain? Who guides us to peace? There is no formula or method that would work. The fruit is of the Holy Spirit and only Him can guide us in them.

  • You already live in the spirit (Rom 8:9)
  • Love fulfils the law, walk in love (Gal5:13-15)
  • Depend on the Holy Spirit, not on your understanding. He will teach you all things (John 14:26)
  • Be spiritually-minded (Rom 8:1-8)
  • Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16-18)

Conclusion

Let us take active steps and measures. This is a call to action, it is a call to take up the responsibility for our spiritual growth and not live as one who is unwise, but as one who knows the hope of his calling and his inheritance in Christ. We are people on a journey. Though we live in this world, we do not belong in this world; our commonwealth is in heaven. Let us have the consciousness of who we are. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit.

Fruit of the Spirit - Love, Joy and Peace
Fruit of the Spirit – Love, Joy and Peace

Spiritual gifts are not the same as the fruit of the Spirit. Spiritual fruit is produced from within; spiritual gifts are imparted from without. Fruit relates to a Christlike character; gifts relate to Christian service. The fruit of the Spirit, especially love, should be the context for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 that spiritual gifts without spiritual fruit are worthless. Fruit is eternal, but gifts are temporal (1 Corinthians 13:8); the former is a true measure of spirituality, but the latter is not. According to bible.org:

“Spiritual gifts are not the same as natural talents. Unlike the natural abilities which everyone has from birth, spiritual gifts belong exclusively to believers in Christ. In some cases, the gifts of the Spirit coincide with natural endowments, but they transcend these natural abilities by adding a supernatural quality. Both are given by God (James 1:17), and should be developed and used according to their purpose for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)”

Main Texts: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Galatians 5:22-26

In my opinion, spiritual gifts and fruits should be working together in the life of a believer. Having one without the other can make a Christian life unfruitful and hypocritical.

We will focus on Love, joy and peace in this outline (Galatians 5:22).

Love

Love has many definitions but Romans 5:5 is our text for the love that we should have first: The love of God.

Without loving God we can’t love men. Anybody that does not love others is a hater of God.

Joy

Joy can be described as the assurance and confidence that we have concerning an issue even without evidence. Nehemiah 8:10 – the joy of the lord is our strength.

We rejoice in the Lord even if we cannot see Jesus face to face yet we rejoice in hope.

Peace

Peace – Philippians 4:6  John 14:27. Jesus said peace I leave with you, My peace I give it you not as the world gives.

Romans 14:17, Romans 5:5 – The source of this joy, peace, and love is from the Holy Spirit.

It is good to note that all the components of the fruit are described with God in them, the love of God, the Joy of the lord, the peace of God, which points to the fact that we need to abide in Him if we will be fruitful in our Christian walk.

Conclusion

Every believer should aspire to develop Godly character as stated in Galatian 5:22.  The body of Christ is under watch by unbelievers and our character and Behaviour should reflect what we profess to the world.  Every believer should seek God and cleaved to the Holy Spirit that produced the Joy, Peace, and Love.

Question

How would a Christian know that he or she is exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit?

Holy Spirit: The Giver, the Gifts, and the Fruit
Holy Spirit: The Giver, the Gifts, and the Fruit

Our discussion today is an overview on the operations and the person of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. This is so important to us believers because the Spirit of God wants us to understand and utilise His things (abilities and persona) that are freely given to us to function and live in this world.

Hebrews 4:12 declares that God in us is alive and active. As we begin this series, we trust His gifts and person will become operational in our lives in Jesus name. The study is structured as follows: “The Giver”, “The Gift”, “The Fruit” and “How to Cultivate Them”.

The Giver

Now concerning spiritual gifts, I don’t want you to be ignorant (Uninformed), the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:1.  It means we are encouraged to understand and prioritize this subject.

We should be fully informed that:

  1. God is the giver of spiritual gifts and abilities. In other words, no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit
  • All good and perfect gifts come from above and come from the father of light (James 1:17)
  • There are diversities of gifts but the same Lord (in operation) (1 Corinthians 12:4)
  • To each one of us grace was given (Ephesians 4:7)
  1. The Spirit has given us these gifts for a purpose
  2. These gifts are precious divine resources that should not be wasted or abused (Matthew 25:14-30) – Discuss the Parable of talents
  3. They are given according to His will
  4. They can come and increase in measure through faith (so you are allowed to covet them)

The Gifts of the Spirit

The gifts of the Spirit are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the purpose of church edification, service (meeting needs), and for exercising dominion.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 includes the spirit of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, working of miracles, prophecy, and interpretation of tongues. The chapter further includes administration and helps.

Ephesians 4:7-13 enlists the ministering or office gifts as follows: Prophets, Apostles, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers.

Romans 12:3-8 includes exhortation, giving, leadership and mercy.

The Purpose of the Gifts

  • To profit all – 1 Corinthians 1:7
  • For equipping saints in the ministry
  • For navigating through life

The Fruit of the Spirit

The expression “fruit of the Spirit “ is a metaphor used to sum up the nine major spiritual virtues or attributes a true Christian should possess. In short, they are physical manifestations of a transformed life.

The Purpose of the Fruit of the Spirit

  • To make heaven
  • To produce lasting changes in character /behaviour that is consistent with who we are
  • To make visible the Holiness/Persona of God
  • To be a Christian

How to Acquire, Cultivate, and Increase the Measure of the Gifts and the Fruit

  • You must be born again
  • Glorify God for whatever He has given you now
  • Identify new operations in your life. If confused meet spiritual elders close to you
  • You must use or you may lose them
  • Sharpen, pray, study and walk closely with those who have the gifts you want
  • Dare to use them in seemingly difficult situations and believe God for more