The Fruit and Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Fruit and Gifts of the Holy Spirit
INTRODUCTION There is an obvious difference between the work and fruit of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Spirit is the direct result of the Spirit’s active ministry. The fruit of the Spirit is the outcome of His indwelling and our yielding to Him.
Galatians 5:17-23 is a sharp contrast between the works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh (17 of them) are the natural outcome of the Adamic nature. The fruit of the Spirit is the result of the Holy Ghost operating on the new life. The fruit of the Spirit (9 of them) is spoken of in the singular signifying the oneness of the fruit. It is not complete until all nine are present. The Christian is not complete until he manifests all nine graces.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Kinds of fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the nine graces as a single unit, one fruit.
Love. This is divine love, an attribute of the indwelling God, 1 John 4:16; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Joy, not the so-called happiness of the world but deep, deep gladness, Php 4:4.
Peace. This is the peace of God that satisfies the soul completely, Colossians 3:15.
Longsuffering (patience). The natural man is impatient. Saints are the opposite.
Gentleness (kindness or graciousness). Jesus was known by His graciousness.
Goodness (benevolence). This virtue makes the Christian full of good works.
Faith (faithfulness). He is dependable and can be relied on at all times.
Meekness (mildness of temper). He is humble, particularly true of us, 2 Timothy 2:25
Temperance (self control), moderate in drink, appetite, dress, habit and fashion.
These nine are all opposite or contrary to the filthy natural works of the flesh.
These nine graces were beautifully portrayed in Christ for He was Spirit-filled.
Fruit is an evidence of death. John 12:24, "Except a corn of wheat. . . die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
If we are not dead we will merely bring forth the works of the flesh.
Fruit is the evidence because self has not be crucified as in the believer.
Many are fruitless because self has not been crucified so they continue to abide alone. The new life alone is capable of bringing forth fruit to the glory of God.
Fruit is necessary. John 15:2, "Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away." Luke 13:9, "And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that , thou shalt cut it down." The only reason for our existence here after conversion is to bear fruit.
The fruitless cannot long enjoy the privileges of the fruitful. Fruitlessness and favor with God cannot live together. Away with barrenness.
Luke 13:7, “Behold these 3 years I [the husbandman representing God] come seeking fruit.” He Will not be satisfied with anything less than spiritual fruit.
James 5:7, “The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth." The Lord Jesus Christ is waiting for true fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) from our lives.
Fruit affords identification. Matthew 12:33, "The tree is known by his fruit."
In Numbers 13:26, the spies showed the fruit of Canaan to prove that it was a good land. In the New Testament the saint portrays the proper fruit, showing he is born again. Appearance and profession are good but the vital evidence is the fruit to identify whether a tree is a mango or an apple, whether saint or hypocrite.
Matthew 7:16-20, grapes do not bear figs, thistles or thorns. Saints ought not to bear any of the works of the flesh, Galatians 5:17-21.
Very often our lives are a paradox of cursing and blessing, sweetness and bitterness, figs and olives, James 3:9-12. Is it any wonder that the world is perplexed?
Purpose of the fruit: Matthew 21:34, "He sent His servants. . . that they might receive the fruits." Fruit is not exclusively for the tree; others see our good works and glorify God. To produce sweet fruit for our own benefit alone is to dishonour the Father.
Source of the fruit: Hosea 14:8, "From ME is thy fruit found." The source is in God. John 15:4, "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in vine; no more can ye except ye abide in Me." Natural fruit is wild fleshly works.
The saint abounds in fruit as he is rooted and grounded in Christ, Ephesians 3:17-18.
Fruit is the source of propagation. Genesis 1:11, "And God said, Let the earth bring forth. . . the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself.”
The seed is the fruit. If there is no fruit there is no seed or reproduction.
If there is no spiritual fruit in our lives, then we cannot reproduce.
Rather than being a blessing, our lives become a hindrance to the Gospel.
Colossians 1:10, ". . . being fruitful in every good work, and increasing. . .” .. Have we reproduced? Is it because we have never borne fruit of the Spirit?
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
Kinds of gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and the gift to interpret tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:28, the gifts that fit one to be an apostle, prophet, teacher, miracle-worker, healer, helper, administrator or linguist.
Ephesians 4:11-16, adds the following: gifts of evangelism, pastoral and gift of ministry.
Romans 12:6-8, adds: gifts of exhortation, gift of giving, gift of ruling, and the gift of showing mercy. (probably about 24 different gifts)
Gifts are sovereignly given. 1 Corinthians 12:11, "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will."
The Holy Spirit places the new convert in the Body of Christ and appropriately endows him for that particular location in the Body -- Ephesians 2:21-22.
It is the prerogative of God to choose the location. It is His sovereign will alone As He chooses the location, so He continues to fashion and fit the new cell.
Gifts are for profit - 1 Corinthians 12:7, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given every man to profit withal." It is given to make the cell more useful, profitable.
The whole Body profits because of the new gift that is added to a believer. The human body does not have unnecessary parts (even the appendix has a function), and neither should the Body of Christ have useless drones in it. Our conversion and baptism into the Body (1 Corinthians 12:13) was more than just so that we could escape hell; it was so that we would be a help and blessing to the body. The Body of Christ, the invisible Church, should be stronger because you have been placed in it and qualified by special gifts from the Holy Spirit.
Gifts are to be desired -- 1 Corinthians 12:31, "But covet earnestly the best gifts."
Don’t be satisfied with just one or two gifts. Seek and pray for others that would help you in that particular position He has given you in the Body.
Paul mentions prophecy as the gift that is most desirable -- 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 14:39. In Matthew 25:14-30, some were given one talent (gift), others two and others five. The man who received five gained five more and the one that was hidden in the earth in Matthew 25:28, was also given to him so that he eventually had eleven gifts. At conversion we may have only one or two gifts but keep seeking more for His glory.
Personally I believe that when I graduated from Bible school I only had a couple of gifts, but believe that He has given me several more in the past 20 years.
Gifts are suited to each possessor - 1 Corinthians 7:7, "Every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that."
Every believer in Jesus Christ has a gift. Not one person has been forgotten. The administrator does not need the gift of preaching. The Holy Spirit gives the proper gift to each cell according to its functions.
Gifts must be used - 1 Timothy 4:14, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee."
Some hide their gifts because they are not as spectacular as those of others. The gift that is not used will rust and may even be taken away from us, Matthew 25:28.
I personally feel that I lost the gift of writing while being inactive for 18 months while we lived under communism and failed to use the talent.
Gifts are to be improved. 2 Timothy 1:6, "Stir up the gift of God that is in thee."
The gift needs constant practice to be advantageous in the kingdom of God.
Let’s concentrate on the constant improvement of these heavenly gifts -- Colossians 1:29.
CONCLUSION
These are not natural talents. These are special gifts given by the Spirit. Let’s consistently bear fruit as we are provided by the best possible gifts.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Why is the word "fruit" in the singular in Galatians 5:22 ?
List the 9 graces that comprise the fruit of the Spirit.
List 3 reasons why some Christians do not bear the fruit of the Spirit.
List 4 paradoxes in James 3:9; James 3:12, regarding manifesting fruit.
List 3 purposes of fruitbearing.
List 10 gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Who chooses the believer’s place in the Body of Christ? Proof?
What evidence have we to signify that gifts can be increased after conversion?
Prove that every saint has at least one gift (3 verses).
Give two things that must be done with spiritual gifts.