MODULE 24: FRUIT & GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT INTRODUCING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT The Fruit of the Spirit is characteristic of the life of every Christian, to a greater or lesser extent. Note the following: ! The presence of the Fruit of the Spirit is inevitable in the life of every Christian. If we are filled with the Spirit, fruit will appear (Matthew 12:33). If there is no fruit we should question our Christianity. ! God produces fruit, man produces works. Life may be characterised by what has its origin with God, or by what has its origin with man. What is from God is good. What is from man is described in Galatians 5:19-21. ! Fruit does not produce itself. It is produced by a parent life-form such as a vine or a tree. Without a grapevine there will not be grapes. We cannot have the one without the other. The Fruit of the Spirit is produced in our lives by God the Holy Spirit. We cannot produce it ourselves; and we cannot have it unless the Spirit of God indwells us (John 15:4). ! Fruit does not appear overnight - it grows gradually and steadily. The Fruit of the Spirit does not appear overnight either. Justification is instantaneous (Romans 8:1); sanctification is a life long process (Galatians 5:16). ! The word Afruit@ is in the singular. Galatians 5:22-23 teaches the one, singular fruit of God the Holy Spirit, which has nine flavours. This means that the whole of the Fruit of the Spirit is to develop in every individual Christian life. In contrast the word for Aworks@or Adeeds@ (Galatians 5:19) is in the plural - many of them, divided among many different people. THE FOCUS OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT The Fruit of the Spirit focuses in three directions. ! A right relationship with God (Jhn 16:8) which is manifested in love for God (Matt 22:37), joy in God (Neh 8:10), and peace with God (Phil 4:7). ! A harmonious relationship with others (Jhn 13:34) which is manifested in patience with others (Gal 6:9), kindness towards others (Eph 4:32), and goodness towards others (Col 3:13). ! A peaceful relationship with self (Isa 26:3) which is manifested in reliability (Matt 5:37), considerateness (Eph 4:2), and self-mastery (Gal 5:1). It is clear from the above that the Fruit of the Spirit affects every believer at three different levels of his existence. $ The Fruit of the Spirit cements a right relationship with God in the life of the believer. It does this by developing love for God, joy in God, and peace with God. Page 2 $ The Fruit of the Spirit enables a relationship of harmony between fellow believers, and between believers and non-believers. It does this by developing the qualities of patience, kindness and goodness in the believer in terms of his relating to others. $ The Fruit of the Spirit enables a relationship of being at peace with oneself. It does this by developing the qualities of faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as attributes of character in the believer. The above indicates that the Fruit of the Spirit reflects the work of God the Holy Spirit in moulding and developing the character and life of the believer, so that he will be to the glory of God. It is, for this reason, the prime evidence of the presence of the indwelling Spirit of God in the believer. God is glorified by what we are, before He is glorified by what we do! Note the principle in Mark 3:14 of being someone with Jesus, before we can be someone for Jesus! INTRODUCING THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT In contrast to the Fruit of the Spirit which manifests the work of God in the individual believer, the Gifts of the Spirit have to do with what God wants to do in the body of believers through individual believers. In this sense the individual believer becomes an instrument or a conduit through whom God facilitates blessing for the wider body of believers. What do we learn about the spiritual gifts from the following verses: 1 Cor 12:1 ............................................................................................ 1 Cor 12:7 ............................................................................................ 1 Cor 12:11 ........................................................................................... There are different views on the validity of the Gifts of the Spirit in the day in which we live. Note the following broad categories. $ Pentecostalism - holds to the literal functioning of these gifts as they are mentioned in 1 Cor 12, and expect the manifestation of these gifts in the gathering of believers. It is true that, although Pentecostalism professes commitment to the functioning of all the gifts, certain of the more sensational gifts are emphasised as being evidence of the presence of God the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. $ Charismatic Movement - holds to the literal functioning of these gifts as they are mentioned in 1 Cor 12, and focus on the manifestation of them in the gathering of believers. They do not necessarily consider the presence of the gifts as the only evidence of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer. $ Evangelicalism - is divided on the issue. Most conservative evangelicals are Bible-believing Christians and, therefore, find themselves in a dilemma. They accept the reality of the gifts of the Spirit because the Bible, as they understand it, teaches this. They however seldom, if ever, experience some of the more dramatic gifts listed. Some evangelicals hold to what is known as cessationism. This view holds that the gifts of the Spirit no longer operate because the church no longer needs them. In the early church, without the full Bible, the gifts fulfilled a function similar to that of a booster rocket to a satellite. Once the satellite has been placed in orbit the booster rocket falls away. Based primarily on 1 Cor 13:8-13, this view says that the church has been placed in orbit; the perfect Page 3 (Bible) has come, the booster rocket has fallen away. THE CONTEXT FOR THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT The Gifts of the Spirit function within the following context: $ The Lordship of Christ - The gifts of the Spirit are operations of the Spirit, but they are all derived from Jesus who is the exalted Lord. It is through His Lordship, recognized and affirmed, that the spiritual gifts become a reality - note 1 Cor 12:3. This statement precedes the delineation of the gifts. The implication of this is that the Spirit of God gives gifts to those who acknowledge the Lordship of Christ. The focus of the community of believers is not the Spirit but the Lord! A truly charismatic community is not a Spirit-centred but a Christ-centred community!! $ The Triune God - It is important to note that behind the spiritual gifts there is the Triune God. Although the gifts are primarily expressions of the Holy Spirit, they have behind them the full weight of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:4-6). Whatever the diversities of gifts, of ministries, of operations, it is the same Holy Spirit, the same Lord Jesus, the same God at work in each. The implication of this is that a truly charismatic community will be Trinitarian in its operation and lifestyle. $ The Holy Spirit - The gifts of the Spirit are manifestations of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:7). Through the gifts the Spirit of God, who is invisible, manifests Himself visibly. The nine gifts listed are exhibitions of this (1 Cor 12:8-10). The gifts of the Spirit are the self-expression of the Spirit to the community, occurring through instruments open to His presence and power. The manifestation of the Spirit is through people! $ Comment - We should finally note that the gifts of the Spirit involve both divine and human activity, God the Holy Spirit manifests Himself through human beings (1 Cor 12:11). Moreover, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for ministry in the body of believers (1 Cor 12:7). The gifts need to function in an attitude of love (1 Cor 14:1). THE NINE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN 1 COR 12:8-10 Wisdom Speech full of God=s wisdom which is facilitated to the believer through the presence of the indwelling Spirit (1 Cor 2:7). The ability to understand, explain and apply the wisdom of God, especially in relation to salvation, to the present situation. Knowledge God the Holy Spirit gives insight into divine truth already revealed, enabling recipient to teach (1 Cor 2:13). Faith This is not saving faith, but faith to trust God for the impossible (Matt 17:20; 1 Cor 13:2; Heb 11). It is, through the indwelling Spirit, to display unshakeable confidence in God. Page 4 Healing The ability, given by the Holy Spirit, to perform works of healing to the glory of God (Acts 4:30; James 5:14). Miracles The Greek word used here for Amiracles@ is the word dunameon which comes from the word dunamis, from which we get the English word Adynamite.@ The emphasis is on mighty deeds (Acts 3:6; 5:3-5). It is a demonstration of supernatural power (Matt 10:7-8; Jhn 14:12). Not magic, not exhibitionism. Prophecy Preaching God=s message under the guidance of the Holy Spirit - forth telling (Acts 13:1). Not prophecy as in O T sense. Foretelling future events (Acts 11:27). Discernment The ability to discern the spirit of man, whether it be of God or of Satan (1 Jhn 4:1; Acts 8:20; 13:10). Tongues & Interpretation Essentially an ecstatic utterance that edifies the speaker (1 Cor 14:4), and is understood by God (1 Cor 14:2, 28). On the Day of Pentecost a real language, understood by those familiar with it. Tongues and interpretation are twin gifts, one may not function without the other. Pentecostalism holds that these two gifts are in a distinct category that operate beyond the mind (1 Cor 14:14). The human mind is transcended by the operation of God the Holy Spirit. These two gifts are supramental. The gift bestows a variety of tongues (1 Cor 12:10). Not ecstatic utterance, which suggests irrational speech. Tongues are suprarational and profoundly spiritual. A gift - not ability. The only ability man has is to make his tongue and lips available to the Holy Spirit, who alone has the ability. The gift belongs in the context of the body of believers - for its edification and the common good. There is a difference between tongues as an accompaniment of the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), and as an individual gift of the Spirit. Tongues belong to the ongoing life of prayer and praise. There is no limitation: all believers may speak in tongues (1 Cor 14:5). All who speak in tongues devotionally do not necessarily edify the body. There is a difference between devotional tongues and ministry tongues. Speaking in tongues, while a blessing for believers, is a sign to unbelievers (1 Cor 14:22). Unbelievers who spurn tongues are confirmed in their unbelief.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 22:19:25 +0000
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