“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

The Holy Spirit brings His fruit and gifts. Let’s learn a little about it.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

“The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another. It works in and through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruit of the Spirit...” Editor Francis D. Nichol, Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p.1112

The Bible gives us a couple of lists of the fruit of spiritual growth. The fruit of the Spirit is important because it indicates our progress and to show the results of His work. Here are some of those lists.

Galatians 5:22,23 NKJV,

• love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Ephesians 5:9 NKJV,

• all goodness, righteousness and truth.

Galatians 5:16-21 NKJV,

• shows us that the power of sin will be broken in us through the Holy Spirit.

“... walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (see also Romans 7:23 + 8:1) “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS

“Under spiritual gifts we mean the gifts given by the working of the Holy Spirit as they are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators, a variety of tongues. These gifts play a part in ‘the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry’. ... They validate the testimony of the church and give it leadership and guidance.” Hrsg. Gerhard Rempel, Schlüsselbegriffe adventistischer Glaubenslehre (Hamburg), S.44

The Holy Spirit also gives other talents for specific purposes: “in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 31:2-6) or architecture (1 Chronicles 28:12, 19).

When we want to become Jesus’ disciples we surrender to Him everything we have and are. The result is that all our talents and abilities, inherent as well as learned, are placed at His disposal. God can give us additional talents and/or He can refine and purify our natural abilities.

Remember, if you lack in any of them, ask! God will take you BEYOND! Ephesians 3:20 NKJV says,

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Can we have spiritual gifts when we have a lack of the Holy Spirit?

2. What is the “flavors” of the Fruit of the Spirit you can see being developed in your life?

3. Are you lacking in any of them? How can you ask for God to produce in you the fruit?

4. Remember to ask for the Father His wonderful gift, The Holy Spirit.