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Discipleship Manual
Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit
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     There is a vital relationship between the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the practical manifestation of Christ in the life of the believer; it offers evidence of the reality of Jesus within. The gifts of the Spirit have to do with spiritual abilities and are endowments bestowed upon the believer by God. As the word "fruit" suggests, the fruit of the Spirit takes time to develop while the gifts are freely given by God. Paul's writings in the New Testament give us indication that though we may have a gift given to us by God, it is of little use without His character developed within us.

  1. What Is The Fruit Of The Spirit?

    Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is:

    1. "Love"

    2. "Joy"

    3. "Peace"

    4. "Longsuffering"

    5. "Gentleness"

    6. "Goodness"

    7. "Faith"

    8. "Meekness"

    9. "Temperance"

         The word "fruit" is used metaphorically to mean "result or outcome." In other words, the result or outcome of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life should be the nine virtures listed above. Vine's defines fruit as "being the visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly, the character of the fruit being evidence of the character of the power producing it."


  2. How Are These Virtues Brought About In Our Lives?

    1. By the Gospel - (Colossians 1:5-6)

    2. By being joined to Christ - (Romans 7:4)

    3. By abiding in Christ and allowing ourselves to be pruned - (John 15:1-4)

    4. Tribulation - (Romans 5:3)

    5. Meditating on God's Word - (Psalm 1:2)

    6. Rejecting the counsel and company of the ungodly - (Psalm 1:1)

    7. By walking as "children of light" - (Ephesians 5:7-9)

    8. By making no provision for the flesh and dying to self - (Romans 13:14, John 12:24)

    9. By allowing ourselves to be trained by chastening - (Hebrews 12:11)


  3. How Important Is "Fruit Bearing" For A Believer?

    1. It is for this purpose that Jesus chose us - (John 15:16)

    2. Scripture tells us that repentance will cause fruit to come forth in our lives - (Matthew 3:8)

    3. We are warned of the danger of not bearing fruit - (Matthew 3:10, 25:14-30, Hebrews 6:8).

    4. Paul in I Corinthians 13:1-3 proclaims the emptiness of exercising the spiritual gifts without the love of God to motivate him.


  4. What Are The Gifts Of The Spirit?

    I Corinthians 12 lists nine gifts which can be grouped into three major divisions:

    1. Revelation Gifts

      1. "Word of Wisdom": Supernatural revelation of the mind and will of God, or the method of how to carry that will out - (Acts 18:9-11)

      2. "Word of Knowledge": Supernatural knowledge concerning a person(s), place(s), or thing(s) - (Acts 13:11)

      3. "Discerning of Spirits": Supernatural knowledge concerning a person(s), place(s), or thing(s) - (Acts 16:16-18)

    2. Utterance Gifts

      1. Tongues

        1. The supernatural gift of speaking in another language without it being learned - (Acts 2:3-11, I Corinthians 14:22)

        2. Interpretation of Tongues: The divine enablement to explain the meaning of a message given in tongues - (I Corinthians 14:10-13)

        3. Prophecy: Comes from the Greek word, "propheteia," meaning the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God. It is not necessarily, nor even primarily, foretelling; it can be in reference to the past, present or future. A prophet is simply a spokesman for God. - (Acts 13:2, 21:11)

    3. Power Gifts

      1. Faith: (Speaking in reference to the "gift", and not general faith) It is the ability given by the Holy Spirit to believe God to do the impossible. - (Acts 3:1-7, 27:25)

      2. Healings: The ability given by the Holy Spirit for imparting healing to a person's physical body. This is not human or soulish power, but the Holy Spirit flowing through a willing vessel (Acts 28:8). It is not necessary that hands be used for this gift to be operational. - (Acts 19:11-12)

      3. Working of Miracles: (Literal Greek - "operations of power") The ability given by the Holy Spirit to perform works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means. - (Acts 3:12, 6:8, 14:3)


  5. Can The Believer Move In Only One Of The Gifts?

    1. The scripture indicates that an individual may function in one gift in particular, or in more than one.

    2. It can be seen also from the examples and definitions of the gifts that often several gifts are in operation at the same time. (Faith with healing, healing with miracles, word of knowledge with prophecy, etc.)


  6. Why Are The Gifts Given To The Church?

    1. For the common good - (I Corinthians 12:7)

    2. Edification - (I Corinthians 14:3,5)

    3. To convict and convince - (I Corinthians 14:24-25)

    4. Instruction and exhortation - (I Corinthians 14:31)


     The fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit are important endowments for both the individual believer and the Body of Christ, collectively. The fruit of the Spirit testifies of the divine exchange that takes place as Christ's character and nature prevails in the life of the believer. The gifts help to build up and establish the Body of Christ and meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the church. (I Corinthians 14:12, 12:7)


Review Questions
  1. What is the fruit of the Spirit?
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  2. How do we develop the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?
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  3. Why is it important for the believer to bear fruit?
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  4. What are the gifts of the Spirit?
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  5. Why are the gifts of the Spirit given to the Church?
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"Prayer And Fasting"

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Last modified: 10/22/2002