Article | - 2:20 pm
Despite Being Common Themes in the Christian Life, Many Still Do Not Know How to Differentiate One From the Other
The gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit should both be integral to a Christian’s life, as they help believers reflect God’s presence in the world. However, many confuse these gifts and fruit, failing to appreciate and utilize each one effectively. Additionally, there is often a lack of understanding regarding the significance of each of them for the spiritual development of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You can identify a tree by observing its size or foliage. However, for accurate identification, you must examine its fruits. Whilst two trees may share similar characteristics, their fruits are distinct and unique. Weighing the spirit of those who call themselves Christians involves analyzing their character attributes.
While many followers of the Christian faith exhibit kind and exemplary behavior, consistently maintaining this conduct can be challenging, particularly for those who do not possess the Holy Spirit. In contrast, those born of the Holy Spirit produce enduring virtues such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22), demonstrating the Presence of God through their actions. For them, such virtues come naturally, as they are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Through the examination of this fruit, we can determine whether a person has been born of the Spirit of God.
Although the Bible mentions nine virtues, it refers to only one fruit. In other words, anyone born of the Holy Spirit embodies all nine characteristics as one unified fruit.
While the fruit reveals the divine character in those genuinely born of God, the gifts of the Holy Spirit facilitate the fulfillment of His Work. These gifts include performing miracles, prophesying, and discerning strange tongues. The fruit represents our being, while the gifts relate to our actions.
As Bishop Macedo states in his book The Holy Spirit, every Christian must manifest the glory of the Almighty in this world. When the Lord Jesus invites us to heal the sick and free the captives (read Matthew 10:8), He assures us that we are equipped to carry out His calling. “Naturally, God could not be inconsistent to the point of ordering us to do something beyond our capabilities, and, for this very reason, He empowered them (His disciples) with gifts of the Holy Spirit to carry out His will,” states the bishop.
Even today, those born of the Holy Spirit can receive gifts to empower them for His Work.
Even though the gifts of the Holy Spirit promote the spiritual growth of those who receive them, they belong to God. Human beings can only enjoy these gifts for the sake of His Kingdom; personal motives or desires of the flesh should never drive their use. Aware of the temptation many might face, the Apostle Paul stated, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” (1 Corinthians 12:1)
Bishop Macedo explains that to avoid this mistake, “spiritual discernment is essential to know for what purpose or in exchange for what these benefits are carried out; because the devil can very well lead the person to do charity and, very subtly, slowly, along the way, divert their mind, misguiding their destiny, until complete possession and, consequently, total blindness, to prevent them from discerning between good and evil.”
Only those who remain connected to the Tree of Life (The Lord Jesus) can bear good fruit, operate in their gifts, and be useful for His purpose. As written in John 15:4-5: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Therefore, strive to maintain a life of intimacy with the Most High and root your life in Him.
Contributors:
Yasmin Lindo (Translated and Adapted From Original)
