GIFTS AND FRUIT

Would you love for God to give you His gifts?

I know I want them.

What are His gifts?

If we look at Rom 12: 6 it specifies:

prophecy,
ministry,
teaching
exhorting
giving
leading
mercy

and if we go further and read 1 Cor. 12: 8-12 we find more:

a word of wisdom
the word of knowledge
faith
gifts of healing
working of miracles
prophesy (note that this one is listed in both the mentioned scriptures)
discerning of spirits
different kinds of tongues
interpretation of tongues.

and it carries on saying:

          "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
          individually as He wills.

However, this does not mean that we may not desire to have gifts. In fact, the Word says:

           "But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way."
           1 Cor. 12:31

And then Paul proceeds with the very well-known words of 1 Cor. 13 about love and concludes with the following verse:

            "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
             1 Cor. 14:1

Again prophesy is shown as the most important.

The gifts of the Spirit are given by God.

Now the fruit of the Spirit are not given to us by the Spirit, but they are 'cultivated' by us as a result of us being in a living relationship with Christ.

              "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they
               are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes
               from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit,
               but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad
               tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
               thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Matt. 7: 15-20.

We read in the parable of the sower:

               "But the ones (seeds) that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard
               the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."
               Luke 8:15 (brackets my insertion)

With patience...

               "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... ;
               John 15:4-8

By abiding in Christ, and He in us...

                "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
                 faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Gal. 5:22-23

Do you hear an "ouch" or an "eina"?

Yes, we, all of us, each one individually, are to 'bear' or 'grow' these fruits and we can only do so to the measure in which we are willing to "abide in Christ and Christ in us". We need to submit to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. It depends entirely on each individual's unity and relationship with the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit and as we grow in bearing fruit, so shall the gifts be given to us 'as He wills".

Thank You, Lord, for your gifts which You so graciously bestow on us to do Your will. Help us to grow the fruit of the Spirit as a testimony to the unity between God and man, and to the glory of Your name.