REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the second Friday of each month in 2021 we’ve been studying about the Holy Spirit. We’ve learned who the Holy Spirit is, about His gifts and fruit that are given to believers and how we walk those out in our life each day. Join me today as we review what we’ve learned and wrap up The Holy Spirit Study series.
The Holy Spirit as Third Person in the Trinity
As the third person of the Holy Trinity the Holy Spirit was involved in creation with God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son. He fully possesses all the divine attributes of God, gave life to God’s creatures and gives spiritual life to us. The Holy Spirit has great power, performs miracles and raised Christ from the dead. He is everywhere and all powerful; eternal with no beginning or end. He dwells in Heaven with the Father and Christ, yet in the heart of every believer here on earth.
The Holy Spirit’s Work in the Church
The Holy Spirit is the church’s greatest partner in evangelizing the world for Christ. He convicts hearts of sin, testifies of Christ, intercedes on our behalf and comforts in times of need. He directs decisions of the church, chooses and sends out missionaries and directs the missionary enterprises.
The Holy Spirit’s Work in Believers
The Holy Spirit draws us into fellowship. He teaches us about Christ, convicts us of sin, enables us to find the truth, reveals God’s secrets and shows us God’s love. He helps us live the Christian life, prays for us in times of crisis, gives us His sword to fight Satan and even raises the dead. The Holy Spirit encourages us, gives us the power to witness and then teaches us what to say. He sanctifies our lives, gives us the gifts of the Spirit and works His fruit in us.
The Spirit gives to one the gift of the word of wisdom. To another, the same Spirit gives the gift of the word of revelation knowledge. And to another, the same Spirit gives the gift of faith. And to another, the same Spirit gives gifts of healing. And to another the power to work miracles. And to another the gift of prophecy. And to another the gift to discern what the Spirit is speaking. And to another the gift of speaking different kinds of tongues. And to another the gift of interpretation of tongues. Remember, it is the same Holy Spirit who distributes, activates, and operates these different gifts as he chooses for each believer. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
Gifts of the Spirit are divinely anointed abilities graced on individual believers for the benefit of the church community. They are chosen by the Godhead for us. We don’t get to choose our spiritual gifts. We can’t wake up one day and decide we’re going to be a prophet or give words of knowledge. Spiritual gifts are given by God as the Father sees fit to whom He chooses. Most of us exhibit a mix of gifts. Few of us are completely represent only one. Attributes of different gifts present themselves in varying degrees in each of us. While there is usually one gift that dominates.
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. ~ Galatians 5:22
Fruit of the Holy Spirit is completely different in the sense that they aren’t chosen by God for us specifically. Rather, every born again believer has access to the fruit of the spirit.Whether we walk in, or exercise, this fruit is up to us. As Jesus said, “A tree is known by its fruit.” The branch that is connected to the tree will bear the fruit of the tree it is connected to. A branch can’t choose the type of fruit it will bear. And it won’t bear fruit unless it stays connected to its source. Therefore, although we have full access through the Holy Spirit to all His fruit, unless we stay connected to Him consistently the fruit we bear may be rotten.
Over the last several months we’ve been studying the gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I hope if you missed any of the studies, you will take some time to go back and look at these various attributes of the Holy Spirit. I believe it is a study that will be worth your time.