THE GIFTS AND FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I Corinthians 12:1-11

1. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10. To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Galatians 5:22, 23

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

John 15:1,2,8

1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Before reading any further in this treatise, pause to read all of chapters 12, 13, and 14 of First Corinthians. Here we have the greatest treatise in all of Holy Writ on the gifts of the Spirit. Here also we find gifts contrasted with graces of the Spirit. Up to this point the Apostle Paul has been correcting evils and removing ignorance. He now begins to point out the divine equipment for service. This equipment consists of gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit, overshadowed and administered by that all-important, indwelling, soul-filling divine love portrayed in the Thirteenth chapter.

These gifts indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit, for His gifts are always in direct connection with Himself. But while they do indicate His presence, they are not needed as an evidence of His presence. When, having been away from home for several days, I bring a box of chocolates to my wife, my gift indicates that I have come home. But the chocolates are not a necessary evidence that I have returned. My presence in the home is a much more positive evidence of the fact.

The word spiritual is from the Greek, pneumatic from pneumatikos, meaning "spirit." The word for gifts is charisma, meaning grace -- that extraordinary grace conferred upon certain individuals for the purpose of serving the church of Christ.

Let us notice some facts, in relation to these gifts, pointed out very plainly by the Apostle:

1. In this first list nine gifts are mentioned.

2. In verse 28 two more gifts are included -- helps and governments.

3. In Ephesians 4:8-15 there are two more gifts -- evangelists and pastor -- making thirteen in all.

4. Not all believers possessed these gifts.

These gifts were given to enable believers to do effective work for God. They also served to lift the natural man, by divine grace, into the realm where divine energies were moving.

Evil spirits, pretending to be of God, were present to ruin the work of God in Corinth. It was in danger of being destroyed by spiritual counterfeit. It was necessary that the converts at Corinth determine which spirits were of God and which of the devil (read I John 4:1).

To test the spirits is no child's play. Therefore the converts needed the gift of discerning of spirits. Satan has his gospel and his gifts as well as God. He counterfeits, or tries to counterfeit, everything that God does.

Now let us study First Corinthians 12 more closely. The Holy Spirit always exalts Jesus. All Holy Spirit manifestations are not only in harmony with the Word of God, but in perfect accord with Jesus' example and teachings. And every declaration of the Spirit brings into broad view the true character of Jesus. True, it is suggested in verse 3 that there were some in the Corinthian church who were saying "Jesus is accursed." But certainly the Holy Spirit did not inspire such a declaration. Yet some of the Corinthians seemed to have gifts; however, they were not of the Holy Spirit. "No man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed" (verse 3).

Diversities of gifts: different apportionments. But they all emanate from the Holy Spirit. They are diverse expressions of Himself. He produces them by His indwelling the hearts of men. If He is not present, any spiritual gift one may seem to have is not a gift of the Holy Spirit. One may have natural endowments, such as ability to sing, or to think deeply; but such are talents and not gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Differences of administrations -- divisions or distribution of service. These are different external offices -- that of apostles, prophets, etc. These persons are all working under the authority of, and for, the same Lord, and all working in harmony.

Unity of one Spirit and unity of one Lord had been lost sight of by the Corinthian converts. Their minds had become occupied with the subject of gifts, and they had lost sight of the necessity of preserving among their members unity and fellowship.

Diversities of operations: infinite variety. To each one is given that manifestation of the Spirit that is profitable. All manifestations of the Spirit are profitable, profitable to the church as a whole. If you do not have a great gift, you surely have one or more of the lesser gifts. Perhaps it comes under the classification, "helps." If you hide your gift, God will remove it and give it to someone willing to use it.

Your gift is not an ornament for display. It is for the good of others. God does not hand out gifts as a grocer hands out a loaf of bread, which may be taken away and disposed of as anyone may see fit.

Remember, the Holy Spirit and His gifts are inseparable. There are those who contend that a person may go into sin, grieving the Holy Spirit from his life, and yet retain his gift. But the Holy Spirit and His gifts are inseparable. When He is grieved away, the gifts that He may have bestowed upon a life go with Him.

Now let us consider the nine gifts mentioned in First Corinthians, verses i to 11.

1. Wisdom. This is sanctified common sense; spiritual intelligence in action. It is an indispensable gift for workers is God's kingdom. Without it you might begin at the wrong end, in an effort to win souls, and ruin all prospects.

2. Knowledge. This means insight into, or understanding of, divine truth, to which is added diligent research. The Holy Spirit does not reveal divine truth to you without study on your part. Some people rely wholly on the Spirit to reveal truth to them. This always gives Satan an advantage. To follow such a course is to be led into false doctrine and notions, and possibly, fanaticism. Jesus said, "Search the scriptures." Paul said, "Study to shew thyself approved."

3. Faith. This does not refer to saving faith, which is not one of the gifts, but the root of all Christian life. This is the faith that gains the ear of God in time of need. It is the faith you need to accomplish the work that God wants you to do.

4. Gifts of healing. Reference is made here to the power which, on various occasions, was received by the apostles from the Holy Spirit, to cure diseases. One may possess this gift at one time but not at another. God's gifts are lent to us as occasion warrants.

5. Miracles. The word miracle in the Greek is energ semata, meaning "inward workings." There are miracles in evidence in the physical world. And there are remarkable operations, which must be termed miracles, wrought by the Holy Spirit in the spiritual world. These are mighty works of God in the human spirit, hidden from mortal vision by the fleshly veil. These miracles transform lives.

6. Prophecy. This word has two meanings -- "to foretell coming events," and "to preach." The ability to preach the Gospel in impassioned utterance is given to certain persons by the Holy Spirit. It is an essential equipment of the Gospel preacher.

7. Discernment. This is a power to detect the difference between the working of evil spirits and that of the Holy Spirit. We all need the gift of discernment. We need power to recognize the silent inroads made by the enemy of souls into the work of the Lord. We need power to understand what would be hurtful, and what would be helpful to the cause of Christ. We need power to know when to speak and when to hold our peace, lest we cast our "pearls before swine."

8. Speaking in tongues. It seems that certain people at Corinth insisted on speaking in some kind of a jargon to prove that they had received the Holy Ghost. But we must remember that Paul said they were all still "babes in Christ." Babes in Christ do not possess the Holy Spirit as an indwelling presence. When the Holy Ghost gives a person the gift of tongues it is always a definite, understandable language. Tongues is the Greek word for "languages." A babble, or unintelligible jargon, is the result of listening to the evil spirit. At Babylon the people disobeyed and grieved God, and the result was that no one could understand anyone else. On the Day of Pentecost the people obeyed the Lord's command -- they had tarried for the promise of the Father and had received the Holy Ghost. And as a result they could all understand what was said, although the people present spoke sixteen different languages.

9. Interpretation of tongues. This refers to the gift to interpret another language when a person of a different nationality is to speak in the assembly. If one of us were to go to some foreign country to preach, we would require someone to interpret our message. To do that effectively the interpreter would need to possess the gift of tongues if he were to impart the full meaning and importance of the message. Men and women who have had experience with interpreters tell us that knowing a language is not sufficient in order that one be a good interpreter. He must possess the "gift," to grasp the meaning of the speaker quickly, and just as quickly to translate it into the other language. And not only should he interpret the meaning, but the life and vigor of the message as well.

RELATION OF THE VARIOUS GIFTS

All are related directly to the Holy Spirit (verse 11). The Corinthians were separating the gifts from the Author. They failed to see the unity and the harmony of the gifts; and they were placing some above others, despising some, misusing some.

All do not have the same gifts. We are urged, "Covet earnestly the best gifts" -- those at the head of the list.

NOW BE SURE TO NOTICE:

Gifts of the Spirit are not required. Though we are told to "covet earnestly the best gifts," we are not commanded to possess any of the gifts. Gifts are useful, hence we are told to covet them. Yet gifts are not for the benefit of him who possesses them, but that he may be a greater blessing to others, and that the church may profit by them.

Fruit of the Spirit is an absolute requirement and we must produce the fruit if we wish to remain in fellowship with our Lord and Master. "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away." These are the words of Jesus as recorded in John 15:2. Then He declares, "Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. . . . Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples." Does this not state plainly that if we fail to bear fruit we shall not be Christ's disciples?

The fruit of the Spirit is first, love. The Greek word used here, agape, means "love," which the Holy Spirit affirms to be the essence of the Divine nature. There are two words in the Greek translated "love" in the English Version: agape, which means Divine love, and philia, which means human love. Human love is indigenous to fallen humanity, and is entirely devoid of saving grace. Divine love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

JOY. This is an indispensable grace. The Scripture states that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." Holy joy fortifies us against the world, the flesh and the devil. In sanctification we receive the fulness of Joy.

PEACE. In justification we receive peace with God. 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God" (Romans 5:1). In sanctification we receive the peace of God. This is the kind of peace our Savior enjoyed while on earth.

KINDNESS. This lovely grace is often marred in the regenerated life, by the disturbing elements of the carnal mind. However, this evil mind is eradicated in sanctification, permitting kindness to infiltrate everything about one's life.

LONGSUFFERING. This grace equips one to endure insults, rebuffs, misunderstandings, the "cold shoulder," criticism, disappointments and persecution, all of which are incident to life here below.

GOODNESS. This is a very strong word and means the very essence of Good. Goodness takes in holiness.

MEEKNESS. This is, perhaps, the sweetest of all the graces. It places us down at the feet of Jesus. While here all the world is cheerfully abandoned for Jesus' sake. "Sanctification puts you down on the Lord's bottom, from which you never can fall unless you imbibe some pride from Satan and go to climbing. Then you can fall and break your neck" (W. B. Godbey) .

FAITH. Faith is not just a voluntary act of an individual. It is a grace of the Spirit of God. Let us consider various aspects of the subject of this grace: Achieving faith. Faith to do exploits for God. Faith to remove mountains of difficulty. Faith to believe God even though it may almost seem as though God has forgotten you. This is a grace of the Spirit that is vividly portrayed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.

TEMPERANCE. The Greek word translated "temperance" is egkrata. It is derived from ego, meaning "I", and kratas, meaning "government." Hence it implies "self-government" -- one who governs himself is temperate. And certainly he is in perfect harmony with the law of God. His life is one of practical holiness, one in which he abstains from all wrong, all worldly compromise. He does all the good that lies within his power.

Here, then, we have the cluster of the fruit of the Spirit. Let us notice that the Scripture does not refer to "fruits of the Spirit," but "fruit of the Spirit." Each separate fruit is a part of the complete cluster that is a product of the Spirit-filled life.

The fruit portrayed is beautifully homogeneous to the gifts of the Spirit. The fruit, or graces, are absolutely necessary for our salvation. The gifts are essential to us that we may be qualified to lead others to Christ, and so edify the church.