![]() ![]() Innate ability as such is not a spiritual gift. The bestowal of the gifts is God's sovereign decision. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and believe in Him will be equipped by the Holy Spirit with spiritual gifts "as He wills" ( 1 Cor. But it is the Holy Spirit who distributes them to the members of the church. Paul says that the grace of Christ secured the right to give us gifts. How is Jesus involved in the giving of the gifts? The apostle Paul also connects Jesus Christ with the giving of the gifts. We often think that the Holy Spirit is the One who bestows spiritual gifts. They are gifts, freely given out of love so that we can fulfill the task God has assigned us to do. We do not earn them by our status, our position, our honor, our education, or our spiritual performance. The Greek word for the gifts of the Spirit is charismata-they are gifts of grace, distributed and given by God Himself. It is not we who decide what gifts to have. Monday February 20 God, the Sovereign Giver of the Spiritual Gifts Why is love so central to all that we do as Christians? How does love, in a sense, "empower" our witness? Perhaps that is why love is the greatest gift of all ( 1 Cor. A loving and omniscient God provides the means to accomplish what He has commissioned His people to do. By loving others, we are revealing the love of God to them. They are given out of love and serve the love of God in reaching other people. The gifts are, after all, gifts of grace that is, they are gifts of love. The next verses after Romans 12:3-8, where the gifts of the Spirit are mentioned, speak about love (see Rom. Ephesians 4:11-13 is followed in verses 15 and 16 with reference to love. Immediately after 1 Corinthians 12 comes the supreme description of love, in chapter 13. It is interesting that within the context of the spiritual gifts, love is often alluded to. Therefore, spiritual gifts are worthless without the fruit of the Spirit. They are bestowed to further the cause of God. These gifts are not given for our own pleasure and glory. The gifts of the Spirit are given so that we can serve others and build up the body of Christ, His church. Instead, God sovereignly equips His believers with different gifts as He sees fit. There is no command that all should have one particular gift, such as speaking in tongues. ![]() While all aspects of the fruit of the Spirit are designed by God to be visible in the lives of His followers, not every believer has the same gift or gifts. What is the essence of what Paul is teaching here? While there is only one fruit, there are many gifts, and some are greater than others. Spiritual gifts do not necessarily testify to spirituality, but the fruit of the Spirit does. No one is required to manifest a gift of the Spirit, but everyone should manifest the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit have the same Author. Sunday February 19 The Fruit of Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 25. This week we will study the Holy Spirit as the Sovereign Giver of God's remarkable gifts and look at the difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. ![]() Spiritual gifts are given through the Holy Spirit in Christ to build His church. so that you are not lacking in any gift" (NASB). In 1 Corinthians 1:4-7, Paul gives thanks "for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him. What He commanded them to do He enabled them to do, but in His name and through the power and help of the Holy Spirit. But Jesus did not leave His disciples unequipped. Likewise, when Jesus left His disciples and went to be with His Father in heaven, He gave them a specific task: preach the good news of the gospel to the world. Frustrated, the son had to leave it undone. But the son soon realized that his father had not provided him with the necessary means and tools to accomplish that task. Going away on a long business trip, a man left his son in charge of the household, with a specific task to do. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, NKJV). There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. Memory Text: "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. Lesson 8 February 18-24 The Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit ![]()
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