Is it Gift or Fruit?

 Understand the Difference

Some people mix up the spiritual gifts of the Spirit and Fruit of the Spirit. Do you know the difference? Basically, Gifts are given, while Fruit of the Spirit is developed. Spiritual gifts and natural gifts are different too. For example, the ability to play music is a gift, which I don’t have. It is a natural born characteristic, coded in your DNA, not unlike other characteristics like the ability to work with your hands, or being artistic etc. We all have these inherent various abilities, sometimes referred to as “talents” in the Bible. God expects us to use them for the improvement of society, providing for our families, and for the advancement of His Kingdom, but they are not spiritual gifts.

When I ask Christians what their spiritual gift is, often they will list one of the nine fruit of the spirit or one of the natural gifts they were born with. Love is not a gift, neither is joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) These are characteristics that should be evident in every believer and are developed by allowing the Spirit of God to produce them in our lives.

Spiritual gifts are different. They are given to the saints by Holy Spirit. They are not earned, bought, or acquired by personal discipline or dedication to God. The scripture teaches, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) they are what they are called - a gift.

So let me review:

• Everyone has natural abilities that we are born with, which are sometimes wrongly referred to as spiritual gifts, the Bible calls them talents. These need to be developed and make up who we are.
•  Spiritual fruit are some times called gifts, but fail the definition as they are a product of a Christian submitting to the Spirit. These gifts reveal the heart of God and makes us genuine children of Light.
•  Lastly, everyone has a unique spiritual gift (or gifts) given by the power of the Holy Spirit which also needs to be developed and cultivated so we can advance the Kingdom of God with power as Christ’s representatives on the earth.

Spiritual gifts make us effective, Fruit of the Spirit make us believable.

          There is nothing more disturbing to the casual observer than one operating in the Gift of the Spirit without the Fruit of the Spirit developed. It is not one or the other, but both are needed in the life of the believer. We cannot be truly impactful without both in our lives.

As I finish up on the impactful series from the book of Acts, I will be teaching on the gifts of the Spirit this coming Sunday. Find out what your gift is. Then begin to grow it, use it and see the difference it makes in your Christian experience. At the same time, allow the Spirit of God access to your inner being so fruit of the spirit is hanging from your tree of life.

Sunday Celebration

We are meeting personally at the church Sundays at 10:30am. Moving forward and until further notice: We are asking everyone to wear masks practice physical distancing and hand sanitizing. We are so glad that we are gathering again, your presence is so important. The usual online options (Facebook and KCF.Online.Church) will also be available.

Pastor Jim Reimer

November 4, 2021