THE FRUITS AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE FRUITS AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Many believers wonder, "How do I discover my Spiritual Gift?" To discover your spiritual gift is an exciting milestone in your walk with God. In this short sermon, we will learn about Biblical teachings that may indicate if you have a certain spiritual gift. Discover which spiritual gift the Holy Spirit has given you.

Imagine having a tree in your backyard that grows the most delicious fruits you've ever tasted. Now, imagine if your life could be like that tree, producing wonderful "fruits" that make the world a better place. In the Bible, we learn about the Holy Spirit's role in growing special fruits and giving incredible gifts to believers. These fruits and gifts are like the goodness that comes from that special tree in your backyard, but they're gifts from God that can change how we live and treat others.

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit:

The Bible tells us that when we allow the Holy Spirit into our lives, it helps us grow beautiful "fruits." These aren't the kinds of fruits you eat, but they're qualities that show how good and loving we are. Imagine having a heart filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits the Holy Spirit helps us grow.

Love: Love is more than just a feeling. It's caring about others, even when it's hard. The Holy Spirit helps us love everyone, just like Jesus did.

Joy: Joy is like a happy feeling that bubbles up inside you. The Holy Spirit gives us a special kind of joy that can make us smile even when things are tough.

Peace: Peace is like a calm and quiet feeling inside, even when things are chaotic outside. The Holy Spirit gives us peace that helps us stay calm in difficult situations.

Patience: Patience is waiting without getting upset. The Holy Spirit helps us be patient with ourselves and others.

Kindness: Kindness is being nice and helpful to others. The Holy Spirit helps us show kindness to everyone we meet.

Goodness: Goodness is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. The Holy Spirit helps us choose good actions and make good choices.

Faithfulness: Faithfulness is being loyal and trustworthy. The Holy Spirit helps us be faithful to our promises and to God.

Gentleness: Gentleness is being soft and caring, not rough or mean. The Holy Spirit helps us treat others with gentleness and respect.

Self-Control: Self-control is being able to manage our actions and thoughts. The Holy Spirit helps us make good decisions and avoid doing things we know are wrong.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit:

In addition to growing these wonderful fruits, the Holy Spirit also gives us special gifts that help us serve others and make the world a better place. These gifts are like superpowers that come from God, and they're meant to be used to help others and spread love.

Wisdom: Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do and making good choices. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to make decisions that honor God and help people.

Knowledge: Knowledge is understanding important truths about God and the world. The Holy Spirit helps us learn and share what's true and meaningful.

Faith: Faith is trusting in God and believing in His promises. The Holy Spirit helps us have strong faith even when things are hard.

Healing: Healing is making people better when they're sick or hurting. The Holy Spirit can work through us to bring comfort and healing to others.

Miracles: Miracles are amazing things that only God can do, like making the impossible possible. The Holy Spirit can use us to do miraculous things for His glory.

Now, let's see some Bible verses that talk about the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV): "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV): "To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues."

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV): "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV): "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."

These fruits and gifts aren't just for us to enjoy – they're meant to be shared with others. The Holy Spirit helps us treat people kindly, be patient when things are tough, and use our gifts to help those in need. When we show love, joy, and kindness, it's like we're spreading the goodness that comes from the tree of life. And when we use our gifts to help others, we're making the world a better place, just as God intended.

In simple words, the Holy Spirit is like a gardener who helps us grow special fruits in our hearts – qualities like love, joy, and kindness. It's also like a gift-giver who equips us with amazing abilities to help others. Just like a superhero uses their powers to save the day, the Holy Spirit helps us use our gifts to bring positive change to the world. And when we do that, we're making God's love visible and sharing His goodness with everyone around us.