In Galatians 5:22-23 it documents the fruit of the Holy
Spirit. The fruit is one but has 9 various expressions to it namely: Love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
We also see in 1 Cor 12:8-10 that there are 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit namely:
word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophesy, discernment
of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues.
The fruit of the Spirit is meant for personal character
formation of a believer in Christ, whereas the gifts of the Spirit are for
empowerment of a believer for effective execution of the great commission given
by Christ.
Beloved, there is only one other fruit that God our Father comes to look for other than the 9 Fruit of the Spirit; and that fruit is the fruit of reproduction (ref. Luke 13:6-9; John 15:16). The very same command given to Adam & Eve in the garden in Gen 1:28. Re-iterated by Jesus to His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Read Mark 16:15-18) and thereby reproduce spiritually.
To be an effective witness for Christ we need to demonstrate the fruit as well as the gifts of the Spirit as we keep in step with Him. While our near and dear ones get influenced by the effectual demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. So also outsiders unknown to us get influenced as we exercise in Holy Spirit power the gifts of the Spirit.
‘Power of the Holy Spirit’ and ‘effective soul winning’ go together. That is why Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they be clothed with power from on high; that they may be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the end of the earth (ref. Luke 24:47-49 & Acts 1:8).
When the great evangelist Charles G. Finney got saved on 10th October 1821, and after which he was gripped with the power of God so much that even few words spoken mildly from the bible would cut through people’s heart and render them almost helpless as dead men. The words would break the heart of the listeners like a hammer.
He used to agonise in prayer long before meeting people he wished to witness to about Jesus. He knew to be fruitful he needs to be connected to the Vine constantly. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says “If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength”. This sharpened axe (anointing) was his key to success and has been the success key to every effective soul winner across the centuries.
Beloved there is nothing more important in our lives than to share the good news of Jesus to the people in our sphere of influence. If you have never done it, this is the time to take that bold step. There is nothing more satisfying than to see our near and dear ones being delivered from darkness and coming into the marvellous light of Jesus our Saviour and Lord. Begin by seeking Him that you be endued with power from on high that you might be an effective witness and as you do so the Lord Himself will direct the unsaved towards you with openness to listen with hearts eager to receive.
May the Lord engulf you with the fire of the Holy Spirit and may He birth a deep hunger to see the salvation of lost souls so much, that everyone to whom you speak about the kingdom would be arrested by His presence and cut to the heart (ref. Acts 2:37). That they may receive the engrafted word of Jesus into their lives (ref. James 1:21) and that they may be transformed and never be the same again. Church, the Lord wants to move through each one of us as we make ourselves available for His service in humble obedience to His Word.
Blessings,
Thomas Mathew
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