By Lina Cioffi, Family Friday Teacher, Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Bible makes a distinction between the Father and the Son, both being distinct persons, the Holy Spirit is also a distinct person. One God, three persons, co-equal, one nature and essence, the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the God-Head, and the least taught in churches. We have neglected to remind ourselves that He was there at the time of Creation with God (Genesis 1:2) and He is still with us today. As we worship God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit also deserves the same worship and admiration.
Revere the Holy Spirit
He has been set aside for too long, and it is time for the body of Christ to awake herself to embrace and revere the Holy Spirit for who He is, and what He carries. 2 Timothy 3 vs 16-17 says that ʻAll Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’. The Holy Spirit dwells in the believer, perfecting us for the day of Redemption, also producing fruit which is the result of His presence in our life (Galatians 5, 22-23).
Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit
In our study, the focus is the Holy Spirit. We learn the depth of who He is as a person, His function, purpose and how He manifests Himself through the believer supernaturally through the 9 Divine Gifts that He carries (1 Corinthian 12): Words of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healings, Working Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning Spirits, Different kinds of Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues; which differs from the 9 fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). We learn that through our intimate relation with Him, He quickens our spirit, He speaks to us, gives us revelation, and directs us so we can glorify our Father in heaven. Through His work, He empowers the church to do mighty works, to shine in a supernatural way. That the world may know that there is power in the name of Jesus.
It is important to know the difference and relation between the ministry gifts according to Ephesians 4:11 and the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit, understanding the ministry gifts were given to the believer by the resurrected Christ. Whereas the 9 supernatural gifts are the manifestation of the Holy Spiritʼs supernatural power working as evidence of the invisible Spirit dwelling in the believer, not by our merits, but by His Divine Grace which is distributed according to His will bringing glory to God (1 Corinthians 12:7). This does not exclude the grace gifts listed also in the book of Romans. Every believer has been given at least one supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit. We need to seek our gift and be in function to edify the church and glorify our Lord.
Through us, non-believers will see that God is alive even today and is still working. Are you hungering for the Holy Spirit?
