Thursday, November 17, 2011

Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit -- What's the Difference?

We know from Scripture that there are nine gifts of the Spirit, which initially began to be given to the church on the day of Pentecost, and are initially given in the life of a believer when he or she is baptized in the Holy Spirit. We also know that there are nine fruit of the Spirit that are found in the life of a disciple who walks in the Spirit.  But what is the difference between the fruit and the gifts?

Gifts of the Spirit
The spiritual gifts are manifestations (1 Cor 12:7).  The Greek word for manifestations is phanerosis, which means a shining forth or showing forth. The Greek word for gift is charisma, which means a free gift, miraculous faculty, or divinely conferred endowment. Therefore, as the spiritual gifts are manifested, these divinely conferred, supernatural faculties are instantaneously shown forth in the believer's life like a flash of light.

The gifts are given for the common good (1 Cor 12:7). They can be divided into three types, which include: the speaking gifts (tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy), the knowing gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits) and the power gifts (faith, healing, miracles).  I'm not just listing these as if I only knew about them from a textbook, but I've been blessed to have seen them all in operation over the past three decades. And to anyone who thinks that the gifts ceased after the first century, I've got news for you, my friend.  They are still genuinely in operation today, just as they were in the early church.

The spiritual gifts are the work of one Spirit and He gives them as He determines (1 Cor 12:11). Depending on which part of the body we are, we each have different gifts (1 Cor 12:27).  These include apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, those with gifts of healing, those who help others, those with gifts of administration, those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Some gifts are greater than others (1 Cor 12:31), so they are not all equal.  Prophecy builds up the church (1 Cor 14:3). Tongues will build up the person speaking in tongues (1 Cor 14:4). You need to build yourself up, especially during your personal prayer time with the Lord. But you should also fervently desire the greater gifts, so that you can build others up (1 Co 12:31).

The spiritual gifts are signs, which the Lord performs on the earth (Acts 2:17-19). They are evidence that the Holy Spirit has come upon us and given us power to be His witnesses (Ac 1:8). They are evidence that we have been filled with the Spirit (Ac 2:4).

And the gifts are not revoked once they are given (Rom 11:29). Once the Lord gives you a gift, he doesn’t take it back.  But the Word tells us that the spiritual gifts are only temporary in that they will one day all cease and be stilled (1 Cor 13:8-12). This is not true of the fruit, which we’ll examine next.

Culinary fruit. Picture by Bill Ebbesen
Fruit of the Spirit
First of all, the fruit of the Spirit are the Holy Spirit’s fruit found in the life of the believer.  They are not our own fruit or they would be called the "fruit of the disciple" instead of "fruit of the Spirit." 

We can do nothing without the Lord, and it is only as we remain in Him that we bear any fruit (Jn 15:5). The fruit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22,23).

The Greek word for fruit is karpos, which literally means the produce of a tree, plant; or animal (i.e., offspring or young). In a figurative sense it also means production or that which is produced, as in conduct or actions. That is the sense in which the word karpos is used by the apostle Paul in Galatians 5. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit are qualities that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives, which may be observed in our conduct, actions, words, attitudes, and demeanor.

If you’d like a way to summarize the fruit of the Spirit, here is how.  They are summed up in love, which sums up the whole law and the prophets (Gal 5:14). Love is the most excellent way (1 Cor 13:31). Love is proven true by its actions, not by feelings (1 Cor 13:4-7).

Jesus said we would know people by their fruits not their gifts (Mat 7:16-23). People will know we are Jesus’ disciples by our love (Jn 13:35). The fruit are evidence of godly character in a disciple’s life, because they can only grow out of a life that is dead to self and that lives by the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 24, 25).

Someone might mistakenly think that they need to produce the fruit of the Spirit in order to be saved, but that would not be correct.  The Scriptures say we are saved by grace and not by our works (Eph 2:8).  But once we are saved, we should produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Ultimately at the judgment, the test that will determine whether we truly know the Lord will be the fruit found in our lives (Matt 25:31-46).  Those who merely function in the gifts, but do not obey the commands of Jesus Christ, will be eternally separated from God (Mt 7:21-23).  It's the ones who hear the Word of God and act on it that will be able to stand in the judgment.

There is an eternal aspect to the fruit.  It never fades away or fails.  The fruit of faith, hope, and love will remain long after the gifts like prophecy and tongues have ceased (1 Co 13:8, 13). 

Side-by-Side Comparison
Let's take a look at the spiritual gifts and the fruit in a side-by-side comparison to better help us see the similarities and differences between them.

Gifts Fruit
Non character-related (Mt 7:22-23) Character-related (Mt 7:21)
Supernatural manifestation and work of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:7, 11) Result of a godly life that remains connected to Christ, abiding in Him (Jn 15:4-5)
Miraculous faculty, or divinely conferred endowment. Conduct, actions, words, attitudes, and demeanor that are produced
Distributed by the Spirit to each person as He determines (1 Cor 12:4, 11) Produced by the Spirit in the life of the believer who has crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal 5:22-24)
Most people don't have them all, but we each have different ones (1 Cor 12:27, 30) Everyone should have all of them
For the common good (1 Cor 12:7) For the glory of God (Mt 5:16)
For the purpose of edification, encouragement, and strengthening of others or self (1 Cor 14:3-5) For the purpose of showing you are Christ's disciple (Jn 13:35; 15:8)
Signs and wonders that follow those who believe in Christ (1 Cor 14:22; Mk 16:17-18; Ac 2:17-19) Not signs and wonders, but evidence that we are in Christ, that we have come to know Him, that we are disciples of His, that we have passed from death to life, that we have been born of God, that we know God, that we love God, that we belong to the truth. and that the Spirit of God is within us (Jn 13:35; 1 Cor 12:3; 1 Jn 2:2-5; 3:6, 14, 19; 4:7; 5:2-3)
Tools for ministry, not used to identify one as a true disciple Evidence of your identity in Christ
Must eagerly desire them (1 Cor 14:1, 39) Must produce them by living in the light, walking by the Spirit and being led by the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 18; 1 Jn 2:10; 2 Pet 1:5-11)
Visible, shining or showing forth (1 Cor 12:7) Evident and observable (1 Jn 2:8; Mt 5:16)
Gifts "light upon" the believer who is Spirit-filled (Ac 2:3) Come forth from a pure heart (Jam 3:10-12)
Empowerment received when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (Ac 1:8) Enablement received when the Holy Spirit works within you 
Will cease one day (1 Cor 13:8) Will last forever (1 Cor 13:13)
Gifts are not revoked (Ro 11:29) One can become unfruitful, if one does not remain in Christ (Jn 15:5)
One can operate in gifts and still not inherit the kingdom of God but perish (Mt 7:19, 22-23, 26-27; Gal 5:21; 1 Jn 3:6b; 2 Thes 2:9-12; 2 Cor 11:14) Without the fruit, one cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, but will be cut off and thrown into the fire (Mt 7:21; Jn 15:2, 6; 1 Cor 13:1-3; 1 Jn 1:6; 2:4-6, 9; 3:7-10; 4:7-8, 21)

*Table above does not include ministries from Ephesians 4:8-11 and 1 Corinthians 12:5.

Putting it All Together
The spiritual gifts include: tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, healing, and miracles. Having the gifts manifested in our lives is not the ultimate test of discipleship  (1 Cor 12:31 – 1 Cor 13:1-3). 

So we know that a person has once been filled with the Holy Spirit by the gifts we see manifested in his life. But the way we know if someone is living his life by the Spirit is by observing the fruit in his life.  Those fruit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And while we should eagerly desire the greater gifts, so that we can build up the Body, we should be most concerned that we walk in the love of God.

The gifts are primarily tools that God has given us to stimulate faith in others and to minister to them.  However, in order to live your life in such a way that is pleasing to Him, you must bear fruit.

Without the fruit of love growing out of our hearts, everything else would be worthless. The fruit of faith, hope, and love will remain long after the gifts like prophecy, tongues and word of knowledge have ceased.

I'm thankful for the gifts of the Holy Spirit that He has manifested in my life, but even more thankful for the fruit.

Image credit: Culinary fruit. Picture by Bill Ebbesen. Courtesy Wikimedia.

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, I recommend reading Fruit in Every Season, as well as the companion poem to that message written by my eighteen year old daughter Charity Lacroix, also called Fruit in Every Season (the poem). You are also invited to read my articles, Bearing Fruit in Every Good WorkThe Gift of Speaking in TonguesHave the Spiritual Gifts Ceased?The Wardrobe of the Saints, Baptized with the SpiritTen Divine Expressions for Spirit BaptismThe River of God, Obedience by the Spirit, Living a Life Worthy of the Lord, Aim for Perfection, The Difference Between a Disciple and a Believer, Being a Witness for Christ, Testing the Spirits of False Prophets, and Covenant Prayer. You may also like the other posts in this blog available through the Main Directory for this blog. You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."  
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

101 comments:

  1. Its right......... I am agree with Nikki.
    Rev Dr Rahul Uthwal

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  2. Excellent post. Thank you, Thank you Len Lacroix !

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    1. RichyRich, thanks for reading and commenting. Blessings!

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    2. Richy, I would like to invite you to attend Doulos Training School, opening on September 1 for all who are interested in online distance education in discipleship! See link for details at http://writingforthemaster.blogspot.com/2015/07/doulos-training-school.html.

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    3. what is the difference between the two

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    4. Dear Unknown, please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion in response to your question. Let me know if that helps. God bless you!

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    5. thank you, this is beautiful..

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  3. Replies
    1. Dear Gaston, yes. Faith, as in faithfulness, is a fruit of the Spirit. It's the normal growth of the faith that each believer must have to be saved. But the gift of faith, is the supernatural ability to trust God for something specific, such as a miracle, a healing, or a revelation.

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    2. This has really helped me and boost my knowledge on God's word. God bless your ministry sir.

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  4. 1 Corith 13:8 talks about seizing of prophecies, tongues and knowledge passing away. has this happened after the completion of compilation of the bible or is still to happen

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    1. Dear Estella, you are referring to a false teaching called the cessation theory. The Holy Spirit is alive and well and He is actively distributing His gifts to the members of Christ's Body as He wills. We can testify to it firsthand.

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  5. God bless you Man of God...I am richly refreshed... Pastor Victor Ekpott

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    1. Dear Brother Victor, you're welcome. Please prayerfully consider the following for yourself or others you know.
      http://doulostrainingschool.blogspot.com/2015/08/doulos-training-school.html

      The Lord bless you!

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    2. Dear Victor, please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion. God bless you!

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    3. There are certain gifts we call ministry gifts, as listed in Ephesians 4. They include apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. So, yet, a pastor is a gift from God to prepare (equip) the saints for works of service.

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  6. THANK U SO MUCH MAN OF GOD THIS IS REFRESHING FOR A LONG TIME I HAD NOT TAKEN A STEP FORWARD FOR LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT UNTIL YESTERDAY,THANK GOD HE HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE BY THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT AM SURELY BLESSED TO KNOW THIS MY HEART IS EXCITED.GOD BLESS U RICHLY.

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    1. Dear brother, you're welcome. God bless you, too.

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  7. This teaching is a very wonderful one,am blessed so much and it's an eye opener for me because of what I learnt from it,you are blessed sir.

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    1. Please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion. God bless you!

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  8. iREAD YOUR POST TODAY AND IT REALLY GAVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT AND THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.mAY THE LORD BLESS YOU SIR
    RASHEED ADEBAYO

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    1. Rasheed, I'm glad to hear that. God bless you, too. I hope you will consider enrolling in our 3-yr discipleship training school.

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  9. iREAD YOUR POST TODAY AND IT REALLY GAVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT AND THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.mAY THE LORD BLESS YOU SIR
    RASHEED ADEBAYO

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  10. Thank you Pastor, I needed this.

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  11. I have learned something very important here, God bless you!

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    1. Praise the Lord! Please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion. God bless you!

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  12. I have learnt a lot. I'm a Theological student. I did my B.Th and doing ministry now. But always confused regarding this gifts.. now I got clarified. Thanks for the wonderful composition based on scriptures. Please do send me any more articles to my email my email id is : vijaybms235@gmail.com
    Pastor. Vijaya Raju, India.

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    1. Dear Vijaya Raju, it's been a long time since I've heard from you. I hope all is well. Please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion. God bless you!

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  13. Good post!
    Can you please help me with this question?
    Receiving the spirit or the gifts of the Holy Spirit does not mean you are matured. But the fruits Holy Spirit means you are matured. Discuss.
    Thank you.

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    1. That is correct. Although even new believers who are not yet mature can and should still produce the fruit of the Spirit.

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  14. Great post!
    Can you please help me with this question?
    Receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit does not mean you are matured; but the fruits Holy Spirit means you are matured. Discuss.
    Thank you for the help.

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    1. Dear Abigail, you are correct. Remember the ones who called Jesus "Lord", and operated in the gifts, but did not do the will of God? He said ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ May the Lord help us to be doers of God's will, so that we may please Him and make it to heaven at last.

      This is also important to know, because of the existence of false prophets. You will know them by their fruits, not by their gifts (Mt 7:16).

      Please consider enrolling in our DTS, so you can receive more valuable discipleship. Next quarter begins on 1 December. God bless you.
      http://doulostrainingschool.blogspot.com/p/co.html

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    2. Dear Abigail, please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion. God bless you!

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  15. powerful message! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. You're welcome. God bless you.

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    2. Please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion. God bless you!

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  16. please is it a must that everybody must operate the gift of the Holyspirit?

    Secondly, I have a desire to receive the gifts of the spirit but yet pending

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    1. Dear Sean,

      It is the will of God that every disciple of Christ receive the gift of the Holy Spirit -- the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Please see my article on that:
      http://spiritofthelordgod.blogspot.com/2011/06/baptized-with-spirit.html.

      See Luke 11:9-13 for further proof...how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? So ask and you shall receive!

      Once you have received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, you will be endued with power from on high. Certain gifts will be manifested in your life as the Spirit wills.

      The apostle Paul said, "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." (1Co 12:11).

      Desiring the greater gifts that edify the Body of Christ is also the will of God. Paul said, "But earnestly desire the greater gifts." (1Co 12:31a). He said, He also said, "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." (1Co 14:1). "Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church." (1 Co 14:12).

      God bless you.

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  17. Outstanding phenomenal teaching, more grace on you man of God. .

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    1. Dear friend, please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion. God bless you!

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    1. Dear Scow33d, please see the new "Side by Side Comparison" chart in the section I have added right before the conclusion. God bless you!

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  19. Thank u so much pastor, it's very impacting Sir

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  20. Replies
    1. Uche, where have you been? I haven't heard from you in nearly a year. Please contact me via email.

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    2. please let me have your email

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    3. Please find the contact button on the About Us page of www.dmiworld.org.

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  21. Good and Edifying post. Please also check this link for Fruit of the Spirit. Hope it will bless you as well. https://9fruitofspirit.blogspot.com/

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  22. the message blessed me and so i shared the same in my church on Sunday

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  23. Enter your comment... thanks for your write up is indeed a blessing.sir what is the different between faith as a gift of the holy spirit and faith as the fruit of the holy spirit.again while the gifts of healing pluralrize.thanks prosper

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    1. See my answer to this question in my reply to Gaston above. Blessings!

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  24. Replies
    1. Based on 1 Cor 13:1-3 and Matt 7:21-23, I would say the fruit. Would you agree?

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  25. First of all thanks for your teaching bro.i thinks about the gifts is the way to the fruits eg.speaking tangues(gifts) to build our self to prayer after there is intimacy with God the fruit's is caming.when we see the miracle of God our faith is growth up.so we need to know the supernatural miracles to show God is the lord of mighty. My question the fruties with out gifts(reaveled) is working(fruit shown after long time). I thinks the gifts the ways to grow to transform to the son of God.

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  26. Thanks you sir for this teaching. It really opened my eyes .

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  27. Thanks a lot sir for this post. It has opened my eyes.

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  28. This is quite insightful and educative. Meditating on this write-up open me up to some hidden truths about the Holy Spirit. Thank you Sir.

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  29. sir, what do you have to say about those that doesn't believe in God, probably believed in science evolution, that the bible is the compilation of egyptian and some other source, believes the bible has been utter, I had an argument with one and it is really weighing me down.

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    1. First, each one has a will of his own, and we cannot force anyone to believe. Second, we must understand that they are living in darkness and captive to satan. He is the mind-blinder, who has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor 4:4). Thirdly, prayer changes things, so we have the power of prayer for their souls, which surpasses any other power known to man, and any power that exists in the kingdom of darkness. Through prayer, we can wrest their souls from the grasp of the prince of darkness. Fourthly, your success is not based on the results (whether they get saved or not), but it is based on your obedience to God in sharing with them the gospel of salvation.

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  30. May God bless you
    Receive full grace of God
    It's amazing explanation you put some things new in my life
    Thanks you
    Glory to God

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  31. Thanks for your teaching and insight.

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  32. thanks so much sir, it has help me in my book

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  33. This was absolutely amazing! So detailed and well-explained!
    Thank You!
    Please write more!

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    1. Thanks. Praise the Lord. There are around 900 of my articles available online. You can access them at https://writingforthemaster.blogspot.com/

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  34. I'm very glad to understand the difference between the gift of the holy Spirit and the Fruit of the holy Spirit, some time is be confusing me about knowing this and I am happy to know that today,May the Almighty God continues to expire you with more wisdom, inspiration and Strength..

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    1. I give God all the praise. Glad it helped. God bless you, too.

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  35. I am blessed by your message, I will like to read more of your post. This is divine, revealing and inspirational. Thank you.

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    1. You're welcome. Praise the Lord. I hope you come back and read more posts later.

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  36. I will also like you to mentor me in the area of writing and sharing knowledge of the scriptures.

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  37. I am blessed by your post thank you so much sir Len more Grace sir

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    1. May the Lord continue to open the heaven's over you as you continue to read my other posts.

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  38. I am blessed by your post thank you so much sir Len more Grace sir

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  39. Thank you, Brother Len. May you would be richly blessed together with your family with all the blessings you so desire from God. In Jesus'

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  40. Great article. I have learnt alot from this article. I'll be keen to study your other posts

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    1. Praise the Lord! Glad you found it helpful. Please do check out my other posts. There are hundreds including this blog and numerous others. You can find them all at https://writingforthemaster.blogspot.com/

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  41. Very powerful. But I think instead of saying the fruit of the holy spirit are; it is better to say the fruit of the holy spirit is. This, if you say are, it changes the interpretation because Galatians 55:22 stated the fruit of the spirit is, instead of are.

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  42. Which value is a both a fruit and gift of the holy spirit?




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    1. Dear reader, I thought that was pretty clear in the article, but I will just add that both of them bring glory to God. Both are also very important in soul winning. The gifts are also very valuable for edifying, comforting, and strengthening the Body of Christ.

      But I would say the most important are the fruit, in terms of your own eternal soul. Nevertheless, that is no reason to neglect the gifts, but instead we should desire the greater ones. I hope that helps.

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  43. Which value is both a fruit and gift of the holy spirit?

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  44. I am blessed, and thank you very much for the article. A clear view and the gift of the knowing gifts is evident. God bless you! Shalom

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  45. Am really impressed and feel more blessed to differentiate btn gifts and fruits of the holy spirit...May you be blessed and God gives you long long life to teach us more...greater ones....which are the greater gifts

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  46. Going through your notes has so much enlightened me on the main differences of the gifts and fruit of the HolySpirit, excellent work, God bless you abundantly 😊🙏

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    1. Thanks! Glad it helped. God bless you, too.

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  47. Thank you very much. Well written and very enlightening!

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    1. Dear Israel, you're welcome. Praise the Lord! Have you received the baptism with the Holy Spirit yet?
      http://spiritofthelordgod.blogspot.com/2011/06/baptized-with-spirit.html

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