Spirit

The Gifts of The Spirit

The Gifts of The Spirit

Three chapters in the New Testament are dedicated to the gifts of the Spirit, and over one hundred references to Spiritual gifts. These gifts were promised to the church, as we read: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you” (Luke 24:49). And this promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, as we read: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). The ministry work of the Apostles was marked by the supernatural, and they were given divine power to perform it. Sharing the Gospel, delivering people from bondage, and guiding them in faith and repentance require the Holy Spirit.

The Fruit of The Spirit

The Fruit of The Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of our character as we live a holy life dedicated to the Lord. It is the character of Christ produced by the Spirit of Christ within us and is the greatest treasure of the believer. We read: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23); “(The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:9-10); “Now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).

Redemption of the Soul

Redemption of the Soul

It is written, “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [nishmat chaim]; and man became a living being [in Hebrew a living soul—Nefesh Chaya]” (Genesis 2:7). Thus, God created man in His image, male and female He created us. We are therefore complex beings comprised of a body formed by the hand of God and made from the dust of the earth, and a soul, a spirit that God breathed into us. While certain basic instincts and emotions chemically derive from our physical bodies, our God-breathed souls contain the more profound essence of who we are. For this reason, we are not like any other creature.