Fruit or Gifts of the Spirit – What’s the difference?
Fruit of the Spirit vs. Gifts of the Spirit
From time to time, I get this question.
What’s the difference between FRUIT of the Spirit and GIFTS of the Spirit?
This is an important topic, so we are in the process of developing a Podcast Series, Mini-Course and download resource. But in the meantime, here’s a short explanation of the basic differences between the Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit.
OVERVIEW
In all cases, the Holy Spirit is working in your life.
The Bible tells us that without the working of the Holy Spirit, no one comes to the Father for salvation.
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him… John 6:44
How does God draw us to Himself? By the working of the Holy Spirit.
John 16: 7-15
The Holy Spirit:
- Reproves (Convinces) the world of sin. (It is often used as a corrective, loving action intended to bring restoration, expose sin, or turn someone toward righteousness.) Ref. AV611.com
- Guides you into all truth
- Shows you things to come
- Glorifies Jesus
Once we have decided to repent and surrender our lives to the Lord, the Holy Spirit begins to lead us in our daily decisions.
So how do we know we are on the right track? How can we tell if we are making progress?
The Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23
The Apostle Paul gives us a list of things to look for that indicate spiritual growth in our lives.
If we are praying, studying God’s Word, and applying what we learn, we will notice changes in our value system and character. These changes are the result of applying God’s principles to our lives.
As the Holy Spirit leads us to understand new concepts and gives us direction on how to personally apply what we are learning, we will notice growth in these areas of our lives.
It’s a cause-and-effect idea.
To understand it better, relate spiritual growth to planting seeds.
If you plant a seed to grow cucumbers, nurture it and take care of it, the seed will produce cucumbers – a result (fruit).
Planting → Nurturing → Result
(Applying) (Consistently Applying) (Fruit)
Have you ever heard the phrase “That is the fruit of our labor”?
As we apply God’s principles to our lives and continue to do so, we will see a result, a change. This is what we call producing fruit.
Here’s a simple example:
When God’s Word talks about “turning the other cheek” in Matthew 5:39, the principle leads to being more gentle and humble instead of lashing out in retaliation.
This will be a new idea for many. It is contrary to our normal mindset.
When we begin to apply the idea to our life situations (with help from the Holy Spirit) our personality begins to change. Others begin to notice.
As we continue to apply the principle, it will become even more noticeable.
As a byproduct of submitting that area of our lives to the Lord, we begin to produce the fruit of meekness, longsuffering, etc.
So, the Fruit of the Spirit is basically the natural byproduct of applying God’s Word to our lives consistently through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Gifts of the Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
The Gifts of the Spirit are specific gifts we are given to help us serve others. They empower us to share the Gospel and be of service to others.
The Bible tells us that God distributes the gifts as He sees fit. (v. 11)
While ALL OF US should be producing good fruit, each of us will be given specific gifts to carry out the tasks God assigns to us.
Some people may be given One Gift, others may operate with Several.
It’s not a competition!
God knows what we need and when we need it.
Once we’ve identified that God has given us (entrusted us with) a specific gift or gifts, it’s up to us to use those gifts for the benefit of others and to bring glory to God. (v. 7)
Here’s another simple example:
One of the nine gifts listed in 1 Corinthians is the gift of healing. If God has entrusted a person with the gift of healing, it is not to be used to bring attention or glory to the person.
All the gifts are intended to be used by the Holy Spirit as tools to draw people to the Lord.
By properly using the gift of healing, people will be blessed. They will acknowledge the working of the Lord in their lives. They will share testimonies of what God has done for them. Others are drawn to the Lord through their testimonies.
SUMMARY
So, to summarize:
- The Fruit of the Spirit are the attributes, characteristics we should be growing as we apply the truths of God’s Word to our lives.
- The Gifts of the Spirit are the specific gifts God entrusts us with to serve others and help draw them to the Lord for salvation and bless their lives along the way.
In upcoming podcasts, articles, and download resources, we’ll dig a little deeper into each characteristic and gift in the lists.
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