Part 2 - Living fruit, desiring gifts.

In Part 1 we looked at Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and sensed his frustration at their behaviour and poor choices - choosing to live under the ‘law’ rather than in the freedom that is offered through faith in Christ Jesus. Like the Galatians before us, Paul instructs us to live by the Spirit, turning away from sin and worldly desires. ‘Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.' (Gal 5:24). We should live lives in the fruit of the Spirit, out of this is born our Christian character.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul also desires that we seek spiritual gifts given to us for the ‘common good’ (1 Cor 12:7), including the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, tongues, and the discernment of spirits. Now I have met many Christians over the years who are quite fearful of engaging with the spiritual gifts. One of their fears, it seems to me, comes out of a sense of them ‘handing over control of their minds and bodies to someone or something else’, and not knowing quite what will happen. Or there is fear of ‘getting it wrong’ or ‘what if nothing happens, I’ll look stupid’. There are all sorts of fears or anxieties that prevent people from fully engaging with the gifts that the Holy Spirit wants to give them.

Paul places the desiring of spiritual gifts in a framework of love. Whilst we are encouraged to desire spiritual gifts, we must use them only in an attitude of love:

‘If I speak in tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a 

resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and

 can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can 

move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing’ 

(1 Cor 13: 1-2).

As love is the framework, why might we be afraid of using the gifts that the Spirit gives us? The Holy Spirit will give gifts as he determines, but all within that loving framework. We should not be afraid to use the gifts we are given. As Paul writes about those that prophesy:

‘The spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 

For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace’ 

(1 Cor 14: 32-33)

Why is it so important to live in the fruit, and also to desire and use our Spiritual gifts? Whilst the fruit determines and develops our character, it is through the spiritual gifts that we uphold, encourage, equip, and build the community of Christ. We need both the fruit and the gifts.

If we only have the fruit, we will not be spiritually equipped or mature to minister to those who need it, we will lack the wisdom and insight that the Spirit gives us in ministry situations. Our prayers will lack the power and knowledge that the Spirit gives us.

If we only have the gifts, and do not use them in the way of the fruit, we will be just like the clanging cymbals that Paul describes. We might come across as harsh if we don’t use our gifts in an attitude of prayerfulness and especially love.

To develop our Christian character, and to be fully who Christ has called us to be, we need both spiritual fruit and spiritual gifts. 

By Alex C