THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRITTHE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Seminar Presented by DR. AMON KASAMBALA

THE HOLY SPIRIT: EVIDENCE OF NEW LIFE

IN CHRIST

SESSION ONE

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

• The Confession of Faith of the Church • The Hebrew Thought – “Ruah”–Wind (Gen.8:1; Ex.10:13; Num. 11:31; 1Kings 18:45; Prov. 25:23)–Breath or Spirit (Gen. 2:7; 7:15; Ps.31:5; 32:2; Je.10:14).–Divine Power (Judge 3:10; 6:34; 1Sam 11:6)

Profession of Faith

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our

Lord.He was conceived by the power of the

Holy Spirit…I believe in the Holy Spirit…

The Witness of the Old Testament • Gen. 1:2“Now the earth was formless and empty,

darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”.

• Enough evidence on the presence of the Holy Spirit

• God’s Spirit was actively involved in creation (Job.33:4; Ps.104:30).

• The Spirit of God brings order to Creation

Gen. 1:26 • A reference to the Trinity

The Witness of the New Testament

• John the Baptist’s proclamation (Matt. 3:11; Lk.3:16; Mk.1:8; John 1:33)

• The Spirit leading Jesus into the desert (Lk.4:1-3)

• The bold statement Jesus made (Lk.4:18)• Jesus’ words on the work of the Holy

Spirit (John 14:26; 16:5-15).• In Acts 1:4,8 – the promise of the Holy

Spirit• On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

• The first Christians – divine power clearly manifest by its effects on the life of the recipient;

• The Impact left significant change by divine agency.

• First and foremost function is to TRANSFORM human life .– Overwhelming experience of God’s love

(Rom.5:5)– Joy unspeakable (1Thess.1:6)– Illumination (2Cor.3:14-17)– Liberation (Rom.8:2; 2Cor. 6:9-11)– Various Spiritual gifts (1Cor.1:4-7; Galatians 3:5)

Special Functions of the Holy Spirit

• Brings us into a loving relationship with God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ.

• Brings conviction into our lives through God’s word (John 15:8)

• Effects a new life in believers – He is the agent of transformation.

• Gives us power to be witnesses to the work of Christ in our lives.

• Empowers us with Spiritual gifts to serve God and his Church.

• Helps us in prayer (Rom.8:26).

Distinguishing Feature

• Unlike in the OT times, a distinguishing feature of the New Testament experience of the Holy Sprit is that He is experienced by all and works through all, not just one or two (Rom. 8:9; 1Cor.12:7; 11; Heb.6:4; 1 John 2:20).

• In the OT only people with special responsibilities were empowered and anointed by the Holy Spirit– The Kings – The Priests – The Prophets.

SECOND SESSION

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AS EVIDENCE OF

NEW LIFE

WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?

• The Effect of the work of the Holy Spirit is first and foremost not seen by the gifts, but the FRUIT.

• Jesus’ words: “By their Fruit…” (Matt.7:16-19).

• The Fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of a supernatural work of the Spirit within our lives, making us to become more like Jesus Christ in our word and deeds.

The Fruit of the Spirit

• The fruit of the Spirit is a spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us.

• It is the by-product of Christ’ control – only obtained through his help (John 15:4).

• We must know him, remember Him and imitate Him.

• Matthew 12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit”.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN GALATIANS 5

• Paul’s perspective on NEW LIFE in the Spirit.

• The existing tension – the Spirit vs. the flesh.

(Rom.7:14-25; 8:10; 12; Gal. 5:16; Heb.10:29).

The Fruit of Love

• A powerful tool to witness to the hurting world.

• Jesus said: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

In a world where there is hatred, jealousy, revenge, unforgiveness – the fruit of love in our lives becomes a strong witness to what God is busy doing in our lives.

The Fruit of Joy

• Distinguishing between Happiness and Joy

• Paul in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice”

• James 1:2 “Count it all joy, brethren, when you face trials of many kinds”

• Joy is a bubbling of God’s nature in us – it is based on the inward expression that is rooted in God.

The Fruit of Peace

• The world does not have it (John 15:27)• Peace within oneself.• Gordon McDonald: “unless your private

world is in order, you cannot order your outside world”.

• The old Hymn “ When Peace like a river…”

The Fruit of Patience

• Patience in times of hardship distinguishes the characteristic of a believer from that one of the world.

• Patience as a fruit of the Spirit keeps the believer going even when everything seems to be going against him/her.

The Fruit of Kindness

• Kindness expresses itself by the way a believer handles other people.

• The fruit that bears witness to the fact that we can show the love that God has put in us.

The Fruit of Goodness

• We are naturally evil, but the Spirit of God is at work in us, He gives us the attribute of God – a GOOD GOD!

The Fruit of Faithfulness

• This fruit brings in us trust and accountability.

• Helping us to keep our promises, vows in baptism, marriage.

The Fruit of Gentleness

• As gentle as a dove - A powerful witness in the world where power is at play.

• The Spirit puts a deposit of gentleness in all those who have come to believe in Jesus Christ.

The Fruit of Self-Control

• Self-control in– Speech– Action– Conduct– Behaviour

• During trying moments self-control is a necessity, and can only be given to us by the Spirit of God.

SESSION THREE

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – SPIRITUAL

GIFTS

WHAT ARE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

• Spiritual gifts are special abilities given to each person (believer) by the Holy Spirit that are to be used to minister to the needs of the Body of Believers.

• The PURPOSE for these gifts is To BUILD UP

(edification) the Body of Christ (the Church).

Categorization of Spiritual GiftsGifts of Service (Romans 12:3-8)

• Prophesying (as in proclamation or preaching)• Serving (diaconia, reaching out to others)• Teaching (as in teaching the Word of God,

helping people understand God’s Word in a profound way).

• Encouraging (helping others in times of stress, difficulty, hardships, suffering & pain, spiritaully & emotionally)

• Contributing (supporting others financially, materially).

• Leadership (leading others, strengthening others).

• Showing mercy (supporting others spiritually, psychologically and understanding their pain & experiences).

Categorization of Spiritual GiftsGifts of Ministry/Office Gifts (Eph.4:11)

• Apostles (Apostolic ministry)• Prophets (Prophetic ministry)• Evangelists (Evangelistic ministry)• Pastors (Pastoral ministry)• Teachers (Teaching ministry)

Categorization of Spiritual GiftsSupernatural Impartation Gifts

• The Message of Wisdom • The Message of Knowledge • Faith • Gifts of Healing • Miraculous Powers • Prophecy • Discernment (distinguishing between

spirits)• Speaking in tongues (glosollalia)• Interpretation of tongues

The Problem of the Corinthian Church

• The Issue of Spiritual gifts split the Church instead of building or edifying the Church

• Spiritual gifts became a symbol of spiritual power causing rivalries.

• Be aware of a divisive spirit• Remember Jesus’ words about

servanthood (John 13)• Remember the actual purpose for the

Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The problem of order in worship at the Corinthian Church

• 1Cor.14:1-40• Competitive Spirit among believers • Tongues vs. Prophecy in public worship• Lack of unity • Disregard for order • Insensitive to others • Immaturity in spiritual things • Key verses: “The spirits are subject to the

control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace”

THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRITTHE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Seminar Presented by DR. AMON KASAMBALA