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Gifts of the Holy Spirit

One of the most exciting things the Holy Spirit does in the life of a Christ-follower is giving us supernatural gifts. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are supernatural powers of God available to anyone in Christ who desires to be used by God for His purpose. They are given to empower us so that His light may shine brightly through us for others to see and experience. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit distributes the spiritual gifts to every believer individually just as He (God the Holy Spirit) wills, to empower us to comfort, encourage and strengthen the body of Christ.  

Jesus did not operate on his own power but depended on the Spirit of God. It was only from the moment the Spirit of God his Father had descended on Him that Jesus started his ministry: preaching, healing, delivering and casting out demons. (Luke 3:22, 4:1, 4:14, 4:18) Although Jesus was fully God, He was also fully man. He set an example of what it looks like for us to live a life dependent on and filled with the Spirit. 

Have you ever have had someone say they were praying for you and maybe they even shared something specific to encourage you? Often times it turns out to be exactly what you've been struggling with, and just what you needed to hear! How does that happen? It happens through the power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts can operate right from the start, but that doesn't mean this new Christian has a godly character or makes the right choices. We need to develop a godly character that chooses sacrificial love over selfishness and truthfulness over lies.

These gifts are not earned; God gives them to whom he chooses. Even a new Christian can receive the spiritual gift to heal the sick, speak in tongues or prophesy. The moment someone becomes new in Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to take up residence and live inside that person! As we abide in Christ, we begin to develop the fruit of the Spirit. Only when we walk in the fruit of the Spirit will the gifts of the Spirit healthily work through us. Gifts are given right away, but the fruit of the Spirit grows as we learn to walk in love, honesty, and obedience. To exercise the gifts of the Spirit properly, we must be submitted to Christ's authority and act only in obedience in Him.