Sermon Tone Analysis

II. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. What Is the Fruit of the Spirit?

Jesus paints a word picture from nature in order to emphasize the believer’s responsibility to abide in Him.

“I am the vine; you are the branches.

If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”

John 15:5

Catch the imagery.

The sap inside the vine carries life-giving nutrients to the branches, enabling them to bear grapes.

In a similar way, the Holy Spirit inside a Christian is a life-giving source that enables a believer to bear spiritual fruit … qualities that are evidenced both inwardly and outwardly.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Galatians 5:22–23

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE OF BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?

Love

Am I seeking the highest and best for others or seeking to serve my own needs?

Joy

Am I living with gladness over what I have or fretting over what I don’t have?

Peace

Am I resting in the strength and security of God or worrying about my circumstances?

Patience

Am I enduring difficult trials calmly or complaining and becoming bitter?

Kindness

Am I exhibiting a benevolent heart by helping others or resenting having to meet the needs of others?

Goodness

Am I displaying godly character with purity of heart or adopting the world’s standards of morality?

Faithfulness

Am I trusting God in the midst of suffering and sorrow or doubting His perfect and persistent love?

Gentleness

Am I treating others with tenderness and respect or being harsh and short-tempered?

Self-control

Am I rising to God’s call to do what is right in His sight or giving in to my feelings and selfish desires?

“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

James 3:17

B. What are the Gifts of the Spirit?

An apple tree grows apples for the benefit of others.

In the same way, when you grow in Christ, you will bring blessings to those around you.

Understanding your spiritual gifts and using them to benefit the body of Christ are vital for spiritual growth and maturity.

QUESTION: “What are spiritual gifts?”

ANSWER: Spiritual gifts are …

— At one time it was Supernatural abilities that the Holy Spirit bestowed upon a believer for the purpose of strengthening the church (the “body of Christ”)

— An opportunity for the Lord to accomplish His personalized plan and purpose for your life

— A means through which you express God’s love to others

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

1 Corinthians 12:4–6

QUESTION: “What if I don’t have a spiritual gift?”

ANSWER:

A spiritual gift is given to every believer.

If you are an authentic Christian, you have been given a spiritual gift, even if you don’t know what that gift is.

“To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

1 Corinthians 12:7

QUESTION: “Does everyone have the same gift?”

ANSWER:

God doesn’t give everyone the same gift.

Even though some my have a similar gift.

Always remember the gift is for the Church.

“To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”

1 Corinthians 12:8–10

QUESTION: “What are the different spiritual gifts?”

ANSWER:

There are different ways to categorize the gifts of the Spirit.

The following are two of the passages that list spiritual gifts and how to use them.

Romans 12:6–8

— Prophecy

an ability to proclaim or reveal God’s truth

— Serving (ministry)

an ability to recognize and meet the needs of others

— Teaching

an ability to communicate and clarify truth

— Encouragement (exhorting)

an ability to inspire and stimulate the faith of others

— Giving

an ability to entrust assets where they are most needed

— Leadership

an ability to administrate, organize, and coordinate efforts

— Mercy

an ability to reach out with active compassion to comfort others

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Romans 12:6–8

1 Corinthians 12:7–11

— Wisdom

an application of knowledge

— Knowledge

an revelation

— Faith

an ability to believe that God will provide

— Healing

an ability to believe that God will cure human illness

— Miraculous powers

an ability to perform feats outside the laws of nature

— Prophecy

an ability to proclaim or reveal what is hidden

— Discernment

an ability to distinguish between truth and error, as well as good and evil spirits

— Tongues

an ability to speak in a language that the speaker has never learned

— Interpretation of tongues

a supernatural ability to understand and interpret messages in tongues