We have allowed the Word to be read and separated into small parts. We've determined that the Fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit are separate things. The gifts and the fruit are all a part of the same character of the Lord Who saved us. The same Spirit Who lives in and through us, is the same Spirit Who lived in and through Jesus. It is the very Spirit of our Father, the Almighty God.
Galatians 2:13-14 (Amplified) says that, "Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the curse (doom) of the Law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written (in the scriptures) 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified) [Deuteronomy 21:14}.'" Verse 14 goes on, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the blessing (promised) to Abraham mighty come upon the gentiles, so that we through faith might (all) receive (the realization of) the promise of the (Holy) Spirit."
The "promise of the Holy Spirit" is the blessing in itself. Once we have received the Holy Spirit of God, we have all God has promised, in and through His presence in us. The gifts of the Spirit include the nature of the Spirit, the character of the Spirit, the authority of the Spirit and the power of the Spirit. The same Holy Spirit lived and moved through Jesus in everything He ever did in His earth walk. This is the same Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead.
I've heard people break the fruits of the Spirit into portions and sections. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches who bear the fruit. Apple trees don't have any trouble deciding what fruit to bear. And, Christians shouldn't have any problem determining what fruit they're to bear. I've heard people say that they walk in the Spirit of love, but not of joy.
Love (God) is the very life and the sap that flows through the vine and the branches. The Holy Spirit is that sap. So, all the fruits of the Spirit are already flowing in our spirit by the very life of God in us. This is the "blessing of Abraham." Abraham only had the shadow of the blessing by the outward application of the Spirit. We have the fullness of the blessing by the indwelling of this Spirit.
1Corinthians 12 is a chapter that talks about the very nature of the Holy Spirit and how He is the blessing and the One Who gives these gifts as He wills. This Church age is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit Himself. How does He determine who to distinguish Himself to in giving these gifts? He gives to those who will allow Him liberty to flow through according to Galatians 5:16 (Amplified) which says, "But I say, walk and live (habitually) in the (Holy) Spirit (responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit), then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God)."
The degree we allow the Holy Spirit to live through us, is the degree that we bear fruit. This fruit is actually God's very presence, revealed through us to the world. Jesus said that, "When you have seen Me, you have seen the Father."
1Corinthians 13 is called the Love chapter and tells the very nature of God. The fruit chapters are Galatians 5:22-26 tell the very character of God. The gifts chapter of 1Corinthians 12 explains the power of God. The Holy Spirit is the Promise of God to fulfill the blessing. Thus,Genesis 12:2-3 (Amplified) says, "And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you (with abundant increase of favors) and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing (dispensing good to others). And I will bless those who bless you (who confer prosperity or happiness upon you) and curse him that curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed (and by you they will bless themselves)."
Paul says in 1Corinthians 1:7 (Amplified), "That you are not (consciously) falling behind or lacking in any special spiritual endowment or Christian grace (the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in your souls by the Holy Spirit) while you wait and watch (constantly living in hope) for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and (His) being made visible to all."
The Holy Spirit isn't only living in us, but actually is the only life we have, as are the attributes and the nature and character of our heavenly Father. As Christians, we have decided that "not everyone cane do these things" or that "not everyone has these qualities" or that "not everyone walks in this power."
It's true that each person in the Body of Christ has his own function, but we all have the same Holy Spirit to manifest all of the same functions to the glory of Jesus. 1Corinthians 12:18-20 (Amplified) says, "But as it is, God had placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each (particular one) of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation." Verses 19-20 say, "But if (the whole) were all a single organ, where would the body be? And now there are (certainly) many limbs and organs, but a single body."
Some have decided after reading these scripture that certain parts of the Body of Christ are "more anointed" than others. Not so! The whole body is anointed and each one has the same Holy Spirit and the same gifts, fruits, and abilities with its own duties or function for the same glory of the Father.
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