The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

The Holy Spirit gives these gifts to Christians: 1. The gift of wisdom; 2. The gift of faith; 3. The gift of speaking God's messages; 4. The gift of healing sick people; 5. The gift of working miracles; 6. The gift of knowing whether an evil spirit is speaking through those who say they are giving God's message...or whether it is the Holy Spirit Who is speaking; 7. The gift of speaking in other languages; 8. The gift of teaching; 9. The gift of getting others to work together; 10. The gift of helping others; 11. The gift of being an evangelist or pastor; 12. The gift of giving to others.

It is the Holy Spirit Who gives these gifts to God's children. He also helps us in many other ways. He knows which gift is most suited for you and me.

We must give ourselves completely to God, asking Him in prayer what His will is for us. Then the Holy Spirit will show us the task He has for us to do. The Holy Spirit does not give us all the same work. Remember the body has many different parts and they do different work. There are many different types of work in the church. What is God's work for you and for me? God the Holy Spirit will show us. And He will help us by working through us. But we must go forward believing God is with us.

Jesus said to His disciples, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be My witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth." God does not want anyone to perish. He wants all people to repent and believe in Christ. Jesus commands all of us to be witnesses for Him. Have you failed Him in this? Have you grieved the Holy Spirit because you have not spoken to others about Jesus and God's words? Ask God to forgive you. Ask Him to give you the power of the Holy Spirit so that you can tell others how to come to Christ and become God's children. When God answers your prayers, remember to thank Him.

Every day the Holy Spirit wants to work in our lives wherever we are...at home with our family, away from our village where other people live, or while we work in our gardens. The Holy Spirit wants to produce fruit in our lives.

We are very happy when our gardens have many vegetables. We like to see our corn have good big ears on them. But we are disappointed to find our plants with many leaves but no fruit or vegetables. We don't like to find our corn with just leaves and bad fruit.

God is happy to see the Holy Spirit controlling our lives because He will see fruit there. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The Bible teaches us that a symbol of the Holy Spirit is oil (kerosene). Without oil we know that a lamp will not light.

Let us pray that our lives, each day, wherever we are, will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and that our lights will shine brightly for Christ. This is the way a true Christian should live.

I Cor. 12:8-11, 28 Acts 1:8 Gal. 5:22