The Gifts And Fruit Of The Spirit

The Gifts And Fruit Of The Spirit

We’ve just begun our new series, “The Fruit of the Holy Spirit”, and it's already shifting our understanding of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives.
Our foundation for this study is Galatians 5:22–23, which says:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Before this verse, Paul lists the acts of the flesh, which we grouped into four broad categories:
 Sexual, Occultic, Behavioural, and Addictive. These represent the ways we fall when we’re not walking in the Spirit.
But today, let’s go deeper into understanding the difference between the gifts and the fruit of the Holy Spirit—both essential, yet different.
In Genesis, Adam and Eve were placed in a garden, not a city. At the center of that garden were two spiritual landmarks:

• The Tree of Life (TOL)
• The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (TOK)

One leads to eternal life. The other leads to death.
The Tree of Life represents a life lived in obedience to God, filled with the Spirit and moving toward immortality.
 The Tree of Knowledge represents the temptation to live by our own understanding and pride.
Deuteronomy 30:19 echoes this:
“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
When we choose the Tree of Life, the Fruit of the Spirit flows from us. When we choose our own way, we end up producing the works of the flesh.
Gifts vs. Fruit: What’s the Difference?
1. Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Gifts are supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit to help us serve, build the church, and encourage others.
According to C. Peter Wagner, there are 27 gifts found in ² there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts by healing by that one Spirit, (10) 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. 
These are the more supernatural, Spirit-revealing gifts:

1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Gifts of Healing
5. Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discernment of Spirits
8. Speaking in Tongues
9. Interpretation of Tongues

? Motivational Gifts
Romans 12:6–8 says (6) We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; (7) if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; (8) if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
These gifts shape how we live and serve. These gifts motivate and build up others.
? Ministry / Fivefold Gifts
Ephesians 4:11–12 says (11) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, (12) to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. 
These are leadership gifts used to equip the body of Christ.
All of these together form what we know as the Gifts of the Spirit.
2. Fruit of the Holy Spirit
The Fruit is the inward evidence of the Spirit at work in a believer’s life. It's about who you are becoming, not just what you can do.
Galatians 5:22–23 lists 9 expressions of this one fruit:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control

This is the character of Christ developing in you.
Unlike gifts, fruit takes time. It’s not instant. It’s intentional.
How Does the Fruit Grow?
Just like natural fruit, the fruit of the Spirit grows progressively.
 It comes from abiding in Christ and walking in the Spirit.
John 15 reminds us: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you… you will bear much fruit.”
It’s not flashy. It’s faithful.
You must cultivate it, nurture it, and stay connected to Jesus.
Gifts vs. Fruit: Key Differences
Here are some major differences between gifts and fruit;

• Gifts are about what you do, the fruit are about what you are becoming. 
• Gifts are given to build people up and to encourage them, to make them sure. Fruit is what you are becoming. 
• Gifts reflect power. Fruits reflect character. 
• One is action and the other is attitude. 
• Gifts attract people and fruit attaches them.
• Gifts are crowd-pullers. Fruit builds a congregation. 
• Gifts reveal charisma, fruit reveals character.
• Gifts are what you do through the Spirit, they are service-focused. Fruits are who you are in the Spirit, it is character-focused. 

So Which Is More Important?
Both.
You need the power and the character.
You need gifts and fruit.
Without fruit, gifts can lead to imbalance.
Without gifts, fruit may limit your reach.
To live a complete, Spirit-filled life, we need a balance of both.
Don’t choose between power and character—pursue both.
Let the Spirit equip you with gifts and transform you with fruit.
A complete Christian life carries the fire of gifts and the fragrance of fruit.
Stay tuned—we’ll explore each of the nine aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit in detail in the coming days.