The Holy Spirit’s Gifts & Fruits Are Available in a Believer’s Life Today, Pt. 2

Series: The Work of the Holy Spirit

Sermon: “The Holy Spirit’s Gifts & Fruits Are Available in a Believer’s Life Today, Pt. 2

Presenter: Rev. Dr. JoAnne P. King

Date: June 18, 2023

Praise the Lord and happy Father’s Day to the fathers in this Ministry and to any fathers that might be tuned in.

Last week, we covered “The Holy Spirit’s Gifts & Fruits Are Available in a Believer’s Life Today, Part One.” We learned that the Holy Spirit is the producer of the nine fruits of the Spirit that He is perfecting in each of us right now.

Today, we will continue to discover the Gifts & Fruits that the Holy Spirit has made available to believers. Many believers don’t know that these Gifts are available to them and therefore, haven’t used them. In Hosea 4:6 it says: “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” The purpose of these sermons has been to give you knowledge.

We have learned that the Holy Spirit was very active in the Old Testament coming upon people. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is still active and is in believers who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

Today, we well cover: The Holy Spirit in the Gospels: The example of Jesus Christ. As well as, the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and some of the results from the filling of the Holy Spirit in believers.

The Example of Jesus Christ

In the Bible, you will notice that for thirty years, there was no mention of Jesus performing any miracles. It did mention that at the age of twelve, he was found in the synagogue amazing the priests and scholars with his knowledge of the Torah and other Jewish writings for some days.

When Joseph and Mary found him in the synagogue, he left with them and never did anything like that again. The Bible did say that he grew in wisdom.

When Jesus turned thirty years of age, everything changed. You may ask why thirty? Because this is the age that Jews have used as the perfect age to become a priest. It was at the age of thirty, that Jesus went to his cousin, John the Baptist, to be baptized.

When John saw Jesus coming to him, he received a Word of Wisdom and said: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. This is he of whom I said: After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel; therefore, am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record; saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water; the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost! And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

The Dove represented the Holy Spirit which took up residence in Jesus; just as He does in us. John received a Word of Wisdom when God gave him his assignment and told him what to look for to recognize the Son of God.

As I mentioned to you in an earlier sermon, that when God gets ready to do something new, He always has a prophet announce it years in advance. This was true in the case of Jesus, announcing when He would be born, His ministry, His death, etc.

Isaiah 7:14 Announcing the Messiah will come. “Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel…”
Deuteronomy 18:21-22—Proving when a message is not from God.
“And if thou say in thine heart, how shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
Micah 5:2 –Prophesied where Messiah will be born. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Jesus’s dependence on the Holy Spirit was prophesied in the Old Testament (Compare Is. 42:1; Mt. 12:18; Is. 61:1; Lk 4:18).
Is 61:1 = “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” Lk 4:18.The life and ministry of Jesus was saturated with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Following are some of the ways the Spirit was involved in Jesus’s earthly work:
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit Spirit (Mt. 1:18-20; Lk 1:35).
Mt. 1:18-20 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost…”
The Holy Spirit participated in Jesus’s baptism (Mt. 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:32)
John the Baptist announced that Jesus would baptize his followers with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt. 3:11; Mk 1:8; Jn 3:16; Jn 1:33).
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Mt. 4:1ff; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 4:1-2).
Jesus carried out his ministry in the Spirit (Lk 4:14; cf. Lk 4:18). “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”
He cast out demons by the power of the Spirit (Mt. 12:28).
He rejoiced in the Spirit (Lk 10:21).

The Holy Spirit in the Gospels: The Teachings of Christ

The bulk of Jesus’s teaching concerning the Holy Spirit can be found in John 14-16. Following are the key truths concerning the Spirit set forth in these chapters:

The Holy Spirit is a “Comforter,” otherwise translated as “Helper” or “Counselor” (Jn. 14:16; 14:26; 15:26).
The Holy Spirit is also the “Spirit of truth” (Jn. 14:17; 15:26; 16:13).
The Father sends the Holy Spirit at the Son’s request (Jn. 14:16).
The Father sends the Spirit in Jesus’s name (Jn. 14:26) “…He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Jesus sends the Spirit from the Father to provide spiritual help in His absence (Jn. 15:26; 16:7).
“… it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you. The Spirit proceeds from the Father” (Jn. 15:26).
The Holy Spirit is the believer’s permanent possession (Jn. 14:16). The Believer is intimately joined with the Spirit (Jn. 14:17).
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Unbelievers, by contrast, cannot perceive the Spirit (Jn. 14:17).

The Holy Spirit’s ministry includes several elements:
Guiding believers into the truth concerning all things (Jn. 16:13);

Enabling believers to witness (Jn. 15:27);
Speaking on behalf of Jesus, bringing glory to Him (Jn. 16:13-15);
When the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; (Jn. 16:13)
He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: (Jn. 16:13)
He will shew you things to come. (Jn. 16:13)
He shall glorify me; (Jn. 16:14)
He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you (Jn. 16:15).

The 37 miracles of Jesus Christ that were written down in the New Testament served a specific purpose. None were performed randomly, for amusement, or for show. Each was accompanied by a message and either met a serious human need or confirmed Christ’s identity and authority as the Son of God.

At times, Jesus refused to perform miracles because they did not fall into one of these two categories: For example, When Herod saw Jesus, He desired to see a sign since he had heard so much about him. Herod questioned him at length, but He said nothing.

The 37 miracles recorded in the New Testament were only a few of the miracles performed by Jesus. John’s Gospel explains:

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one
were written down, I suppose that even the whole
world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25, NIV).

New Testament’s Words for Miracles

In the New Testament, three words refer to miracles:

Power (Dunamis), which means “mighty deed.” Miracles were overwhelmingly powerful acts that Jesus revealed his omnipotence and authority.

Sign (semeion), which refers to a miracle that figuratively represents something else, such as the kingdom of God. The miracles of Jesus were signs, authenticating his ministry and revealing him to be the Messiah and Son of God.

Wonder (Teras), which indicates something extraordinary. Christ’s miracles were wonderful, compelling, supernatural acts that caused people to marvel and confirmed his divine nature.

By example and precept, Jesus taught us the important role that the Spirit plays in a successful Christian’s life. We should earnestly seek to deepen our relationship with Him. We can begin our journey of knowing the Spirit by addressing Him in prayer, submitting to His work in our lives, and assimilating the Word through which He does His work.

The 37 Miracles of Jesus in Chronological Order:

Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana (Jn. 2:1-11).
Jesus heals an official’s son at Capernaum in Galilee (Jn. 4:43-54).
Jesus drives out an evil spirit from a man in Capernaum (Mk. 1:21-27).
Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law who was sick with a fever (Mk. 1:29-31).
Jesus heals many sick and oppressed at evening (Mk. 1:32-34).
First miraculous catch of fish on the Lake of Gennesaret (Lk. 5:1-11).
Jesus cleanses a man with leprosy (Mk. 1:40-48).
Jesus heals a centurion’s paralyzed servant in Capernaum (Lk. 7:1-10).
Jesus heals a paralytic who was let down from the roof (Lk. 5:17-26).
Jesus heals a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath (Mk. 3:1- 6).
Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead in Nain (Lk. 7:11-17).
Jesus calms a storm on the sea (Mk. 4:35-41).
Jesus cast a legion of demons out of the man from Gadarenes and they were cast into the swine. The swine ran down a steep place into the lake and drowned (Lk. 8:26-39).
Jesus heals a woman in the crowd with an issue of blood (Lk. 8:42-48).
Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter back to life (Mt. 9:18, 23-26).
Jesus heals two blind men (Mt. 9:27-31).
Jesus heals a man who was unable to speak (Mt. (32-34).
Jesus heals an invalid at Bethesda (Jn. 5:1-15).
Jesus feeds 5,000 plus women and children (Mt. 13-21).
Jesus walks on water (Mt. 14:22-33).
Jesus heals many sick in Gennesaret as they touched his garment (Mt. 14:34-36).
Jesus heals a gentile woman’s demon-possessed daughter (Lk. 7:14-30).
Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man (Mk. 7:31-37).
Jesus feeds 4,000 plus women and children (Mk. 8:1-13).
Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida (Mk. 8:22-26).
Jesus heals a man born blind by spitting in his eyes (Jn. 9:1-12).
Jesus heals boy with an unclean spirit (Mt. 17:14-20).
Miraculous temple tax in a fish’s mouth (Mt. 17:24-27).
Jesus heals a blind, mute demoniac (Mt. 12:22-23).
Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled for 18 years (Lk. 13:10-17).
Jesus heals a man with dropsy on the sabbath (Lk. 14:1-6).
Jesus cleanses ten lepers on the way to Jerusalem. (Lk. 17:11-19)
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in Bethany (Jn. 11:1-45).
Jesus restores sight to Bartimaeus in Jericho (Lk. 18-35:43).
Jesus withers the fig tree on the road from Bethany (Mt. 21:18-22).
Jesus heals a servant’s severed ear while he is being arrested (Lk. 22:50-51).
The second miraculous catch of fish at the Sea of Tiberias (Jn. 21:4-11).

I listed all 37 of the Miracles Jesus performed because I am sure that you have heard sermons on some if not all of them. Perhaps, you forgot a few so, I wanted to refresh your memory. I also want to remind you that Jesus didn’t do any miracles until the Holy Spirit abode upon Him.

The Apostles, like Jesus, could do no mighty works until after being filled with the Holy Spirit. Let’s observe what happens to the Apostles and disciples after being filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit).

The120 disciples that included the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in divers’ tongues. People from other countries heard them praising God in their languages and marveled.

After hearing them praising and magnifying God, Peter preached to them and many people repented and received salvation and the Apostles laid hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost (Spirit). Jesus said that they would be witnesses after the infilling of the Holy Ghost!

Peter and John going to the temple to pray saw this lame man laying at the gate called Beautiful begging for alms. Using their gift of healings said: “Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, “Silver and Gold, have I none but such as I have, give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” He used the Gift of Working of Miracles, as well as, the Gift of Healings.
When Simon saw the Apostles lay their hands on people and they received the Holy Ghost. He offered them money. “Saying give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”

But Peter using the Gift of “discerning of spirits” said unto him. “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Peter said: “For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” “Then answered Simon, and said, pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”

Cornelius after receiving a Word of Wisdom sent for the Apostle Peter and he, his household and friends were the first Gentiles to receive salvation and it was accompanied by the falling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48). Peter equated the conversion of the first Gentiles to what occurred to the Jewish believers on the Day of Pentecost (Acts ll:15-18; 15:7-9).
Three days after his conversion, Saul later called Paul received the Spirit through the mediation of Ananias (Acts 9:17). Ananias had received a Word of Wisdom to go and minister to Saul. Saul received his healing by the hands of Ananias. He was not an Apostle but a disciple or follower of Jesus.
In Acts, a few variations from the norm occurred. For example: In the Samaritan revival those who came to faith did not experience the baptism of the Spirit immediately. The Spirit was imparted to them through the laying on of Peter’s and John’s hands (Acts 8:12, 14-17).
The moment most converts came to faith in Christ, they were baptized with the Spirit. In the examples given in Acts, when water baptism and/or the laying on of hands preceded the impartation of the Spirit, it was called extraordinary.
The necessity of designating faithful, Spirit-filled men to carry out the Lord’s work was recognized by the early Church. The church in Jerusalem refused to delegate food distribution to men who were less than Spirit-filled and wise (Acts 6:2-6). These men had the fruit of faithfulness, as well as other gifts.
Paul sought the Spirit’s direction for his life (Acts 19:21). God wrought many miracles by the hands of Paul. From his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Paul used the Gift working of Miracles.
Nothing could stop an Apostle in this case from completing his God give assignment(s). Using Paul as an example, the Jews beat him 5 times with 40 stripes save one (39).
He was ship wrecked three times. The last time, God saved the whole crew and Paul. The crew and Paul swam to this island and Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake. He shook the snake into the fire and wasn’t harmed by the snake (Acts 27:41-28:5). He speaks of other perils he encountered in (2 Cor. 11:24-27).
Paul was stoned to death by the people but the disciples stood around him and he came back to life. (Acts 14:19)
Even after Paul reach Rome, which was his final destination, he preached the Word of God unhindered in his rented home for 2 years. (Acts 28:30)
In Acts 5:15-16, people “brought the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them…bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed everyone.” Again, this was the Gift of working of Miracles.
When Peter’s was scheduled to be killed the next day, he was at peace. This showed that he had the fruit of peace! All the Saints were praying for his release. The Holy Spirit sent an angel to unlock all the jail doors of the prison and guided Peter to safety, because his assignment was not finished.
Peter was given a Word of Wisdom concerning how he was going to die.
Another example is the Apostle John, no one was able to kill him. Tertullian, a Latin writer (in The Prescription of Heretics), said that “John was banished to the (Isle of Patmos), after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering none from it.”
His assignment was to record what he saw in visions, dreams, angels and Words from Jesus in the Book of Revelation.
The Apostle John (also known, as the Apostle of love) is the only disciple who wasn’t martyred but died at an old age.
Even when the disciples were in prison, they sang and praised God and God worked all kinds of miracles on their behalf, such as, unlocking the prison doors for Paul and Barnabas.
Additionally, Barnabas was selected as its representative to Antioch because of his spirituality (Acts 11:22-24). “…For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people were added unto the Lord.” He had the Gift of Faith.
Filling of the Holy Spirit is associated with joy. Joy was experienced by the disciples even in the face of persecution (Acts 13:50-52). “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” They had the fruit of joy.
An angel of the Lord directed Philip to go to the south. When he got there, the Holy Spirit directed him to go to this chariot where an Ethiopian eunuch was reading Isaiah. “Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading?
He didn’t and Philip explained everything to him, and baptized him. When they came out of the water, the Holy Spirit caught Philip away” (Acts 8:26-40).
The Holy Spirit had another assignment for Philip and couldn’t wait for him to travel to that place on the back of a camel. In verse 40 of the above scripture, it says that “he was found at Azotus and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.”
You don’t see examples of this today, because our modern transportation allows us to take a jet and be a lot of places in just a few hours. However, if you were needed, in less time, the Holy Spirit would transport you, as well.
Peter raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:36-42).

As, I said earlier, Jesus said words to the effect: “that the works that He did, you would do them and greater works because He was going to His Father.” In the above examples, you see the Apostles, as well as disciples, doing the works of Jesus.
You may say, that these works were done by Apostles and you are not an Apostle. Some preachers have taught that the gifts died with the last Apostle. This is a lie from the pit of hell.
In Ephesians 4:8, 11: “Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men… And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets; and some; evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”
When Jesus said that He gave gifts unto men, that meant everybody—the Gifts of the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit. He didn’t say that He gave gifts only to the five-fold ministry. Nor did He give a time limit on the Gifts.
In fact, He makes a point of letting us know that He is the same yesterday, today and forever!
I have given scriptures showing that the Holy Spirit is in believers today. If the Holy Spirit is in you that means that the Gifts are in you as well.
When you are given a Birthday gift or a Christmas gift, after you receive it, you open it up.

Well, you have received some gifts from God, they are residing on the inside of you and it is time for you to open your gifts and use them! Why? So, you can do the works or greater works that Jesus said you would do.

A clue to the gift that has been placed in you is usually something that you love to do. It may also have a component in it that hates to see something happening to another person. You may even have a job in that area.

This is just an example: Let’s say that you love to pray and at the same time, you hate to see a person suffering from any disease. Your gift might be the Gift of healings. So, when you are obedient and pray for this person in faith, the Lord will heal them. Some healings are instantaneous and some occur over time.

Right now, you ask the Pastor or some other leader to pray for the person because you are afraid, if you pray for the person and they don’t get healed, it is your fault.
You must remember, you are not the healer, Jesus is. The same goes for all of the Gifts whether it is one of the Gifts of the Spirit, Gift of fruit or five-fold ministry gift.
Just as you know that Jesus loves you, died for you, and forgave you of your sins present, past and future. He has given you a gift or gifts of the Spirit to bring glory to Him.

The Gifts of the Spirit are: The Word of Wisdom, the Word of Knowledge, the Gift of Faith, the Gift of Prophecy, The Gifts of Healing, Gift of Working of Miracles, Discerning of Spirits, Divers Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues.

The nine Fruits of the Spirit came into your born-again Spirit, the day you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and are being perfected.

Let us wake up to the new thing God wants to do! We are in a season that is like no other. We are in a season that is longing for the Living Water to carve new streams and rivers in the wilderness. So, let us actively invite the fire of the Holy Spirit to anoint us, purify us, and prepare us to do the works of Christ using our Gifts to glorify God.

He doesn’t change and He is standing ready and willing to use you, if you let Him.
God has graciously and divinely created a calendar that positions you to receive more of Him. Prepare your heart for His instruction. There is no denying He is doing something new within each of us and the Body of Christ.

Let’s give the Lord a praise offering for His teaching on “The Holy Spirit’s Gifts & Fruits Are Available in a Believer’s Life Today, Pt. 2.”