REFLECTION AND RESPONSE FOR CHAPTER NINE TO THIRTEEN
COURSE REFLECTION
CHAPTER NINE
SIGN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Going through this chapter has been quite revealing as it affects the gifts of the Spirit that are accompanied with signs. In this class the author outlines four and these are:-
1. Miracles
2. Healing
3. Tongues
4. Interpretation of tongues
In talking about miracles, the author talks about the fact that these are meant to confirm the gospel. I do fully agree with that concept because humanity I have come to realize need some physical evidences that will help to prove the reality of the spoken word. Miracles I believe do just that.
I do fully agree with the author’s concept of the gifts of healing, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. In healing I believe alongside with the author that the plurality applied to this gift is indicative of the fact that there are believers with special grace of healing to deal with various illnesses. I do believe also that one can be gifted to heal arthritis while the other is gifted to heal asthmatic conditions.
The distinction given between the gift of tongues is vital and I agree with this distinction made. I fully agree with the facts presented in this study and studying it has been quite revealing.
RESPONSE
Going through this study has been quite educative and challenging to me as a per son. Having to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and have results I realize has to be accompanied with signs and wonders and this study has not only served as a reminder but has also reinforced my conviction in that direction.
The diverse ways that healing could be ministered to thee afflicted was of great blessing for it strengthened my conviction as to the fact that the Holy Spirit should not be put in a box, which is restricted by our little reasoning. I would love to advise believers to go for the gifts of the Holy Spirit so as to be of immense blessing to the body of Christ and to the outside world. When we actually step out, ministering with the gifts, I believe that a whole lot will be saved and empowered.
COURSE REFLECTION
THE HOLY SPIRIT
CHAPTER TEN
DISCOVERING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT
I can’t help but express joy and amazement at the way the issue of gift discovery is handled by he author in this study. Spiritual gifts I fully agree with the author are weapons of war that we are meant to use against the enemy of our soul the devil. Talking about the necessity of gift discovery, I do agree that if we do not discover our spiritual gifts, we would not be able to achieve our spiritual objective and purposes and also our effectiveness in spiritual warfare would fail.
In talking about actually discovering one’s spiritual gift, the steps outlined are very okay and I greatly support it. The first step is indeed getting born again for without the new birth, one cannot discover the spiritual resources that God has placed at his or her disposal. The second step being the baptism of the Holy Spirit is also very vital for it takes the person of the Holy Spirit overwhelmingly overshadowing one for the reality of the gifts of the Spirit to be fully made manifest.
Also outlined is the steps and even exercises given that can enable one to adequately not only help o ne to discover but to fully walk in the reality of the gifts.
RESPONSE
I am short of words in trying to express the excitement I feel over this study. What would believers do if we don’t have such studies in the church of Jesus Christ. I have benefited a great deal from this study. Ourselves as human beings are very complex in nature with lots of gifting embedded in our nature. I have by this study learn t about not only the necessity of gift discovery but also the how of gift discovery.
I benefited immensely from this study and would take out time to take the tests and the further study in order to discover my gifting that has hitherto not been known to me. I have knowledge of some already but would want to get to discover a lot more that may still remain untapped. With these discoveries I would put them to use in serving the body of Christ effectively so as to raise leaders for the body.
My advice for the other members of the body and fellow leaders is that they would endeavor to yield themselves to the Holy Spirit and undergo the test so as to properly discover their gifts. I believe that if we would all adequately discover our gifts we would make our members in the church were we are leaders become result oriented in their ministries, serving the body of Christ well.
COURSE REFLECTION
THE HOLY SPIRIT
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Here we are introduced to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In talking about the fruit the author describes it as the nature of thee Holy Spirit as revealed in the life of the believer. It is also described as an evidence of spiritual maturity and as a Christian character in both personal and social conduct. It is described as the product of natural growth in the life of the Spirit.
I do fully agree with the above explanation as given by the author but would also like to add that it comes as a single pack with nine virtues that are embedded therein which explains why it is called a fruit and not fruits. Contrasted to the gifts, the fruit is a result of maturity which comes through a process of time while the gifts are endowments by the Holy Spirit for the work of the ministry.
One part of the fruit of the Spirit that has over the years always caught my attention and will always form an object of my studies is the fruit of love. Amongst all I think this virtue seems to sort of capture the other virtues for I believe that all the others could be summarized into this one virtue.
RESPONSE
Going through this study has been quite interesting and has served as a powerful reminder of that which makes us unique in character as children of the kingdom. One of the greatest lessons I have learnt is that on the difference between happiness and joy. While joy is not dependent on our external conditions, happiness is.
I have decided to submit my self more to the discipline of the Holy Spirit so as to properly cultivate the fruit in my life. I know very well that this would not happen automatically but with the help of the Holy Spirit I do know that it will.
I would like to advise fellow believers and especially leaders to fully yield to the Holy Spirit so that their lives will be that which will showcase Christ and bless others. It is only the fruit being made manifest that can cause this to happen.
COURSE REFLECTION
THE HOLY SPIRIT
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE WORKS OF THE FLESH
Studying this chapter reveals to us the works of the flesh. In talking about the works of the flesh it is descriptive of the characteristics of the nature of sin. In other words opposites of the qualities which the Holy Spirit wants to develop in one’s life. It is also revealed here that these qualities are natural to the unregenerate human personality. It is also discovered that there is a continual battle between the sinful nature of the flesh and the Spirit of the lord that has come to dwell in us. I do agree with the definitions given about the various works of the flesh.
Of much interest to me is the exposition on lasciviousness. In the past I had tried to fully gain a proper understanding as to the meaning of this word but in this study I have come to discover a meaning that has fully satisfied my curiosity. I do agree with the explanation given on idolatry. This should not just be seen as the paying of obeisance to graven images but is also a state of life in which God is not given a proper place in the life of a person. The other works of the flesh as explained have strengthened my knowledge base as to their meaning.
RESPONSE
In talking about the works of the flesh one realizes that they are opposed to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In the course of this study I have had to identify some very sore areas of my life as a person. These were things that due to a lack of proper understanding of the works of the flesh I have had to take as normal in my life but overtime I have realized through study that they were quite opposed to the life of the Spirit of God.
With these increased level of knowledge I will endeavor to periodically check my self in order to ensure that I rule over the works of the flesh and then strive to manifest more of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
I would advise believers especially leaders to pay attention to these and then endeavor by the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome it and to strive to manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
COURSE REFLECTION
THE HOLY SPIRIT
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL FRUIT
In this chapter, one is exposed to the reality of how fruit is developed in the life of a Spirit filled Christian. Interesting in this study is the analogy that is used; physical process of seed bearing. In the natural process, it is discovered that there are certain requirements that are essential for fruit production and I love the way the author uses it to explain the development of fruit in the life of the Christian.
I fully support the fact presented herein that the beginning point of fruit bearing is life, life is required in every living thing for it to produce and I believe alongside this that life is essential. I would have to add here that the life being referred to is the life of God, eternal life. Also essential I do agree is the process of death. For spiritual life to fully commence and then move to the point of fruit bearing, the human nature of self has to die. Death to self and to the world is essential if fruit must be gotten from our lives. The ideas presented by the author as it affects the requirements for fruit bearing are ideas that I fully agree with and support with the whole of my heart.
RESPONSE
I can’t help but appreciate the Lord for this moment of encounter. I prefer calling this an encounter because of the lessons I have had to learn from it. The analogies presented are quite interesting and I would say that I have had these happen in my life as a person. The fruit I have noticed in my life as a person all began to be manifest only after I have become born again which was the time life from God came into me. Overtime I have and still am going through some processes that have helped to make the presence of the fruits a reality in my life.
The two most interesting aspect of fruit development of which I want to strive to apply to my own life and experience is the aspects of rest and pruning. I realize that if I am not at rest in God, the process of pruning will not be properly done and if pruning does not take place, the things that are not of God will not be taken away.
I would like to advise believers to submit themselves to the dealings of the Holy Spirit so that fruit bearing will take place. It is only when the fruit of the Spirit is properly manifest that Christ will be revealed to the world.
