This book was written to help me understand what the "fruits and the gifts of the Holy Spirit" are and what they were supposed to mean to me, and how to use them in my life. The more that I discovered and shared with others, the more that I understood that I was to share this knowledge with all who have this same hunger.
The "fruits of the Holy Spirit" given to us as a grace from God in our baptism are what molds us into the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). The "fruits" are the personality of Jesus when He lived on earth. Jesus gives us the example--with His very life!
It is important for us to be fruitful and multiply physically for life to carry on, but it is spiritual fruitfulness that will change the world! We each have an intricate role to fill--whether single, married, laity, religious, man, woman, child, adult--God created each of us for a specific purpose. And He gives us the
tools
to do our work! They are the
gifts of the Holy Spirit
that are listed in (Isaiah11:2-3).
The most known charismatic gifts are listed in (1 Corinthians chapters 12-14), but this is not all there is. "To each one is given a manifestation of the spirit for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7). When we use a charism to help another person, our Isaiah "gifts" come forward within us, and as that happens the fruits of the Holy Spirit pour out of us as a grace from God, that is how we share the love of God with another. God doesn't make cookie cutter Christians! He
tailor-makes
each individual for a
special ministry
to help our Church grow! Can you believe it? God wants us to fulfill a portion of His plan designed to bring
all
people to eternity with Him!
Writing this book has helped me understand the simplicity of how the fruits, gifts, and charisms work together to build up the kingdom of God.