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Jesus, speaking to His disciples stated that it was expedient, vitally necessary and for their advantage that He leave them. His departure opened the way for the Holy Spirit to come to them. He, the Spirit would work in and through them to bring about the manifestation of the kingdom of God, on earth. He made it an imperative that they be led by the Spirit. John 16:7 The Bride of Christ is not limited to any one nationality, nor church affiliation. No one has a corner on what the Lord will accomplish through the church of His perfection. It is to be a church totally directed by the presence of the Spirit in each and every member. The very first act as a sign of the moving of the Spirit is that of repentance. There is no stronger rebuke against sin than the Word quickened by the Spirit. John 16:8 A purging, a cleansing, a loosening from habitual sin is accomplished by adhering to the Word. James made it plain that there is a place and a time when open confession is necessary. James 5:16 When we see this happening we will know that revival has arrived.
The foregoing will lead to the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in the believer. Not half ripe, like we get so often in the grocery store today, but fully ripe, mature and filled with sweet nectar. A complete complement of everything which the nine fruit of the Spirit should be. Gal. 5:22-23 Fruit ripe to perfection. A people lacking no portion of the fruit of the Spirit manifesting ìAll goodness and righteousness and truth.î Eph. 5:9 Living in an age of lawlessness, it is an amazing thing that those in authority can continue to create new laws, most of which will be broken and ignored. However, there is no restrictions against the many benefits of the law of fruit of the Spirit.
Then we may anticipate the sign of the demonstration of the gifts of the Spirit, operating without an admixture of the spirit of the person who is being exercised by the Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:3 – 12 Is it too much to ask for the real untainted voice of the Lord? He is the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of Holiness. A soiled vessel will contaminate whatever is placed within it. It is inconceivable that the Lord would give a gift that would have any imperfection in it. He gives good gifts. The church, having been cleansed and sanctified will demonstrate the gifts of the Spirit to their perfection. Seeing as we are children of the King, why not anticipate the very best and require the highest of standards of those who lead and guide the body of Christ. The gifts of the Spirit are educational, corrective, inspirational and greatest of all Spiritual. They are manifest to edify the church whether in direction, praise or correction they are a vital part of that which creates growth in the church. They must be administered properly.