Bells and Fruit, Holiness and Power
At church, Dr. Wakefield is teaching a series on ‘The Gifts of the Holy Spirit’. He reminded us that the gifts are just that, gifts, and are no indication of the spiritual character of the one operating in them, that we are called to grow in grace, and walk in the fruit of the Spirit, and godly character. This made me think of this passage:
Ex 29:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
Re 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
As we read this passage, we see the original high priest, decked in his garments, decorated with fruits (pomegranates) and bells.
We are now a royal priesthood, clothed with the glory of God.
I see this as a picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The fruits symbolize the fruit of the Holy Spirit Gal 5, and the bells symbolize the gifts of the Holy Spirit, 1Cor12.
Fruits and bells, we need them both:
Let’s Pray:
‘Father, help me to develop today, in the fruit of Holy Spirit, my characture a glory to your name. Yet, how well I know I need your power to operate in this earth, to serve you. I ask you Holy Spirit for your gifts today, acts of power to demonstrate your love, rule and reign in this, my generation. Fill me, use me, touch me, as I walk in prayer today, a priest before your throne Lord Jesus, Amen’
https://www.chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/