GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Bible says, “God purposely considers what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise and He chooses what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.” (1 Cor. 1:27)

FORTITUDE

The Gift of Fortitude is also one of the richest holy blessings of God that grants us the skill to handle difficult situations wisely and peacefully.  It produces will power and a spirit filled inspiration to handle the problems smoothly and calmly. The dependency on God can be clearly observed in the one who is blessed with this gift.  The above Bible verse proves that man has got nothing to boast in himself.  The confidence and the determination towards the promise of God strongly infuse the one who is blessed.  The God of refuge and fortress abundantly pours out His courage and power upon him and transforms the one to be obedient to His will.  The one who is having the gift of fortitude can say that he is a total instrument of God.  Tranquility and contentment overflows along with the gift of fortitude. 

The Fall of Jericho is an example of the power of ‘fortitude’ which was given to Joshua, His servant.  He said to him ‘I will be with you as I was with Moses.  I will always be with you.  I will never abandon you. 

(Joshua 6). 

God constantly encourages and provides assurance to His obedient servants just as how we appreciate and admire to uplift our dear ones.  To be His servant or His people, one must make sure that you obey the whole Law He gave through His servant Moses.    Be sure that the Book of Law is always read; study it day and night and make sure that you obey everything written in.  You will be prosperous and successful.  No one will be able to defeat you as long as you live.  This is the assurance that God gives to His righteous ones.

The Holy Bible says in the Gospel of St. Matthew, “Whoever holds out to the end will be saved.” Faithfulness to the gift of the Holy Spirit in all circumstances is very essential to succeed.  By keeping the word of God in heart as holy and using it in a proper manner will help us to safeguard our gifts.  To be faithful always, the gifts are to be used for the spiritual purposes.  Happy is the person who remains faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1 :12)

The Life of Job - a good man who suffers total disaster -is worth recollecting.  God does not give answers to his questions, but He does respond to his faith by His divine power full of fortitude which makes Job to humbly acknowledge God as wise and great. 

In the book of James admires the prolonged sufferings of Job. “You have heard of Job’s patience and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end.”  (James 5:11).  Job was blessed with patience and endurance through the gift of fortitude.  When we exalt, praise and honour the Almighty God and offer gratitude for His marvelous works we gain mental courage which enables us to accept the sufferings and pain.

St. Stephen’s martyrdom is also an example for us.  At the time of his death the gift of fortitude made him to pray for the people who were stoning him to death.  Stephen knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord do not remember this sin against them.”  (Acts 7:60).  The gifts of God can perform marvelous change in our lives also.  In the form of Holy Spirit God pours out His love into our hearts where there is no pain, hatred or grudge and other evils.  His love produces all virtues in fullness into our hearts and when it flows through our blood we become stainless.  All complaints against one another vanish.

By practicing fortitude you will obtain the grace of prolonged suffering and patience.  Piety and fortitude work together.

Do not lose courage because it blesses us with great patience and endurance to do the will of God i.e. to live in love. He who is coming will come, He will not delay. So let us be righteous.  He is not a God who is pleased with the fall of any one of us but He is the one calling us near to Him and encouraging us to love one another which is safe and sure and takes us to our repentance that is made possible by God.  Amen.