Fruit of the Spirit pt.1

For the next couple of blog posts, I want to look at the following passage of Scripture found in Galatians: 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,entleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.    Galatians 5.22,23

I think it is so awesome how we've bought into God's plan for us--especially when it comes to the Holy Spirit.  Many Christians have a hard time wrestling with the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts that accompany it.

But I don't want us to become unbalanced.  As important as the gifts are, the fruit of the Spirit is equally important.  Over the next couple of posts, we're going to explore why.

I think it's interesting to note that Galatians doesn't say the "Fruits" of the Spirit.  It's singular--"fruit".  These are not separate entities that some believers may have while others may not.  Every believer who is following Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit should begin producing these traits in their life.

Do you see fruit being produced in your life?  What areas are the most fruitful?  The least?  

Begin praying for God to produce fruit through your life.

First Shower

Heading to my parents for the weekend.  Their church is giving Amanda and myself our first wedding shower.  I'm excited.  Can't believe the big day is less than 2 months away!

Great stuff.

It's Still Happening

As I was about to start studying Acts, I just happened to look at the introduction to the book.  And there was a quote that hit me and created a since of awe and wonder...

The quote is by the author of the Message translation, Eugene H. Peterson:

"The story of Jesus doesn't end with Jesus.  It continues in the lives of those who believe in [H]im."

Wow!  What a way to put it!

God is Awesome!

I can't believe it has taken me this long to write again.  Youth Convention was this past weekend and it was awesome...but even more awesome is what God has been doing SINCE then...

On the way back from YC, a couple of the teens got up and began sharing what God did for them/was telling them.  It didn't take long for another teen to break down in tears and ask God to forgive them and become their Saviour.  And then--BOOM!--chain reaction.  Everyone jumped in.  Everyone in the van that day committed to follow Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit.

When we got back to the church, we just kept having Youth Convention...we stayed for a while and had a time of praise/testimony and then ended in prayer/worship.  Came back Sunday and had a blast worshipping God.

Probably the coolest thing to me is how many people are being saved/rededicated right now.  And it's not even in church [I think people are finally understanding what it truly means to BE the church].  

For me, I kind of like stepping back and just taking it in.  It's amazing, but at the same time, it's kind of what I expected--we do serve a mighty God!  It's great for me to know that God is moving and I give Him all the glory for it.