One of the other speakers was Chad, the principal of the high school that is attached to the Bible College I was at in the fall of 2010. He and his wife Melinda accompanied a group of the high school students. I first met Melinda at the health retreat I was at at the start of 2010, then again at the Bible College and now this weekend we've had a wonderful time fellowshipping together :-) I only found out a week ago that they were coming. They were supposed to accompany another group of students to England but then plans changed. I'm very happy they changed!!!
Things I will be mulling over as a result of this weekends meetings:
Freedom: The ability to choose to say yes or no.
Slavery: Only being able to say yes.
A person who is addicted to smoking is forced by the cravings to only say yes to cigarettes. Thy are a slave. A non-smoker can say yes or no - their choice. (Course they'd be a fool if they said yes, but they still have the choice.)
Someone who is under the law can only say yes to sin, someone who is under grace can say yes or no. Jesus gives us His victory power and the ability to say no.
Imagine the important things of life as a dart board. Love is the bulls eye at the centre. Doctrine or teaching is the next ring out, lifestyle issues are the ring after that. Doctrine and lifestyle are important but without love they are meaningless.
The fruit of the spirit is singular. The Bible records love, joy, peace, long-suffering, etc, but still calls it fruit - not fruits. So these are all different aspects of one fruit.
Love comes from the Holy Spirit, everyday we must be recharged. The only way we can reach a dying world is with love. The only way fear can be cast out is by filling up on love. When we say no to love we are saying no to the Holy Spirit.
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