tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post2322427828263774938..comments2024-01-11T10:58:30.769-05:00Comments on Jesus community: walking by/in the SpiritTed M. Gossardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-32434409613582625222008-04-03T21:25:00.000-04:002008-04-03T21:25:00.000-04:00Rachel,Thanks for sharing that. I certainly don't ...Rachel,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing that. <BR/><BR/>I certainly don't think it's a case of either/or, but rather, and/both. We need both the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit.<BR/><BR/>But if I have to choose between a church in which the gifts are front and center, but love seems lacking (and the church in Corinth, if I'm reading Paul's first letter to them correctly, is a case in point) compared to a church in which love is front and center, very evident- then I would pick the latter every time. Because gifts will come out where there's love. Love makes us want to serve the other, and gifts are all about service, or at least why they're given, primarily, as we see in 1 Corinthians 12-14.<BR/><BR/>As for your joy, that's wonderful, and I have experienced something of the same. Maybe a sister or brother was praying for you at the time, or it was just the Lord moving in your heart to encourage you.<BR/><BR/>But the joy of the Lord is our strength and we can experience it as part of the fruit of the Spirit, even while messed up in different ways. I know that, too, firsthand.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-54290090244194092622008-04-03T21:15:00.000-04:002008-04-03T21:15:00.000-04:00Ah..fruits of the spirit versus gifts of the spiri...Ah..fruits of the spirit versus gifts of the spirit. Which is more important? I had an interesting "happening" about 1 year or more ago. One day I just noticed I felt joy. My life was still hectic and a mess but one day I just felt joy and I remember thinking that was the wierdest feeling to have because my life was still as messed up as ever. That made such an impression on me and shortly after my bible study class was discussing fruits vs gifts of the spirt, a concept I had never heard of. I thought that was amazing too, to be given an explanation as to where the joy was coming from. Where is this all taking me? I have no clue.Rachel Mchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05422752225793715728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-28856230974236660892008-04-03T21:10:00.000-04:002008-04-03T21:10:00.000-04:00Nancy,Thanks.Nancy,<BR/><BR/>Thanks.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-74106612881536403102008-04-03T14:06:00.000-04:002008-04-03T14:06:00.000-04:00interesting thoughts, ted.i will be glad to hear m...interesting thoughts, ted.<BR/>i will be glad to hear more of how the Spirit is working in your walk and your view on this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com