Do not Allow Them to Turn You into Them.

John 15:1-27

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. "

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

It seems there are many people we meet even in churches today who do not have this fruit that God describes must be in every believer.

No one is perfect but the character qualities of Christ as seen in this fruit should be so much a part of our life we are deeply convicted when the flesh shows up in violation of one of these qualities.

Those who have the character qualities of Christ and mess up want to confess to be cleansed and mend whatever riff between friends by confessing it and resolving not to treat the offended party that way again.

When we see someone say they are sorry for offending us because they notice we are pulling away we are witnessing manipulation. Someone who is sorry because of the consequences but continues to act the same way that was offensive, we have met a manipulator. They want the friendship without any need to change how they treat the one who is offended.

We are witnessing much foolish and rude behavior in these last days. The challenge is to remain faithful to God ourselves no matter what the culture is doing. We must not become what we see all around us, we must be led by the Holy Spirit.

1 John 4:4

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

1 Peter 3:8-10 "8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.…"

Keep looking up!!!!