Do not remain in the presence of trouble makers! We know who they are, they are always looking for reasons to cause drama, usually through lies and manipulation.
Often the trouble maker defends those who are lawless while chastising those who are walking circumspectly. You will know them by their lack of fruit of the Spirit as well as their continual divisiveness. They bring false doctrine and claim it is the truth even in the face of much scripture given to them to prove the truth. They will even claim you didn't provide any scripture when you know you did.
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."
They often fight against the truth and lie against those who bring the truth. They are never happy unless they are turning one person against another.
Titus 3:9-11 "9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.…"
The tactics of these people are to cause frustration hoping we will act badly toward them. If we act badly toward them they will feel justified in their angst toward us. The best way to deal with these individuals is to ignore their personal attacks while removing yourself.
These people will pretend to be your friend to extract information out of you, only to pass it on to others with a negative bent that you never shared.
Embellishment is a usual tactic of those who intend to turn others against you. In order to do this they must add their own interpretation of events and discussion. The end result of these encounters with divisive people is others fighting against one another when there was no need for any of it.
Ephesians 5:6-7 "…6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. "
John 3:6
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Ephesians 2:1-10
"2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
Romans 1:32
"and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
In these last days the churches are full of those who are divisive. They are easy to recognize, they bring in false doctrine, lean heavily on what the secular culture teaches and attack others personally rather than staying on the subject.
As soon as you see the phrases, "you shouldn't judge", or "you are stubborn" as well as other phrases to impugn your character you know you have met a divisive person. They never discuss the facts or the scripture but will attack our character to divert the attention away from truth.
Proverbs 18:2-3
"2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn."
Proverbs 1:5-7
"5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction."
If you want to learn to be wise read the Bible, pray for understanding, believe what God says and then obey it.
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