I can remember as a child how I was influenced by those I ran around with. I wanted to be accepted, and be "part of the gang". I would even begin to adopt some of their language and mannerisms. Anything to feel wanted. I suppose none of this is really that unusual. As adults we all want to feel loved and accepted. This is not a bad thing. It is a basic human need at any age. Sometimes I wonder if anybody ever was influenced by my life as I was growing up. If anybody ever wanted to be more like me? But as I reflect back on how "bad" I was, hopefully that sort of thing never happened. There is no doubt in my mind that wherever it is you spend most of your time, is what will influence you the most. That is where your affection and attention will be. That will be the place that is most important in your life. We need to be very careful what is influencing our lives, because that is where our attention and our "heart" will truly be. God obviously felt that this was very important when he said.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

I noticed that today people are talking about fear and worry in a way that they never would have prior to 9/11. It is a deep seated fear that somehow got inside their "hearts" and is finding its way out of their mouths. Could it be we are spending to much time in front of the television? Is this one of the places we have been "hanging out"? Have we allowed the networks to instill a fear in us that has become part of our lives, and part of our language? Even worse, are we as adults passing this "life style" on to our children? Will our children "learn" to fear by watching us? The fact that all this fear and worry is finding its way out of our mouths should not be surprising. God warned us that whatever it is we are allowing to get into our hearts (our spirit), will come out of our mouths. This is a law that God set down. It is not something we can avoid. You know the old saying....."Garbage in garbage out". Well God said it first!

......for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Matthew 12:34

If you are hanging around people that constatntly talk fear and trash then that information is getting into your "heart", your "inner man", and according to God, it will eventually find its way out of your mouth. You will begin to talk about the same things. You will then have something in common with your "source",.......Fear! Words of fear and worry are against God's Word. God tells us over and over again from Genesis to Revelations, "Do not fear"!

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them 2 Kings 6:16

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:17,18

Fearing is one thing. Allowing that fear to get out of your mouth could change your entire life!

Many christians today live their lives as though they can say whatever they want to say, and act as though their words will not make any difference one way or the other. They seem to think that their "words" have no power, or could never hurt them or anyone else in any way. That's like poking tiny pin holes in the bottom of the boat that you're in. What harm can that do? I can gaurantee you that sooner or later you will find out if you can swim or not.

If you are a born-again child of God, think about how you got that way. You didn't think yourself into the Kingdom of God. You had to speak words of salvation. Think about how powerful those words were. They actually changed your eternal destination from eternity in hell to eternity with God in heaven. Now that is what I call "word power". God tells us in the book of James that what we say can change the entire course that our lives may be on.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:5,6

To go even further, what we say can even extend beyond this life on earth.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:36,37

If God tells us to stop all this fear, then we cannot continue to speak words of fear. If God tells us to Love one another, then we cannot continue to speak words of hatred, and unforgiveness. When God tells us we can do all things through Christ Jesus, then we cannot continue to speak words like "there is no way I'll ever get out of debt" or "I'll never be able to get a job to support my family". When God tells you that he has forgiven all of our sins and healed all of our diseases, then we cannot continue to speak words like "I'll probably get the flu again this year like I always do" or "It doesn't look like I'll ever be healed of this sickness". There is only one answer to these or any other problems we may be facing, and that is to say what the Word of God says!.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. John 6:68

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. John 17:8

There is only one way you can begin to speak the Words of God and not words of doubt which are of this world. There is only one way to victory, and that is to hang out where God hangs out, and the only way to get there is through Jesus Christ!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

To "hang around" God you first must be connected to Jesus who is the Word (John 1:1) and (John1:14). To be connected is to overcome this world, because Jesus has already won the victory for you.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Being connected to Jesus is like an apple branch that is connected to the apple tree. As long as the branch stays connected to the tree then it is able to partake of all the "goodness" that is in the trunk. The branch needs nutrients from the ground so that it can not only stay alive but produce much fruit. By staying connected to the trunk is like being connected to the ground itself. It receives everthing it needs to thrive and produce.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:1-4

As you can see from the scripture above the same is true for the born-again child of God. If we are willing to "stay connected" to Jesus (who is the vine, and also the Word), then we will be connected to God who is everything we need to thrive and produce in this world. As we continue to "hang out" with God, we will begin to talk like him, and act like him. Just like when you hang around the wrong people you begin to take on their mannerisms, and act like them. Well the same will be true when you stay connected, or "hang out" with God. You will begin to have the very mind of God through Jesus Christ!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16

Yes we as God's children should have the very mind of Christ himself. In every situation in life we should "think" and "act" as Jesus would. The only way that will ever happen is if we are willing to spend time in the Word of God. Remember that Jesus Is The Word. To many of us are like "tea bags". The only time we ever "get religious" or run to God's Word is when we are in hot water. It should not be that way. God wants us to be at peace! He wants us to be happy! He wants us to be healthy! And most of all he wants to reach other people through us, through our lives. He wants others to "see him" in us! Why does God want all of this for you and me. It's simple. He Loves Us! When Jesus was suffering on the cross for you and me, that was God proclaiming to the world. "I love you, and I have come to set you free!" Just as he did with the Jews in Egypt by using Moses to set them free from the bondage of slavery, he has set us free from the bondage of sin and the "curse of the law," (Deut. 28), through Jesus Christ! Come out and be free. Enjoy life. It is a God given blessing.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

This is telling us that even if we were persecuted for talking about Jesus Christ and found ourselves in prison for doing that, which by the way is what the apostle Paul was talking about in this scripture, we are still able to overcome. Because we are anointed to overcome, we also have the ability to do "all things". How does that happen? As the scripture above tells us, it happens "through Christ". Christ is not the last name of Jesus. Christ means "the anointed one and his anointing". So every time you see the name Jesus Christ. It means "Jesus the anointed one and his anointing". When you are connected to the Vine (Jesus, the anointed one and his anointing), then guess what. You are also anointed!

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:27,28

That is the question. So what is the purpose of all this "abiding in the vine" stuff? Why is it so important that we do that? What difference could it possibly make if we didn't abide in the vine? Before we answer those questions, let's get one thing straight. To abide somewhere means to stay put. In other words that is the place where you "hang out". It's a place you would rather be than any other place. So why is it so important to abide in the vine? Have you ever noticed what happens to something if you don't continue to take care of it. Let's use a garden for example. When you first plant the garden, it looks really great. If you dont continue to water it during dry spells. Fertilize it so the plants will grow and produce much fruit. Weed it so the good plants won't be overrun by all those ugly weeds. You end up with a garden that is "not exactly" the type of garden you had in mind when you started. It's still a garden, but not capable of producing much, and in the end will most likely be "plowed under" all to soon. This principle is true with just about anything in this world, and it is certainly true with God's childern.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:5,6

We are the branches connected to God by the vine, Jesus Christ. God wants us to grow and prosper in his wisdom and knowledge. He does not want us to "wither up" and become basically useless. He wants to take care of us so we don't become like that garden we just talked about that was not cared for. So how could we become like that garden or like a withered branch that men gather and cast into the fire? That happens when we don't hang out where we are supposed to hang out. When we don't abide in the Word of God we remove ourselves from the vine. It's not God's fault. It's ours. It was our choice to allow other things in this world to steal our time with God. As a result you "dry up"! The part of the scripture that says, "men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.", is talking about God's children that spend more time in wordly things than the things of God. The world and it's ways eventually catch up with them and they are consumed by this world. That could be an early death, or some other disaster that the devil has been planning for them. He (the devil) looks for God's children that are not abiding in the vine. Those that have strayed away from the flock. They are the ones that are vulnerable to the devils attacks.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:7,8

Ok, let's get down to business. By now it should be obvious that God wants us to produce "fruit". But what is this fruit he is talking about? Exactly what kind of fruit should I be producing? Remember what the Word said, "without him you can do nothing". So this "fruit" is not a product of your own intellect. It has nothing to do with how smart or for that matter how dumb you may think you are. It has nothing to do with how much education or lack there of you may have. It has nothing to do with going to church every Sunday. It has everything to do with that gift of God who is inside you. The one that came to dwell inside when you got saved, the Holy Spirit of God! The fruit we are talking about will come from the Holy Spirit that is dwelling inside you.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

Can you emagine living a life that is full of (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance). Sounds peaceful doesen't it! Yes as you continue to stay in the Word of God, (abiding in the vine), you will begin to find youself thinking, talking and acting like the Word. Remember that the Word is Jesus Christ. You will begin to conform more to God's way of thinking and doing things than the worlds way. You will actually find out what God's will for you in this life really is.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1,2

Go ahead and grow some fruit! Find out that there is another way to live this life. A life in the Spirit!

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10