Being a People of Influence

Gen 1:28 be fruitful, increase, fill the earth, subdue it. Amp have dominion

God created us to be people of influence in the earth, with a purpose.

I know there are many here today who are walking in this, have a great impact regularly in the lives of others through ministry, schools, and other groups but I trust that these scriptures will encourage all of us.

What does it mean to be influential? The word comes from the latin fluere= to flow. So we flow into others lives, we have an effect on them, we make an impact on them

Just as in Genesis, today God still wants his people to be the movers and shakers in the earth – with good reason, we are on His side, we have the answers, we have His power in us.

The world is a better place when the right people are in authority.

Prov 11:10,11 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices……..Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted

It is a good thing when you and I, with minds and motives in tune with God, have influence in our world, in the lives of the people around us - our family, friends, neighbours, schools and colleagues.

Eph 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. God’s plan for our lives is that we are those who influence others for the better.

Consider some of God’s people in the bible who had influence:

Abraham Gen 12:2,3

I will make you a great nation and I will bless you;

Not you will make yourself great - but God does it

I will make your name great,

Name represents authority

and you will be a blessing.

Quite simply that’s what having influence is all about – showing God’s love

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;

It’s a win/win situation

and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you

this can get pretty big

Gal 3 tells us that we who are in Christ are heirs of these same promises given to Abraham. v29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham seed and heirs according to the promise.

So I can be a blessing to others and in doings so get blessed myself, and if anyone tries to curse me, God will curse them!

And I can be a part of something so great that not only my neighbour but nations can be changed for the better!

* Noah – found favour in the eyes of the Lord and through his obedience influenced the future of mankind

* Joseph – sold into slavery, imprisoned and ended up Prime Minister of Egypt

* Esther – risked her life believing that she was born for such a time and saved the Jewish people from destruction

You may not have to risk your life like Esther, you may just need to spend some time with a neighbour and help them through a divorce or just be there for a friend.

I am sure that most of us here today came into the Kingdom through the influence of one particular person. I did and so did Vel.

You may think that you are not in the same league as these bible greats. Most great men and women of God had no confidence in the beginning: Moses, Jeremiah, Peter.

The truth is WE don’t have what it takes, but GOD does. Just as God touched Jeremiah’s lips and made him a prophet to the nations, so God empowers us to fulfil the calling he has placed over our lives.

Phil 2:13 “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

18-30’s group we have been talking about walking in the power of God

Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” says the Lord Almighty

Gal 2:20

Isaiah 54

(verses 1-5,13-17)

Has much to say about influence, addressed to those who consider themselves barren.

V1 You may feel barren, but you can sing and rejoice because things are about to change! You are going to bear fruit. No more disgrace and shame, rather joy and peace. No more being on the bottom – you’re headed towards the top!

V2 Prepare for change. Get ready. When you sense God is dong things in your life, you need to respond by stepping out in faith. Pastor Chris said something to me which I have found to be true in my life – when you step towards something, God moves toward it too, and the mountain begins to be moved.

Very often we are waiting on God, when God is waiting on us. So get ready for change!

Go for that new job,

start that business you have been dreaming about for years.

Start that home group in your area.

Get involved – jump in, the waters lovely!

Dream big dreams. Plan to make a difference in your world.

Winston Churchill had a great sense of destiny. He knew he was going to make lead the nation through a time of great difficulty.

V3 Your influence is going to spread. We will bring light to a dark world. Desolate means deserted, without hope, without friends, without encouragement, abandoned.

Many people experience this in life and we can help.

Maybe you have experienced it yourself – so you can identify with them with a heart of compassion. We are the hope-givers.

You will rise by lifting others

How is all this possible? V 5 tells us

The Creator of the Universe is with us. He can create life where it was barren. We have a Redeemer. Things can change. There is hope.

13-17 a slight detour but look at the promises!

Isaiah 60:1-3

God is with us to make a difference

We have the light

We have the truth to set people free

The world is in darkness and we have the torch! Doesn’t that mean we have influence. If you are in the dark isn’t it easy to follow the guy with the torch?

The glory of the Lord rises upon us

His glory appears over us

Nations will come to hear what we have to say.

Kings even

So the next marriage you come across in trouble – will you bring the light?

The next lonely person God brings to you – will you invite them in?

The next person who is struggling with life – will you be the one to bring hope?

When asked to help – will you

It’s about being available to God so He can use you

Jesus said in Matt 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Let your light shine.

Philippians 2:15, 16 says that …we shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life… in a crooked and depraved generation.

It is the truth that sets us free and it is the truth that sets others free. We influence others to the extent that we hold out the word of life to them. I was with one of my clients having a breakfast meeting at the Dorchester discussing what the bible said about certain issues, and I saw the penny drop as they understood.

Just holding out the truth and bringing it into everyday conversations.

What can I do to increase my ability to influence others. Rather like Marty was saying last Sunday, we centre our lives around Jesus, keeping in touch with His Spirit.

Jesus said in John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. This is a life in tune with the Lord.

Jesus said in Mark 4 30-32 that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.

As we step out in faith and seek to help others we will find increasingly that others can be refreshed in the shade of our lives. Let the life of Jesus flow into others through you.

See yourself today as a refresher, one who can influence others for the better using the word of God and in the power of God.

Raise your expectancy.

Let your light shine.

Paul Addison, 15/10/2006