Introduction - I Samuel 13 & 14
Let me start with a couple of "I Believe" statements:
Here's what I believe to be true. Human beings are created by God to influence and be influenced. - influence is in our design.. It is a part of life that we cannot get around.. It's in our make-up.in the very core of our beings.that's how God created us. I also believe this to be true - that our ability to influence is connected strongly to our relational and emotional abilities..
Here's what I mean.God has placed within each one of us the ability to influence others and be influenced by others..and that influence ability/factor in our lives - God has interwoven that with our relational and emotional life. All those wires within us are connected together. And that's why influence is such a powerful force.because it affects everything.if we are negatively influenced - relationships get damaged - our emotions get hurt.. If there is positive influence.relationships and emotions can soar to incredible levels.. Influence is a powerful and life-changing thing - no question.. But here's the challenge - because those are so intertwined within us - we have the ability to use influence to shine the light of good and God brightly onto someone else's path.OR.we have the ability to use influence for power and manipulation and evil.and to cast a shadow of pain and hurt onto someone else. The choice is ours.but I would suggest this - that as we walk with God - and make choices and take life steps that take us closer to Him.(last 2 wks - choices/initiative - choose to dance with God - great picture).that as we walk closer with God.His light shines brighter into our life.and He begins to change us with that light from the inside out. (Sounds cheesy - but that is exactly what happens.) He changes us.and although He changes us individually.[God's greatest moments for us are never for us alone] - these moments are always about our lives touching the lives of others.. His intention for us is never juts simply for an individual faith.our life and faith is also made for influence and community and other people..
I love how McManus says this, "A life touched by God always ends in touching others." (Erwin McManus). Folks - we were created to be people of influence for good and for God.to shine His light brightly on whoever's path we cross..
Do a poll - ask people what they do.
We live in a world that can be incredibly frustrating.. If you look closely around you, you can see many things that need to be fixed - dozens of things that can be improved.and often we feel powerless in our ability to bring positive influence and change to the world around us..
I believe that powerless feeling is more prevalent now than ever before.. Especially in our work lives this is true.. Whether it is a boss who won't listen - or a manager who doesn't have a clue - or a foggy job description - or a career you feel locked into like a prisoner - or a management team who doesn't value your input or contribution.we feel powerless.and we waste our 40 hours every week wishing we could make a difference.and we feel powerless to live lives of influence and change - because we're not in a position of power or authority.
Here this next example clearly: marriage can be frustrating that way too.and can crush our view of the power of influence.. For generations, men have been given the position of power and authority in the home.(and a lot of men over a lot of generations have wielded that power and taken that authority for selfish gain).and what it has created are not only children but wives that have felt powerless to have any real role in shaping or influencing the family or even their own lives.. Using position and authority and power can damage our ability to influence.. And life is kinda funny.because this power play by men - over generations - feminism has risen and empowered women for change.but if you listen, nothing changes.the feminist solution to the unethical use of power by men is to seize the same power and authority and position and use it in the same way.. Nothing has really changed - it's just more crowded at the top - with all of us pushing and shoving each other for more power.more authority.more position..
Here's what I'm saying.
The influence God has created within us as part of who we are.has nothing to do with power - authority - position.and because of misuse of power - whether in the work place or in the home or just in life in general.a lot of us have simply lost confidence in the incredible life-changing good and godly power of influence..
And folks - that's why this message is so vital.because if we want to live life to the fullest - to see all that God has for us on the horizon.and if we want to live this life of adventure that He is calling us to.then we must rise above the things that hold us back from seeing influence flourish.and fight our desire for power and position and authority..
How do we do that? By understanding and applying one word: influence. Influence in the way God intended us to use it..
3 simple truths about influence:
1. UNDERSTAND YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
Let's go to God's Word and the story that inspired these weeks' of messages.
1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, 3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left. 4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba. 6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few." 7 "Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." 8 Jonathan said, "Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands." 11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. "Look!" said the Philistines. "The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in." 12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson." So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel." 13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. [1] Israel Routs the Philistines 15 Then panic struck the whole army-those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties-and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God. [2] 16 Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. 17 Then Saul said to the men who were with him, "Muster the forces and see who has left us." When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there. 18 Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." (At that time it was with the Israelites.) [3] 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." 20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. 21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. 23 So the LORD rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
A couple key points here about sphere of influence.. It says, "No one was aware Jonathan had left.". He had no position - no authority - no power.he was a kid with a sword who nobody even noticed had gone.. And all he had with him was someone else nobody noticed - another younger kid who helped carry his stuff. Nobody would have given them a chance - nobody even had a single thought that their act of faith would influence a nation..
Jonathan simply asked the only person he had influence with - his armor bearer, "Hey, why don't we go over and see if we can pick a fight with these bad guys.maybe God will give us the victory.". And he said, "Go ahead.I am with you heart and soul.".
That, folks, is a picture of influence.. Heart and soul - not position and power. Notice - Jonathan didn't wake up his father - the man with power and position and authority. No, he knew the answer would be "no". So he forgot about changing and influencing what he couldn't and focused on influencing those closest to him (one guy).for good and for God..
Jonathan didn't try to rally the 600 men with Saul either.he knew they wouldn't listen - he had no influence there.
Now here's the deal - often we feel powerless to make a difference because we think the resources available to us are not good enough - or strong enough - or powerful enough.. How can we really make a difference.we don't have enough money or we don't have the right connections or we don't have the right position yet..
And so we do nothing - believing we are powerless.when in actuality God has placed all the people and resources we need right in front of us..
Jonathan simply said, "Hey - do you want to come with me?" He didn't wield his power. He didn't say, "I'm the prince - you've gotta listen to me." No position - no power - no authority - just inspiration and influence..
Folks - take a look around you.who has God placed in your sphere of influence.. Do you have any idea the difference you and your friend can make - or you and your wife - or you and your husband - what an incredible team.. Who has God brought into your sphere?
I'll tell you something - I'd charge any army coming at me with my wife by my side - without her my chances are slim..
Ask yourself - who's in that sphere of influence.and what resources you've got to work with..
Jonathan had one scrawny armor bearing kid.and a sword.and God used it to route an army of 1000's and change a nation from oppression to freedom.. Just a little light shone in the right way.makes a whole lot of darkness go away..
2) INFLUENCE TRAVELS THROUGH RELATIONSHIP
Now I've said this already - but I want you to get this - it's critical..
Relationship is the key to influence. Without relationship, there is no influence. Only power and authority and position.none of which are the ways God brings light into darkness..
God has chosen to shine His light through us to other people through the prism of influence.not power - not position - INFLUENCE. Jonathan's armor bearer did not sign up out of obligation - or obedience.but simply allegiance and loyalty to his friend.
Here's the essence of influence - to win the heart and soul of another person through the strength of your own character and relationship.
Influence is born out of trust which is rooted in relationship.
Here's the deal - if you grow your relationships - your influence for good and God will grow as well..
Here's a take home assignment this week - read any of the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John - and study how Jesus used influence. Watch how He really uses power or position.in fact, He continuously shies away from any title or position or fame.. He simply built relationships.10 or 12 or 15 or 20 very close relationships - and invested heavily into those people every day of His life.and then He called them to live a life that would make a difference in the world..
Read those books this week and watch how a ragtag group of fishermen were transformed by the light and love of God - as they were influenced by one man.through relationship..
Those guys were changed so much that every one of them was loyal to the cause of Christ until death - in fact, they gave their lives for the cause of Christ - and we sit here today - millions and millions and millions of Christ-followers - because one man named Jesus invested in a few fishermen - who changed history..
Now that's influence.but read it for yourself.. Influence based on relationship - not position or power or authority.. People, grow relationships.because God wants you to have influence and there is no influence outside of relationship..
3. INFLUENCE IS CONTAGIOUS
Last week all over the news - flu season is upon us and it has hit stronger and harder and earlier this year than any year in the recent past.and it is highly contagious.. My kids had it - my folks had it - our friends' kids had it - your kids probably had it.and so on and so on.. It's airborne and passes post quickly through human contact.but even if you're close to someone in the office, you could catch it..
This is cool - not the flu but the correlation between flu and influence. In-flu-ence .it's right there in the middle of the word.
Definition of influence: "a power affecting a person, thing or course of events."
People, hear this - everyone of us are carriers of the flu - not the disease kind, but the influence kind.. You and I are carriers of God's light and love and His character displayed in our lives.that's what we carry.and every person we breathe on or touch or anyone we come into contact with or even in close proximity to will be infected by our influence..
3 stories: Sharaya - Kristin - Jessica
Here's what I think.I think Sharaya and Kristin and Jessica are gonna change the world.and it is gonna be amazing to be part of that..
Here's how it works.
You make a choice to align your life with the purposes of God and walk with Him every day of your life (initiative).and as you do that the light of God begins to sine brighter and brighter within you.and as you walk, God gives you opportunities for relationship (mostly opportunities that seem small and sometimes insignificant).but He gives you opportunity to build relationship through that relationship influence.. He takes the light within you and multiplies in over and over and over again.with their lives.and then uses that light to transform them and the light carries on.from person to person to person.multiplied by the power of God..
Matthew 5: 13-16, 13
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." |
