The Year of PWI–Influence

Ministering: Pastor I.S James

Topic: 2016 – The Year of PWI à Influence

Text: Dan. 2:48

What is influence? According to Webster’s dictionary it is…

Influence – The power to change or affect someone or something. It is the power to cause changes or produce an effect without directly forcing them to happen.

What Nebuchadnezzar did for Daniel was not only to give him power & wealth, but also to give him the ability to cause changes in the land without directly using force.

Being in a place where you can cause changes in people’s lives without using force (having influence) is a good place to be.

But there are two other things that can also exert influence on people, alcohol & demons. So from here we can see that not all influence is good.

What we are looking at is Godly influence. It is positive, non-threatening & non-forceful. It’s a spiritual & moral force.

Godly influence is a spiritual & moral force that can impact others; it has the capacity to change, individual, families, societies and even governments.

2 Chron. 24:1-22

In v.2 of this passage, we can see the influence that Jehoiada wielded both in the life of Joash & the nation as a whole.

Leadership & Influence: the most common type of influence is through leadership. There are 2 problems here though:

1. Not everyone is called to be a leader.
2. Any person who’s not interested in taking the glory for achievements can do far more than others who are seeking repute.

1 Chron. 11: 1-2, 10

“Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. ² Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.’”

¹⁰ Now these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

3 qualifications for occupying a leadership role:

1. Covenant relationship
2. Ability
3. God’s call

Here are examples of people who did not seek leadership/influence for the sake of promoting themselves:

1. Barnabas

Acts 4:36-37

³⁶ And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

As a result of his character and actions, these things happened to him:

• Owing to his generosity towards the spread of the gospel, his name was changed.
• He took a risk in accepting Saul & by so doing helped launch Saul’s ministry (Acts 9:26-27)
• Credit can be given to him for the coining of the word “Christianity”. (Acts 11:20-27)

2. Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:57-58)

• He used his position of influence with Pilate to secure the body of Jesus and by so doing became a prophetic tool in God’s hand.

3. Gamaliel (Acts 5:33-40)

• He used his influence to ensure that the spread of the gospel and establishment of the church was not curtailed.

4. Dorcas (Acts 9:36-39)

• Her influence and good works amongst the widows ultimately got her life revived and extended.

Don’t limit God’s power to reach you beyond your current circle of friends.