Be an Influencer

 

Be an influencer! Yes. I just said that. Now, before you go thinking that I’ve lost all my marbles, and decided to take the blog in another direction, please, calm down and read on.

My jumbled thoughts began bouncing around in my easily distracted, slightly scrambled brain today and got me thinking about this idea of being an influencer.

This word is tossed around so much in our present day that I started thinking, what about if we, as Christians, began to consciously, wholeheartedly, determinedly and steadfastly, set our eyes upon the goal of becoming influencers for God?

Before I go into more on this subject, I want to refresh your mind as to what an influencer is, in the world’s definition.

Firstly, an influencer is someone who has the power to affect the decisions of others, because of his or her authority, knowledge, position or relationship with their audience. Secondly, an influencer is someone who affects or changes the way other people behave and they have the ability to influence opinions. Thirdly, an influencer is a person who is paid by a company to show and promote that company’s products and services on social media, encouraging others in their sphere of influence to buy them.

With those thoughts in mind, switch your thinking caps on, focus and be ready to have your minds blown! Okay, so maybe not, but I would like to ‘influence’ you to think about what I’m sharing with you and see what you can do to apply what God has shared with me.

Did you know that we are all influencers? When we decide to trust Jesus as our personal Saviour and ask Him into our lives, we become influencers. Not just influencers, but ambassadors for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20  - Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

As an ambassador for Christ, we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the precious gospel message.

1 Thessalonians 2:4  - But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

As we go through our lives here on this earth, we are representing another kingdom. The heavenly kingdom where our citizenship lies. And we need to take the message of God’s love to everyone we meet.  We need to be Godly representatives of the heavenly kingdom. But we have to be wise.

Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

This world is full of wolves, and we are sheep. We must be wise. God is longing for His children to be good influencers. Wise ambassadors. People with clean testimonies, pure hearts and minds, Godly character, love, hope and joy.

As Christians, we are watched by the world. They are watching and judging all we do. We can choose to have a Godly influence over them and our fellow Christians, or we can choose to bring dishonour to God and have a bad testimony that brings shame upon God’s holy name.

The Bible reminds us that we are salt and light. Now that’s definitely an entirely different sermon on its own for another day. But let’s read what the Bible says.

Matthew 5:13-16  - Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We need to be salt, making the world thirsty for the living water. And we are to be light. A light in the darkness. Sharing the hope that lies within us. Letting God’s glory shine through us. When people see us, let it be God they see.

In the world, an influencer is all about getting attention. They want the glory and all eyes on them. Sadly, what starts as a small hobby or something to pass the time, can quickly become an obsession and a place of self-gratification. More likes. More great comments. More tags.  More more more. But as an influencer for God, we need to be turning all eyes upon Him. We need to be continually turning the focus back on the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to be influencing those around us to turn to God.

We can become ‘someone who has the power to affect the decisions of others’.  By our testimony, we can help show others the way that in turn, Lord willing, will see them come to know Christ on a personal level. We can ‘affect the way others behave’, just by setting a Godly example. Lives are changed yes, by God, but He allows us to have a part in that by being an example. Now, we may not be selling anything or encouraging anyone to buy a product, but we can encourage others to learn about the marvellous gift that God so freely gives to those who will accept it.

So, how can we be influencers of God? We need to be examples. Good and Godly examples.

1.    Be an example in our speech

Our words need to reflect the love of Christ and be edifying and thankful, full of grace and seasoned with salt.

Ephesians 5:4 - Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 

Colossians 4:6  - Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. 

2.    Be an example in how we act (our testimony)

1 Peter 1:15  - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Our conversation, or testimony, our manner of life, our conduct, needs to be a good and Godly example. We can’t expect to be influencers for God if we act like the world.

3.    Be an example in love

Now, I know this is a lengthy and well-known passage, but can I encourage you to read it all the way through? We need to be reminded about the importance of love in our Christian walk. We need to show love for others. Without love, our efforts are worthless. A tinkling cymbal.

[Interestingly enough, the Greek word for tinkling is Alalazo which means to ring loudly, or clang. So, it’s not a nice little ching, ching sound, it’s a clanging sound. An annoying, loud sound. Hmm, our words are annoying without love. But so are our actions. Without love, there is little profit.]

1 Corinthians 13:1-8  - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

4.    Be an example in faith

People need to see our faith, not just hear about it. They need to see our faith in action. We need to practice what we preach. We need to share what we believe, and we need to live what we believe.

James 2:14-17 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

5.    Be an example in our pursuits 

Jeremiah 29:13  - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all our heart.

What is it you pursue? The praise of men? Attention? Money? Fame? The Lord wants us to pursue Him with all our hearts. He promises that if we seek Him, we shall find Him. It’s not wrong to have goals, but we need to make sure that they are the goals that God would have us have.

We are all influencers. In some way or another. We are influencing those around us on a daily basis. Whether it be our families, our co-workers, our ‘friends’ on social media or our church family. Any number of people come across our path as we go about our business, and any one of them can be influenced by us. The attitude that emanates from us is often more powerful than our words.

So how can we, as influencers for God, honour God with our influence?

How about we start by remembering who we are and who God is. Put God in His rightful place, high and lifted up, and us, in our proper place, in a place of humility. Remembering that we came from the dust of the earth and God in His love and mercy, came down to this earth to rescue our wretched souls from eternal damnation. He doesn’t owe us anything, and yet, He chose to extend to us His free gift of salvation. Get the right perspective and be content to live in the shadows, letting God get all the glory.

John 3:30  - He must increase, but I must decrease.

Be on the lookout to always be pointing others to Christ and away from ourselves. The influencers of this world want all the attention upon themselves, but God wants us to give Him all the glory and be humble and meek.

Don’t compare yourself to others around you, or those you see online. Be content to serve where God has placed you. In the town, in the church, in the family He has put you in. Don’t worry about what others are doing, just concern yourself with what you’re doing and where God would have you. Be an influence on those in whose circles God has put you in. If God gives you the opportunity to share with a wider audience, then grab hold of it with both hands and pray that God would keep you humble and that you will be able to be an influencer of good in other’s lives.

And lastly, remain in the vine.

John 15:5-8  - 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. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

The Bible is clear that if we remain in the vine, diligently seeking His heart and His wisdom, remaining close to Him, we will bear fruit. Much fruit. 

I pray that as you’ve read through this post, that you have been challenged to be an influencer for God. I want to encourage you to take seriously this idea of letting your light shine forth into a dark world, influencing those around you for good.

Let’s encourage each other, as sisters in Christ, to be the kind of influencer that God would have us be.

 

1 Corinthians 10:31  - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Dressed

 

          Every morning, as we wake up and begin our day, we give some thought as to what we're going to wear for the day. We think about what we'll be doing that day and it determines what clothes we'll wear. Is it a workday? Is it a church day? Is it a cold day? A hot day? Will we be getting dirty? Will we be sitting in an office? Will we be meeting with a friend for coffee? Our mind runs these scenarios over in our heads, and we plan accordingly.

          But, how often do we get up and “get dressed spiritually”? Do we rise every morning and plan what to wear spiritually?

 

We read in Ephesians 6:10-17 about the clothes that God wants us to wear.

 

 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

 

          The whole armour of God! God tells us what we are to wear spiritually. He gives us clear instructions.

 

          We would never, even on our most brain-dead days, get up to start our day, without stopping to get dressed. No! We make sure to at least put a little bit of effort into clothing ourselves.

 

          Why then, do we neglect to clothe ourselves spiritually? Why do we think we can make it through the day spiritually naked?

 

          Some people think they can get by with a spiritual clothing once a week. On Sunday, they soak up the Word, read and pray, then for the rest of the week, they get about without their armour (spiritual clothes) on. They are spiritually naked! And yet, they take care to get dressed physically each and every day.

 

          The Bible clearly tells us why it's important to be clothed with His armour. We will be able to “stand against the wiles of the devil”. We will “be able to withstand in the evil day”.

 

          I don't know about you, but I feel like we're living in the 'evil day'. Unless you live under a rock (like my 12^th grade geography teacher thought of me because we didn't have a television), or you are in denial about the wickedness in the world today, you too know that we live in evil days. All the more reason to put on God's armour.

          The Bible also tells us in verse 16 that we'll be able to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”. I know I don't want to take on a fiery dart without some protection.

 

          So often we're guilty of taking care of the physical and neglecting the spiritual. We need to be in God's Word, daily, continually, wholeheartedly, to be able to find the armour we need.

 

          One of my sisters used to tell me in my teenage years, that it looked like I'd rolled around in my drawer and climbed out (due to my wrinkled state). Well, it's not enough to 'roll around in the drawer' of God's Word, metaphorically speaking, and expect to come out with your armour on. You can't expect to be clothed right if all you do is read your Bible on Sunday, and maybe a little verse along with a quaint devotional story every other day.

 

We need to put a lot more focus on what we wear spiritually, and less on what we wear physically. God looks on the heart. Now, I’m not saying go out looking like a frump! We do need to make sure we are guarding our testimony as we know the world is continually watching and judging our every move. But I think sometimes we neglect the spiritual in pursuit of the physical. We primp and pose and make sure everything about our appearance is just so. Not a hair out of place. Right on trend. But what of our hearts?

 

          As you dig deeper, God's Word comes alive. As you memorize scripture, God's Word, God's truth, is hidden in your heart and is there ready for the enemy's attack. The spiritual armour dressing us the way God would have us dress.

 

          We need protection against the devil's tricks and manipulative methods. And only by mediating on God's Word, obeying God's Word, living God's truth and putting on our spiritual armour are we going to be able to stand against the devil, prepared for the battle.

 

          The Bible is full of promises that we can claim. We can trust in God's protection, but He expects us to clothe ourselves, with His help, and be ready.

 

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 

        So, dress appropriately!