Influencing Others

Last week at church we had a sermon entitled "Paint Jesus and Trust God". The theme of the morning was, I think, largely to do with children and we had a thanksgiving thanking thing for a few of the new babies that some people from church have given birth to. The sermon was kind of to do with how we can influence the children in our lives for their good, whether our own or friends kids or whatever. There was more to it than that, and because I can't imagine being married, let alone the idea of having kids myself, I'm ashamed to say that I switched off a little bit. (I say this not to be disrespectful, but I just want to be honest and real).

However, over the week and after our small group I've been thinking about it a bit more- both in terms of how we impact people with the gospel, and general influence and power.

Our Powerful Words
Our words are so powerful. Sadly the words we remember from others are often the ones that have impacted us negatively. I remember when I was a young teenager, there was a boy that I liked and he had actually shown a temporary interest in me, but told me I was 'too boring' to go out with. Those 2 words devastated me immensely and it took me about 7 years to get over him and to properly forgive him. I got there by the grace of God!

That's why it's so important, not just to not say crushing things to others, but to fill that air space with lots and lots and lots of encouraging good words to others. There is no such thing as too much encouragement! Even if you don't know somebody that well, if you have eyes to see, you could make a comment on how nice their hair looks, or a bloke equivalent (whatever that may be!) There are so many things we could say to others, things that are true, things that build up, things that help them realise their dreams, words that bring comfort, words that bring hope, words that bring freedom.

I remember another time, i have shared it before. I remember how I was praying with a friend of mine in her house about friendships, holiness, the wonder of God and sensitivity to the person of the Holy Spirit. After that we went to a worship evening at a church on the coast. At the end the couple who were leading the evening felt that God had given them some words- all 4 of the things my friend and I had prayed about were spoken/sung on. The friendship word was so encouraging to me, I've just felt things are a mess in that department and I don't quite know how to explain it or fix it. To hear that word from that lady saying that she felt that God really wanted to encourage people that He was going to coordinate divine friendships, that really encouraged me because 1.From that word, I knew that God had heard my prayer and 2. I know that He keeps His promises and so i can rely on Him to provide.

I think this subject of 'words' is something I'm quite passionate about because i've known the devastation of negative words and positive words in my life. I guess that's why I'm so hungry to step out in words of knowledge for specific things in peoples lives- because i myself have been so impacted by such things on numerous occasions.


Powerful Actions

Our actions are powerful too. It's not great to be someone who talks big love but doesn't follow it up with loving actions. I imagine it's relatively easy to say 'I commit to you til death do us part', but another thing to carry that out. If I say I love someone but don't act loving towards them, what does that communicate to that person? Writing this, I realise I need to show people more love.


Powerful Identity
I believe that as we focus on God and have a revelation of His love more, we are changed by this. Knowing that we are loved and are full of His love, there is something of an overspill that, in that gratefulness of His grace through Jesus, we are transformed and are more secure in who we are and who we were made to be. Because we rely on God first, knowing that His view on us is true and constant, we too will have a consistency flowing out that. It is good to think about the words we use and the actions that we do in influencing others, but I believe that when you encounter the Prescence of the Most High God you can never be the same and there is a natural change that comes. I mean, i've heard of times when people who have chosen to follow Jesus, that their language has changed, that they stopped swearing. Not necessarily because they feel they have to, but out of knowing God. And the same is true of actions.