Influential Living
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Introduction
Introduction
Websters’ Dictionary defines influence as “the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, or opinion of others.”
John Maxwell defines leadership as influence, nothing more or nothing less.
A good leader will influence you in a way that you will follow him or her no matter what.
Peter and Paul seemed to greatly influence each other. Paul shares in his epistle that he and Peter spend 15 days together. It is obvious even though they had differences, they still influenced each other. Our Scripture for today from Peter is similar to what Paul wrote in . Both passages compel us to live our lives in such a way that we are influencing those around us, even to the point where our governing agencies become agents of our Lord. It might be good for you to read sometime and you will see what I mean. However, our purpose today is to look at 1 Peter 1:13-17.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
I see three areas that get my attention when I read this passage.
First I see,
Authority Instituted
Authority Instituted
There are many principles in this life that we cannot control. One of them is the AUTHORITY INSTITUTED.
Peter tells us that the Christian response to governing agencies is for the Lord’s sake.
One does not have to look far in scripture to find that God is sovereign and in His sovereignty, He has set up the governing systems.
Daniel was in a foreign land and called on to do things for the government of those that enslaved his people, yet Daniel recognized that this was wan opportunity for God to reveal His majesty.
In , Daniel has just been given a vision to interpret a dream that no one else could do. Once he realizes the word of the Lord, Daniel prays
He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Matthew 22
and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Jesus recognized this authority instituted as well.
Jesus was asked if it was right to pay taxes. To which He replied as recorded in
Jesus was asked if it was right to pay taxes. To which He replied as recorded in
Matthew 22:18-22
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
In the Gospel of John He reminds those who sentenced Him to be crucified,
John 19
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
In our passage from 1 Peter we have read, we see that indeed the AUTHORITY INSTITUTED. Now we can’t control that at all. We can try to fight it, we can rebel against it, but in doing so we are going against what God has put into place.
In fact, one writer stated “For the sake of Christ’s reputation, believers should be submissive, just as Christ was during His trial and crucifixion. Part of that is found in the principle that God began with the order of creation.
You see, God is a God of order not a God of disorder!
He is a God
Thus, He has developed a system of government to orderly guide us.
SO you can say that Government and Justice stand for order and not chaos.
Government officials are in fact, ministers for the cause of justice. Now I know there are those that are greedy, self-centered, and use their position for self gain. There are people in churches too that do that!
The point is, that God has set into motion things on this earth that we must either submit to or we will harm the very reputation of Christ and turn folks away from Him!
We have AUTHORITY INSTITUTED.
The second area that I find in this passage is that we are called to
Avoid Ignorance
Avoid Ignorance
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
1 Peter 2:15
It has long been said that “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.”
I am reminded of the NIKE verse of the Bible,
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Just Do It!
When you and I do what the Bible says to do, were are going to be more deed than word. We are going to walk what we talk.
As we do good, the Bible says we will silence the talk of ignorant folks. Ever heard the old saying that “ignorance is bliss?” Well I have learned that if ignorance is bliss, I sure do know a lot of blisters.
By doing good, we will shut up the nay-sayers and at the same time we will be the example of Christ!
Besides, remember ?
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
If we recognize AUTHORITY INSTITUTED AND AVOID IGNORANCE,
We will become
Amenable Instruments
Amenable Instruments
Amenable is a fancy word that means “ready or willing to answer, act, agree; open to influence.
If you and I are serving our Lord properly, we are willing to help our fellow man in any way we can.
These past few weeks our country have been in strife and turmoil. I have wept over the issues that have divided our country and even our community. We have seen where people have used their freedom to cover up evil just as it is stated in !
Yet, this week I have also wept as I have seen the opposite happen were men and women of different religions, race, and income brackets have joined together to rescue others and help already begin the rebuilding of areas that were covered in water. Isn’t it just like our God to use a storm to bring people together that never would have crossed paths before?
I know many people that have been in harm’s way this past week in Texas and they have come through the other side with a great appreciation of their local government and been able to testify to the goodness of our Great God! We have prayed for these folks today. Perhaps you like me have given financial resources to help out with the great need.
But you know what? WE DON’T HAVE TO GO TO TEXAS TO SERVE AS AMENABLE SERVANTS!
We can start right here, right now! We have prayed today for those that are sick and those that are suffering in some form or fashion. WE HAVE TO DO MORE! IT IS TIME WE PUT FEET TO OUR PRAYERS!
WE HAVE TO BECOME PEOPLE THAT INFLUENCE OUR WORLD IN THE WAY WE LIVE!
WE HAVE TO BECOME PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THAT AUTHORITY HAS BEEN INSTITUTED BY GOD.
WE HAVE TO AVOID IGNORANCE BY BEING PEOPLE OF ACTION.
WE HAVE TO BECOME AMENABLE INSTRUMENTS FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM!
Today, God is calling each one of you to influentially live.
We are admonished to
1 Peter 1:1
Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Are you showing proper respect to everyone? All people are deserving of respect for all are created in the image of God!
Are you loving the brotherhood or sisterhood of believers? Gandhi has been credited with saying that he admired Jesus as great teacher, but the reason he did not practice the Christian faith was because of the Christians...
Are you Fearing God?
Are you Honoring the King?