Influence

Introduction

Google has caused the loss of the expert in that everyone is now an expert.

You can find something to say anything.

And this has created an assumption that all voices are equally authoritative.

Which means that no voices are authoritative, but those who are speaking have the assumption of influence.

To the point that we have created the job of a “influencer.”

Today, influence has been confused with being loud.

In a lot of ways, this creates an echo chamber.

“An environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.”

Which causes one to think that their views are the only correct views, even when they are false.

This happens on both sides of any issue. This just deepens division and, therefore, animosity.

You cannot feel animosity and love towards someone simultaneously.

Which limits your desire, desire, and effectiveness in sharing the Gospel.

You become an ineffective Christian.

Yet, Paul was effective as a Christian. When he had reasons to reject others and their beliefs and perspectives.

How?? Three things allowed Paul to be effective with his influence.

First, Because of Paul’s...

Commitment to Connection

Remember that it was his old religious leaders that had led to him being in chains for years.

Years of suffering and loss of time to minister.

It would be understandable if when Paul finally arrived in Rome that he would just focus on the Gentiles.

Much of his success had been while working with the Gentiles! Why not exclusively minister to them?

Because Paul saw people as God saw them - broken, hurting people who needed hope.

And Paul knew that without Jesus, people would never find healing or hope.

Because of this, Paul continued in his typical pattern - reach out to the Jews and Gentiles.

He would typically go to the synagogue, but being under house arrest, he couldn’t do that.

So, he invited some of the leading Jews to his home.

And, how did he refer to them? “Brothers”

He sought to have a connection with them despite their differences.

The Gospel calls us to bridge division.

Do you allow divergent voices into your life?

Political, cultural, religious, ethnic?

And not voices to argue with, to listen to. To learn from. To respect in spite of disagreement.

It is only when these relationships are built that we can then effective share the Gospel.

If you are going to be an effective Christian, you must make a commitment to connection.

Second, Because of Paul’s...

Willingness to Sacrifice Personal Rights

As a Roman citizen, this was a very unpatriotic thing to do.

Romans valued their freedom and the benefits of their citizenship above anything else.

It was so powerful that it became the foundation of their religion, emperor-worship.

It was the basis of their xenophobia and attitudes of Roman superiority.

All things that Paul could have joined. Even the Jewish superiority that was common.

Paul had both!

Yet, for the sake of the Gospel, he laid aside his personal rights.

He willingly continued to wear that chain that bound him because

The Gospel outweighs our personal rights.

He wanted people to know the hope that comes from Jesus!

And if he had to lay down his life for them, he would.

We continue to pray for missionaries who leave America to go all over the world.

Many of my female friends who minister in Middle Eastern nations who submit to dress expectations.

Why would they do this? Because they desire for people to know the hope of Jesus.

This is the model of Jesus. He had more rights than any other being who has ever walked the earth.

At any point of his torture and crucifixion, he could have simply stopped time. He could have just appeared in Heaven.

Yet, what did He do? He laid all that He was, all that He had, aside for the Gospel.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christ laid down everything so that people could have hope.

He set the example for us.

This will allow us to be effective Christians.

Third and finally, because of Paul’s...

Personal Righteousness

The response of the Jews to Paul:

No one has “spoken any evil about you.”

This was Paul’s reputation he had established because of his personal righteousness.

It worked to open their minds towards the Gospel.

Acts 28:22 ESV

But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

Even though they had heard negative things about it, because of Paul’s personal righteousness, they were willing to listen and hear the Gospel!

Feb. 3, 1994. Mother Teresa had been invited to speak at the national prayer breakfast.

Bill and Hillary Clinton were sitting just feet from her as she spoke boldly about the violence of abortion.

President Clinton stood up, following her remarks. Awkward moment for him.

He didn’t address her comments, but stated that how she had led a life well lived. Couldn’t argue with that.

People may disagree with what you stand for, but they cannot disagreements fail when you have lived

We don’t strive for righteousness so that we can attain or maintain salvation. That’s all about the cross.

But, we do for the glory of God and for the way that our life influences others towards the Gospel.

Do they see the difference in your life from the rest of the world?

Are you turning away from sin? Are you turning towards holiness?

Without personal righteousness, not only are we ineffective Christians, but we actually harm the growth of the Kingdom of God.

Psalm 19:14 ESV

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

How we communicate and what we think. Those two are linked.

How we communicate. This includes your social media! Is it divisive? Dishonorable?

And not every post on Instagram has to be the plan of salvation. I want to see your kids and your dogs and your meals and your sunsets.

But, when you post non-essential, divisive things it pushes people away from Jesus.

Conclusion

The reality is everyone has some level of influence.

Friends. Family. Some may even have some on social media. Your work. Community.

What will you do with it?

You can push all sorts of agendas. Political, social, economic… A huge variety of things people stand for.

But, without the Gospel, none of those things matter.

We have to start with the Gospel, then we can move forward with following Jesus.

When we are committed to following Jesus, all other issues are made clear.