Genesis 12:1-3
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Call of Abram
12 Now the Lord said[a] to Abram, “Go from your country[b] and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
2 Samuel 7:8-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince[a] over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more.And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
1 Kings 1:46-48
English Standard Version (ESV)
46 Solomon sits on the royal throne. 47 Moreover, the king's servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself on the bed. 48 And the king also said, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted someone[a] to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.’”
1 Chronicles 17:7-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly,
So, I just got back from the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. For those that have not heard about this conference, it is the largest church planting conference in the world. I got the amazing privilege of speaking there at a couple of break out sessions.
The line up of main stage speakers was amazing. They were challenging and inspirational. They were moving and convicting. And they weren't any better than the break outs that I attended. Which leads me to a question…
What determines influence? Why does one guy get to speak on the main stage and another guy who is equally a moving and inspirational speaker gets to speak to 15 people in a portable that is 90 degrees and terribly uncomfortable?
This really isn't about an ax to grind for me. I am curious what determines influence? Is this simply a sovereign choice of God? or is there something on my part connected to this idea? Is personal holiness connected to this?
I really don't know… I would love your input.
So, I just got back from the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. For those that have not heard about this conference, it is the largest church planting conference in the world. I got the amazing privilege of speaking there at a couple of break out sessions.
The line up of main stage speakers was amazing. They were challenging and inspirational. They were moving and convicting. And they weren't any better than the break outs that I attended. Which leads me to a question…
What determines influence? Why does one guy get to speak on the main stage and another guy who is equally a moving and inspirational speaker gets to speak to 15 people in a portable that is 90 degrees and terribly uncomfortable?
This really isn't about an ax to grind for me. I am curious what determines influence? Is this simply a sovereign choice of God? or is there something on my part connected to this idea? Is personal holiness connected to this?
I really don't know… I would love your input.
