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.
As Someone who wants to have influence in this world. I've tried many ways giving $, giving time, demanding, bribeing plus others I'm sure. None of which have worked. The last four years though my wife has gotten sicker and sicker to the point where she is unable to care for our son and some days not even herself. This has been extremely hard!!! God has called me to LOVE this women well and in doing so for some reason I don't fully comprehend, my influence has been increasing. Nothing about my life is appealing yet it is having an impact on those in our circles.
ReplyDeletePaul says that we should listen to him because of all the hard things he's been through and yet remained faithful! I think (as much as I hate it) that when we are faithful through the really hard things in life that we gain influence that is actually meaningful. Think about ANYONE who you respect and there life and I'm willing to bet they've had some really hard stretches. I was hoping to have influence without the hard times but not sure thats possible. So go love people well through really hard crisis moments and you will have influence that really makes a difference.
How I understand it now,
Jesse
That is really good. Thanks for sharing that.
Deletehere's what I've learned Aaron, as soon as I say it's not about me it usually is, just something to think about, another thing is when we need to know who and how we influence people or if we do we put our eyes on the wrong thing because now we are expecting a certain result from the work we are doing and that can cloud things up some. It can also be as simple as someone had to decide where and when and how to use the leaders that showed up, I hope this helps but If not and I'm way off base please correct me, thanks and God Bless
ReplyDeleteThat is good Steve. And I agree. I wonder though if at some level we all need to know that we matter to the people around us at some level. Like- keeping our eyes on Jesus isn't enough. We need the approval of those we respect and love. That may be
DeleteI agree with some comments above: that humility, HONESTY, and truly making our lives & choices about seeking God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and His wisdom add up to major influence. I believe most people are plenty smart enough to spot when people have these Godly, positive qualities in their lives, ministry, writing, music, service work, etc. or when other front men simply love being up front, banging their own drum, publishing tons of books or music, and basically saying whatever comes to mind as "hip" or trendy, rather than what truly lines up with The Bible. A few people come to my mind that have influenced me: Francis Chan, Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, Toby Mac, Lecrae, John Piper, Tim Keller, Greg Koukl, JP Moreland, John Mark Reynolds, etc. They are brilliant people and have pretty big platforms, yet even when they made good money it was re-invested in the Kingdom, not into making their faces & images bigger, plus they love the Church & stay in community. They are not "too big" for the Church and they wanted to talk about God and the awesome person of Jesus Christ, not talk about themselves. Furthermore, honest & integrity breed so much respect & influence, and these men, and many other Christians have done well walking the narrow path, not swan diving into the pool of illusions of the World & sinfulness. I seriously think this is a major reason many politicians have SO LITTLE influence currently, because thinking people are quite sure those figures have so little honesty and integrity. I pray we are coming full circle back to all sorts of leaders who stand their ground & keep their word, even when it is quite unpopular.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really good thought. I love those men as well. And not just the stands they take but the way they take it. Full of grace and truth.
DeleteI assume their churches have a lot going on within them. A noticeable move of the Holy Spirit? Famous worship? Prayer that's shaking the nations? An unusual amount of baptisms/lives dramatically being changed? They're also probably authors in their spare time and are known world-wide for one reason or another?
ReplyDeleteYeah. And my thought is - why. Lots of people write lots of books. Why are theirs worth reading? Just some thoughts.
DeleteYour question started out 'what determines influence?' Not Christian influence...not good influence, but influence. Many of the above answers focused on both Christian and good influence. The kind of influence I want to be under and I want have in others. But the question is, "what determines influence?" There are many examples of bad influence also and I wonder why they are given influence. I think of Hitler, gangs, politicians, etc. I think at least one aspect is the heart of the person being influenced wants something. They want security, recognition, resolve, belonging, etc. The influencer recognizes, articulates (perhaps better than the one who desires it), organizes, points to solutions. They simplify the desire, make it seem reasonable, even attainable, and give hope. Hitler was popular because he promised prosperity in the land and their pride back. Gangs offer a place to belong. Politicians offer promises of a better tomorrow. We all want something (good or bad) and we will follow a person if there is any reasonable chance they can bring us to it. Part of the job of the influencer is to figure out how to mold and shape another's desire and lead them to the fulfillment of it.
ReplyDeleteReally Aaron ? You come across like you are upset that you were not a lead speaker. I agree that you should have been, but in instead I would hope you could bring us back insight from the people who were chosen. Influence? That did cross my mind.
ReplyDeleteSo, I went back and read the post after reading your thoughts here. I can see how you got to where you landed I think. One of the things thatI am learning in this writing thing is that I can write exactly what is in my head, but it may not convey exactly what I thought it conveyed.
DeleteHonestly, this is not about me. In fact, even if they asked me to speak on the main stage I don't think my panic issues would allow it. So, I don't see myself doing that. But the larger issue is that as I see guys in the breakouts that have deep insights - some of which I have shared in church - and I wonder why that insight is not more at that forefront of the Christian conversation, it intrigues me.
Further more, the guys who are up front - many of them are deeply insightful as well. But some of them are not. And for whatever reason (trying to define that "whatever reason" was what I was processing) God has seen fit to give them influence in His Kingdom.
As I reflect, maybe God chooses the simple things to confound the wise. And maybe the Spirit is working in me to have one thing affect me deeply and not very many others while something that affects millions more just doesn't move me at all. I really don't know.
But please hear my heart. I am just asking the question. I am truly not jockeying for a bigger stage. Thanks for taking the time to read and reply. It means a lot.
The call takes precedence (and by call I mean God's personal interaction with man). God told Abram and David both, "I will make you"; Jesus used the same words with His disciples. He came to them, He initiated the conversation, it was His plan, His idea, His masterpiece. King Saul didn't have that experience. His calling came through Samuel. I don't remember Saul ever talking to the Lord; I wouldn't want that type of existence. This leads me to think of Jesus' words "I never knew you" to people who seemed to have influence Matt 7:22-23.
ReplyDeleteInfluence (from a Kingdom perspective) can be hard to measure. If we continue to use King Saul as an example, many, from a distance would have to assume that he was influential; but I don't want to follow in his footsteps. My hope is that Jesus will continue to make me. I chase after it! I long for it (because He is there)! And I hope there is influence there because I want others to be made as well.