Romans 5:19,
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience
of one shall many be made righteous."
What a contrast is made here in this verse, amen? The blatant disobedience
of man contrasted with the willful obedience of Christ.... The Bible says
many were influenced in both cases. Which holds a greater influence upon
your life today, dear lady - man or God? How should we evaluate being
influenced and influencing others?
We must seek to be influenced by Christlike models.
Never underestimate the power of influence, to do so would be very foolish!
Everyone is influenced by someone... If this were not true, then why does
one man's yawning make another yawn?? To rise above the influence of poor
models, we must seek better ones! Christ provides a perfect model, amen?
No matter how you were raised or who has influenced your life, you can
move beyond those limitations by taking Christ as your Savior and living
as He would. Yes, our union with Adam made us sinners, but our union with
Christ enables us to break that union with sin and reign in victory!
1 Cor. 15:57, "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ."
Our influence on others will be judged by God.
Sin in our life is serious business! But it is even more serious to encourage
others to disobey God... We are responsible for the way we influence others
and will have to answer for it one day. Ladies, your influence is either
positive or negative, never neutral!! In what direction would you say
you have been leading others - your children, your sisters in Christ,
your friends?? Beware of double sins: ones that not only hurt us, but
also hurt others by encouraging them to sin!
Galatians 5:9, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
We must evaluate influences by Biblical standards.
People tend to believe lies that reinforce their own selfish, personal
desires - even God's people! Today, more than ever, we need to be extremely
careful about the input we allow to form our beliefs. With TV, music,
movies, and the rest of the media often presenting sinful lifestyles and
unwholesome values, we find ourselves constantly bombarded by attitudes
and beliefs that are totally opposed to the Word of God!
There are also things subtly opposed to scripture as well, such as the
evil influence of unfaithful Christians... Yes, we've even got to be on
guard when it comes to reading books found in Christian bookstores, amen?
Ladies, not every book, seminar or even diet labeled "Christian" that
comes down the pike is to be trusted or embraced without much investigation.
Don't be deceived by occasional appearances of religion in others... It
is Satan's policy to send temptations by hands we do not suspect, and
by those that have the most influence upon us!! By this he seeks to do
away with your spiritual strength, your authority and destroy your influence
as a child of God. Spiritual disease spreads like a cancer, so please
be careful about what you allow to form your opinions... God's Word is
the only standard for truth! Don't just profess to believe the Bible -
govern all you do by it! God has given us rules to walk by in His Word,
neither the
influence of that which is popular or that which is chief among men should
influence us contrary to truth, amen? Evaluate all other opinions in light
of God's teachings.
Galatians 5:7-8, "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not
obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you."
In closing, the challenge of influence now rests on YOU! It is imperative
that we each represent God properly, amen? You see, when we walk uprightly,
we reform others unconsciously. If some hungry soul is silently tracking
your life, what impact do you leave? People placed in positions of influence
must not turn their back on those in need... Are you spreading righteousness
or unrighteousness? Ladies, if you are serious about being a godly influence,
and I hope you are, then the first step is faith in God and His Word.
Since it is settled in heaven, we can depend on it, amen? Secondly, to
be a good influence, it is imperative to have a sensitive spirit - sensitive
to the influence of the Holy Spirit of God....
John 16:13a, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide
you into all truth....."
Are you under the influence dear lady, the influence of God, that is?
Remember our opening verse; "...so by the obedience of one shall many
be made righteous."
It is the most natural thing to be like the person you live with most,
therefore live most with Jesus Christ!
God Bless, Pam Isaiah 60:1&2 Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello Back to Top
