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"The Great Joy Of Influence"
Message
summary:
Today every
one of us has
the
opportunity to
influence our
world for
Christ and for
eternity. Let
us stay
faithful!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"I
have no
greater joy
than to hear
that my
children are
walking in the
truth" (3 John
1:4).
A
social media
influencer is
a person
seeking to be
influential on
the internet
in a variety
of ways. This
influence can
be either
social,
personal, and
or economical.
Many aspire to be social media influencers and YouGov published a list of the most popular influencers. (* See below for link, if interested) I'm unfamiliar with just about all of them so I guess I'm not influenced much by these popular social media influencers!
The
top spot
belongs to a
MrBeast who
has 512
million
subscribers on
his YouTube
channel. I
checked it out
and it looks
unbelievably
goofy so I
have little
question as to
how people are
being
influenced. (I
won't leave a
link but if
you question
me look up
MrBeast on
YouTube.)
Apparently,
if you get a
sizable
following you
can make some
real money
being a social
media
influencer.
But there's
also the
fulfillment of
making a
difference in
someone else's
life although
I suspect in
many cases
it's not
necessarily a
good influence
nor one of
eternal
spiritual
value.
Today
let us
consider the
great joy of
being a
spiritual
influencer.
Long before
there was such
a thing as a
social media
influencer
John, the
apostle,
wrote, "I
have no
greater joy
than to hear
that my
children are
walking in the
truth" (3
John 1:4).
Interestingly,
after the
gospels where
John was one
of three in
the inner
circle, he is
rarely
mentioned in
Acts and
always with
Peter. After
Saul's
(Paul's)
conversion he
is not
mentioned
again. But
later in his
life he has a
significant
writing
ministry; the
gospel of
John, three
short letters
and the book
of Revelation.
In
his third
letter the
apostle John
identifies
himself as
merely "the
elder" when he
is writing to
Gaius whom he
surely had
influenced. He
expressed
great joy when
some believers
came to him
and spoke
about Gaius'
faithfulness
to the truth,
telling how he
continued to
walk in the
truth (v.3).
Then
John's letter
moves from
just Gaius to
all he
had sought to
influence, "I
have no
greater joy
than to hear
that my
children are
walking in the
truth" (3 John
1:4).
He calls those he had influenced "my children". Of course he may have had his own children but this is likely referring to those he had discipled.
At
this point he
is likely the
last of the
twelve
disciples
still living
and he had
spent his life
after Christ's
resurrection
influencing
others and
still does so
today through
his writing in
Scripture.
The desire to influence is something we should all have in one way or another, influence to do good and not harm, the influence to interest others in the kingdom of God.
The
result of
influence:
"No greater
joy".
There are many
sources of
joy, but a
source of
great joy is
the tremendous
fulfillment
that comes as
we serve the
Lord and make
a spiritual
impact on
others.
Consider those
you have
taught,
mentored,
discipled or
otherwise
influenced who
are living a
fruit-filled
life. Doesn't
it warm your
heart to know
that you made
a difference
for the
kingdom.
The
goal of
influence:
"walking in
the truth".
This is the
actual
demonstration
of the power
of the gospel
in their
lives.
(Spurgeon) Our
goal is our
followers walk
in God's
truth.
We
hope you know
this joy of
ministry
today. It's a
living
experience
that you will
want to pass
on to your
children and
grandchildren.
Its truth can
be expressed
as we see
spiritual
progress and
faithfulness
not only in
our own
children, but
also our
"spiritual
children"
(those whom we
influence for
Christ for all
eternity). It
seems to me
that the
Apostle John
is likely
referring to
the latter.
John rightly
identifies
this as a
great joy and
I'm sure that
many of us can
relate to this
wonderful
blessing.
Today
every one of
us has the
opportunity
toinfluence
our world for
Christ here
and now and
for all
eternity. Let
us stay
faithful in
doing so!
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, there
are so many
things and
experiences in
our life here
below
that
bring joy and
excitement to
our otherwise
normal day,
and we are
thankful for
that. But the
greatest joy
and
fulfillment
comes when we
learn that we
have
positively
influenced
another for
the kingdom of
God. To learn
that one has
observed our
life or
thoughtfully
considered
what we
believe about
Jesus in the
Scriptures and
acted upon it
spurs us on to
continue in
that which we
believe so
that we will
see as many as
possible enter
the kingdom of
heaven. And
that is only
possible
because of the
blood of Jesus
who atoned for
our sins.
Thank you,
Jesus! Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"3
JOHN 1:4
Explained"
Watch
on YouTube
(3
minutes)
Knowing the
Bible (an
example of the
many sources
of positive
influence
on the
internet!)
Let me share two more of many:
Bob is a longtime friend who had a career in sales. For many years he sends out a weekly Bible message through email.
Richard
is a
retired
San Diego
pastor who is
now with the
Lord. For many
years he has
posted a
message to his
blog and his
wife, Elnora,
continues to
post them.
They
certainly
don't have the
following of
MrBeast and
other social
media
influencers but
their
influence has
eternal value.
* The most famous influencers It has 393 listed and I've only heard of a couple of them. I don't know what qualifies one to be an influencer on this list but it's interesting that I could not find any of the well-known Christian and conservative podcasters or bloggers. The only one on the list I have benefited from is the Points Guy who has a blog about maximizing credit card points.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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