Influence | %post_title% | RecessionProofChristianLife.com

Church growth is both spiritual and physical. There is the numerical growth of the Church. Then there is the spiritual growth of the Church whereby members become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ displaying both the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Discipleship is the proper monitoring and helping the individual to grow to maturity in ability and accountability in a specific or general area of calling.

Influence through the Church can be on the family. It could be to influence parents and siblings or husband, wife and children for God. It could just be influence to demonstrate, in a world in need of a model, what is the best husband or wife – as God wants them to be.

Influence in the work place is to be found diligent, trustworthy, faithful and capable thus becoming an asset to the company at the same time ministering to others – counselling and winning souls. Those we influence in turn influence others so the believers as salt reduce societal decay…and we as light cause the nation to shine brighter and brighter. Influence can also be in our career as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, engineers, accountants, etc, thereby keeping to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. These areas also serve to win souls for the king.

Church influence

As we grow spiritually, displaying the beauty of Jesus, we influence others in the Church. As we display the character of Jesus, others are encouraged. As we flow in the gifts of the Spirit others benefit thereby. The members would also be influenced to blossom causing a ripple effect that lead to an explosive revolution. We also impact ethics and character by resisting wrong environmental influences. Numerical growth should lead to evangelism and missions and a better base to make a positive impact in a dark society.

Factors that influence spiritual growth include the following:

Study of the word of God. Prayer being communion with God
Exercising of our faith and confidence in God
Communion with God and learning to obey God and be a living sacrifice

Problems and crises can be the beginning of growth for a minister. Recognizing weakness and going to God can be the beginning of growth. Crises can cause us to listen to God again and thereby grow. Other people exerting positive influence of comfort, encouragement and empathy in times of crises would be most crucial.

Our response to weakness in others may be a measure of our personal growth. Our ability to take care of both the strong and the weak brethren could be very crucial. Spiritual growth also comes from self denial, ability to die to self and pursuing the good of the kingdom instead of our selfish, petty and ambitious visions of grandeur…

In recent times so much has been written and observed about lapses in the Church – either as denominations or a small fellowship led by an individual …and many meant well but only have become a weakness to the body rather than a witness…others mock at her conflicts and inconsistencies offering a different balm. Those that have been stung in conflicts create new movements in prideful action as though bad hearts are cured by new organisation constructs and the rest simply sit in a cynical pose on the fence… even as the more articulate help the enemy tear down that which remains though already weakened and faltering with mixed doctrines, doubts and a well focused and deliberate onslaught by the world, evil and satan’s hosts.

The Prophet Isaiah when saw the Lord said In Isaiah 6[5] Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. [6] Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: [7] And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. [8] Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

It all starts with my own personal repentance … but who in the body will say “Woe is me” or inspire others to do same?… God did it for the Prophet Isaiah.

You may wonder who this post relates to … and like David be quizzed at the intent and direction of my conclusion …The Prophet Nathan put David out of his agony…

2 Samuel 12 [7] And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; [8] And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. [9] Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight?

Matthew 16:18Matthew 16:18
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Peter: this name signifies a rock

WP-Bible plugin [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus has always been building His Church and never once did He promise to build ours.

Why was David moved to repentance or Isaiah moved to cry out – while others would have continued with “business as usual” ? May I find from God the kind of grace that will single me out for an uncommon repentance experience…

God bless You.

Bode

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This is putting our influence into play for the benefit of the civil society. Too many believers are detached from what goes on around them. Our influence can come into play to do what is right. This can be in so many ways;

To elect capable people into political offices and not ethnic, tribal or religious cronies.
To get people to register to join political parties of their choice and go out and vote.
To be alert to electoral malpractices and move in community watch to prevent rigging and report electoral fraud.
To build and assist to run clinics and hospitals, hospices, orphanages and other welfare projects including homes for the handicapped and the homeless.
Repairing of roads and clearing of gutters and ensuring environmental cleanliness.
Drilling of boreholes and water purification projects for availability of drinkable water especially in rural areas.
Being active in Parent Teacher Associations to ensure Theo-centric education and being alert/mobilising for improvement in education in schools and resisting subtle paganism being taught to children.

The struggles to stop or eradicate “underground” slave trade, child labour and human trafficking for prostitution must continue in full force. Influence will stop or reduce consumption of alcohol (through prohibitive taxation and other disincentives) , drug abuse, smoking of hemp/substances etc.

William Wilberforce, John Wesley and several other leading believers of their era all fought for the rights of workers and proper wages, healthcare for the poorest and stood against the slave trade – which persisted stubbornly.

All that is required for evil to prosper is for good people to be silent and too busy or spiritual to care. We must influence our members on social issues so that they are armed to influence others in the wider society. Perhaps the Churches especially in the developing nations and poorer countries have not done enough…forgetting that God is not only interested in spiritual life but also very concerned about the civil society. We are to pray for those in government that we may have a peaceful life. We must join and encourage others to resist all oppressive laws. Our civic responsibilities must be carried out. Electricity bills, taxes and levies must be paid and we should influence others to so the same. The task of social change cannot be left to unbelievers. As a result of the Church’s apathy, one inadvertently associates the Church with the evil doings of oppressive and corrupt governments. For example, Church leaders did not protest the evil of the Czars and so when the communist revolution came to Russia, the Church perceived as aligned with the oppressors was also attacked. It is the duty of the Church to make the mind of God known to the civil society. We should make it clear where God stands on national civil issues and matters touching our local environment.

Hear the word of God …

Isaiah 58 [3] Wherefore have we fasted, say they , and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. [4] Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. [5] Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him ? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? [6] Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? [7] Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

[8] Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. [9] Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am . If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; [10] And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: [11] And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

(Excerpts from “Leadership Minister’s Conference” )

God bless you.

Bode