THE SOURCE AND POWER OF INFLUENCE

ROMANS 14:7

A. "FOR NONE OF US LIVETH TO HIMSELF AND NO MAN DIETH TO HIMSELF"
  1. The force of these divinely inspired words make us very conscious of human influence:
    1. We become aware that we are born into this world with certain powers which will affect others - either for good or for evil
    2. These powers are a part of our very being and should never be ignored by any rational being
  2. We shall do well to learn more about:
    1. The source
    2. And the power of human influence
B. HUMAN INFLUENCE - WHAT IS IT
  1. What some influential people said about human influence:
    1. "Influence is the exaltation of character" - W. M. Taylor
    2. "No act falls fruitless; none can tell how vast its powers may be; nor what results enfolded dwell within it silently. A good man does good merely by living a good life" - Bulwer
    3. "A word or a nod from the good, has more weight than the eloquent speeches of others" - Plutarch
    4. "The least movement by us is important. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble" Pascal
    5. "Let him that would move the world, first move himself" - Socrates
    6. "Influence never dies; every act, emotion, look and world makes influence tell for good or for evil, happiness or woe, through the long future of eternity" - Thomas A Kepis
    7. "Every thought which genius and piety throw into the world altars the world" - Emerson
  2. Source of influence:
    1. Influence of every kind has its root and ground in character; Examples: The great influence of men like Joseph, Daniel, Ruth and other great Bible characters had its source in their character
    2. Man's chief power for good lies not in his mere words but in his moral character, as exemplified by a man named Barnabas - Acts 11:22-24
C. CHANNELS AND PERSISTENCE OF INFLUENCE
  1. The channels of our influence are the natural relations in which God has placed us:
    1. God leading Abraham in the life of simple faith made him the very embodiment of faith in God and His promises - Gen. 12:1-3
    2. The relationship of Ruth with Naomi and their subsequent experience made Ruth the immortal inspiration of saving persistence - Ruth 1:16-17
    3. Daniel's experience in Babylon and in Medo-Persia have made him the pattern of faithfulness to principle regardless of the price attached to such a life - Dan. 1:8; 6:10
  2. The channels of persistent influence:
    1. Our home is one of these channels as illustrated in the family of Joshua - Josh. 24:15-16
    2. We think of the home influence of Lois and Eunice upon Timothy - 2 Tim. 1:5
    3. The church of the living God is one of God's specially chosen channels to influence man with the divine life
    4. Writes Peter, "Ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" - I Pet. 2:9
  3. The great secret of the powerful influence of godly people is found:
    1. In their intimate connection with Jesus Christ our Lord - Gal. 2:20; Phil. 4:13. It is in truth - "Christ in you the hope of glory" - Col. 1:27
    2. "For without me ye can do nothing" - John 15:5. Study the fifteenth chapter of John to get the secret of a good influence
  4. Persistence of the Christian influence: "No man dieth to himself":
    1. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord...for their works do follow them" - Rev. 14:13
    2. The influence of Paul was very powerful while he was alive - Acts 17:6; but what will it be when untold numbers come forth unto the resurrection of life
    3. How enduring will our influence be? How many people will have found it a savour of life?


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