Harvester Church

I once asked God why he did not bless us with more money, when my parents were in missions and going through a hard time, often selling possession to fund the next mission and pay the bills. As a family we have sold everything we possess several times now to fund the work we do for God. And we continually sacrifice and give because the cause is holy. I got a simple word in my heart that settled it for me, and that aligned my heart to do it all again: “I have given you influence.”

Definition of influence – “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself,”

When you ask God something sincerely, He will answer you, but he might not give you the reason that you thought you would get!
As His ways are higher than our ways, let’s look at some opportunities to influence a generation in from our greatest written influencing source, the Bible.

Examples of a positive influence in the Bible:
1. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Gen 17:9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

Covenant with God is supposed to transcend generations. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. IN in his Seed all the nations of the world were blessed because Jesus was born of his line.
When a covenant was made in those days, there was an exchange of various objects, including the belt, the sandal, a cutting with blood and a general understanding of: “What’s mine is Yours!” Read more about it in our MBTC Subject ‘Blood Covenant.”
When God cut covenant with Abram He also added the ‘h’ to his and Sarai’s names – the bit that we hear in Elohim. When you enter a covenant with God, there is a bit of His nature in you now.
God is looking for people who will influence their families, their neighbourhoods, their circles in which they live and move and have their being.

In fact, God thought so much of Abraham that He shared his plans to him:
Gen 18:17 And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
Gen 18:18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Gen 18:19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

2. Moses on generations to come revealing Jesus:
Deuteronomy 18:15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,”
In this scripture Moses is prophesying about Jesus to come. In a way, Moses influenced Jesus to finish the work started all the way back in the Exodus, when the laws were given. Jesus came to fulfil that law and show people how to please God by faith.

Moses spoke to God face to face and was known as the meekest man. He influenced a nation to exit slavery and enter a promised land.

3. David praised God for a generation to come
This whole introduction of the Psalms 22 speaks of Jesus on the Cross: “My God, why have you forsaken me?” and further in verse 8 “he trusted in the Lord, let him deliver him!’
And in verse 16 “they pierced my hands and feet.” And if you are still in doubt: “They divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots.”
Psa 22:30 A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
Psa 22:31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.

4. Elijah made sure he influenced 2 generations to finish his work on earth.
1Ki 19:14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
1Ki 19:15 Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.
1Ki 19:16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
1Ki 19:17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
1Ki 19:18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

5. Jesus influenced his disciples to cover the earth with the Gospel!
1Ki 19:14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
1Ki 19:15 Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.
1Ki 19:16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
1Ki 19:17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
1Ki 19:18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Negative Influence:
Bad company corrupts good morals.
1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Divisive persons cause division.
Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

Thoughts and doubts and fears can influence you negatively if you do not take them captive and bring them to the obedience of Christ.
2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Co 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2Co 10:6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Opportunities to exert a Godly influence in this time, for a generation to come.
Our four apostolic platforms help us to exert a Godly influence on our generation and we create platforms of operation for others to walk on.
1. Communion – how we relate to God and other believers. Communion generates a tremendous force of influence because it draws people closer to Christ who is at the centre of all we are doing and trying to achieve in ministry.

2. Commission – When you have a relationship with God’s His spirit will drive you out to reach others so that they can also have the same level of fellowship with the saints and the Father. This is what Jesus paid for so that is why He gave the commission in the first place!

3. Compassion – When Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitudes, he healed all their sick!
Compassion is a resultant influencing force that comes from communion with God in His Church, being sent out on the commission to make disciples of all nations and then the signs and wonders follow those who believe.
4. Care – Only then can we decide to exert the force of influential care, when someone has received Jesus as their Saviour and received the ones He sent on a commission and God has had compassion on them through your prayers and ministry.
IF we look at these influencers in the Bible and build on the platforms for our future performance as sons of God, we have a set vector for the force of influence.
God has built our capacity to influence people, organizations, communities, traditions, cultures, economies, government, business, education, fine and performing arts, the media and the our own offspring and their generations to come.
Influence is more powerful than money. The power to generate wealth is given to those who establish His covenant in the earth. For us who believe in Jesus, wealth is a means to an end and the end is eternal Godly influence.
We honour God in all we do and God honours us with: influence!