Influence can be a weapon, as the enemy, and certain people use it to get their way, and to prove whatever! It can also be used to lead people to betterment! In most societies since the beginning of Mankind, negative influence is rampant, and endless, yet, the lesser POSITIVE influence makes the most impact, creating change, improvement, stability, and on it goes...
Ever with us, is influence; it exists in every aspect of life, and is increased by means other than interpersonal, such as that which comes from the media, and other externals. We are influenced by popular people, things, products, thoughts, ideals, words, and much more! It doesn't take much to cause us to consider most matters, especially, if they will give us a sense of belonging, acceptance, confidence, power, or what have you! We are easily swayed by what our senses have been influenced by...
For those who are NOT easily influenced by the world, such as the Devout, there are tools to remaining strong in the face of influence, such as LOVE, conviction, diligence, determination, integrity, FAITH, virtue, and all that is OF *GOD'S* WILL!!!
I was away for a few days, and observed the powerful forces of wrong influence, especially from those whom are used to getting their own way, and require that all other people who come into contact with them, adhere to their way, or else! It is odd because they imagine that 'or else' will have a lasting effect on those that don't adhere to their way, and if the one who resists happens to have continued contact with these people, it could have, by means of dissing them, gossiping about them, and so forth, yet, really? WHY do they imagine having that much power over others? Personally, I don't 'get it' when it comes to people that think they can ruin someone's life if they don't go along, though, unfortunately, they can, and do, create problems...
This is especially important when it comes to doing things that are not *GOD* aligned, such as getting wasted, acting wrongly, and being misled into actions that are worldly, fleshy based! I saw things in the past few days from Christians which SHOWED me, plainly, what *GOD* means in many of HIS messages concerning Christian conduct, and what wrong influence HAS the potential to do to those who are not wholly involved in their growth, and development of spirit, BECAUSE one thing is for certain, it is human to WANT to be accepted, and to 'FIT IN' with others, AND, because if all of the people involved are, supposedly, of FAITH, then, those not yet developed, are inclined to believe that it MUST be alright to act in these ways for people of FAITH, otherwise, they wouldn't be doing it...
BEING FAITHFUL TO *GOD* IS MORE THAN WORDS, it is a lifestyle! It is MORE than going to Church once a week, it is BEING THE CHURCH! Many of the people I am using to illustrate the point of this post, are NOT repenting of their weekly actions, which include most of the wrongs listed in GALATIANS 5, and other related references which TEACH HOW we are to exist in oneness with CHRIST! Many people imagine if they have 1 or 2 evident FRUITS of THE SPIRIT, they are aligned enough to over-ride the works of the flesh! This might have some truth IF they are WORKING TO over-ride the works of the flesh, but, if they are relying on their limited alignment TO remain in the flesh, they are misguided, and in danger...
I SEE CLEARLY, now, WHY it is written that we should remove ourselves from wrong influence! There are roughly, 125 verses concerning influence! Let us look at just one, which says volumes on this matter:
1 CORINTHIANS 15: 33...
Do not be led astray: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
Can you argue with this? Are you able to twist this fact???
Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin...
Sin may struggle in a real believer, and create him a great deal of trouble, but it shall not have dominion; it may vex him, but it shall not rule over him. Shall any take occasion from this encouraging doctrine to allow themselves in the practice of any sin? Far be such abominable thoughts, so contrary to the perfections of God, and the design of his gospel, so opposed to being under grace.
We are a NEW CREATION, having taken OFF the old self, and putting ON the NEW self, the spirit, because of a TRUE, undying, incorruptible, unswaying LOVE FOR THE LORD *GOD*! LOVE IS THE motivation that TEACHES us, KEEPS us IN allegiance TO HIS WILL, and WAYS, and LEADS us to acting in righteousness! CHRIST says, "If you LOVE me, you will keep my COMMANDMENTS", and this means, we will FOLLOW HIM, wholly, body, mind, heart, and spirit, OVER all else, for we KNOW that ONLY HE IS! All else is temporal, and IS like standing on something unsure, that is certainly, GOING to falter!!!
Influence IS a powerful force, right, or wrong, and so, those whom claim THE LORD, OUGHT to be able to resist what is NOT of HIM, no matter if a million people at one time, chide us for our ability to resist! Remember, when people belittle us for ACTING accordingly, they are not only proving themselves, they are UPLIFTING us, AND, it is general fact that those that belittle others, or try to influence them wrongly, ARE insecure, finding security in making others feel worse than they do! Stand STRONG IN THE LORD AT ALL TIMES, not when it is convenient, or socially acceptable! HONOUR HIM ALWAYS, for HE, ALONE, holds LIFE, and GLORY!!!
Just as with CHRIST, our LORD, the Christian life is a CONTINUOUS response to THE WILL OF *GOD*; there is NO denying this, twisting it to conform to a generation, time, or conditions; it IS the pulse of HIS PLAN to SAVE us from ourselves, and the world, with it's enmity!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
1 comment:
I had a wonderful time, for the most part; it was such a beautiful place:)))
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