Dave’s Monday Blast – April 30, 2018

I recently returned from our annual Men’s Retreat at Woodleaf Conference Center. Forty seven men from Auburn Grace joined 250 other men, representing eleven area churches to unpack the topic of Influence. Webster defines influence as “The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something…” The premise is simple…we all have a sphere of influence that is unique to us; we were designed by our Heavenly Father on purpose for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10). Influence is our ability to INTENTIONALLY impact our relationships, our community and the world in which we live. The question we were all confronted with throughout the weekend was simply this, “Who are you influencing today and in what manner?

Unfortunately, our influence does go both ways…meaning our influence can be both for the good or the bad. I was thinking of the story in 1 Kings 17 when the Prophet Elijah confronts Israel’s wicked King Ahab. Both were men of great influence; Elijah for the good and Ahab for the bad. The validity of Elijah’s message rested with the source, not the mouthpiece. Elijah was a man of great faith who believed what God told him; he could speak boldly with authority because he knew and trusted the One who gave the message. He spent time alone with the Lord and listened as he stood before Him.

Our Father doesn’t speak to us in exactly the same manner that He spoke to the Old Testament prophets, but the process of receiving His message hasn’t changed. It begins with being alone in His presence and involves listening as He speaks through His Word. But it shouldn’t end there.

Prophets had the responsibility of telling the people what the Lord revealed to them. Similarly, we are to share with others what we learn from God’s Word. Devotional time with the Lord is not just about our own interests and needs. The Father reveals His treasures to us so that we can share them with others.

Begin each day alone with God in His Word and in prayer, listening as He speaks to your heart. Believe what He says in Scripture, apply it to your life, and then share with someone else what He has revealed. Be bold and remember that the authority of your message comes from Him. This allows you to influence the world in which you live, in the manner in which He intended.

It begs the question…”Who will you influence for eternity this day?”