“The Power of influenceThe influence”
The power of influence. Michelle Carter was convicted. “A young Massachusetts woman accused of encouraging her boyfriend to commit suicide through text messages was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Friday (6/16/17).” According to testimony, “Carter also gave Roy advice when he got out of the truck as he was inhaling the gas and told her he was scared. “Get back in,” she told him, according to a friend who testified Carter described the conversation in a text message to her about a month after Roy died.” He got back in and died. The power of influence.
How often are we influenced to take some action by someone who is a friend or relative even though that action may not be good? However, because of the influence of the person who gives the advice action is taken. Members of the church have stayed in congregations who have digressed from the truth because of the influence of others. Others have become involved with congregations who no longer support the truth because of the influence of another.
John Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.” Mr. Webster says influence is, “The capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.” I would define it as, “The ability to change the course of someone’s future.”
Two Bible examples show us the power of influence.
“But Amnon had a friend” (2 Sam. 13:3). This is best described by scripture: “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man” (2 Sam. 13:1-3). Jonadab influenced Amnon to play sick and request that only his sister Tamar serve him. He followed those instructions and raped his sister. The power of influence.
“I am a prophet also as thou art…” (1 Kings 13:18). There was a “man of God” that prophesied at Bethel and what he said came to pass. God had told the young prophet “…Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. So he went an-other way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.” The young prophet lost his life however, because he was influenced not to follow God’s instruction by someone who lied (1 Kings 13:1-22). The power of influence.
Be careful that you are not influenced by those who do not respect the teachings of the Bible but follow after man.
Larry