Are you a leader? Do you want to be influential?  If you answer yes to any of these questions, then this study series ‘Wisdom for Influence’ should interest you. Join me, let’s learn together. 

What Is Influence?

“Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something” -Oxford Dictionary.

A person of influence is someone with leadership in a given sphere, someone whose words, presence or actions motivates and drives people to act or respond in a particular way.

According to John C. Maxwell; “​the true measure of leadership is influence nothing more, nothing less“. 

What Is Wisdom?

The webster unabridged dictionary defines wisdom as the capacity to make due use of knowledge.

What Is Biblical Wisdom? 

From the Bible, we learn that the preeminent and choice part of wisdom comes from a reverent fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), and insights into the workings of life come from the knowledge of God.  The bible remains the truest, purest and most reliable source of the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:6).

Do you need Wisdom for Influence?

The topic ‘Wisdom for Influence’ aims to explore biblical insights and approaches to leadership for wider application to everyday life. So if you are you occupy any leadership position or seeks to be influential, then you need wisdom for influence.

 Biblical Insights and Truths to Influence and Leadership

1. True Influence comes from God

Like we see with the shrewd manager in Luke 16:1-8, influence can be bought. Influence can also be gotten through philanthropy and generosity (Acts 9:36-43). However as we read throught the bible, we find that widespread and overwhelming influence is orchestrated by God. 

Abraham is celebrated across different religions as a great patriarch. How did Abraham become so influential? 

God’s promise to Abraham in Ur before he departed for the promise land was a promise to make him influential…

“I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bleoss those wh bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:2‭-‬3 NKJV

Abraham accumulated great wealth through his sojourn from Ur to Canaan, and although Abraham was a hardworking farmer and herdsman, in Genesis 12:2-3 God states clearly that He is the One who would make Abraham influential. Indeed, God repeats and emphasizes the word “I” at least 4 times in that portion of scripture. 

In 2 Chronicles 1:11‭-‬12,  Solomon asks God for wisdom to lead and govern His people, in response, God promises to give Solomon great wealth, riches, honor and glory. Solomon’s influence came from God.

True influence comes from God. He is the One who exalts and promotes (Psalms 75:6‭-‬7).

Abraham’s Wisdom for Influence

Abraham trusted God, obeyed God and walked by faith in God’s Word. He left his comfort zone at Ur to an unknown land.  Can you imagine relocating from where you currently reside to an unknown destination because a voice told you so?

Abraham exhibited great faith walking into the unknown simply at God’s command. 

Solomon’s Wisdom for Influence 

God’s response to Solomon followed Solomon’s request for God’s help in governance. 

Solomon was grateful for God’s kindness and goodness towards his father David. He was grateful for the kingdom God gave him to be king over;  ‘a nation as full of people as the earth is full of dust‘ (2 Chronicles 1:9). And a grateful Solomon wanted so desperately to boast of The Lord’s goodness and to display God’s magnanimity towards him and his household. Therefore he assembled all the army officers and judges of Gibeon and all political/religious leaders of Israel at the Old Tabernacle for a showdown. After 1000 burnt offerings, God responded to Solomon’s gratitude by issuing him a blank cheque-he can ask for whatever he wants. Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. In otherwords, Solomon asked for Wisdom for Influence 

  “Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”  II Chronicles 1:11-12 NKJV

Just reading a bit of Abraham’s and Solomon’s journey to influence we see that total dependence on God is necessary for enjoying Godly influence. We must trust, believe and have faith in God and His Word and also be ready to obey and follow His leading, living in total submission to His will. 

Please join me in the next part as we consider another wisdom nugget for influence. 

A grateful Solomon wanted so desperately to boast of The Lord’s goodness and display His magnanimous doings towards him and his household. Therefore he assembled all the army officers and judges of Gibeon and all political/religious leaders of Israel at the Old Tabernacle for a showdown!

One way to avoid judging anyone is to sometimes choose to be a fool for Christ’ sake. If someone creates room to receive feedback or constructive criticism of their actions or lifestyle, take it and deliver your opinion in a most respectful manner. If no such system exists, trust Jesus to handle it.

When we reach out to God for help from the place of oppression, bondage, depression or captivity, we find that all along He’s been waiting to help us. Indeed Jesus already delivered us and by the wisdom of God we become privy to steps/actions to take in order to have more pleasant experiences in life.

Lisa is in her early 50″s and a single mom. She lives in Ghana with her only daughter and child Becky. Becky is almost done with high school, she hopes to become a lawyer someday.

Lisa is looking forward to seeing Becky’s dream of becoming a lawyer fulfilled. But in recent times she’s had some concerns. She’s uncomfortable with the kind of association her teenage daughter has been keeping of late. These new group of friends seem to occupy most of Becky’s time. When they’re not in school, they’re out partying or visiting with another group of friends. Lisa is very troubled. These associations could ruin her daughter’s future, but the young lady doesn’t seem to see it that way. The more Lisa tried to caution Becky the farther she seemed to be driving her away and more towards her friends. Lisa needed to talk with someone, and she needs to do that fast too. She came across ‘Talk with Grace Obomanu‘ (TWGO), an online Christian counseling group, and she decided to drop a message asking for help.

At TWGO, first we needed to get Becky’s opinion on her mom’s concerns. So we put a call across to her, and it was a different story altogether. Becky feels her mother is overbearing, wouldn’t let her socialize with her peers, wouldn’t let her visit them or them her. Becky said her mom shouts all the time and seldom listens to what she has to say. Becky says she makes deliberate efforts to stay away from her mom because of her behavior. She said she wishes her mom could be more understanding and friendly.

Apparently, daughter and child were seeing things from their different perspectives. Lisa doesn’t want to lose her only child to teenage deliquency and Becky doesn’t want to remain a baby forever.

This observation was communicated to both of them. Becky was thankful that TWGO intervened. She promised to be more understanding of her mom and to relate more with her to allay her fears. And Lisa accepted her mistakes promising to engage her daughter more rather than control her. Their relationship would heal and become better with time especially as they both also learn to fellowship more with God.

Praise God!

First published on Grace Obomanu Blog 10/12/2018.

You Can Grow Your Faith (B)

This is part 20 of this study series.

We learnt from the last part that although everyone receives the same measure of faith at the new birth, faith operates in levels (Romans 12:3, Mathew 8:5-13, Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 4: 35-41). Looking at the instances where Jesus graded faith as little, great faith or no faith at all, we saw that upholding the integrity of God’s Word by believing and professing same does move someone’s faith level upwards. On the other hand, fear, doubt and unbelief stifles faith.

I promised that in this part of this study, I was going to share on ‘Ways to Grow/Develop and Boost our Faith’. Just before we move into that, the following is a summary of some of the important points we’ve seen about faith from this study;

1. Faith is the assurance, confidence, conviction, confirmation that we have the things we desire and hope for (Hebrews 11:1).
2. Faith Is Now: Every split second, every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year, every time is the time to act in faith (Hebrews 11:1).
3. Faith Is like air to the believer: We were saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8) and we continue to live by faith. Faith is a way of life for the believer; the righteous lives by faith (Hebrews 10:38). Indeed, the righteous without faith shall die. But Jesus came to give us life, and life is what God wants for us.
4. Faith reveals the righteousness of God: Every time we act in faith we will find out that God is true, just and faithful (Romans 1:16-17).
5. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God(Romans 10:14-17).
6. The stimulus for faith is the Word of God: Faith is not positive thinking, it is not common sense, faith is based on the Word of God (Romans 10:9-17).
7. Faith is activated through words and powered by love (Mark 11:22-24, Romans 10:9-10, James 2:26). Unforgiveness is a strong hindrance to faith (Mark 11: 25-26).
8. Faith is active not passive: Faith believes the Word of God, speaks the Word of God and acts on the Word it believes. Faith without corresponding action is dead (James 2:26, Hebrews 11:1 ).The victory that overcomes the world is faith.
9. Faith Pleases God: Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 10:38).
10. Love, Faith and Hope are interdependent and are 3 essential elements for victorious Christian living (1 Corinthians 13).

Ways to Grow and Boost your faith

In Part 9, we mentioned 3 ways we can develop our love nature; 1. Practice love, 2. Affirm to yourself that you are born of love, 3. Crucify the flesh/Be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:24, 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Romans 12:20-21, Luke 6:27-32).

Below are 5 ways we can develop and boost our faith

1. Feed on the right food

Faith is of the spirit and the food of the spirit is the Word of God (Matthew 4:4). So when we feed our spirit, we feed our faith.

Faith comes by continually feeding on the Word of God (Romans 10:14-17)…..

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “ Lord , who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:14-17 NKJV

You want to grow/develop your faith? Give time to the Word. Faith can only be exercised based on one’s knowledge of the Word of God. Study the Word. Meditate on the Word.

If you are someone who gives little or no attention to the Word of God, great faith may never be an experience for you because you cannot have faith beyond the knowledge of the Word of God you have.

2. Live a life of faith

Practice faith. Hebrews 10:38 says that the righteous/just shall live by by faith… as a lifestyle.

“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 NKJV

God has no pleasure in a faith-less believer. Faith pleases God, and it is faith in His Word that does that.

Faith is now, it is for every time and season. We never take vacation on expressing faith. Faith is for every day. And we practice faith everyday by believing the Word, Speaking the Word and Acting on the Word(Mark 11:22-24).

In the Bible story of Mark 4:35-41, Jesus described the disciples as having ‘No Faith’, because they did not consider speaking to the storms themselves. Instead they woke Jesus up from His restful sleep. There are actions in life Jesus expects us to take by ourselves through faith in Him (selah). The disciples could have exercised their faith. But alas, they did not believe they could stop the storm supernaturally. They tried all they knew to do naturally but it didn’t work. They did not think to exercise their faith.

The Christian walk is a walk of faith, not of the senses (II Corinthians 5:7), and NOTHING shall be impossible to him who believes (Mark 9:23). Amen!

So we have seen that the primary way we develop our faith is by hearing and hearing the Word of God. And the more we practice faith; the more we grow from faith to faith. Every faith victory is a boost for another one. Halleluyah!

We can also boost our faith through the following ways:

3. By Sharing our Faith

We read in Philemon 1:6, that our faith can become more effective as we share every good thing we have in Jesus Christ

“that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.“
Philemon 1:6 NKJV

How do you share something? By speaking about it, professing and testifying about it. We should speak regularly about our belief; speak on everything good thing we have in Christ Jesus. We are to make faith-based confessions of who we are in Christ Jesus.

Refuse to allow that feeling of depression and helplessness that creeps in from incessant complaints. Complains of how bad/terrible things are with us or around us, etc do not help our faith. We should rather choose to share faith-based and faith-inspiring testimonies. Because faith confessions always creates realities; we can make our faith effective by our confessions.

Let’s meditate and speak on who we are and what we have in Christ…and that not just during prayers but also in our everyday conversations.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

4. By Speaking In Tongues Regularly

Praying in the Holy Ghost by speaking in tongues edifies the believer; it charges up and strengthens the spirit-man (Jude 20, Ephesians 3:14-19, 1 Corinthians 14:4). It is also boosts your faith (Jude 20)….

“But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit..”
Jude 1:20 AMPC

We already know that the primary way faith grows is by the Word. Well, praying in tongues promotes spiritual strength and boosts faith.

Speaking in tongues of itself doesn’t really grow faith, however a charged up human spirit is more spiritually sensitive and alert and so can hear, be inspired or bring to mind the Word and this is what builds up faith during praying in tongues.

So make speaking in tongues a lifestyle. You can find other benefits of speaking in tongues in one of my recent study series; ‘The Whole Armor of God (X)’

5. By giving Glory and Thanksgiving to God always

Luke 10:17-21 is an interesting portion of scripture that captures Jesus giving thanks ahead of His victory on the cross over Satan….

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.” Luke 10:17-22 KJV

Jesus gave thanks ahead of His victory on the cross. He rejoiced in the spirit and gave thanks to God. He saw the victory ahead. He saw Satan defeated before He even went to the cross. That was faith; He saw it, He believed it, He spoke about it. He was full of joy in the Spirit.

An experience I can liken this to is receiving a revelation on a particular Word that brings great joy and peace to the spirit-man. You feel elated in spirit, charged up and with a boost on your faith.

Thanksgiving boosts faith. Choose to be thankful always and in all things.

Abraham also stayed strong in faith through thanksgiving as we see in Romans 4:18-20….

“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Romans 4:18-21 KJV

Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory to God. And that kept him persuaded that God was able to perform what He promised.

Prayer

Thank You precious Father for the gift of faith. Help us Father to remain strong in faith, strengthened in the spirit-man; steadfast with our confessions of faith, always full of praise to You, and fully persuaded about all Your promises in Jesus name. Amen!

Well, thank you for joining me again. Next time we will start looking at the last section of this study; ‘Victory Through Hope’.

Remember that you can access previous parts of this study as follows; Part 1: Study Background. Part 2: The Scope of the Christian Victory. Part 3: How Christians Gained Victory. Part 4: How Faith, Love and Hope Mix Together for Victorious Christian Living. Part 5: The Nature of God’s Love. Part 6: Characteristics of God Kind of Love. Parts 7 and 8:  Winning Through Love. Part 9: How to develop our love nature. Part 10: Giving Is Not (always) Love. Part 11:Victory Through Faith: Understanding Faith. Part 12: Victory Through Faith: The Righteousness of God. Part 13: The Stimulus for Faith. Part 14: The Faith of Abraham (A). Part 15: The Faith of Abraham (B). Part 16: The Blessing of Abraham. Part 17: Activate The Blessing. Part 18: Abraham’s Righteousness. Part 19: You Can Grow Your Faith (A).

“God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.

The resultant effect of the mercies and compassions of God is His goodness. When His mercies and compassions meet, His Goodness is inevitable. Halleluyah! So if His mercies and compassions follow me everyday, if they fail not, if God is steadfast, committed at sending mercies and compassions towards man, surely, goodness must be an everyday experience with God too.

Daniel was a young good-looking man said to have no blemish. He was gifted in wisdom, possessed knowledge and had quick understanding. He was skilled; he had the ability to serve in the King’s palace, he was a teachable quick learner. He also had understanding of dreams and visions. And God gave Daniel favor and goodwill.
I love Daniel’s resume. And as much as we recognize that Daniel was specially gifted with wisdom, guess what? Anyone can have Godly wisdom. I am reminded of James 1:5…

The early verses of Luke chapter 5 does more than show a miracle of provision and abundance. Those verses of scripture portrays Peter in a light that helps us appreciate why Christ chose him as the rock upon which to build his church despite his human imperfections and why it was possible for Peter to experience a net-breaking catch of fish.