CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 665

“Influential Power”

Gal 5:7-9 (NIV) You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”

1 Cor 15:33,34 (NIV) Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning;

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Have you ever noticed that as you spend time in the company of certain people that you begin to exhibit their mannerisms and take on some of their characteristics? We know that our children and youth are easily influenced while at their developmental stages. Adults are not immune to these effects either. The environmental contexts that adults choose to immerse themselves into can also influence, mold and shape their character.

Think about the repetitive amount of time you spend in certain places and in certain activities such as your work, watching movies, health club, church, home, or in the company of certain friends. In each of these contexts the power of influence is present. Consider the amount of influence the lyrics to music can have over time. Influential power can work to your benefit and the benefit of others or it can become a corruptive force causing you and others to stumble in their Christian walk.

Just look around you and see the evidence of the power of negative influence. Where do children in first grade learn to speak in four letter vulgarities? How do children in elementary and middle schools learn to become sexually active? What vulgar terms and expletives have you been exposed to in one context or another that you have suddenly uttered in a moment of stress?

There is little chance to escape from many environments; however we do have a choice concerning which friends we hang around with and which movies and music we are entertained by. We can choose to spend our discretionary time in wholesome contexts rather than those that we know will be a negative influence on us.

The Christian, through the power of the Holy Spirit, needs to be an influencer in these inescapable world contexts. The Christian is called to be salt and light in the darkness of this world. It is a sad but true fact that oftentimes one cannot tell who the Christian is in many of these settings since everyone acts and behaves in a like corruptible manner.

We always must be on guard against allowing even the slightest amount of the worldly yeast to influence and shape our character. Let us pray for the strength and boldness of spirit to say no and deny ourselves exposure to the things of this world that we know would work to influence us in a manner contrary to the Word of God.

Don’t let anyone or anything ‘cut in on you’ to prevent you from continuing to ‘run the good race’. Seek to remain pure by the power of His Holy Spirit and to be an influential force in the world for Jesus.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God