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Text: Philippians 3:21
It is said that if you have the ability to compel or produce effects on the actions or the behavior of others, you have what is called influence. The word influence alone does not imply whether it is good or bad, the results will speak for itself. You never know whose watching you. Somewhere in this world, there is someone whose behavior and actions are a direct result of watching you. So be careful what you do; be careful what you say, be careful where you go, and be careful whom you associate with.
There was a story that I read some time ago. I was about a man who didn’t known that he had influence over anyone. The story begins with this man dreaming that he went to Hell. While there he was asked to give an account of what he had seen. Did you see flames there, he was asked. Did you have to associate with the suffering of the wrecked and maligned? Did oaths of blasphemy resound there? His answer to all was yes. But he added there was something far worst than all of that. What was it he was asked. I was compelled to face my influence.
You see he said, I deserved my punishment because I willfully rejected the Salvation of Jesus Christ. But my sorest pain was to see what the effects of my influence on others. You see there were many here whose lives would have been different if not for my influence on them. You never know whose watching you. Somewhere there is someone,( you may never know who it is ), but there is someone whose behavior and actions are a direct result of your influence. So be careful what you do; what you say, where you go, and for God’s sake who you associate with.
The writer of the text, Paul had influence. He was also influenced and inspired by Jesus. I mentioned a while ago that influence alone does not tell us whether it’s good or whether it’s bad, the results will do that. Paul had influence. When we first met him the results of his influence were devastating to the Church. He was known by the Saul, and had a zeal of God but not according to knowledge. He was ignorant of God’s righteousness and went on to establish his own righteousness. He was ignorant to the fact that Jesus had already died, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day morning to make him right with God. But instead of believing this, Saul as was known held to Jewish Laws and customs. He thought he was right. After all Moses had given the Law to the Jews. Wasn’t their God the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? How was he to know that Jesus had already made available to those who trust in Him everything they were trying to get by keeping the Law.
With his influence, Saul was able to get letters of authority from the High Priest to go and to lay waste to the Church. Somewhere between getting the letters from the High Priest and reaching the entrance to the city of Damascus, somewhere called the Damascus road, Saul met a Greater influence than himself. All of a sudden a bright light peeped from behind the sun. When he saw it Saul fell to the ground and a voice, asked Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me. You don’t know who I Am. I’m Jesus. I’m the Head of a Body called the Church.
The members of the Church are members of My Body so stop persecuting Me. Now keep on this road until you get to Straight Street. You need to get some things straight. How many of us here today, need to get some things straight with God? Whatever it is that hinders you from making a full commitment to God you need to get that straight. There’s a difference between participating in God’s program and being committed to His program.
Let me give you an example of the difference between participating in something and being committed to it. On the breakfast plate there is some eggs and some ham. Now the hen participated in the breakfast, but the Hog was committed to the breakfast. The hen laid the egg and walked away to lay an egg another day. She participated. That hog gave his life so that you could have that ham. He was committed to the end. How many of us participate in the Church, but have not committed our lives to Christ. Whatever it is that hinders you from making a full commitment to God you need to get that straight. Go straight on your knees in godly sorrow and ask in the name of Jesus, for God to forgive whatever it is that hinders you from making a life long commitment to Him. After Paul had gotten straight with God, the influence he had was then inspired, he committed himself to lead as many as he could to Christ.
It was in Philippi, where he and Silas were thrown into jail. The Bible tells us, in the 16th chapter of Acts around the 25th verse, that at midnight. Paul and Silas sang and prayed. While they were singing and praying a great earthquake shook the building. The doors of the prison were opened and the shackles that bound them came off. The one known only as the Philippian Jailer, awaken out of his sleep, to see the doors of the prison were all opened. Drew his own sword and would have taken his own life because he thought the prisoners had all been freed. It was Paul who spoke,, do thyself no harm, because we are all here. Then around the 29th verse, the Bible says that the jailer got a light and came into the prison trembling, fell down before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out of the prison and asked of them, “what must I do to be saved”? They told the man to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.
Paul had influence and used it to lead many to Christ. So he wrote to this Philippian Church to remind them that there were among them enemies of the cross. That they should remain committed so they could set an example before the world. To use their influence to lead somebody to Christ. I feel somewhat like Paul felt, I want to lead as many as I can to Christ. I have discovered that Jesus has abilities far beyond those of men. He is able to subdue all things. In other words Jesus has the power to conquer all things. He can subdue all manners of sickness and disease. That woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years, spent all of her money on doctor bills and medicine. When she heard that Jesus was in town, she made her way through the crowd and touched the hem of His garment and because of her faith she was made whole.
How much influence do you have? How many lives have you led to Christ? How many stars are going to be in your crown? Are you fully and totally committed to Christ? Are you in so deep that you can’t get out? Well if you don’t have an answer to these questions I tell you what you ought to do, go down to straight street and let God straightened you out.
Every where Paul went he had a testimony. His testimony, I was on my way to Damascus with letters of authority in my hand, to bring back anybody that called on the name of Jesus. But on that road I met Jesus. When I met Him He humbled me, His countenance was so bright I fell to the ground. While I was on the ground He called me to Preach His gospel. And since that time I’ve been obedient to my calling. I’ve preached in season. I’ve preached out of season. I’ve preached when men wanted too hear and I’ve preached when men didn’t want to hear. I’ve preached and men were saved. I’ve preached and men threw me in jail. But one thing I can say, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But what is there to gain when you die?
Somebody wrote these words, I’ve learned how to live Holy; I’ve learned how to live right; I’ve learned how to suffer; for if I suffer I’ll gain eternal life. But when I see Jesus, Amen!