THE POWER OF INFLUENCE (7).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*THE POWER OF INFLUENCE (7).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Heb 11:8. *By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

An influencer is a leader. If he is strong, people who learn from him will be as strong.

*Scripture Commentarie.*

We have been looking at the power of influence, which is described as the capacity to have an effect on the character or behavior of someone.

Influence is power when properly administered. Great minds are products of great and impactful influence.

Abraham left a legacy of faith and became a father of it.

Let us look further at his legacy.

First, you can not be influenced by someone you do not believe or trust.

Abraham did not know where he was going when God asked him to leave his kindred, neither did he know what would happen in the land of Moriah. All he did was believe God.

No one on the journey to Moriah resisted Abraham, not even Isaac.

Second, Abraham's blessings are mine, but am l able to do what Abraham did?

What could have been going through Abraham's mind, especially at the point of binding Isaac and stretching

*.....forth his hand,* to take *..... the knife to slay his son.*, Gen 22: 10.

Isaac asked Abraham,*".....where is the lamb for a burnt offering?*, Gen 22:7, but truly where was the lamb?

Abraham replied, *".....God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:...'* Gen 22:8.

Only God knew what was in Abraham’s heart. It was a matter of the heart.

People deceive themselves in supposing they trust in God when really they do not.

As for Abraham, he believed God and God trusted Him.

At times, our hearts may break before we can do what God wants us to do.

If it breaks, belief in God will mend it.

Third, every step taken by Abraham drew him closer to obeying God and brightens more the possibility of God's reward for his obedience.

Being obedient is being blessed. Missing out on it is miserableness.

At times when we are ready to do something as directed by God, there opens up before us a possibility provided by God.

Abraham teaches us that, at times , trying to do something is to ensure God will help us.

Fourth, Abraham teaches us the power of acceptable sacrifice.

When Abraham told Isaac that the Lord would provide Himself a lamb for a sacrifice, he was telling us that the only sacrifice God accepts is what He Himself has provided.

God will not give you what you can not sacrifice to Him. He will not withhold the opportunity to have what you need to sacrifice to Him.

Furthermore, Isaac commemorated the place *"...Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.'*

This means that in the same mount where God requested for sacrifice, the provision was made.

When God calls for a sacrifice from us, we may be worried where it would come from, but if our faith is strong as Abraham's, the provision will come from the same place He requested it.

Fifth, Abraham's story teaches us how God works with our fears.

He knows we fear, and He knows our fears force us to desperation.

It does sound fearful when a call for sacrifice is made talk less of the request to have a son sacrificed.

Though it is not stated that Abraham exhibited any fear nor any sign of desperation, it takes great faith not to fear when called to do what Abraham was asked to do.

Looking closely at fear, though there was no indication of it, fear leads to desperation, ref Esther 4:16.

We know, however, that Abraham was not stated to be fearful, but he was in pursuit of a need, and this need was to please God.

In pursuant of his need to please God, Abraham appreciated the good sense of his need.

He teaches us that if we have a dire sense of need as he had for God, we can achieve the purposes of God, irrespective of the trial of faith or challenges.

By his success, God showed Abraham that His ultimate is to do him good by the sense of need he had.

God, in return, gave him his reward.

Your thirst and hunger for change can determine how powerfully good influence can work for you, ref John 6:67-68.

*Remorse corner.*

To do nothing is to forfeit God's help and to do something is to ensure God will help us.

*Call to Word action.*

Abraham was driven by the need to please God. As daunting as it might have been, the scriptures did not make a mention of his trial to the lad but everything of God’s provision.

Gen 22:14 *And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.*

*The Christian clarion call.*

Abraham was all about what God would do. Do not allow your fears or bad influence to overcome the good sense of your need for God

*Prayer.*

Lord, please let my need for God influence me to please God, in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.