Influence and Leadership

Are you an Influencer? Maybe you don't have a Tik Tok or Youtube channel, but I am sure there is someone watching you, and if so, then you are influencing them. Maybe you are a quiet influencer and you didn't even know it! 

Take for example Anna from the New Testament. She was a prophetess and had ministered in the temple for many years. She was 84 years old (and a widow for most of those years) at the time Jesus arrived. Luke 2:38 tells us that she "began to give thanks to God and to speak of him [Jesus] to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." She was influencing others to believe in Jesus! He was the hope of "the redemption of Jerusalem." She quietly worshiped, fasted and prayed at the temple (influencing others by her actions no doubt), and she was recognized as a prophetess. She led by example and by her influence. 

I recently studied about Sarah and Deborah in the Old Testament. Both of them were influencers. Sarah was an influencer of Abraham. When God gave him a promise of a son, Sarah (then called Sarai) offered her Egyptian slave to Abraham (then called Abram) to have a child with her. He listened to her and fathered a son, Ishmael. She further persuaded him to let her treat Hagar, the slave, severely out of her own jealousy and later requested that Hagar and Ishmael leave permanently. Abraham listened to Sarah's instructions (although he did confer with God before permanently dispelling Hagar and Ishmael). Whether good or bad, in our sight or the Lord's, Sarah was an influencer and therefore, a leader. She led her husband down another path (not the promised son, Isaac) and that has caused many issues from then til now! We should take caution from Sarah. Where are we leading people? Are we following the Lord's direction in leading them or our own plans? How are we influencing our children, co-workers, followers, and husbands? Are we leading with our heart, our head or our surrendered will (surrendered to God)! (Gen. 15 & 16)

Another woman I recently studied in the Old Testament is Deborah. Now, she was definitely an influencer and also a prophetess and judge! She sat under "the Palm of Deborah" and judged disputes between the people of Israel. Her influence must have been well known. When we read about her in Judges 4 & 5, we find her commanding Barak to obey God by facing Sisera (the commander of King Jabin's army) in battle. King Jabin had ruled and "cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years." Barak refused to go into battle unless Deborah went with him. The result would be that the glory of victory would be held by a woman instead of Barak. Deborah's song in Judges 5 tells of how God delivered Sisera into the Israelites' hands through a storm and how Jael killed Sisera with a tent peg to the temple. Deborah's song is recorded in the Bible (Judges 5); therefore, she was not just a influencer in her time but in all time to come. As long as the story of Deborah is read and her song too, then she continues to influence others, especially women looking for leadership models. She displays strength and courage (she went to battle with Barak!). She shows women that they can lead by discernment (she wisely judged disputes) and boldness (she commanded Barak to obey God!). Leadership sometimes is about confronting and motivating others. It is about discerning God's will, the will of others and the signs of the times and directing your followers accordingly. Do you operate in discernment? Do you hear from God and lead accordingly? Are you bold and courageous? 

I hope this gets you to think about your own leadership by influence (whether or not you consider yourself a leader). Someone is watching you. Whether they are coming to you for advice or watching you during your daily activities (ie Anna in the temple or Deborah judging under the Palm), you are influencing someone and that makes you a leader. Lead well and lead by God's will and not your own! 

Blessings