The Influence of Position

Have you been around people who "buy" their influence, and that is how they succeed in life. Some of those who live this way might say, "What a smart way to do business." It is the old "scratch my back and I will scratch yours" lifestyle. Purchased influence is really no influence at all, and it is not just a person "being smart" but a person bending to evil activity. Remember, God looks at the heart, and without the heart being pure, the words coming out of the mouth have no truth in them. I had a cousin who my dad said would rather make $1.00 by cheating than $1000 in honesty. That is sad, and a good definition of planned dishonesty. If you are a servant or slave, you are called to be honest in your dealings and that begins in the heart. Paul wrote these words to the church in Colossae : Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey those who are your human masters in everything, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he speaks to the new person who is not attached to the world and all of its deception, especially for those set aside for service. Colossians 3:Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. If we compromise in one area, it leads to compromise in other areas, and before long, that compromise has to be handled by God in some form or fashion. This way of living is dependent on who is generating it. It is either led by the words of satan or by the Word of God. Speaking of the Word of God, there is a good result for each of us who study the Word of God and in Joshua 1:8 the Word of God says the following words: Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.

People who do not read and study God's Word have been making excuses for bad behavior since the beginning of time, but a person is seeking God will consult God's Word for everything. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by satan, and that temptation involved taking shortcuts and selling out to power and prestige, but Jesus already had that power and that prestige, and satan came up empty. The enemy is still trying to blur the lines for those who are born again, and your wilderness situation may be giving up the desire to win at all costs and get in on asking God to give you victories, and not relying on your own power. You may think you are the coolest and you have the coolest, but you are sadly deceived and following the wrong set of rules. Proverbs 16:3 speaks to the point of committing our ways to God and Him doing the empowering and the result of that commitment. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

We don't lift Him up by lifting ourselves up first. In fact, it is just the opposite. James 4:Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Today's Message,

David Warren