Seeking to Follow Jesus – From the Edges – Influenced

Seeking to Follow Jesus – From the Edges
Influenced
Pastor Calvin Cook – July 3, 2024
Scripture focus – Romans 8:14-16 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons (and daughters) of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

What is influencing you? There are several things in life these days that influence us. Social media, television, politics, the economy, friends, family, good, bad, and ugly etc. etc. etc. all play the influencer game to change our mind set and develop us in their likeness.

There are often times I have had to take a step back and ask the question is this a good influence or will it cause despair and even destruction. Included in this is manipulation of the mind, body, and soul that the influence will either be beneficial or detrimental.
We know and if you didn’t you do now. That everything the Holy Spirit speaks into our life is either there is no other way or confirmed in scripture that will bring glory to God. Unfortunately, we are also living in a time where we the church have been so quiet about the Spirit’s moving that the powers of evil and of the world have had their way. Because of this we have already lost many precious souls and will continue until we completely move in accordance with the direction of the Spirit.

One of the sorrows of relationship with God that grieves my heart is when God shows the way, and we choose another. This is evidenced all through history. In the Old Testament we see the people of God returning to the bondage of the Egyptians and Assyrians when God was leading them through his prophets to a better place and life. But are we not the same? God through the Holy Spirit is leading us to so much more and yet we choose to remain in the influence of sinfulness, strife, despair and all things that are working very hard to destroy us. In your life you know what those things are.

Today I’m praying that the Spirit bears witness with our Spirit and our influence comes from the one who would never lead us in the wrong direction that will cause us harm.