Years ago, as I visited a university campus, I met a young lady who was busy planning the student union’s social night as social director. I encouraged her, “Use this opportunity to shine for God. Do things differently.” The words struck a chord as I taught her the anatomy of influence.
Friend, influence is kingdom capital. A man with the right influence is a man with the capacity to affect people for God and for good (Matthew 5:13-16). But a man with the wrong influence is a ready tool in the hands of the devil to perpetuate his agenda. If you don’t understand your influence, the devil would use it for his own purpose (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Worse than not having influence is having influence without understanding it (Psalm 49:20). One of the strategies of demonic spirits or principalities is to hang around people with influence so they can take advantage of such influence to carry out a satanic agenda (Acts 13:6-12). You would see them around political leaders and those at the highest level of leadership.
Pastors and ministry leaders who are not well trained are also easy targets of Jezebelic spirits (Revelation 2:20). Jezebels, most times, are not looking for power. They are just looking to marry a man with power or position so they can use it to wield negative influence. It takes a strong leader to disallow Jezebels in a family, church, and nation (1 Kings 21:25).
All the devil needs to do to truncate God’s purpose is to position his own disciples in corridors of power (Esther 3:7-11). This is why Christians must step up and show up. The days of hiding inside church buildings praying without going out to command influence in the world is over. Christians must rise to places of influence and power in the world (Daniel 6:3).
The influence of God in a place or generation is often limited to the influence of His children (Daniel 2:46-47). We are God’s mouth, hands, and legs in our nation and generation. As the devil is busy recruiting and using his agents across all sectors and spheres, God’s children must rise and become ambassadors of the kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:20).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church