Introduction: One of the most unrecognized powers you possess is that
of influence. When we think about influential leaders, some may
assume that only certain powerful people have the ability to
influence others. My belief is that we all exert some sort of
influence over each other. Is there some practice in your life that
you can trace to something that someone else said or did? It might
only be that one thing, but you carry it with you. As we end our
study of Ezra and Nehemiah, let’s explore what the Bible has to teach
us about influencing others!
- Josiah
- Read 2 Kings 22:1-2. What kind of influence can an eight-year old have? (When our son began to talk he referred to
all heavy equipment as “gonks.” We still use that term in
our household!) - King Josiah, when he was twenty-six years-old ordered the
repair of the temple. Let’s read 2 Kings 22:8. What is
discovered during this repair? (The Bible as it was then.) - In Lesson 6 of our current series we studied a
similar situation in Nehemiah 8. They read and
explained the Bible to people who were unfamiliar
with what it said. How could the people have lost the
Bible or have forgotten what it said? (Prior to
Josiah’s time, it was simply neglected. In the time
of Nehemiah, the nation had been invaded and the
people taken captive.) - Read 2 Kings 23:1-2. Think about Josiah’s path of
influence. How does God work with Josiah to expand
Josiah’s influence? (Josiah starts with a very basic goal;
to repair the temple. This leads to a discovery of the
Bible. Now, Josiah has the Bible read before the people.) - Are there any lessons in this for us? (Our path to
positively influencing others can start very simply.
God will bless our efforts.) - Read 2 Kings 23:3. What does King Josiah do? (He pledges
to follow God and do His will “with all his heart and all
his soul.”) - What influence does this have on the people? (They
pledge to do the same.) - Josiah is twenty-six and he is having a real
influence for good over his nation. What is your
influence on those around you? (When I asked myself
this question thirty-five years ago, it caused me to
make some overdue changes in my life.) - Nehemiah
- Let’s read some texts about the time Nehemiah was leading
the effort to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. Read Nehemiah
4:10-12. What is the message God’s people are sharing? (We
are not strong enough.) - What is the message of the enemies of God’s people?
(They will kill the workers when they least expect
it.) - What is the message of the Jews who live nearby?
(Attacks are inevitable.) - What is the combined influence of all of these
negative messages? - Read Nehemiah 4:13-14. How does Nehemiah counter these
negative messages? (First, he takes steps to protect the
workers from attack. Second, he encourages them by saying
that God is with them. Third, he encourages them by saying
they are fighting for their families.) - Can you apply this approach to increase your
influence? - Read Nehemiah 2:10, Nehemiah 4:7 and Nehemiah 13:4-5. We
previously studied the issue of Eliashib providing a room
in the temple to Tobiah. How would you characterize
Tobiah? (He is an enemy of God’s people.) - Read Nehemiah 13:6-9. In a previous lesson I asked
if Nehemiah was being impolite. We discussed whether
Nehemiah should have politely asked Tobiah to leave
instead of throwing out all of his possessions. How
is Nehemiah asserting his influence here? (Tobiah is
a bad guy. If he had his way, the temple would not
have been rebuilt. Nehemiah takes strong measures
against Tobiah.) - Are strong measures sometimes needed in our churches
today? Is this sometimes the proper way to assert
influence? - Ezra
- Read Ezra 7:8-10. Why was God’s “gracious hand” on Ezra?
(He devoted himself to the study, observance and teaching
of the law.) - Read Ezra 7:11-13. What kind of influence does Ezra now
have? (King Artaxerxes has empowered Ezra to take God’s
people back to Jerusalem. This is one of the most
important events in the history of God’s people and Ezra
is leading the effort at this time.) - Read Ezra 7:25. What great authority to influence the
future does Ezra now have? (He is selecting and teaching
judges!) - Why was Ezra chosen for this extremely important
task? (His connection to God. God not only gave Ezra
wisdom ( Ezra 7:25), but Ezra studied and taught the
law.) - Can you increase your influence by studying and
teaching God’s law? Or, do you think that would
cause you to lose influence? - Read Ezra 7:27-28. What is the goal of Ezra’s work? (To
bring honor to God’s house.) - What encourages Ezra to get up in the morning and do
his work? (He takes courage from the fact that God is
with him.) - Deborah
- Read Judges 4:4-5. What role did Deborah play in Israel?
(She lead the nation. She was the judge who resolved
disputes among the people. She was a prophet.) - Read Judges 4:6-7. What other role does Deborah hold? (She
relays the military strategy given to her by God.) - Read Judges 4:2-3. How powerful is Sisera? (Chariots were
the latest in war technology. Sisera has 900 iron
chariots!) - Read Judges 4:7. God told Deborah to tell Barak to take
his men up a mountain. God would then arrange for the 900
iron chariots to be the valley. Is some instruction left
out of this message? (I want to know how they use their
position in the mountain to attack these chariots.) - Read Judges 4:8. What does Barak think about these
instructions? What kind of influence would Barak have as a
leader? (He is fearful. His influence would be to spread
fear.) - Read Judges 4:9. What influence does Deborah have over
Barak? - How does Barak diminish his influence?
- What is Barak’s problem? (He does not trust what
Deborah has told him.) - Why would he not trust? (I don’t think the
problem is trusting what Deborah said, I think
Barak’s problem is trusting God.) - Is there a lesson in this when it comes to our
influence? (If we do great things in cooperation with
God, it will enhance our influence.) - Let’s skip down a few verses. Read Judges 4:13-15. What
does it mean that “the Lord routed Sisera?” (Read Judges
5:20-22. We now know how the impossible became possible.
The riverbed in which all the chariots are gathered turns
into a flash flood.) - Read Judges 4:17-20? Who is the person that Sisera fears
will come by? (Barak!) - Read Judges 4:21-22. Who gets the credit for killing
Sisera and who loses credit as predicted by Deborah in
Judges 4:9? (Barak loses the credit and a woman, Jael,
gets the credit.) - Is there a lesson about influence in this story? Is
there a message about gender? Why did God put this
story in the Bible? (The consistent theme of the
Bible is that God tilts towards male leadership.
Despite that tilt, God uses anyone who trusts Him and
fearlessly obeys Him. I think that is the reason for
this story. If a man will not stand up, God will use
women to effect the defeat of evil.) - Friend, what kind of influence do you have on others? Be
honest, is it good or bad? If it is bad, or if it seems
to be a limited influence for good, why not determine to
walk more closely with God and increase your influence?
Why not ask the Holy Spirit, right now, to help you in
that direction? - Next week: Christ: The Center of Daniel. We begin a new series
on the book of Daniel.
