The Truth About Influence

This edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham later in the program will tell you that you can get Dr. Graham's bundle. The first hears the message. The truth about influence today. I will speak to you all the truth regarding our influence in your influence for Christ and your family is huge. Now let me remind you there is no substitute for the work of the father in the home. The spiritual work of the father in the home. Now this certainly does not diminish the ministry of mothers, but men we have been given the assignment by God himself to leave our family spiritually to nurture our children to train them up in the Lord and in his admonitions and so God has given us great help.

In fact, he has given us a book in the Bible specifically written as a training manual for life father's speaking to sons and daughters a training manual if you will and is called the book of Proverbs.

So I would invite you to turn with me today to the book of Proverbs and were going to be looking at some truth regarding father's and sons because there's only one manual really is the how to be a man and it is God's Word and God's wisdom and I want us to listen to the words of an ancient father by the name of Solomon and his book known as Proverbs written from a father to his son. Now in chapter 4 verse seven. Solomon says wisdom is the only thing what matters most. This man is saying to his son is wisdom. Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore get wisdom. I want the very best for my children and therefore I want them to know God's wisdom and that means I have the responsibility of leading them not lecturing them by leading them to know and follow Christ and then to live in the wisdom and in the ways of God. Everyone influences someone it was J. Oswald Sanders, who said leadership is influence. Simply put, is true leadership is influence in every day we are being influenced and we are influencing others and yet some apparently lived their entire lives and never realize their potential as influencers never truly give their influence and live their influence for Christ. And I don't want that to happen to you because you are influencing someone and specifically dad's and mom you are influencing powerfully persuasively personally your children and so I want to give you some biblical insights right out of the book of Proverbs so that you can become a man, a woman of influence and like men who love the remote control. Moving from station to station we going to be moving from Scripture to Scripture this morning rather quickly, as we talk about your influence and specifically your influence with your children insight number one wisdom is taking God and his word seriously.

If you want to be a powerful influence upon people's lot didn't take God and his word seriously. Proverbs 1 verse seven says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. We used to speak of God-fearing men and God-fearing women. We don't hear as much today. Why because we live in a generation in which God is often trivialized and marginalized, and God is no longer someone to be feared. Did you know that your children see God the father through the lens of you their earthly father. Now God is a perfect Bob.

We know that in we are not perfect father, but we are pattern father's and by that I mean we are to be a pattern of the heavenly father. When we take God and his word seriously, then our children begin to follow us as we are following faithfully, our God that we teach our children many things as dad but the most important thing that we can teach our children is to fear and love God. That's the most important lesson of life, and while you think I can't do it. I'm still trying myself. You keep trying.

The question today is are you growing. Are you making progress in your Christian in your Christian life.

Your kids are not looking for perfection but they are looking for direction in their lives and are you pointing them to Christ. You can't kid kids can kids recognize ambivalence when they see, and so are you influencing your children with a passionate devotion to Christ, fearing God loving God, laying down biblical principles and living out those principles yourself because remember you if you're going to be an influence you can't lead someone where you have not been yourself and God can't work through you do something through you until he does something to you and in you and so it all begins with this instruction.

This motivation to take God seriously to be a muscular Christian, not just a man but a man of God. If you want to have maximum influence and impact upon the lives of your children to get excited about and instill that excitement and that motivation that love for God that you have in the lives of your children. If you don't influence your children for Christ, I guarantee you. Others will influence them away from Christ. Take God seriously. Secondly, insight training in this manual of discipline tells us that we are to make wise choices daily now looking Proverbs chapter 2 verses 10 and 11. When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant in your soul, discretion will preserve you.

Understanding will keep you not note that word discretion and a similar word understanding that is in the spirit discernment discretion. Understanding these are words that appear again and again in Proverbs. If you want to be a great dad. You need to be a discerning dad, a discriminating that a decisive dad. He contrasting this book of Proverbs, the difference between wisdom and foolishness, and the difference between wisdom and foolishness.

The difference between raising a wise son or daughter and raising a foolish son or daughter is the difference that discernment makes or discretion makes in our what areas well just very quickly in Proverbs, we see some of this discretion advised one in our attitudes Proverbs 3 and verse 27 do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Our attitude a man, a woman of good discretion will demonstrate care and honor and give good to others. I want my children to know Christ and then I want them to help others to know Christ.

I want my children simply not to take up space on this planet but to live out grace on this planet and my God help everyone of us to show by our example, how we are to live to bring goodness and life to others, so there's attitudes and then spiritual discretion is devise or advise rather with your money.

Look over in Proverbs chapter 3 verses nine and 10 a man is money your children know what is important to you is that your God or is it your money. Scripture says there's a telltale sign as to what is most important, honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase so your increase so your barns will be filled with plenty, and our vats will overflow with new wine over to Proverbs 11 for Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Your money and the use of your money reflects the true value of your heart and what we ought to learn and therefore live and teach and train our children is to make wise choices regarding money listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in today's message. The truth about influence you have a God-given calling to take the gospel to the world. That's why we put together a special bundle of resources to help you grow in your love of the gospel and share it with others.

This evangelism bundle includes three Pastor Jack Graham's books the help of Easter life and God's promises for doubtful days.

This evangelism bundle is our thanks for your gift today and thanks to a generous matching grant your gift today will be doubled. This is the last week You give doubled. So call today: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text the word PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop our E store. Give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham.Margie now it's Québec. Today's message the truth about influence you are going to have great influence on your children. You need first of all to make wise choices concerning your attitude and then wise choices concerning your money and then wise choices concerning your marriage looking Proverbs 579 therefore hear me now. My children and do not depart for the words of my mouth, remove your way far from her house. Speaking of the immoral woman less you give your honor to others in your years to the cruel one. There are very strict warnings in the Proverbs regarding our morality, and specifically regarding our relationship with our wives verse 32 of Proverbs chapter 6 says whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding that a lack of discretion he who does so destroys his own soul wounds and dishonor, he will get his product in his reproach will not be wiped away. How many families in our generation are sacrificed on the altar of some man's lust and sons as well as daughters may take indulgence from your own immorality and daughters may take their cues from your values, so the wise instruction comes from Proverbs 5 verses 15 and 18 great waters from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Speaking of your marriage and let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth, that is wisdom man. God's wisdom ancient words changing me and changing you and then we are to be wise with our words. Use discretion with our speech is a great deal of carelessness and callousness and crudeness in the mouths of men today but Proverbs 10 verse 19 says in the multitudes of words sin is not lacking of the words you talk enough and it is a slippery slope to sin, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 15 wanted to, says a soft answer turns away wrath but harsh words stir up anger.

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly but the mouth of fools ports for foolish men watch your language, you will be a man of God. Let your speech reflect the grace of God in your life because your children are watching and your children are listening and then in your choices.

Discretion is advised in your choices.

We live in a world that values choice and freedom. When we celebrate our freedoms here in this country and the spread of freedom throughout the earth, but freedom includes responsibility and to make wise choices means that I will make choices reflective not only of my liberty but of my love, not only of my rights but of my responsibilities, and of righteousness and we're all making decisions every day that form and forge our character.

In fact, you could say that your character is a series of small and singular decisions that you make day by day.

Your character is the sum total of the choices that you make in life and so we make choices based on not just our freedom in Christ. But I responsibilities in Christ, particularly our responsibilities in leading our children. I'm often as should I drink or should I not drink.

I'm asked Jack why are you a total of Spain. When you practice total abstinence concerning alcohol. Are there some scriptures that would indicate we have freedom in this area, let me to show you a couple scriptures quickly. Proverbs 20 and verse one. Remember this is a dad talking to a son. Wine is a marker intoxicating drink arouses Raleigh's is not just speaking of drunkenness. This is just speaking of the fact and the force of alcohol and whoever is led astray by it is not why. Remember, we're talking about making good decisions. Were talking about making wise decisions and helping our children to do this as well. So three chapters over and Proverbs 23 verses 929 to 32 who has well who has sorrow who has contentions who has complaints who has wounds without cause, who has redness of eyes. Those who linger long at the wine.

Those who go in search of mixed wines or mixed drinks. Do not look on the wine when it is red which sparkles. That is when it is intoxicating in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly at the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a pipe descriptive of the power of drugs and alcohol in people's lives.

I will to live a life of discretion and discernment and make wise decisions regarding my choices choice and choice along says I have a right but love says I have a responsibility to do better to live better to live by higher standards and greater standards.

But what are you going to be my boy when you've reached manhood years, a doctor, a lawyer or an actor great moving throngs the laughter's and tears, but he shook his head as he gave his reply in a serious way that he had. I don't think I like to be any of I want to be like my dad. He wants to be like his dad. You men did you ever think as you pause at the boy. He watches your every move is building a set of laws he's molding a life. Here the model for and whether it's good or bad depends upon the kind of example, set the boy who would be like his dad. Would you have them go everywhere you go. Having do just the things you do and see everything your eyes behold and woo hoo all the gods you will when you see the worship that shines in the eyes of your lovable little lad could you rest content. If he gets his wish and grows up just like his dad is a job that none but you yourself can fill is a charge. You must answer for is the duty to show him the road to tread very reaches manhood store is a debt you owe for the greatest joy on this whole earth to be had the pleasure of having a boy to raise who wants to be like his dad. So dad make wise choices via discriminating dad a discerning dad a decisive dad and choose the best for you and your son. One final word that is live to leave a legacy.

Proverbs 22 in verse one says a good name is chosen, rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver or gold and then listen to Proverbs 13 in verse 22 a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children as our grandkids and the wealth of the center is laid up for the unjust is talking about the lasting legacy that we live, and that we give the Read the Bible without discovering those genealogies. Most of us just pass through them very quickly when were reading for the Bible but it is descriptive, these these genealogists of the importance of families and the legacy of faith that is being passed on from generation to generation, and to live a legacy to live a life so that your children and your grandchildren and beyond that your family to come will live in faith. My grandfather was a godly dedicated man I absolutely adored. We live with my grandfather.

His wife died and so I had the privilege every evening when I was a little boy sitting in his lap. In his rocking chair to his room. I know this sounds like a fairytale but it's true of living with with my grandfather and handed every evening I would crawl in his lap. He would read stories to me of all kinds, but ultimately he would read the story of God.

We would read her the stories of the Bible specifically, he would tell me the great stories of faith and though he is been in heaven many years. The legacy of his life lives on. I am forever grateful. The legacy of his faith lives on in my family. You cannot underestimate the influence of your life and when you think about it. The only thing were going to take to heaven with us from this earth will be our children our family and friends that we have led to Christ that is the only thing were taking with us and so may God help us do so love to so live that are legacy will last the lives of those Boys and Girls Club those families and generations to come because of dad today decided not to be a delegating dad or disconnected dad but a devoted following saying follow me as I listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in today's message. The truth about influence 3.2 billion people in our world still have no access to the good news of Jesus. We must do what ever it takes to reach the lost, but the hope of Christ.

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Whenever you give today to help reach more people to PowerPoint your support will help broadcast the gospel into some of the most spiritually dark corners of the earth will say thanks for your gift by sending you three of Pastor Graham's books to share the gospel right where you are. This evangelism bundle includes the help of Eastern life in God's promises for downfield days.

This is the last week to have your gift doubled. So call today: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text the word PowerPoint to 59789 that's PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop our E store. Give the gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham.Margie Hester pleasure PowerPoint for today. Proverbs 47 wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting get understanding. I hope today's message helps you gain new wisdom insight as to how you can be as strong and godly influence on those around you. You know my parents and grandparents dedication to Christ still has tremendous influence on my life today and they've given me such a rich spiritual inheritance.

So if you're a parent out there listening to me. You need to know or be reminded that your children are depending on you to leave them in the right direction. If you got a friend is heading in the wrong direction they need you to help show them the way to find forgiveness truth in Jesus Christ wouldn't be a tragedy if your family if your friends if your loved ones missed out on heaven because you never used your influence directly or even indirectly with them. Would you be a tragedy if because of your negative influence, someone stepped into eternity without God. You are salt and you are light. One day we're going to stand before Christ in eternity and give an account for our influence. I pray that none of us will go home without taking someone with us. I want to ask you today, are you passing a godly influence to others. Are you leaving behind steppingstones or stumbling blocks to those who are looking to you and expecting your guidance.

I really hope you'll take what you've learned today from today's message and apply it to your life so you two can impart a spiritual legacy to those around you. God bless you as you take your influence seriously and maximize your life and witness for the Lord Jesus Christ and that is today's power. Remember when you give a gift PowerPoint. Your gift will be doubled by a matching call one 800-7954 627-1800 795-4627.

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