Influence
the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
There are so many influences in the world today that you are seeing :
Influences of anger
Depression
Hopelessness
Frustration
Bitterness
Racism
Violence
Demonic activity
Look at the behavior of those being influenced by evil.
There is an agenda- the agenda against Christ- antichrist
We are advancing the Kingdom and there is resistance. We are in the last days and have been teaching end times prophecy and the importance is to know where you are headed and Whom you serve. No amount of laws or police or military will reach the lost. Only Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit can draw men to Jesus. And even then not all will come……. There is a heaven and there is a hell, we preach life and live more abundant but that only comes through Jesus, He is the one who came to give you that abundant life and without Him you will have not only death here in this life but for eternity.
Romans 11:22(AMP)
22 Then note and appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s gracious kindness to you—provided you continue in His grace and abide in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off (pruned away).
Romans 11:22(NLT)
22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in His kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off
Romans 11:22(TPT)
22 So fix your gaze on the simultaneous kindness[p] and strict justice[q] of God. How severely He treated those who fell into unbelief! Yet how tender and kind is His relationship with you. So keep on trusting in His kindness; otherwise, you also will be cut off.
That tender, kind relationship enables the Holy Spirit to come and reside inside of you. It is His influence that directs the course of your life if you will choose Him. Choose to follow Him.
Pentecost(50)- 50 days from resurrection
The Holy Spirit Comes
Acts 2:1-13(NLT)
2 On the day of Pentecost[a] all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,[b] as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
Acts 2:36-40(NLT)
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away[h]—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
What should we do?
1. Repent of your sins. Take inventory of yourself with the power of the Holy Spirit-not to condemnation but to refining. It is a Heart attitude.
2. Turn to God- pray, and read His Word
3. Being baptized is an act of obedience- Obey Him- it is a public display of your faith- make your faith public by your obedience.
Acts 2:46-47(NLT)
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.