Once in his office, Pastor Judah Kalinga Sir, my Pastor looked at me and said, “Pastor Nelly, ministry is not a popularity contest. To be effective in ministry, you have to learn to stand your ground and do the right thing, no matter what. That means making unpopular decisions, sometimes.” Then he added, ” The work of ministry must never stop because of disagreements or challenges. I would rather the fireworks find me in the office, that is, if there are disagreements, while the work is moving. The great commission is our PRIMARY FOCUS.”

My Pastor is not only my Pastor but he is my boss too. That being said, I am given goals or rather with the guidance of admin,I set goals and these goals, with my team, I must attain without excuses. So at this particular point in time, Pastor Sir was from evaluating a project that I had done and of course, the results weren’t the very best. My excuse? Pastor Sir, I couldn’t do it effectively because of this and that. That’s when Pastor made the above statements which completely changed my view of ministry.

See, popularity and influence are 2 different things. You could be popular but not influential. Also, an influential man is not necessarily popular. If the applaud of men is what has caused you to gain that popularity, then what happens when they stop? You will not stand the criticism of men. You will truly lose the popularity, the exact way you gained it.

What is influence? Influence implies power to affect persons or events, especially power based on prestige. It also means “the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command.”

Who is an influential man?

Let’s see what the Bible says.

Mark  15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

When Jesus died, the disciples are not the ones who got his body for burial. Of course, the reason is not because they weren’t righteous enough but because they were not influential. The disciples did not have the influence. However, Joseph of Arimathaea who was a highly respected member of the Jewish Council was the one who got the body of Jesus.

In 2017, during the Month of Influence, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, My Pastor’s mentor said, if you’re not a man or woman of influence, you really can’t speak for the “body of Jesus”; that means you can’t speak for the body of Christ.

The Bible tells us that the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heard.

“Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard” (Ecclesiastes 9:15-16).

The poor Church will never be able to speak for the body of Christ; it’s only the Church with influence that’ll speak for the body of Christ!

Again, who is the man with influence?

The man with influence is the man who takes God’s instructions like it’s the only TRUTH he’s ever known. If God tells him to take over a nation in whatever aspect, then he goes ahead to do exactly that, no matter the rebellious circumstances at the moment. The man with influence is the man who takes the great commission so seriously that he would do anything to accomplish this Word.

The Great Commission is highlighted here in Matthew 28:16-20; Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Ministry is not a popularity contest.

What instruction has been given to you by the Holy Spirit? Are you fulfilling your purpose on this earth? The ability to do that thing you’ve been postponing and the blessing is in the instruction (God’s Word). If popularity comes as a result of being influential, well and good. But never find yourself seeking to please men at the expense of the Gospel or your calling. Do what God has said to do. The ability, physical and mental strength are already resident in you. For lack of a better word, be stubborn in the fulfillment of your purpose in this world. This will also call for you to develop a strong and tough forehead. If God said it, I will do it because it means He has availed all that I need to achieve what he wants me to. God’s opinion is the opinion that matters. When you have this consciousness, you will make decisions and choices that favour the advancement of the Gospel. You will always have the courage to forge forward and fight this good fight of faith. It is a good fight because the victory is guaranteed! The Word will always produce what it talks about.

 When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable (Hebrews 6:13-20 The Message (MSG)

God’s Word is a more SURE word of prophecy, get to the Word of God and deliberately meditate on it today. If God said it, go ahead and do it. In each and every area of your life, become influential by doing and living out the Word of God! it is the truth that we do and live out that is impactful.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19 KJV)

Remember it doesn’t matter how nice you are or how much you believe in Jesus. If there is no influence, there will be no voice. Today, decide that you will be influential for the Gospel. Do the Word as it comes because God is always talking, you just need to be attentive. Let your prosperity result in the advancement of the Kingdom around the world. There are so many people hurting in the world because nobody has reached out to them yet and it takes money to do that. Purpose to partner with the kingdom and your increase is sure.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14 KJV )

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2 Cor 9:6-8).

Joseph of Arimathaea, gained access to the body of Jesus because he was an influential man. The disciples didn’t have as much influence as he did. Beloved, God has called you to be a person of influence in your world. You’ve been chosen to make great impact in your generation for God, and you don’t have to be an ordained minister to do this. Don’t think in terms of titles; think in terms of function. Ask yourself, “How can I affect my environment today?”

Make up your mind not to live an ordinary life. God needs you to be a person of influence, so you can speak for the Church, the body of Christ.

I celebrate you Pastor Sir!!! Thank you for diligently teaching me + millions more, the Word of God with simplicity and clarity!!!

#CelebratingMyPastor
#PastorJudahKalinga
#PastorJudahChronicles
#LessonsILearntFromMyPastor
#PastorJudahKid
#PJK
#CelebratingAnIconOfGreatness
#Nexcellenting