The Power of Influence (Part 2)
“And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place” (Genesis 40: 14 NLT).
Last week I shared with you Joseph's ability to influence upward. I referred to this approach as vertical influence, which is the ability to influence someone above you to make a decision in your favor. I sort of put the cart before the horse on purpose by not telling you how Joseph first came before Pharaoh. Before I explain this next concept, let me first make this prophetic statement. This is your time to lead. Leadership is simply influence. If you want to take your life, business, ministry, or career to the next level, you must be willing to step out and lead. "What do you mean?" you might ask. Well, first of all, the times that we're living in call for strategic leaders. The signs are all around you. Recession is a sign of poor leadership. The lack of motivation and change in your environment is a true sign of poor leadership as well.
There's a new paradigm taking place in our world today. It's a "Joseph Paradigm". This is the season when God is calling the Josephs, or Josephines if you're female, of our day to be bold about what you want to see happen in your life. Leadership first begins with you. If you're going to be a leading man or leading lady of the twenty-first century, you've got to develop the discipline to self lead without depending on others to motivate you. You'll also need courage to ask for what you want and develop a plan to get it. All of Joseph's life he had been preparing for this moment of destiny to stand before the king. But in order to do so he must first know how to influence those around him. Someone close to you can help take your dream to the next phase. I call this horizontal influence, which is the ability to influence those around you...a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, a colleague, a stranger... Joseph tapped into his secret weapon of influence by mustering up the courage to ask the butler for favor. Here's a powerful revelation I want to share with you about butlers - they open doors. God has a butler prepared just for you to be a bridge from where you are to where you want to be.
But how are you going to get there? Only through the power of influence. Seize every opportunity to use your gift to minister to someone in need. Joseph was willing to put his gift to work by serving others, even in prison. God placed the right person in his path that needed what he had. Joseph was able to influence the butler by speaking life into his situation, and then use his influence to also ask the butler to remember him when he got restored to his office of serving the king. After two seemingly long years, the king received a disturbing dream, which no one in his entourage was able to interpret. God knows exactly how and when to turn the heart of men in your direction. The butler remembered how Joseph ministered to his need. That's exactly what set the stage for him to stand before the king. Friends, you have the influence to move your life forward. God has given you a gift, talent, wisdom, or some ability to use to be a blessing to others. Use your gift in such a way that you'll leave a mark on people's lives that will make it impossible for them to forget you even if they tried. Now, that's the power of influence.
- Pastor John Barton