Influence

Geneses 30:27  And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. 

There is so much to be learned from this scripture. It is as though when one is under the favor of God that those who are around them can share in that favor.

This was certainly the case with Laban. As soon as Jacob showed up, so did favor and prosperity. Laban’s life changed to the extent that he never wanted Jacob to leave and go back home. The atmosphere around Jacob brought everyone to a higher level of thinking and creativity.  

In Laban’s case, he had enjoyed prosperity as a successful rancher for many years. However, when Jacob showed up, Laban learned the difference between being prosperous in the natural and being prosperous in the spiritual. Laban learned that Jacob’s type of prosperity was on a totally different level than his.

Jacob had an experience with the Lord at Bethel that would change his life forever. As a result, you might say that a man with a spiritual anointing like Jacob, is never at the mercy of a man with only natural experience like Laban.

I know I am a blessed man like Jacob, and therefore I expect those around me to share in that blessing. The blessing that I am talking about is not necessarily financial prosperity, (even though the Lord has blessed me over the years), but spiritual prosperity. The Lord has allowed me the privilege of moving in the prophetic and the ability to see things in the spirit when I pray for people. As a result, many who have ministered with me say they also begin to see things in the spirit and hear prophetic words.

The fact is everyone is gifted in some way and therefore their gift should be able to inspire and elevate others to a higher level. For example, there are those who always have a positive attitude, and their words are always uplifting. There are others who are just happy people and when I am around them, I seem to be happier than usual.

The influence that Jacob had on Laban’s life showed up in a new level of prosperity.  I suppose the question we all must ask ourselves is, how do we influence people … are they better off by being around us?

Father:

Help us to remember our own personal time at Bethel and how our lives were changed like Jacob’s. Our desire is to live in our Bethel joy, in order to elevate the hope in others.

Amen