February 6, 2022 · Proverbs 27:17

Iron Sharpening Iron

“Some of them are Instagram models, that people are following, and they got all these pictures, and they influence things. Some of them are on cliff-tops, trying to take the perfect selfie, and actually literally fall off the cliff-top and die. "I happen to be famous influencer." You don't want to be influenced that way, do we? You don't want to fall off the cliff. And that's what we have to be careful of. Who are these influencers? And I also have to wonder: who is influencing the influencers? Who's influencing the — become influencers? Are they good forces or bad? With this culture that we've created, where people are thirsty for celebrity, and try to be the most popular, get the most likes? What's influencing them to be like that? And is that influencing us? We can't help but be influenced by our fellow humans. This is who we are. But wisdom calls us to look into who is influencing, and how they're influencing. We need to keep our eyes open. Is it the gangster rappers, with their money, sex, drugs, that are influencing us? Or is it the wise neighbour who's trying to show you how to best grow vegetables in your garden? Is it Satan, as he crafts and moulds the culture towards evil desires? Or is it the Holy Spirit, as he speaks to you through the Bible and through good Jesus-follower friends? If we're going to apply this in our lives — this idea — there's three things I want to focus on. The first thing I'm going to ask you is: take stock of who is influencing you. Who is influencing you? Just take a moment — maybe close your eyes. Note the different voices that you allow into your head, or come into your head, during a week. We'll start with media.”