So far, we have looked at how a woman's spirit has an influence on everyone she comes in contact with, whether she realizes it or not. God also has a divine sphere of influence for each and every woman, that may change over time.
Your sphere of influence is wherever God places you, for as long as He places you there.
Sometimes our spheres are expanded; sometimes they are focused and individual.
The apostle Paul is a great example. Shortly after his conversion on the Damascus road, he went to Jerusalem where his influence for the Gospel was met with skepticism. He had, after all, gone to Damascus to persecute the Christians, not join them!
The truth of his transformation was verified by others, particularly Ananias and Barnabas; but Paul’s influence was a threat to the Jewish leaders, so he was sent to Caesarea and his hometown of Tarsus (Acts 9).
Over and over throughout Paul’s life, his sphere of influence changed. For one, he traveled as a missionary throughout Asia Minor sharing the gospel everywhere he went. Then he was imprisoned.
You might be tempted to think that his influence was effectively neutralized by imprisonment. But no, God had actually expanded Paul’s influence. By limiting the face-to-face contact Paul had with others, the ministry of his letters lingers on as God-breathed Scripture today.
Along the way and often in prison, Paul wrote Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Perhaps even Hebrews, we don’t know for sure.
Everywhere Paul went, he was an influence for Christ: when he sang in the Philippian jail with Silas, when he appeared to Governor Felix and then Festus, when he was shipwrecked near Malta, and when he was placed under Roman guard.
Paul claimed no position except bondservant of Jesus Christ. All of his former titles and positions of influence, he discarded as worthless (Philippians 3:4-9).
Think of Daniel and of Joseph. The high positions of influence came after an evident God-filled spirit. Daniel’s sphere of influence changed from that of a young captive from a conquered land to a high-ranking official in a world empire. Even with that “promotion,” his influence was most profound when he spoke from inside a lion’s den. (Daniel ch. 1-6)
Joseph went from favored son to bartered slave. From administrator for Potiphar to falsely accused prisoner. And as we fondly recall, he was finally given charge over all of Egypt, answerable only to Pharaoh himself. (Genesis ch. 37-41)
Need some female examples? Then think of Rahab the harlot who hid Israeli spies inside of Jericho, married an Israelite, and became the mother of Boaz, thus entering the lineage of Christ (that’s right! Read it in Matt. 1:5). What about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Or the woman at the well who told her whole village about Christ. Then there are the three women who came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body—they were told by the angels to bear the news of His resurrection to the rest of His followers.
God made you as a woman to have a spirit of influence, and He has given you a sphere of influence.
Be encouraged today to manifest His Spirit through you wherever you go, to whomever you meet.
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