The Children of Issachar! Part 3

They are a people of influence:

Influence here also implies power, authority, and inspiration. 1 Chron. 12:32 says, “… and all their brethren were at their commandment”. Obviously, the children of Issachar were found to be reliable, persuasive, and as such, highly regarded in their community. They were evidently, men of integrity and had a positive impact on their people. Over time and in several situations, the people connected and benefited from their good judgement, charisma, and maturity. So the people trusted them and did their bidding.

As few as they were, just 200 men, they were able to rally the people round to support the choice of God.

According to Vocabulary.com, “Influence is the power to have an important effect on someone or something. If someone influences someone else, they are changing a person or thing in an indirect but important way”.

Below I reproduce an article from Dr. Alex Lickerman on “WHY IS INFLUENCE IMPORTANT?”

Control over our lives is something we all want. But in a universe in which everything is mutually interdependent, none of us has absolute control over anything except ourselves (and even over ourselves our control is indirect and partial only). Instead, what we all have in abundance is influence, the power of which seems to function linearly: the closer personally and physically others are to us, the greater our influence over them, and vice versa. Even more interestingly, unlike our attempts to control, our attempts to influence don't require our conscious intent. Which is why our ability to influence others is so much more important that our ability to control them: we're always exerting influence simply by being who we are, saying what we say, and doing what we do. The only real choice we have in the matter is whether or not the influence we exert is good or bad.

BECOMING A GOOD INFLUENCE

You never know who's watching you. And someone always is, whether your child, your sibling, your spouse, your friend, or a stranger in another car on the road. Emotions and inner life states are transmitted like viruses along the vectors of our words and actions, even from the quietest and smallest. Nothing can encourage us like someone else's good example. They're frankly few and far between—but they're there if you look for them. Want to create value with your life? Become a good influence.

Stop and think. What better service can you provide someone else besides being a good example to them? Not with conscious intention, which always seems contrived and has little power to encourage, but by simply (oh, ironic word) becoming the examples you yourself want to see. When you've actually become something, others see it in almost everything you do.

Samuel Rodriguez, President of the Hispanic Evangelical Association, summarizes it thus;

Issachar’s tribe lived surrounded by paganism, idolatry, unrighteousness, consternation, angst, and flux. Yet the men of this tribe understood the times and subsequently proceeded to provide direction for Israel through influential leadership.

Accordingly, as Christ-centered, Bible-based, 21st century “Sons of Issachar,” we carry the power to exert catalytic influence in our respective communities. We can initiate change by reconciling the vertical and horizontal planes of the Christian message, renewing a Spirit-empowered ethos, repudiating complacency, and redeeming the narrative of prophetic activism.

Today, Christian men (and women) are poised to influence family, community, church, and culture when we understand the holistic message of the Cross where Christ’s sacrifice communicates this amazing message: love, grace, and eternal life. As Sons of Issachar, we can and will exert maximum influence when we lift holy hands in conviction and stretch out helping hands with compassion. Dear Sons of Issachar, it’s our time to arise. This hour represents the greatest opportunity to redeem the narrative of prophetic activism.

When next someone asks you, “What do Christians do besides go to church on Sunday”? Tell them that;

We love.
We forgive.
We turn the other cheek.
We bless our enemies.
We walk in integrity.
We live abundantly.
We give food, water, and clothing to those in need.
We welcome strangers.
We preach in and out of season.
We worship in the Spirit and in truth.
We shine the light of Christ.
We do justice.
We love mercy.
We walk humbly before God.
We change the world!