Host Victor Nunez and guest Emmanuel continue their series from “Hidden Seasons” to “visibility” and now “influence,” focusing on how character is tested when exposure and responsibility increase. They discuss why influence magnifies strengths and weaknesses, the dangers of pride, people-pleasing, and performance replacing obedience, and the need to avoid causing others to stumble (1 Corinthians 10).

They emphasize accountability, humility, and guarding the heart, citing Luke 16:10, James 3:1, 1 Timothy 3:6, Galatians 1:10, Romans 12, and Proverbs 4:23. Examples include leadership pressures, criticism, parenting boundaries, and Emmanuel helping an elderly woman.

They highlight personal time with God, silence, teachability, servant leadership, and relying on grace, including Paul’s “thorn” (2 Corinthians 12), concluding that influence is stewardship for God’s glory, not ego.

For those times that we have fallen short, we must quickly seek God to confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, repent, and ask Him to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We can move forward with a clean slate when we do things God’s way. Instead of carrying around the burden of our past trespasses, we can walk in confidence that God does not hold condemnation against us (Romans 8:1). We may approach His throne boldly and recognize that by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son, we have been counted righteous in His sight (Hebrews 4:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

A key component of ensuring we keep God first revolves around avoiding idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). Idolatry can be deceptive because good things can become idols if we fail to approach them as God designed them. God blesses us with the chance to form deep connections with others that could potentially lead to marriage. However, we are not exercising wisdom if we prioritize these relationships over our devotion to God. Sex is also a blessing from God, but if we have it outside of His design in marriage, it is a sin and carries consequences with it (Hebrews 13:4). Thank God forgiveness is available to those of us who have fallen short in such areas. Still, our responsibility is to battle them and repent. These two blessings go hand-in-hand with God’s intentions for creation, and God designed them for us to enjoy in their proper place (Mark 10:7-8). The problem arises when we do not follow God’s guidance with the gifts He has given us.

When we think we are standing in victory from a disposition of self-righteousness and pride, we are also terribly mistaken (1 Corinthians 10:12). We all have different strengths and weaknesses. It would be imprudent of me to judge someone harshly because they struggle with a sin I find easy to abstain from. In our hearts, we must remember that there is always room for improvement in at least one if not many, areas of weakness. We should let that reality lead us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought and esteem others more highly than ourselves whenever possible (Romans 12:3; Philippians 2:3). If not, our pride and self-righteousness may become serious precursors to significant falls (Proverbs 16:18-19).

Sometimes, even though we feel we are in good standing with God, we must ask God to examine and help us align our heart’s desires with His will (Proverbs 3:5-6). We may have a problem that may be hard to detect due to being desensitized to the gravity of the situation. Perhaps it stems from ignorance, habitual sin, or the long-term underestimation of a foothold that became a prominent issue or a stronghold. Thankfully, God can help us take thoughts captive and empower us to demolish strongholds we may have mistakenly allowed our adversary to develop (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). A combination of humility, self-awareness, and prayer can be the antidote we need to resolve these issues immediately. The sooner we cut a small sin off at its root, the better off we will be long-term, for it will not have the chance to grow (Matthew 5:29-30).

It is vital to pursue the well-being of our loved ones and help them when they are willing to consider our advice. Sometimes we can offer the truth in love to a fellow brother or sister in Christ (Ephesians 4:14-15). It can bring temporary discomfort or, in extreme cases, potentially cost us that relationship altogether. But they may need to hear what we say, which could become an eternal blessing (Galatians 6:1-3).

I only advocate that we do this with careful consideration of factors such as our proximity to them relationally, the timing of relevant circumstances, and their willingness to heed our advice in prior instances. Sometimes we must be willing to risk a friendship to offer them the direction they might not realize they desperately need. There are enough people out there that are willing to tell you what you desire to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Good friends occasionally offer advice that challenges and steers us to consider our decision-making.

When you give this kind of advice, it is wise to pray beforehand and ensure it is with good intentions. Speak the truth with love and offer it gracefully in proportion to the topic’s sensitivity. Transparency with your difficulty in a similar area may help them understand they are not alone in their struggle (Matthew 7:1-5). They may not appreciate it now but will be grateful in the long run. If you receive such constructive criticism or judgment, try to exercise self-control and discernment (James 1:19-20). It may be difficult not to get defensive, but ask yourself if the person has your best interests at heart and is qualified to offer advice about the topic. You should take their advice with a grain of salt when one of these requirements is lacking. Seek God’s guidance above all in prayer to find confirmation before you make any sudden decisions.

Ultimately, we all need each other and God above all others. Do not hesitate to act if you are confident God is leading you to do so. But remember that God often aligns us with His will and speaks to us through the loved ones He surrounds us with. Keep in mind that God will never contradict His Word. Seek and obey Him above all others, but try to maintain the humility to recognize when you are given quality advice from someone perhaps older, wiser, or otherwise more experienced than you in certain areas. Their words may not be as gracious as you desire, but if acting on them would save you from a world of pain, they are crucial to consider.

Last time we discussed James 4:1-6 and explored some of the numerous downsides to pride. Today, it’s time to proceed to James 4:7-12, where we can examine the benefits of humility. Some considerations include the answers to questions such as:

• Does humility assist us in conquering temptation when we submit to God?
• How does humility in God’s sight hold tremendous value?
• What are some of the implications of surrendering to God, and how does humility open the door for it?

I hope that today’s message will motivate you to pursue God and let go of more of the world’s allures every day. May it prove practical in your walk with God whether you recently became a believer or have been serving Him for a lifetime.

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In today’s video, we examine how pride interferes with the Church. Some of the questions James 4:1-6 can help us answer include:

• What happens if we allow our fleshly desires to take over our priorities? – Can we seek after God’s blessings for the wrong reasons?
• What are some examples of potentially Godly reasons for seeking God’s gifts?
• Is it possible to be a friend with the world and a friend of God?
• Why does pride cause God to resist us, and how does humility invite God’s grace into our lives?

I am confident that you might find it thought-provoking, and I hope it inspires you to draw closer to God and challenges you to consider these dynamics as they pertain to your life.

Thanks for stopping by the channel. If you like the content and want to see more of it in the future, don’t forget to subscribe. Hit the notification bell to receive immediate updates when I upload new videos. May God bless you and your loved ones!