Unsung Heroes: The Power of Faithful Influence

Devotional

Day 1: Influence Beyond the Spotlight

In a world that often celebrates those in the limelight, the true power of influence often lies with those who work quietly behind the scenes. The story of Lois and Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy, exemplifies this truth. Their faith, though not publicly recognized, was instrumental in shaping Timothy's spiritual journey. Paul acknowledged their influence, noting that their faith was traceable, transferable, and tangible. This highlights the importance of living authentically and faithfully, knowing that our actions can have a profound impact on others, even if we are not in the spotlight. Our influence is not diminished by our position; rather, it is amplified by our authenticity and commitment. [01:18:35]

"Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!" (Psalm 90:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life has influenced you from the shadows, and how can you honor their impact today?

Day 2: Faith as a Generational Gift

Faith is not merely a personal possession; it is a legacy that we pass on to future generations. Lois and Eunice understood this, instilling a genuine faith in Timothy that Paul recognized as traceable and transferable. This legacy of faith is like a baton in a race, passed from one generation to the next. It is a reminder that our faith should be something others can inherit and build upon. By living out our faith authentically, we create a foundation for others to follow, ensuring that the legacy of faith continues to grow and flourish. [01:24:36]

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure that your faith is a legacy for future generations?

Day 3: Faith Observed and Emulated

Genuine faith is not only taught through words but caught through actions. Much of what we learn is through observation and imitation. Timothy's faith was a reflection of what he observed in Lois and Eunice. This underscores the importance of living a life that others can see and emulate, leading them to a deeper relationship with God. Our lives should reflect a faith that is visible and tangible, inspiring others to follow in our footsteps. [01:29:03]

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV)

Reflection: How can your actions today reflect a faith that others can observe and emulate?

Day 4: The Power of Authentic Faith

In a world where appearances can be deceiving, genuine faith stands out. Paul commended Timothy for his unfeigned faith, which was without hypocrisy. This kind of faith is not a performance but a reality that withstands the trials of life. Authentic faith is a powerful testimony to the world, demonstrating the transformative power of a relationship with God. By living out our faith authentically, we become a beacon of hope and inspiration to those around us. [01:32:45]

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (Romans 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life can you strive for greater authenticity in your faith today?

Day 5: The Unseen Ripple Effect of Faith

We may never fully understand the impact of our faith, but God can use it in powerful ways. The story of Pria Hall, whose words inspired a movement, serves as a testament to this truth. Our words and actions, even in the shadows, can influence and inspire others beyond our imagination. This reminds us that our faith, though unseen, can have a ripple effect, touching lives in ways we may never know. By trusting in God's plan, we can be confident that our faith will be used for His glory. [01:37:47]

"For who has despised the day of small things? These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you trust God to use your faith in unseen ways today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound impact of those who work behind the scenes, often unnoticed, yet whose influence is pivotal in shaping the world. We began by reflecting on the historical significance of women, particularly black women, who have been the unsung heroes throughout history. Their contributions, though often in the shadows, have been steady, significant, and substantive. This theme was illustrated through the story of Pria Hall, who led a prayer service amidst the ashes of a burned church in 1962, inspiring leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. with her words.

We then turned our attention to the biblical figures of Lois and Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy. These women, though not in the spotlight, played a crucial role in shaping Timothy's faith, which was recognized by Paul as traceable, transferable, and tangible. Their faith was not just a personal possession but something they passed on, much like a baton in a race. This illustrates the power of influence and the importance of living a life of genuine faith that others can emulate.

The message emphasized that our faith should be genuine and without hypocrisy, much like the unfeigned faith Paul saw in Timothy. This genuine faith is not just taught but caught, as seen in the way children learn by observing those around them. The call to action is clear: we must live out our faith authentically, knowing that our influence can have a lasting impact on others, even if we serve in the shadows.

Finally, we were reminded of the power of influence through the story of Pria Hall, whose words inspired a movement. Her story serves as a testament to the fact that we never know where our influence will lead or how God will use our faith to impact the world.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Influence in the Shadows: Often, the most significant influences come from those who work behind the scenes. Like Lois and Eunice, whose faith shaped Timothy, our actions and faith can have a profound impact even if we are not in the spotlight. Our influence is not diminished by our position; rather, it is amplified by our authenticity and commitment. [78:35]
2. Faith as a Legacy: The faith we possess is not just for us; it is a legacy we pass on to future generations. Lois and Eunice exemplified this by instilling a genuine faith in Timothy, which Paul recognized as traceable and transferable. Our faith should be something that others can inherit and build upon. [84:36]
3. Genuine Faith is Caught, Not Just Taught: Much of what we learn is through observation and imitation. Genuine faith is not only taught through words but caught through actions. Our lives should reflect a faith that others can see and emulate, leading them to a deeper relationship with God. [89:03]
4. The Importance of Authenticity: In a world where appearances can be deceiving, genuine faith stands out. Paul commended Timothy for his unfeigned faith, which was without hypocrisy. Our faith should be real and authentic, not a performance, so that it can withstand the trials of life. [92:45]
5. The Unseen Impact of Our Faith: We may never fully understand the impact of our faith, but God can use it in powerful ways. Pria Hall's prayer inspired a movement, showing that our words and actions, even in the shadows, can influence and inspire others beyond our imagination. [01:37:47]
** [97:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[77:29] - Opening Prayer and Reflection
[78:35] - The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
[79:05] - Historical Context: Sasser, Georgia
[80:00] - Pria Hall's Prayer Service
[81:12] - The Oscars and Unsung Heroes
[83:09] - Lois and Eunice: Unsung Biblical Heroes
[84:36] - Traceable, Transferable, Tangible Faith
[86:13] - The Genogram of Faith
[87:02] - Starting New Patterns of Faith
[88:13] - The Transferable Nature of Faith
[89:03] - Faith: Caught, Not Just Taught
[91:08] - Tangible Faith: Genuine and Unfeigned
[93:04] - The Reality of Genuine Faith
[95:02] - Serving in the Shadows
[97:47] - Pria Hall's Influence and Legacy

Sermon Clips

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle rules the world. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle rules the world, and sometimes that Hand That Rocks the Cradle, sometimes that hand is shown in the sunlight, but often it is rocking the Cradle within the shadows. In other words, sometimes The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, it's not always the hand that is seen in the Forefront, but sometimes it is the hand that is seen behind the scenes. [01:17:55]

All throughout history, there have been women who have been doing things that have been steady, significant, and substantive, not always in the foreground but sometimes in the background. I'm going to take you back to the year 1962. The day is September the 10th. The place is Sasser, Georgia, in the spot where the Mount Olive Baptist Church used to stand. [01:18:55]

The woman who led the prayer service that day was a woman named Pria Hall. Pria Hall now, Pria Hall is not a household name or really the subject of a spotlight. She's one of those that work not in the sunshine but operated sometimes in the shadows. Speaking of those who operate in the shadows, last Sunday, the eyes of the world looked in the direction of Hollywood for the 97th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award ceremony. [01:20:26]

These awards are given, but these roles are unsung and may not be celebrated like others, but they are crucial to the outcome of a film. And so it is with the dynamic duo that we will study in scripture today. They may not be in the leading role on any of the films of Our Lives as it comes to scripture, but they are crucially important to the ultimate outcome of one who will make a difference in the life of the New Testament church. [01:22:58]

Paul is saying to Timothy, I see in you some three things. I see in you something that is traceable, something that is transferable, and something that is tangible. In other words, Paul is saying to Timothy, look brother, when I think about you and I remember you, I see something in you that is traceable. He says I saw that Faith first in Lois and in Eunice and now I see it in you. [01:25:28]

What I want to say to us today is no matter what your spiritual history has been, no matter what you've gone through or been through in life, one of the things that this text teaches us is that it is traceable. In other words, no matter what it's been, if you wanted to go in a different direction, it can start with you. [01:27:44]

So much of what we learn is not taught but caught. Come on, I feel like I'm by myself today. Come on, I'm going to wrap this up in a little bit. So much of what we learn today, it is not taught but it's caught. Oh my brother or my sister, especially when you learn how to cook that particular dish. [01:28:50]

We've got to have something that people can catch on to, something that we can pass on, that genuine faith that we have. It's got to be not only traceable but it's got to be transferable, something that cannot only be taught. I'm not saying it should not only be taught, but it's something that is caught. [01:30:26]

Timothy could pick up what they put down because even though faith is the substance of things hoped for, it still has substance, and that substance kept him in his time, and that substance will keep us in ours because oftentimes we're not called to serve in the spotlight, but that Faith still has to be working in the shadows. [01:34:38]

Lois and Eunice, they were not thinking that, hey, we're going to do this so that one day our little boy can go with the man of God who's going to write over half the New Testament and travel around with him, lay hands on our son, ordain him as a preacher of the Gospel. They didn't do it; they were just living the life. [01:35:31]

You never know what your influence, where your, you never know where your influence will go. Why? Come on, Elisha, you can start playing, brother, whatever the Lord lays on your heart, because I want to take you back to September 10th, 1962, as we close, talking about a faith that's traceable, Faith that's transferable, a faith that is tangible. [01:36:01]

Pria began to pray a prayer that day, and a phrase she kept using over and over during that prayer was, wait for it, I have a dream. I have a dream. I have a dream is what Pria Hall kept saying over and over and over, and at the end of that prayer service, Dr. King went up to Pria Hall and said, young lady, woo, I love that phrase that you just used. [01:37:33]

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