'Influence' in the Bible
The man became wealthy. His influence continued to grow until he became very prominent.
While war continued between the dynasties of Saul and David, Abner was growing in influence within the dynasty of Saul.
He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.
A week later, when the king was under the influence of all that wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served King Ahasuerus,
Mordecai was of high rank in the king's palace, and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces. His influence continued to become greater and greater.
“Your wickedness affects only a man such as you,And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign].
I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.
By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted,But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
Your [drunken] eyes will see strange thingsAnd your mind will utter perverse things [untrue things, twisted things].
These also stagger because of wineand stumble under the influence of beer:priest and prophet stagger because of beer,they are confused by wine.They stumble because of beer,they are muddled in their visions,they stumble in their judgments.
However, Ahikam son of Shaphan used his influence to keep Jeremiah from being handed over and executed by the people.
Mourn for that nation, all you nations living around it, all of you nations that know of its fame. Mourn and say, 'Alas, its powerful influence has been broken! Its glory and power have been done away!'
“O vines of Sibmah, I will weep for youMore than the weeping of Jazer [over its ruins and wasted vineyards].Your tendrils [of influence] stretched across the sea,Reaching [even] to the sea of Jazer.The destroyer has fallenOn your summer fruits and your [season’s] crop of grapes.
The people of Dedan [were] trading [with] you, many coastlands [composed] the region of your {influence}; they brought back horns of ivory and ebony [as] your payment.
Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines could drink from them.
He will cause deceit to prosperthrough his cunning and by his influence,and in his own mind he will make himself great.He will destroy many in a time of peace;he will even stand against the Prince of princes.Yet he will be shattered—not by human hands.
And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”
Jesus asked them, “How is it then that David by the inspiration of the Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord,’ saying,
And looking toward His disciples, He began speaking: “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are you who are poor [in spirit, those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for the kingdom of God is yours [both now and forever].
It would be better for him if a millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble [in sin and lose faith].
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements.
His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.
Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ.
For consider, brethren, God's call to you. Not many who are wise with merely human wisdom, not many of position and influence, not many of noble birth have been called.
But God has chosen the things which the world regards as foolish, in order to put its wise men to shame; and God has chosen the things which the world regards as destitute of influence, in order to put its powerful things to shame;
Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the [power and influence of the] Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is [my] Lord,” except by [the power and influence of] the Holy Spirit.
This is our [reason for] proud confidence: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [in general], and especially toward you, with pure motives and godly sincerity, not in human wisdom, but in the grace of God [that is, His gracious lovingkindness that leads people to Christ and spiritual maturity].
Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness].
not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,
Such influence does not come from the one who calls you.
For lawlessness is already at work in secret; but only until the man who is now exercising a restraining influence is removed,
For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,
And from us thanks are always due to God on your behalf--brethren whom the Lord loves--because God from the beginning has chosen you for salvation through the Spirit's sanctifying influence and your belief in the truth.
Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be cured. The heartfelt supplication of a righteous man exerts a mighty influence.
As obedient children, do not be shaped by the desires that used to influence you when you were ignorant.
For, while they pour out their frivolous and arrogant talk, they use earthly cravings--every kind of immorality--as a bait to entrap men who are just escaping from the influence of those who live in error.