Influence is not random. People who carry it paid a price for it. They built it. They stewarded it. God promoted them over time because their private life matched their public platform.
Pastor Kap Chatfield said he sees this pattern clearly in Scripture. He said, “I want to not just be successful. I want to be influential. I want to be somebody that people want to follow.” His model comes from Daniel chapter 1. Daniel did not blend into Babylon. He became a voice inside of Babylon.
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Here are the five keys Chatfield draws out of that chapter:
- Be fit
Physical discipline matters. “Your appearance can either work for you or against you,” he said. Daniel 1 shows the young men selected had to be strong, healthy and presentable. How you carry yourself communicates something before you speak a word. - Be sharp
Stay a student. “If you want to be somebody of continual influence in the culture, you’ve got to keep on learning.” Daniel and his friends were not narrow. They were “well versed in every branch of learning.” They were intellectually developed. - Be engaged
You can learn the culture you are called to reach. “If you want to be a person of influence, you need to be engaged in the culture.” Daniel and his friends were trained in the “language and literature of Babylon.” They understood the ideas and conversations of their environment. - Be competent
Excellence creates credibility. “If you want to be somebody that people take seriously, you’ve got to be competent.” Daniel and his friends were “10 times more capable.” They were not just nice men. They were exceptional at what they did. - Be holy
This is the part that separates real influence from temporary hype. “If you want to be someone of influence, you’ve got to be somebody of character.” Daniel refused the king’s food because it violated his conscience. His holiness became the foundation of his impact.
Pre-order Kap Chatfield’s New Book, “The Power to Prosper” on Amazon.com!
These five keys are not trends. They are biblical patterns. When God raises a person to shape culture, He prepares them. He strengthens their body, sharpens their mind, enlarges their understanding, trains their hands for excellence and purifies their character.
Daniel did not gain influence by accident. He made choices. He honored God in private. And God positioned him in public.
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The same God who raised Daniel in Babylon is still doing this today.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
