The Bible teaches that you have been given a sphere of influence, also called a metron. You are in charge of the things in your sphere of influence, or metron.

Based on how you steward or rule or judge in your own metron, God will expand it, shrink it, or leave it alone.

When people come into your sphere of influence, or metron, you can and do, even without realizing it, impart to them spiritual influence, so that those same people become gifted or talented or skilled in the areas that you excel in.

You can also leave people with spiritual “residue” that lingers long after the person has left your sphere of influence. In this way, part of you and your gifting, both natural and spiritual, remains upon that person.

Things of the Spirit are Spiritually Discerned

Remember one of the core verses of this entire series of Mysteries of the Bible applies to this topic of the metron, or sphere of influence:

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

Remember, spiritual things are discerned through the Spirit. The word ‘discerned’ means a ‘forensic investigation,’ so we are to thoroughly investigate spiritual things by the power of the Holy Spirit within the guardrails of Jesus Christ, who is the Living Word.

What Does Metron Mean

Metron is just the Greek word typically translated “measure” in English. It is the noun version of the word, as seen in Ephesians 4:7.

“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure [metron] of Christ’s gift.” Ephesians 4:7 (ESV) (emphasis added)

So we see that even Jesus Christ had a metron, a measure of His gifting. And He imparted His gifting to His Apostles… but I get ahead of myself.

We’re going to take a look at Paul’s teaching about his own ministry, sphere of influence, and metron.

Stewarding Your Metron

Let me define one more word for you. It’s transliterated kanon. This word is more about the act of ruling in the midst of your metron, or sphere of influence. Think of it like stewardship in your own metron.

“But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence [metron, kanon] God assigned to us [metron], to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence [kanon] among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence [kanon]. “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:13-18 (ESV)(words in brackets mine)

There are a few things we learn from Paul’s teaching.

1. God Assigns a Metron

Paul says that he’ll only boast in the metron, or sphere of influence, that God has given to him and his ministry team. He’s not going to take credit for what other people have done in their own metron. Instead he rejoices in what God is doing through other people as well as what He is doing inside Paul’s own metron.

So, we learn: Our metron comes from God. It is a God-given gift. Some have a large metron, and some have a small metron.

2. God Cares About how we Steward or Rule in our Own Metron

Paul is very convicted about staying within his own sphere of influence. This conviction comes from the Lord. He teaches us that we can boast in the Lord, and that it is the Lord who approves and commends us within our own metron.

“”Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (ESV)

This teaching is related to the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.

“For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure [metron] you use it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2 (ESV)(words in brackets mine)

This is the idea that how you govern your own metron will be the way you are governed. The way you influence others using your own sphere of influence will be the way you get influenced by others from their spheres of influence. If you praise and honor God in your metron, then you will attract others, including God, who will be influencing you in the same way, to praise and honor God even more.

If you pour out grace upon others in your metron, grace will be poured out upon you.

But if you use a double standard on people, accuse them of doing the same things that you’re doing, then other people will use a double standard on you, and accuse you of doing things that they themselves are doing. Does this make sense?

If you always criticize and put others down in your metron, then you will be criticized and put down in the expanded metron that you are under.

We’ll talk a little bit more about this in a minute.

3. Your Metron can Expand

Paul says,

“But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence [kanon] among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you…” 2 Corinthians 10:15b-16a (ESV) (emphasis added)(words in brackets mine)

Here’s how this works: Paul and his ministry team pour into people in a new area, creating new churches and bringing in their sphere of influence and the government of God (aka the Kingdom of God). As they teach and preach and minister, the faith of people is increased. 

Paul not only speaks about the Kingdom of God, he also demonstrates to them how it works (reference 1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

This process builds up faith in the new converts and the growing church. As these people submit to the governing authority of Paul in the spiritual realm, their realms become an expansion point for Paul and his ministry team.

Think about it. One person gets saved after you talk and pray with them, and they get on fire for Jesus. Then they call their friends, tell them about everything they’ve experienced. Then they bring their friends to you, so you can pray and preach the gospel of the Kingdom to them too. Your sphere of influence has just been expanded by the metron of the first person who got saved.

This is the same principle for word of mouth marketing. When the reputation of a product or business increases, people talk about it to the people in their metron, and those people go try it for themselves, get impressed or thrilled, then talk to their friends and family about it.

In Paul’s case, as his metron grows in an area, it opens the door for expansion in other areas. As Paul stewarded his own metron well, God caused it to expand and grow.

The Prayer of Jabez

Anyone in the Christian world in the year 2000 likely heard about The Prayer of Jabez, and the little book written with the same name by Bruce Wilkinson. 

The book is based on a prayer that the man Jabez spoke in one verse buried in the book of 1 Chronicles.

“Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 (ESV) (emphasis added)

Jabez basically asked for an expansion of his metron, his area of influence, or his governing area. Why did God grant what he asked? 

I believe it’s because #1) he was faithful in what God had already given him, and #2) That’s God’s will for us.

Remember the teachings of Jesus in the parable of the talents:

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'” Matthew 25:23 (ESV)

When we are faithful in what God has given us, He will give us more. If we are unfaithful in what God has given us, even what we have will be taken away. 

This same principle applies to talents, natural giftings and spiritual giftings. The more we use them, grow in them, and pursue them, the better we get and the more authority we have in them.

We are going to pause here for this week. Next week we will take a look at how your metron works. I hope you will join me!