DIVINE EMPOWERMENT: AN IMPERATIVE NECESSITY

AIM:To emphasize that it is only when we are powered by God that we can lead an all-round successful life.

KeyText: “God has spoken once,Twice I have this:that power belongs to God” (Ps.62:11) NKJV.

INTRODUCTION: In life, only the empowered succeeds! We all desire success in every area so four lives,but our desires, however fervent, do not necessarily produce success. Not even effort guarantees success (Rom.9:16). The reason is because every effort to succeed without empowerment is in futility. Thus, empowerment is crucial to our success.

Man’s desire for power is as old as man himself, when Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent’s promise that eating the fruit from the forbidden tree would make them to be “like God”, alluded to having control, a yearning which has remained at the core of our power pursuits (Gen.3:1-6). In fact, God created man a powerful being (Gen.1:26-28).

As Christians, we must know that until we are endued with power from on high, we will not make any meaning and success what so ever on this earth.

WHAT IS EMPOWERMENT? Ps.68:35.

The terms powered, empowered and empowerment have become contemporary by word with definitions which include; to give authority or power to, to enable or permit, to give ability to.

But one of the most accepted contemporary definitions describe empowerment as the “process by which individuals and groups gain power, access to resources and control over their own lives. In doing so, they gain the ability to achieve their highest personal and collective goals”.

Today, people seek various sources of power in order to achieve the facts as stated in the definition of empowerment above. The quest for power, however, is not in itself odd. The challenge, rather, lies in the source from which we seek it. We need power to enable us accomplish our purpose in life. Unfortunately, many across the world are not empowered enough. What we need is not partial empowerment, but total empowerment, which can only be derived from one source Divinity.

Christ Our Mentor of Divine Empowerment:

Lk.1:35;4:14-22;Acts.10:38.

When Jesus came on His messianic assignment to the earth, He came in the Spirit of power. But you will remember that for the first thirty years, He had no identity. But when He was endued with power, His fame went abroad.

The Bible says, “He returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee”, and He announced, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”. And within the space of three and a half years, Jesus with twelve men, largely illiterate, was able to establish the global phenomenon that has become Christianity, stretching from Judea to the rest of the world, lasting through centuries, surviving persecutions, transcending cultures and language, and transforming the entire world. The world indeed does have alot to learn about empowerment from Jesus.

Holy-Spirit: The Force Behind Divine Empowerment:

Is.11:1-5; Lk.4:18; Zech.4:1-6; Joel.2:28,29; Acts.1:8.

Our access to divine empowerment is not by ourstrength and ability but by the anointing of the Holy-Spirit (ISam. 2:9b). Jesus the messiah came to this earth, He had no impact until the Holy Ghost came upon Him (Matt.3:16). When the Holy-Spirit came upon the disciples in Acts 2, they exploded with power and went from there to turn the world upside down.

We have to hunger and thirst for the out pouring of that power upon our life, it will compel every thing around us to start working. The unction of the Holy-Spirit is what guarantees motion in life. Without the Holy-Spirit we are going no where. The anointing of the Holy-Spirit destroys and levels every mountain on our way, to create an highway of prominence, glory and honour for us (Zech.4:7).

Ways To Assessing Divine Empowerment: Lk.10:19; Acts.2:38,39.

Can we access this divine empowerment? The answer is yes and in fact, it is meant for us. God’s divine empowerment is available to every one though with a caveat; that we must ask (Matt.7:7,8). Some of the ways we can access it are high lighted below:

By going to the source(Acts.4:12; Jhn.1:3,12,13).

By faith (IJhn.5:4,5; Ps.1;1-3; Rom.10;14-17; Matt.17:20).

By waiting on God in prayer and fasting (Matt.17:20,21;Is.40:28-31,49:23;Lk.24:49; Acts.1:4,12-14,2:1-4,4:31).

By having fellowship with fellow Christians (Acts.2:41-47,4:32-37; Heb.10:25).

By obedience (Phil.2:13).

Truth To Note In Order To Receive And Remain In Divine Empowerment

Yearn for and continue in righteousness (Ps.45:7; Matt.3:15;Acts.2:38).

Keep walking in humility (Prov.18:12,16:18; IPet.5;5,6)

Do not be selfish (Phil.2:3,4;Gal.6:9,10).

Have a pure motive (Acts.8:14-21).

Use it to the glory of God (ICor.1:31; Jer.9:23,24).

Divine empowerment enhance our getting to the kingdom of God (Lk.10:19,20; Acts.7:55,56)

CONCLUSION

As Christians, we are to transcend the natural by taking advantage of the anointing and deal with the problems of life supernaturally. This is God’s will for us, and He has made the anointing available to empower anyone who believing embraces its power through Jesus Christ. We can master this natural realm with a power that is infinitely beyond it.