EMPOWERMENT

Happy New Year! Welcome to a year filled with promise and purpose.
This year, as He shows us His mercy, we will not toil to achieve our goals. His presence is with us and in His presence, we will experience fullness of joy. As we begin a new year, let’s explore the concept of Empowerment.

According to the Oxford English Reference Dictionary, to empower means to authorise and license; to give power to; to make able. In essence, as well as being the ability to act or do, power is also a faculty of the body or mind. Brute force is not the solution to every problem. Therefore, when God empower us He gives us more than physical strength. Empowerment is His gift, bestowed on us by reason of His grace…it is unmerited favour. He equips us mentally and spiritually and the onus is on us to realise this.

Matthew 16:19 says., ‘…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven…’ God delegated His authority to us to do that which we once deemed impossible.

Truths About Empowerment

Focus: When God imparts His power in us, we are able to stay focused on our goals inspite of the surrounding circumstances. We have to alter our mindset and adopt a ‘can-do’ attitude to our goals and aspirations. God has imparted His authority in us, so that we may excel above our peers. May our minds conceive our God-given value.

Inherent: The ability to change our environment and achieve greatness resides within us. God furnishes us with courage, boldness, wisdom and discernment to overcome every hindrance, which we may encounter in life. We have to realise that we have a God-given ability to flourish and to influence our surroundings. God’s word instructs us to open our mouth and He will fill it. Therefore, we have enough power within us to do great things; we have to exploit it.

Prominence : Esther 9:4 ‘…Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful…’ The strength of God’s right arm makes you greater than you would be on your own. God made us a little lower than angels and He designed us to be successful. As long as we abide in Him, He will ensure that all men will see His glory in us.

Irrevocable: ‘…for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked…’ (Esther 8:8) The bible also tells us that the word of the Lord cannot return to Him void.

It has to accomplish that which He intended. No man can tamper with the decree of the Almighty God. God ordained that we should do great exploits and fortunately for us, His word cannot be reversed. A lack of knowledge limits our growth, but we now have all the scriptures that we need to ensure our absolute trust in the King of kings.

Success: Zechariah 4:6-9 ‘…not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty…’ The Holy Spirit enables us – empowers us – to do the things that God has ordained us to do. Through Him, we fulfil the will of God for our lives. In the book of Acts, when the anointing of Holy Spirit fell on the disciples they became courageous and bold and were able to go out into the world to spread the gospel of Christ.

Authority: In Luke 9:1-2 the 12 disciples were given power and authority over devils and they were able to perform miracles. Likewise, we have been given authority to confess good things over our lives.

Anointing: God’s power within us anoints us for greatness and makes us bold and courageous.
We must realise that we can only operate as God intended if we continue to abide in the refreshing presence of God. It is in God’s presence that we find joy and we draw strength from His joy.

‘…whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever…’ Divine empowerment is an everlasting gift from God. Our utlisation of it defines its effectiveness. In Exodus 23:11-12, God instructed Israel to rest in the seventh year so that they may be refreshed. This month us God empowers us to succeed in the year, which lies ahead of us, may we rest in the knowledge that God will enable us to accomplish great feats without toiling.

This is our year of rest. This is our year of effortless victory. This is the time to testify of the greatness of the God of Israel.