Welcome to March – our month of ‘divine empowerment’.
Empowerment means to be authoritatively strengthened to do something by the virtue of the power or authority vested in such individual hands. In other words, ‘divine empowerment’ is when you are supernaturally empowered by God to do exploits’ – II Corinthians 12:9 says – “ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”.
What is the source of this power? The origin of this supreme power is found in the book of I Chronicles 29:11-13 (KJV) – “Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all”.
The Bible also records that …both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all, and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand, it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank thee and praise thy glorious name.
“For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places. (2 Samuel 22:32-34).
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.” (Romans 13:1-3)
From all indications as vividly read from these scriptures, it is noteworthy to say that God in his almightiness manifests his power and supremacy at our lowest point in life. We may wonder on how this power will come to be – do not be perturbed; for the word of God says – ‘ye shall receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you’ – Acts 1:8
When you are divinely empowered, you do extraordinary things that humanly speaking; it is impossible – Mathew 10:20 records that – “For it is not ye that speaks, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you”. (KJV)
As read in the bible, different individuals and God’s servant were able to finish strong and finish well the assignments bequeathed on them because they were divinely empowered before the ‘great commission’ was embedded in their hands. Samples range from Moses who had speech difficulties to Gideon who never believed himself that he can do great exploits – Exodus 4:10-12 “And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”
When we are divinely empowered, no power or principalities can withstand the greatness in us as seen in Judges 15:14 “And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.” (Judges 15:14).
Being divinely empowered does not necessarily mean that you automatically qualified for it, but rather God has chosen you as His beloved through His infinite mercies and grace which abounds forever as seen in Judges16: 28-30 – “And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might, and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So, the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.”
It does not matter how weary you are; know that The LORD “giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength” – Isaiah 40:29. Some problems and situations seem overwhelming but there is no reason to fear, for God does not forsake his own – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” – 2 Timothy 1:7.
Moreover, Deuteronomy 31:6 says “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Furthermore, Isaiah 41:10-13 assures us to believe in God and his supremacy – “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of naught. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
Jesus Christ gave his disciples power to cast out unclean spirits as seen in Mark 6:6-13; verse 7 states –“And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits” and in verse 13- “… they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”
Conclusively, my fellow brethren always remember Philippians 4: 13 states that – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Is there any longing God placed in your heart and you are hesitant to pursue due to a reason or the other, I would like to encourage you that this is your month of ‘divine empowerment’, so be courageous and have faith going forth with the knowledge that you have all that you need within you to be a CONQUEROR.
I believe you can do it, because Christ is your strength. ~ Ese Ikoba~