Want to be “empowered”? Here you go …

Leaders surrounding the church who direct us to embrace culture rather than engage it often talk about a cultural lie as if it were the truth.

That hot topic is all about “empowerment.”

We’re constantly hearing about how we can be “empowered,” or empower others. But the problem with that is two-fold:

First, you already have all the power you need for the life God calls you to.

There are multiple scriptures that speak to this point, but here’s just one simple one: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

God has a plan for your life, and He is the one who will provide all the capability you will ever need to achieve what He has planned for you. Not only can no one else be the Source for that life that only God can be, but no one can take from God what He’s ready to provide you, or what He has already made available to you.

I’ve even heard pastors talk about the need to “empower” church members to pursue their own ministries. No Christian needs to be “empowered” by church leadership. God calls every Christian to be active ministers for Him, and a Christian doesn’t need the permission from leaders or some kind of special “empowerment” to do what God calls them to. They may need discipling, equipping, guidance, support, leadership, and so on, but the “power” to do what God calls us to comes from Him!

Second, because of the false nature of this concept of “empowerment,” people today are busy pursing a source of power rather than the power of a Person.

Jesus Christ isn’t life’s power plant. He’s not a source of power we tap into in order to live life however we want. He is a Person who brings fullness of life and power for living through relationship with Him. We are empowered by Jesus through relationship when we die to the old person controlled by a sin nature, are buried with Christ, and are raised to walk in newness of life.

Paul described it this way in Colossians 2:12, “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead” and in Colossians 2:20a we read, “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world …”

So many Christians live unempowered lives because they are pursuing a source of power rather than relationship with the Person who is their source of power!

The real power for living the fullest life we possibly can flows freely from a loving, committed, trusting relationship with Jesus Christ. By embracing Him, we also discover all the power we need for life.

So when all these “leaders” and “gurus” and “coaches” talk about empowerment, be encouraged that they don’t have any special means of “empowerment” for you. You have available to you authentic empowerment given by God Himself. Go use it to live a full life in Christ!

Which are you pursing: a source of power for your life? Or an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ, who gives you power through relationship with Him?

Scotty