Empowerment

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."- Acts 1:8

It’s never easy to separate the historical fact from the myth that surrounds it yet at times, whether or not a story can be corroborated, there’s still a truth that comes through unscathed. Such is the story about one of the sons of Louis XVI, who had followed his father to the throne at a time when France had been defeated in war by Great Britain. Instead of addressing the financial woes and other problems of his people who were clamoring for democracy, he indulged himself, ignoring advice and counsel from knowledgeable ministers, and lived in luxury while working people suffered.

Following the king’s execution in 1793, so goes the story, one of his sons was raised by a hag, a debauched woman whose purpose was to debase the life of the young prince. When the prince was urged to do something wrong, however, he would stomp his foot and say, "I refuse to do that because I am the son of the King."

Who knows if it really happened? One thing I do know, God has a lot of children today who need to stomp their feet and raise the defiant cry, "I refuse to be corrupted by the culture and contaminated by the world, because I am the child of the King of Kings." Knowing who you are gives you a sense of definition for life. A relationship with God is the only thing that can give you what you need to rebuild a life with purpose, to know why you even exist and have some meaning for your life. Without that, you become an existentialist who lives only for the moment. You see no meaning to existence. It’s the attitude of one of Leo Tolstoy’s characters who says, "If there is no God, then everything is permissible." A relationship with God, however, resolves the issue of "Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" You know who you are–God’s child. Paul says that when a believer trusts Christ as Savior, he becomes God’s child and is adopted into the great family of God–which unites men and women of every race, color, and ethnic background.

This relationship with God produces a sense of definition and a sense of purpose in life, but it also gives you something else–a sense of empowerment. When you become God’s child, He comes to indwell your life. Paul used the analogy of a temple in which this holy marvelous God dwells. Read 1 Corinthians 6 where he says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. This indwelling presence of God results in an empowerment for life and service. It’s the key to a successful, purposeful life. I use the term "successful" in a far broader sense than just making a lot of money, being popular, or rising to the top in your career. It means fulfillment, purpose, knowing where you are going in life, and being content in your pursuit.

Are you a child of the King? Your answer is either "yes" or "no". If your answer is affirmative, may I also ask, "Do you live like one?" If you are not a child of the king, I would ask, "Why not become one?" It’s the key to living, loving, and enjoying life to the fullest. - Resource reading: Galatians 5:22,23

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Guidelines for Finding Your Way is available in bookstores nationwide. For more information, write to Guidelines Philippines, Box 4000, 1284 Makati City or e-mail [email protected]. Visit our website www.guidelines.org.