strengthen

Jesus not only empowered His disciples but He empowers us! He is who we are to model when it comes to strengthening one another.

Jesus’ ministry was to empower others. He empowered His disciples, was empowered by God, and finally, He empowers us. Jesus’ example of empowerment is one to live by and never be forgotten.

Empowered

We all have people in our lives whom God has chosen for us to empower. There are also people called to strengthen us. Whether it be our children, our employees, our volunteers, or even our friends we are all called to strengthen and encourage one another.

I am not the best empowerer. I am great at allowing people to run with their ideas, but I am not great at identifying strengths and encouraging people in them. Through interactions with His disciples, Jesus gives us the greatest example of what empowerment looks like…

John

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. ‘I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,’ he said, ‘so why are you coming to me?’

But Jesus said, ‘It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.’ So John agreed to baptize him.

Matthew 3:13-15, NLT

John the Baptist was one of Jesus’ closest friend. He was also one of the first people Jesus empowered. Jesus sought out and told John to baptize Him. John’s response was valid, “you should be baptizing me”…

But Jesus empowered John in the cause God had given and reminded John that God requires this action. He readied John to do something that Jesus very well could have done Himself. Jesus did not make it all about Himself but empowered another in to do the God-ordained task at hand.

Peter

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

Matthew 16:18-19, NLT

Jesus equipped Peter to build His church. Take a moment. Let that set in. Peter, who denied Jesus, would be the one to build the church. This is an amazing form of empowerment. Jesus chose Peter knowing that he would fail Him.

I think sometimes we are afraid of being let down or of people failing so we choose to do things on our own. This is the opposite of empowerment. People will let us down constantly. Even so, we need to continue to support and encourage. Jesus did and still does.

Jesus

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16-17, NLT

God gave us the greatest example of empowerment when He sent Jesus to Earth. God instilled Jesus with His power to not only perform miracles but to save all of creation. Because Jesus was empowered, He was able to empower those around Him in miraculous ways.

Us

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT

God set us on a path and Jesus perfected it. We are empowered to run our race. We are empowered to do so in the presence of many. Jesus was empowered to sit on the right hand of God. This happened through pain and suffering. What would happen if we looked at our pain and suffering as part of our empowerment in ministry? We are empowered by God and in turn, we must empower others. Because there is joy awaiting us, just like there was joy awaiting Jesus.

God set us on a path and Jesus perfected it. What would happen if we looked at our pain and suffering as part of our empowerment in ministry? We are empowered by God and in turn, we must empower others. Click To Tweet

Stanislav Kondratiev

God is all around us, every second of every day. Search for Him. Being intentional in this effort will help us build a deeper relationship.

This week I was totally rejuvenated. We went to the beach with my parents for the week and had an amazing time. The Outer Banks is my favorite place on earth. It is the spot that makes me slow down, listen, and feel. I love the sun on my face, the sand under my feet and the sound of the waves as they roll up to shore. It centers me and reminds me that our Creator is always present.

Searching for Him

Have you ever looked for God? I never looked for God until a few years ago. I read a devotional that talked about seeing God in the everyday. I’m sorry to say that I don’t remember more than that, but it did catch my attention. The idea of looking for God.

Some mornings I wake up and it is so easy to see and hear. My little boy’s laughter, my husband’s smiling face, my daughter’s big life plans, warm sun, blooming flowers, a big ripe strawberry bursting with flavor. It’s so easy to see God in these things.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17, NIV

Finding Him

I have a prayer journal that I write in most days. It is a collection of letters I write to God about my hopes, fears, short comings, and my love for Him. When I look back over them I often see how he has moved through my life, even when I didn’t know He was there. (Yes, He is always there but sometimes in the middle of a storm you forget you aren’t in it alone.) I also make a list of all the people, situations, and circumstances I want to pray about. I circle the big ones that seem most pressing at the moment. It’s been a good reflective tool. And it helps keep my mind centered and less likely to wander off as I’m speaking to God.

I think I’m going to try to start adding a section to my journal weekly where I list all the places I have seen God. This week alone I know I have seen Him in my family, laughing together I feel the love He brings. I have felt His power in the sun, wind, waves and sifting sand. I know there is science behind all that, but if you really want to blow someone’s mind, ask them how it all started. The Big Bang? How did that happen? Random? But what is the science behind the beginning of everything? I can answer in three little letters G-O-D!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1: 1, NIV

Deepening Our Relationship

We went to see the “Lost Colony” and the sunset over the water as we watched was magical. The colors of the sky spoke to me. It was so beautiful. My son watched the play on the edge of his seat. He was so caught up in the story of starting a new life in a foreign place where nothing was the same as home. His face full of awe and wonder was definitely my favorite part of the evening. God is so present in those moments.

I know God calls us to look for Him. Jesus was clear about this when He included it in two of the Beatitudes:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Matthew 5:6, 8, NIV

Friends, go and search for Our Father daily. He is there, and finding Him is joy!

Dear God,

Thank You for Your presence. I am so proud and honored and humbled that You surround me in all that I do. Please keep my eyes clear and my heart open so that I can see all of You in my daily walk. Bless all those who are searching for You that Your light may blind them with it’s beauty and save them for eternity.

love,

Empowered: Modeling Jesus’ Example to Strengthen Others