Authenticity Activates Authority

The Unveiling: Authenticity in Christ Activates Your Authority in the Kingdom:

Have you ever felt a quiet stirring within, a sense of a deeper purpose placed within you by God, only to find yourself pulled in a hundred different directions by the expectations and desires of others? This tug-of-war between our true selves, created in God’s image, and the roles we play can leave us feeling adrift, shrouded in sorrow and haunted by the ghost of what might have been.

“God will not prosper you to be anyone other than who He has called you to be in Christ.”

The truth, revealed through Scripture, is this: authenticity in Christ is the bedrock of spiritual authority and the compass guiding us to our God-given destiny. When we dare to shed the masks and embrace our genuine selves, rooted in our identity in Him, we tap into a wellspring of inner strength and divine connection that no earthly validation can ever provide.

Think of the words in Psalm 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Each of us is a unique creation of God, intentionally crafted in His likeness. To deny that uniqueness, to try and fit into a mold that wasn’t designed for us by our Creator, is to diminish the very glory of His handiwork.

So many languish in sorrow and regret because they’ve allowed the clamor of external voices to drown out the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit within. They chase after fleeting approval, bending and contorting themselves to meet conditions set by others. These conditions often come with an unspoken price: your authenticity in Christ in exchange for their acceptance, their resources, their conditional love.

Consider the warning in Matthew 16:26: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” In our pursuit of external validation, we risk losing the very essence of who God created us to be, the unique soul that holds the key to our spiritual authority in Christ and our destined path in Him.

The spiritual authority we gain through authenticity in Christ is not about earthly power or dominance. It’s about the quiet strength that emanates from living in alignment with our true selves and our relationship with God through Jesus. It’s about speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), acting with integrity as followers of Christ, and radiating a genuine light that reflects His love and inspires and uplifts others in His name. This authority flows naturally when we are no longer divided within ourselves, but unified in Him.

And what of our God-given destiny? It isn’t a rigid script written in the stars, but rather the unfolding of our unique potential within God’s plan, the blossoming of the gifts and talents He has entrusted to us. When we are authentic in Christ, we are free to pursue the callings that resonate with our spirit, to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and to step into the fullness of who God intended us to be in His Kingdom.

God will not prosper you to be anyone other than who He has called you to be in Christ. As Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” These plans are intricately woven with our authentic selves in Christ. To discover and walk in them, we must first embrace who we truly are in Him, without apology or pretense.

A Call to Authentic Action in Christ:

1. Introspective Stillness in Prayer: Dedicate time each day for quiet reflection and prayer. Ask God: “Who am I in You, Father, beyond the roles I play?” Listen to the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit.
2. Identify the Masks Before the Cross: Recognize the “masks” you wear to please others or to fit in. Lay them down at the foot of the cross and ask God to reveal your true identity in Christ.
3. Embrace Your Uniqueness in God’s Image: Celebrate your quirks, your passions, and your individual way of reflecting God’s glory. Remember, you are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image.
4. Speak the Truth in Love as Christ Did: Courageously express your authentic thoughts and feelings, rooted in God’s Word and love, even when it feels vulnerable. Do so with kindness and respect for yourself and others, as Christ taught us.
5. Follow the Spirit’s Leading: Pay attention to the things that bring you joy and a sense of purpose that aligns with God’s will. Trust the nudges of the Holy Spirit as He leads you toward your God-given destiny.

May we all find the courage to live authentically in Christ, to embrace our spiritual authority in Him, and to step boldly into the beautiful destiny He has prepared for us.