DAY 11: THURSDAY 12TH JANUARY, 2023
FOCUS: TRANSFORMED BELIEVERS AS BUILDERS OF GODLY
HOMES, FRUITFUL MINISTRIES AND TRANSFORMED
SOCIETY.
TEXT:
ROMANS 12:1-2
INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE FOR EFFECTIVE AND FERVENT PRAYERS
The Bible reliably informed us that “in the beginning … the earth was
formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters” to the extent
that “the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” to
bring order, shape and light to the chaotic earth. The hovering of the Spirit
of God from the beginning evidentially reveals that God always wants a
transformed society. Transformed society can only be possible where there
are godly homes. As someone said, “home is the primary connection
between you and the rest of the world”. In all, ministry becomes fruitful
when it has positive and relevant impacts on homes, and the society at
large. God personally engaged in the transformative works in the
beginning; however, He has committed same to the transformed believers
to build godly homes and transformed society through fruitful ministry.
(cp. 2 Cor. 5:18).
Only believers that have experienced a genuine change of life
(transformation) can build godly homes, fruitful ministry and transformed
society. Brother Gbile Akanni remarks that “the type of Christians we have
in the churches these days are lamentable. If you have been a Christian
for thirty years or more, you would have been a witness to the gradual
but steady decline in the quality of Christian character and behaviour, over
the years. But now, things have changed, and an average Christian cannot
be trusted again.”
However, the change that transformation represents demand a complete
turn away from bad and ungodly habits, worldly values, and selfish
desires; and a complete turn to good and godly habits, nurtured by
spending quality time with God in prayer and worship. The believers that
will build godly homes, fruitful ministry and transformed society must
themselves be transformed by the renewing of their minds so that they
can focus on Christ and spiritual things while confronting unhealthy
lifestyles (the pattern or lifestyle of this world) and sinful habits. In our
text, Paul is concerned with what we allow in our minds and hearts because
the temptation to follow worldly patterns and values begins in our thought
life. What we put into our minds will influence our thinking and our actions.
But as we spend time praying, reading the Bible, focusing on God, and worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, our thought process will be renewed
by the Holy Spirit.
Godly Home
Being a Christian does not guarantee you will have a godly home. Most of
what heaven is, should be reflected in the godly homes when the
transformed believers allow the will of Jesus to shine and lead their lives
rather than the dictates of their moods and worldly principles or
philosophies. A godly home is one where Christ is honored as the Head
and where He is made comfortable. A godly home is where husband and
wife function as partners, submitting to each other in the fear of God in
order to establish God’ s will for their lives and children. Also, a godly
home is where children are reared to respect and honor God, His word and
the value of life; also to respect and honor themselves, and others. It is a
home where there is peace, well trained and cultured children. A home
where there is trust and self-discipline.
Fruitful Ministry
Ministry means serving in the function of a priest by offering up “spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God.” Fruitfulness in ministry begins with the
exemplary life of minister. Paul tells Timothy that his growth should be
seen by others in the church. In addition, the family members should be
growing in spiritual fruit as part of the fruitful ministry because it is one of
the traits that qualifies a minister in the church. Fruitful ministry is also
measured by the evidence of spiritual fruit in those ministered to. Fruitful
ministry is not about entertainment of people but edification of souls. A
true sign of fruitful ministry is that fruit continues to grow long after the
minister is gone. If all spiritual flavour and influences of a minister
disappear with his official ministry, or when retires, the ministry is not a
fruitful one. In essence, if love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are not resulting from what
you think is your “ministry,” then it is not fruitful, though there may be
some physical evidences. The truth is, if there is no spiritual fruit, the
ministry is not fruitful!
Transformed Society
While we are still on this earth, Jesus says, we are “the salt of the earth”
and “the light of the world”. By implication, we are meant to change
society for better. Our spiritual gifts are given, not primarily for our own
benefit or self-aggrandizement; but for us to be agents of transformation
in the church and our society. In building up the Body of Christ, and our
society, transformed believers are to bring glory to God, while mediating the presence of Christ to others, and discerning loving action in the world.
This includes aggressive evangelism (sharing our faith), giving generously
of our resources, reconciliation and peacemaking, working for justice,
exercising compassion and care for the poor, and working for the
betterment of the lives of people in order to make for a transformed
society.
Prayer warfare
1. Let us thank and worship our God, the Master Builder, who brought
orderliness, structure and beauty out of the formless, empty and
chaotic earth in the beginning; and He is still in the business of
transforming homes, ministry and society to reflect His glory.
Halleluyah!
2. Let the hovering Spirit of God locate me for the perfected work of
transformation and also turn me to an agent of transformation in my
generation, in Jesus’ name.
3. Father, I receive a complete turn away from bad and ungodly habits,
worldly values, and selfish desires; and a complete turn to good and
godly habits, in Jesus name.
4. Father, purge my mind and heart, purify my thought life, refine my
thinking and actions, and use me as an effective builder to confront
unhealthy lifestyles and sinful habits in the church and society, in
Jesus name.
5. Father, “Oh that Christ be formed in me, that I be conformed to the
image of Your Son, that I may live daily to present my body a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto You always”, in Jesus name
6. As a believer redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, I refused to
be conformed to the behavior and customs of this world; but I
receive grace to be progressively changed through spiritual maturity
that focuses on godly values and pleasing God, in Jesus name
7. Wholeheartedly pray Philippians 3:10: “That I may know Him and
the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death”.
8. Father, make my home a godly home to reflect heaven on earth, and
use my life and my home as a model of godly standard of family to
my generation, in Jesus name.
9. My home shall not be subjected to the rules of worldly principles and
philosophies; but let the unquestionable will of Jesus shines and
leads the lives of every member of my home, in Jesus’ name.
10.
I receive a transformed and renewed mind that will allow me
and my spouse to truly function as partners in the light of God’s
word, submitting to each other in fear of God, in Jesus’ name.
11.
As a transformed parent, I receive grace to raise my children
to fear, respect and honor God, His word and His principles and to
stand as uncompromising examples of godly children to their
generation, in Jesus’ name.
12.
As a transformed child in my home, I receive grace to obey God
and my parents in the will of God, and to reflect the virtues and light
of Christ to my peers and generation at large, in Jesus name.
13.
Holy Spirit, work on all our ministers to exemplify the true life
of a transformed believer and let their spiritual growth be open for
all to see and follow Christ, in Jesus name.
14.
Father, help all our ministers to work on their family members
that their lives will reflect Christ through the relationship of the
minister with the spouse and the children, in Jesus’ name
15.
Father, anoint all our ministers for fruitful ministries that will
produce lasting impact, clear edification, and living evidence of
spiritual fruit in the lives of those ministered to, in Jesus’ name.
16.
Father, may the impacts and fruits of the ministries of our
ministers outlive them, may their fruits continue to grow long after
they are out of the stage through retirement or death, in Jesus name.
17.
As a transformed believer, I am the salt of the earth and the
light of my world; therefore, I shall not lose my savour, I shall not
lose my brightness, I shall not be hidden, but I receive grace to
remain relevant to Christ in my generation.
18.
As transformed believers, we receive great grace to transform
our society and bring glory to God and betterment to the lives of the
people in the world, in Jesus name.
Special Intercessory Prayers For The Days
Lord, continue to supply the needs of Evangelist M. O. Salako’s family and
Evangelist S. A. Edawole’s family in season and out of season.
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