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| Pastor Joseph Omolola |
Text: Romans 16:1-5
Introduction:
Most times I wonder about the prayer of Paul in Philippians 3:10- “that I may
know him and the power of His resurrection.”
It is right time for Christians to trace the origin of Christianity and
the church of Christ
The early church
started in Homes of the Saints. The history had it that, they were not allowed
in the synagogue of the Jews. Acts 19:1-10; the persecution of the church was
so severe that they hid in believers homes for their meetings.
Today we have been
carried away by the so called freedom of religion. The church is so deep in
ignorance that we had fully embraced social gospel. The spiritual life of the
church has been eroded away. Going by the Greek word EKLECCIA that interpreted
to mean church, it does not in any way of form refer to the auditorium, but
rather to those who have been called out from the bondage of sin, darkness and
Satan. Col 1:13. We were also encouraged to walk worthy of our call. 1 Thess.
2:12. Every child of God is a part of the church. Apostle Paul in Romans 16:5,
1Cor 16:19, Col 4:15 and Philemon 1:2; sent greetings to brothers in those
epistles and the church in their homes. Today COVID-19 had brought back the
experience of that time. You now have a church in your house. I pray the
experience will soon become normal and service will resume in our auditoriums.
But now, with the church in your house, there are things you must understand
and do.
1.
Take responsibility- see to it that your
household belongs to God, Gen 18:19- For I know him, that he will command his
children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord,
to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He
hath spoken of him. This is God’s testimony of Abraham.. you are the best
person to disciple your children, no other person will. Ezek. 16:44 “Behold
everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you- like mother, like
daughter.” What are you turning your household to? Can God bear you witness
like He did to Abraham? Remember the children of Eli stopped the covenant of
God from their linage.
2.
You must meet the spiritual need of your
family- 1Tim 5:8- But if anyone does not provide for his relatives and
especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse
than an unbeliever. “This is not just physical need but even spiritual need.
Meeting their spiritual need indicates that you as the spiritual head of your
family must know assuredly that your family members are genuinely born again.
3.
The Spiritual Head of your Family- 1Tim
3:4-5; He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his
children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own
household, how will he care for God’s church? Paul is addressing the leaders,
each home is a church, all of them coming together will build a larger
congregation. How you build your family has much to do with the larger family
of God. Before the end of lockdown you may need to ask yourself and your family
this question “if every other families are like our family in the church, how
will the church be? You are not active in any department in the church. You and
your household do not belong to any department. If others, are also like that
how do we get choristers, ushers, interpreters, intercessors, etc. let there be
a change before the end of lockdown.
4.
It is an opportunity to educate your
children how to behave in the church. 1Tim 3:15; “ if I delay, you may know how
one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living
God, pillar and buttress of the truth”. From the bible passage it is clear that
there is a way we should behave in the church. There are many things we do
unconsciously, one of it is our behaviors in different places. There is a way
we behave in the Palace, in the Police station, in the Court room etc. Church
is not left out. teach them how to reference God, be silent before God, we are
to enter his presence with singing and serve him with gladness. Psalm 100:1-5.
We are to serve God with our substance. It is mandatory never to appear before
God empty- Ex 23:15; pay your tithe and offerings. Give them their offerings
before the service. Let them be the one to count the money after the home
service, let them record it and tell them it will be paid to the church on
Monday, check the record to monitor if your children paid fully.
5.
Your family: an integral part of the
larger church. Philemon vs5,7 “because I hear of your love and of the faith
that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints; for I have derived
joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints
have been refreshed through you”. Apostle Paul here was commending the
activities of Philemon and the church in his house here (find time to read it).
What can the ministers say about you and the church in your house since the
beginning of this lockdown? We are keeping report of your activities every
Sunday. But it is a pity that some do not send any report. But remember “No report
is also a report”. We are going to give the church the comprehensive report of
our “Family Home Service” at the end of the lockdown.
Conclusion
Let there be a change of attitude towards the worship of
God. I pray that your family will not fail God during this trying period. Stay
safe in God.
Pastor Joseph Omolola
DCC Superintendent,
Christ Apostolic Church,
Agbara Districts Coordinating Council (DCC),
Agbara, Lagos.
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