First Devotion of 2026 - UNLEASHED TO TRANSFORM SOCIETY

01. Januar 2026

Devotion by Reverend Joseph Antwi

Theme: UNLEASHED TO TRANSFORM SOCIETY

Fortified City Church / Love City Church / Basel French Assembly / Luzern City Fellowship / ⁠PIWC Bern / ⁠Global prayer family

🌍 DEVOTION: UNLEASHED TO TRANSFORM SOCIETY

By the Power of the Holy Spirit

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Happy New Year, people of God.

As we step into this new season, we also step into the unveiling of our theme for the year:

Unleashed to Transform Society by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

This is not merely a slogan. It is a divine mandate. God is not only interested in filling churches. He is interested in forming Christ within people so that society itself is changed.

As your pastor, I believe more in transformation than numbers. Jesus transformed twelve disciples, and the world ran to Him. But when people follow only crowds and not truth, many disappear when hard teachings come. Scripture tells us that when Jesus spoke about His body and blood, many left Him.

📖 John 6:66 (NKJV)

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

Crowds leave when truth becomes uncomfortable. Disciples remain. Disciples tarry in difficult seasons. Disciples stay when the church is stretched, refined, and tested.

We are a church that longs for the ministration of the Holy Spirit more than applause, more than showmanship, and more than popularity. True transformation can only happen when we carry the Spirit who transforms.

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🔥 THE SOURCE OF TRUE TRANSFORMATION

Jesus made it clear that transformation is impossible without the Holy Spirit.

📖 Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit does not just give us excitement. He gives us power to witness, power to stand, power to endure, and power to influence society with truth and love.

We cannot transform society with charisma. We transform society with divine power.

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🌱 TRANSFORMATION BEGINS WITHIN

Before society is transformed, the believer must be transformed.

📖 Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

We cannot change what we imitate. The Holy Spirit renews our minds so that our lives become living proof of the gospel.

This year, God is not calling us to blend in. He is calling us to stand out.

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✝️ JESUS: OUR MODEL OF IMPACT

Jesus Himself was anointed to transform lives and systems.

📖 Luke 4:18–19 (NKJV)

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

Wherever Jesus went, things changed. Darkness retreated. Lives were restored. This same Spirit now lives in us.

📖 John 14:12 (NKJV)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

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🕊️ A CHURCH THAT WALKS IN THE SPIRIT

We can only transform when we carry the Spirit that transforms.

📖 Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,”

Says the LORD of hosts.

This year will demand consistency, unity, holiness, and spiritual depth. It will require believers who stay, pray, love, and serve even when it is difficult.

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🙏 A PASTORAL REQUEST & PRAYER

Are you ready for this year?

As your pastor, I ask you to say a word of prayer for me:

• Pray for grace

• Pray for preservation

• Pray for power to preach the Word

• Pray for strength to carry the gospel to the nations

📖 Colossians 4:3 (NKJV)

“Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.”

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✨ CLOSING PRAYER

Holy Spirit, we surrender to You.

Unleash us to transform society.

Form Christ in us.

Give us power, boldness, humility, and love.

Let our lives bring glory to Jesus.

In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.