Drawing Near to Grace, Building a Godly Home
January 29, 2023 · 1:49:24 · Watch on YouTube ↗
These notes - summary, key points, and highlighted thoughts - were generated by AI from the recording and are not the preacher’s exact words.
Summary
The Wednesday evening service opened with Psalm 23: goodness and mercy follow us all our days, and the high point of life is to dwell in the house of the Lord, in His presence. The preacher then turned to Hebrews 4:14-16: because Jesus is our great high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses, we may come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy. Unlike an earthly king or queen, whom no one dared approach uninvited (Esther risked her life to do so), Christ's sacrifice has opened free access to God as our Father. He also recalled Jesus' invitation, 'Come to Me, all who are weary' (Matthew 11:28), and the ten healed lepers, of whom only one returned to give thanks (Luke 17).
The second message, given on a family prayer night during the church's fast, was a word for parents resting on three points. First, like Joshua, each person must personally choose to serve the Lord before leading a household (Joshua 24:15). Second, from Deuteronomy 6, parents must keep God's word in their own hearts and teach it to their children continually, by being present and spending time with them while they are still young (the preacher recalled his own father urging him to let his son climb onto his lap while the boy still wanted to). Third, like Job, who rose early to offer sacrifices for his children continually (Job 1:5), parents are to intercede for their children persistently, as a lifelong habit.
The service closed with prayer over fathers and husbands to be priests and a protecting wall for the home, for marriages to mirror Christ's love for the church, and for broken relationships to be restored. The congregation prayed for the youth (1 Timothy 4:12, let no one despise your youth, but be an example) and for the youngest children (Psalm 127; Mark 10, where Jesus blesses the little ones). Announcements included continuing the fast, a Friday prayer gathering, and Sunday communion.
Key Points
- Because Jesus is our high priest who understands our weakness, we can come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:14-16).
- Christ's sacrifice gives us free access to the Father, an access no earthly king ever granted (Esther's fear, Jesus' welcome).
- Gratitude matters: of ten healed lepers, only one returned to thank Jesus (Luke 17).
- Lead your family by first choosing for yourself to serve God: 'as for me and my house' (Joshua 24:15).
- Teach God's word to your children by being present and using the time while they are young (Deuteronomy 6).
- Pray for your children continually, as Job did, making intercession a lifelong habit (Job 1:5).
- Fathers are the protecting wall of the home; marriages restored in Christ's love bless the whole family.
Devotional
Where do you run when you are weary and afraid? Earthly thrones keep us at a distance, but the cross has flung open the way to the Father, and Jesus, our high priest, invites you to come without fear. Bring your family with you in prayer, deciding today that you and your house will serve the Lord. Like Job, lift up your children before God morning by morning, and like the grateful leper, never forget to turn back and say thank you. The time to draw near, and to draw your loved ones near, is now.
Because Jesus is our high priest, we can come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy in our time of need.
Choose first for yourself: I and my house will serve the Lord.
Use your time with your children now, while they still want to climb onto your lap.
