American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 107
This last Sunday the American Reformation Church was blessed to have Derin A Stidd behind the pulpit to deliver God’s Word. Derin expounded Ephesians 5:18-33. He brought out two main revelations when it came to the importance of establishing Christian households that are foundational to establishing a Christian Nation.
First, we must be filled with the Spirit and second, this is essential to fulfill the calling to Biblical submission. Being filled with the Spirit empowers wives to submit to their husbands. Being filled with the Spirit empowers men to submit to church authority. Being filled with the Spirit empowers children to submit to parental authority, etc. The lesson is clear, unless our nature is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are by nature rebels that chafe against authority.
Derin preached this message to encourage our church to desire to live in a Christan nation, knowing that is impossible, unless we first establish Christian Households that are in divine order. Men, women, and children must function faithfully in the roles and functions ordained by the Lord. The Christian home is foundational to a Christian nation.
The question for tonight is what role should prayer play in helping to establish a Christian home that would lead to a Christan nation?
The Bible never describes a nation becoming Christian through political force or military coups. It describes transformation through multiplying faithful households. The early church met in homes. Saving faith was spread through families. Acts 16:31 “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” In the Old Testament, Joshua didn’t pray it, but he certainly proclaimed it, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15b).
The family altar was not only crucial to home and hearth, but also to the health and welfare of the church. This became the basis for blessing communities. Brothers and sisters, if you are solely relying on the church to build you up because your home life is a mess, then you will not be able to help build the church. As a result, the church will suffer harm and not be effective in serving our Lord’s purposes in our communities.
Psalms 128:1-6 states, “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
This lays out beautifully the progression of the individual man who fears the Lord and walks in His ways. It begins with him but certainly does not end with him. It impacts his wife. It spreads to his children. It blesses the city and brings peace to the nation. May the Lord help us as men to establish this kind of home to bless God’s church that impacts our communities with righteousness by advancing the Gospel of the Kingdom.
