5,13 DoorKeepers

As parents, we carry a lot of weight—we are teachers for our children in so many arenas—we are responsible to teach them truths they will never learn any where else—

As parents, we carry a lot of weight—we are teachers for our children in so many arenas—we are responsible to teach them truths they will never learn any where else—

Today is Mother's Day, a day when we honor our Moms. We learn many things from our Moms.

My mother taught me religion. She used to say things like, "You better pray that comes out of the carpet."

My mother taught me medicine: "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they're going to freeze that way."

My mother taught me how to be a contortionist: "Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me to appreciate a job well done: "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning!"

My mother taught me about genetics: "You are just like your father!"

My mother taught me logic:  "Because I said so, that's why." (1)

How do we teach them about God?

INTIMACY WITH GOD-vs 10

10 A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. (NLT)

“one day”-he didn’t say, “one year”, but one DAY!

The very least of God is exceeding precious to a gracious soul.

“rather be a doorkeeper”- some have spoken it this way, “rather be fixed to a post in the house of my God than live at liberty in the tents of the wicked”. David loved his Master and loved his work so well, that he desired to be tied to this service for ever!!!

The slightest contact with God through real, heartfelt worship is more satisfying than the deepest involvement in sin.

The sinful life is always promising satisfaction, and the deeper one goes into it, the less satisfaction he finds. But the deeper one goes into public worship, the more satisfaction he finds.

What makes worship so satisfying to us? It brings us into contact with the eternal God who delights in being a sun and a shield to those who love him and serve him (v. 11). As we worship him, he gives us grace and glory and every ‘good thing’ (v. 11).

Nothing can be more satisfying than having the light of God shining on our pathway and having the shield of God to protect us from evil. Nothing is more satisfying than receiving grace for living and glory for the future. Nothing is more satisfying than knowing God will not withhold from those who truly worship him anything they need.

Sometimes, as parents, we can view “parenting” as “just being a doorkeeper”- a contemptible office, one that belonged to the common Levites. For David, he viewed being a “doorkeeper” as very dishonourable.

However, he would rather be a doorkeeper than to dwell in the tents of wickedness—to live in great glory, plenty and pleasure.

He set a higher value on one day which he could spend in the DIVINE Service, than upon a long time among the men of the world.

Parenting is a DIVINE SERVICE

—not for sissy’s or part-timers.

GET IN POSITION

You get in a position to SEE HIM!

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you uP ( KJV).

Intimacy with God is the result of right choices

Intimacy with God begins with: submitting to Him; humbling ourselves before Him, brokenness before Him.

Intimacy with God begins with resisting the Enemy

Intimacy with God begins when we quit playing the field and get serious with God.

GET PERSONAL

1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.

When you walkthrough the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia* and Seba in your place. 4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours

because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. ( NLT)

If you were going to make this a letter to you from God, the Father today, what would this PERSONAL message be?

—Father, I know you love me?

—Father, I know you are with me?

—Father, I know you will protect me?

Today, you are as CLOSE to the FATHER as you have chosen to be.

Our intimacy with Him is where we have wanted. Our intimacy with our Father is where we desire it to be.

We see in the importance for each of us to abide in Christ. To abide is to have an INTIMATE relationship with Christ, one that is PERSONAL.

When we are PERSONALLY connected and growing in Christ:

A) We will be Fruitful

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

B) We will be Faithful

-10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

GAIN POTENTIAL

When we learn to POSITION and PERSONALIZE our relationship with Christ, look at the POTENTIAL!!

If we don’t get the FIRST TWO correct, we will not experience the THIRD!

**Do you remember the story of Jacob—after he had wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, he set up stones to mark the place—“I don't want to forget this”

**Do you remember when the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River?- they set up smooth stones—every the family, children would see those stones and be reminded of what God did.

Why the markers? They had experienced the mighty power of God!!

What’s at stake when it comes to us living out our POTENTIAL?

we will set up real markers or we won’t!

We will guard the gate or we won’t!

We will lead our families in a godly manner or not!

—POTENTIAL of the Door Keeper!

The slightest contact with God through real, heartfelt worship is more satisfying than the deepest involvement in sin. The sinful life promises satisfaction, but never provides! The deeper one goes into worship, the more satisfaction will be found!

-DoorKeepers- admitted or rejected visitors; guarded the threshold; guarding the temple entrance.

In - the “doorkeeper” is commanded to watch for the return of the Master of the House.

Have we forgotten the POTENTIAL FOR DOORKEEPERS? We need families, husbands and wives, mothers and dads, children, grandmothers and grandfathers, standing up and realizing their potential.

Where are the doorkeepers today?

WE, you and I, we are the DOORKEEPERS!! Doorkeepers are rare and priceless.

DoorKeepers keep the door open to a God who is Holy, Worthy, Almighty, Omniscient, Merciful, full of Grace, whose LOVE IS:

See a God who is Holy, Worthy, Almighty, Omniscient, Merciful, full of Grace,

whose LOVE IS:

Uninfluenced

—“we love Him because He first loved us” ()- He doesn’t love you because you loved Him first! He loved you when you were loveless.

Eternal

-He loved us before heaven and earth were called into existence

-Because God is God, He does as He pleases!

Infinite

- His love is without limits!

Immutable

- His love knows no change!

Holy

- His love is not regulated by passion or sentiment, but by principle! God’s love does not wink at sin! His love is Pure!!

Are YOU a DOORKEEPER for your family today?

REMEMBER--

STRONG FAMILIES IMPACT CULTURE AND COMMUNITY