We’ve been learning what it means and looks like to have God’s Lordship in our homes. Understanding that He wants His shalom in our homes, families and households. We’ve seen that we are priests (pastors) in our homes and that He wants His appointed time (sabbath) with us for His shalom to come in life transforming ways.
Shalom means peace - total and abundant well being, complete wholeness, nothing missing, nothing lost, the way things are supposed to be. Whatever your situation - whether you’re a family, a married couple, singles sharing a house together, living on your own or in a Small Group setting, God wants His shalom to be at work in our lives, homes and relationships.
As head of your home, you have the authority as the doorkeeper to bring shalom into your home. 1 Peter 2:9 says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
A royal priesthood, the Church, is made up of priests, you and I, who are set apart by God to minister to God and to prepare and set things up for God to come and minister to others. The first place we do this is in our homes where His Lordship starts.
God has a placeholder, the Sabbath, in His calendar for a weekly meeting with us in our homes. The Sabbath is the time when we put everything else on hold, and make the time and space to honour Him and to keep this time holy and set apart where He then comes with His shalom. On the Sabbath we have an opportunity to open our homes to the Holy Spirit in a special way and invite friends and family over for dinner to receive the kind of peace that only He can bring.
This appointed time with God is about spending time with Him as a household, round our table, eating and sharing together along with communion and praying for one another. The Shabbat meal, as it’s called, is a time to remember and celebrate who Jesus is and what He has done for us to bring us into His sabbath rest in relationship with Him.
At the beginning of the meal two candles are lit. This represents Jesus as the Light of the world and keeping the Sabbath holy and set apart for Him. If possible, use Challah Bread or Matzah Bread which can be found at most major supermarkets. The reason for this is seen in the way the bread is made.
Challah is a Hebrew word which is made up of two other words. One is ‘the mundane’ and the other is ‘God.’ The way the bread is platted together while being made is a picture of how God makes us one with Him and how He wants to be involved in every part of our lives and homes.
Matzah Bread is unleavened bread which would have been used at the Passover festival when God redeemed His people from Israel. The stripes and the holes in the bread are a picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross - healing, forgiveness and wholeness - shalom.
We want to encourage you in your home to make time and space, to give this a try with your family and friends. As with anything new, it may feel a little different at first – just give it some time and allow it to gain traction in your life and home. As you do this by faith we believe these times with God will bless you as you see a new release of His shalom in your home.
“As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” - Joshua 24:15
Shabbat Meal
For the Shabbat meal you’ll need the following items:
- 2 x Candles
- Wine or grape juice
- 2 x Challah Bread or Matzah Bread
- A cup for communion
The format of the Shabbat meal is as follows:
1. LIGHTING THE CANDLES
Action: Light the candle
Declaration from leader:
“Lord, we welcome your into our home and we thank you for this time of rest. We thank you that you have set apart this time to meet with us. By your Word, you have sanctified and commanded us to be a light to our world. And above all, we thank you for Jesus, our Messiah, the Light of the World.”
Response: “Amen!”
2. COMMUNION
Action: Serving communion
Declaration from leader:
Taking the BREAD: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”
Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it saying, “Take and eat, this is My body given for you.” We thank You Lord Jesus that You gave Your life for us and we do this remembering all that You have done for us so that we can be made whole.”
(After this declaration, everyone may eat the bread.)
Taking the WINE/JUICE: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the fruit from the vine.”
Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is the blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Lord Jesus we remember and thank You for the covenant You have made with us by Your blood which You poured out for the forgiveness of our sins.
(After this declaration, everyone may drink the juice.)
Response: “Amen!”
3. PRAYER OF BLESSING & AFFIRMATION
Action: Lay hands and pray blessing over your family (or friends).
Prayer of blessing by the head of the household:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. (SHALOM)” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Prayer of blessing from table:
(Spouse/family members place hands on the head of household and pray aloud)
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. (SHALOM)” (Numbers 6:24-26)
You can take time to pray and speak God’s Word over one another, parents to pray for each of their children, children to pray for their parents etc. It’s giving God the space to speak, bless and encourage everyone present.
Enjoy your dinner and family time!
SHABBAT SHALOM! (Peace on the sabbath)
“‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
“‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
“‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
“‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.'"
Leviticus 26:2-13
These verses contain so many promises of blessing and protection as we live in obedience to His Word and commands.
To watch the 3-part series on "God’s Lordship in the home" please click on the videos below.