1046, Restore the Home

Episode Title: Restore the Home—Authority, Affection, and the Elijah MessageEpisode SummaryW. D. Frazee calls parents, children, and the whole church back to the Christian home as the starting point of the last great reformatory movement, showing that God prepares a people for Christ’s coming by restoring family authority, affection, obedience, and home religion.Show Notes / Description“Are you ready for Jesus to come?”With that searching question, Pastor W. D. Frazee opens this 1956 study on the Elijah message and the restoration of the home. Beginning with Luke 1:17, he shows that the work of making ready “a people prepared for the Lord” begins where inspiration says it must begin: with the turning of the hearts of fathers to children and children to fathers.Drawing from Testimonies for the Church, Fundamentals of Christian Education, The Ministry of Healing, Genesis 18, Ephesians 5, and the Ten Commandments, Pastor Frazee argues that the Christian home is not a secondary matter in last-day preparation. It is the beginning point of the great reformatory movement. If God’s people are to be ready for Jesus to come, fathers, mothers, and children must be brought back into harmony with the principles of God’s law.The message develops several urgent lessons:The Elijah message begins in the home — the preparation for Christ’s coming starts with restored relationships between parents and children, and especially with parents fitted to stand in their families in the place God has appointed.The Christian home as the greatest sermon — a true home, built on God’s principles, has more influence on hearts and lives than any sermon that can be preached.Abraham as the model father — Genesis 18 shows that the promises to Abraham were connected with his faithfulness in commanding his children and household after him.The father as center, lawmaker, and priest — Frazee emphasizes the father’s sacred responsibility to lead the home spiritually, not with pride or harshness, but as an empty cup filled by God.Authority and affection blended — true family government must reflect God’s own character, where love includes justice as well as mercy, firmness as well as kindness.The danger of sentimentalism — Frazee warns against a counterfeit love that abandons discipline and weakens the foundation of parental authority.The mother’s delegated work when the father is absent — when the father cannot or does not lead, the mother must carry forward both affection and authority, claiming a double portion of the Spirit.The Fifth Commandment as the foundation of human relationships — children are called not merely to obey but to honor father and mother, bringing joy, dignity, and blessing to the home.The sermon closes with the example of Jesus, who was subject to His earthly parents until the age of thirty, bearing the burdens of home life. Such a program, Frazee insists, develops the character that reflects Jesus fully and prepares God’s people for the finishing of His work.Key ScripturesLuke 1:17Psalm 19:7Revelation 12:9Genesis 18:17–19Ephesians 5:25–28Exodus 20:3Exodus 20:12Revelation 14:12Luke 2:51Key ThemesThe Elijah message and the restoration of the homeMaking ready a people prepared for the LordHome religion as the beginning of the last great reformatory movementParents standing in the place God has appointedThe Christian home as a powerful object lessonAbraham’s household governmentThe father as center, lawmaker, and priest of the householdAuthority and affection blended in family lifeLove with law, mercy with justice, kindness with firmnessThe danger of sentimentalism and discipline without loveThe mother’s responsibility when the father is absentChildren honoring father and motherJesus’ subjection in the home as the model for children and youthCompanion ReferencesEllen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1948), 547.Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1948), 119.Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education (Nashville: Southern Publishing Association, 1923), 467.Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1905), 352.Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1946), 582.Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home (Nashville: Southern Publishing Association, 1952), 212.Hymn: “The Theme of the Bible Is Jesus.”Memorable Line“God is not dispensing love without discipline. God is not interested in love without law.”AboutTo My Dear Friends brings the timeless messages of Pastor W. D. Frazee to a new generation of listeners. Visit WDFsermons.org for the full sermon library.