If the family is to be strengthened, then the presence of the Lord must be present to make the home a sanctuary. If the presence of the Lord is lacking, so will be the environment that is necessary for true strength and growth. Simply, it would be house and not a home. It would be a church building, but not a house of God. If God is not welcomed in the house, rebellion will make itself at home! If a “Welcome” sign for the Lord is not at the front door of the house, another sign will hang in its place: “Ichabod” –the glory has departed ([“inglorious”] see 1Samuel 4:19-21).
If a family desires the presence of God in the home, then they need to establish an altar unto God. Some call it a family altar. The altar is a meeting place with God. It is the place where sacrifices are given and covenants are cut. The altar should be the centerpiece of all the furniture in the house because it represents His manifest presence, much as the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of the Lord before the children of Israel. This does not necessarily mean you build a physical altar and put in the middle of the living room, although you could, if you feel so inclined. However, this is not talking about an altar to be displayed for the entire world to see. Rather, it is the centerpiece of the family where everyone meets with God. One person can meet with Him there, or the entire family can converge with Him. Sometimes, depending on the family, it has to start with one in order for the entire household to show up. Likewise, it works the same way at a church. When a person meets with God in the Name of Jesus, he gathers with Three in One (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), making a majority. If you are the only one in the family serving the Lord, take heart. He is most faithful; therefore, you remain faithful to Him, and watch what happens.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1, KJV). To see the Lord greatly move through the family, its members must belong to Him. The altar is the place where we offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto the Lord, which enables Him to have full reign in our lives. It is the place where we crucify the old nature on the cross and mortify the deeds of the flesh by yielding to the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5-17). This is the place of surrender. It is where holiness abounds, which gives the family strength to stand!
