Transforming Homes: Inviting God's Presence and Healing

Devotional

Day 1: Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

Joshua calls the people to make a clear decision about whom they will serve, challenging them to break free from the patterns and idols of the past and to declare, as he does, that “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This is not just about a physical house, but about a family line, a legacy, and the spiritual direction of generations to come. The invitation is to intentionally fill your home and your life with the things of God, refusing to let the mistakes or idols of previous generations dictate your present or your future. [40:05]

Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV)
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Reflection: What is one “idol” or unhealthy pattern from your family’s past that you need to intentionally reject today in order to serve the Lord wholeheartedly in your home?

Day 2: Generational Patterns Can Be Broken

The Bible teaches that the iniquities of one generation can affect the next, but it also proclaims that these generational cycles—addiction, brokenness, fear, or any other bondage—can stop with you. You are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of your parents or grandparents; through Christ, you can confront and conquer what has been passed down, choosing a new legacy for your family. The Lord’s desire is not just to save your soul, but to set you free from everything that binds you, so your children and their children can walk in freedom. [51:03]

Exodus 20:5-6 (ESV)
“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Reflection: What is one generational struggle or negative pattern you see in your family, and how can you invite Jesus to help you break that cycle starting today?

Day 3: Let Jesus Inspect and Clean the Whole House

It’s easy to tidy up the visible parts of our lives while hiding messes in the unseen places, but Jesus wants access to every room—especially the ones we’d rather keep closed off. Just as the priest in Leviticus inspected the homes for hidden mold, Jesus stands at the door and knocks, longing to reveal and cleanse what’s beneath the surface. When you allow Him to inspect your heart and your home, He doesn’t come to condemn, but to clean, restore, and fill your life with His presence. [01:14:43]

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Reflection: What is one “room” or area of your life you’ve kept closed off from Jesus, and what would it look like to invite Him in to inspect and clean it today?

Day 4: Teach the Next Generation to Clean, Not Just Hide the Mess

Our children often inherit not just our blessings, but also our messes—spiritually, emotionally, and practically. It’s not enough to simply hide the clutter or pretend it isn’t there; we must teach the next generation how to recognize, confront, and clean up what doesn’t belong, so they aren’t left to deal with what we ignored. This means being honest about our struggles, inviting Jesus to help us, and modeling for our children what it looks like to pursue a house filled with God’s presence. [01:07:42]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Reflection: How can you intentionally model and teach your children (or those you influence) to confront and clean up spiritual messes, rather than just hiding them?

Day 5: You Don’t Have to Clean Up Alone—Let Jesus Do the Work

The hope of the gospel is that you don’t have to clean up your life or your family’s legacy by yourself. Jesus, the perfect priest, offers to come in, reveal what needs to change, and do the cleaning Himself. Your role is to open the door, let Him inspect, and surrender the mess—trusting that He is both willing and able to restore what’s broken and fill your house with His presence. [01:17:30]

Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Reflection: What is one area where you’ve been trying to “clean up” on your own strength, and how can you surrender it to Jesus today, trusting Him to do the work in your heart and home?

Sermon Summary

Thank you for being here today and for your faithfulness to this house. In the midst of all the chaos and confusion in our world and in our own lives, God remains on the throne, sovereign and holy. We join with the angels in worship, recognizing that even if God never did another thing for us, He has already done more than enough. Our gratitude extends not just to God, but to each of you who serve, give, and pour into this community, making ministry possible for every generation.

Today, we began a new series called “Full House,” not about filling our homes with people, but about filling them with the presence and things of the Lord. Drawing from Joshua 24, we see Joshua’s challenge to the people of Israel: “Choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua understood that the “house” is not just a building, but a bloodline—a family, a legacy. He recognized that the struggles and sins of one generation, if left unaddressed, become the battles of the next. The patterns of brokenness, addiction, anger, and idolatry can be passed down, but they can also stop with us.

The living room, the heart of the home, often becomes cluttered—physically and spiritually. We get used to the mess, sometimes hiding it away when company comes, but never truly dealing with it. In the same way, we can hide spiritual messes in the unseen places of our lives, passing them on to our children if we don’t allow God to inspect and clean them. The good news is that Jesus stands at the door and knocks, not just wanting to visit the presentable parts of our lives, but to enter the hidden places and do the deep cleaning only He can do.

We are called to invite Jesus to inspect our hearts and homes, to reveal what needs to be removed, and to let Him do the work of cleansing. This is not just for our own sake, but for the generations that follow. Our children and their children are worth the discomfort of inspection and the humility of repentance. As we move forward, let’s commit to building homes filled with the presence of God, breaking cycles of brokenness, and leaving a legacy of faith.

Key Takeaways

1. Generational cycles can be broken in Christ The struggles and sins that have run through your family—addiction, anger, insecurity, or anything else—do not have to define your future or your children’s future. Jesus came not only to save your soul but to break every chain that binds you, offering freedom for you and your household. The cycle can stop with you if you allow Him to do the work. [50:02]
2. What you tolerate, your children will embrace Patterns that go unchallenged in one generation often become normalized or even celebrated in the next. If we don’t confront the spiritual messes in our homes—whether it’s apathy, misplaced priorities, or hidden sin—our children will inherit and amplify them. The call is to courageously address these issues now, for the sake of those who come after us. [53:50]
3. The visible and invisible messes both matter It’s easy to clean up the parts of our lives that others see, but the real danger lies in the hidden places we ignore. God is not content with surface-level tidiness; He wants access to every room, every closet, every secret. Only by inviting Him to inspect and cleanse the unseen can we experience true transformation and prevent passing hidden struggles to the next generation. [74:43]
4. You don’t have to clean up alone—Jesus does the work The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus doesn’t just point out the mess; He offers to clean it. Our role is to open the door, allow Him to inspect, and be willing to let go of what He reveals. The process may require change and humility, but the burden of cleansing is His, and He is faithful to restore what is broken. [77:30]
5. Community and spiritual family are essential for growth If you’re trying to build a godly home but don’t know how, you’re not alone. The church is a family where those who have walked the road before can help guide, support, and love you through the process. Don’t be afraid to seek help, mentorship, or accountability—your growth and your family’s future are worth it. [88:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:08] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[16:09] - Honoring Our Team
[18:10] - Celebrating Pastor Julie and Pastor Travis
[22:53] - The Heart of Generosity
[23:51] - Prayer for Giving and the Next Generation
[35:24] - Preparing Our Hearts
[36:33] - Introducing “Full House”
[40:05] - Joshua’s Legacy and the House of Joshua
[44:15] - The Living Room: Memories and Messes
[47:19] - Breaking Generational Cycles
[49:18] - The Reality of Spiritual Inheritance
[53:50] - What We Tolerate, Our Children Inherit
[58:20] - Confronting and Conquering with Christ
[63:31] - Teaching the Next Generation to Clean
[70:24] - Biblical House Cleaning: Leviticus 14-15
[74:43] - Letting Jesus Inspect Every Room
[77:30] - Invitation to the Altar: Letting God Clean the Mess
[88:53] - Finding Spiritual Family and Support
[93:24] - Announcements and Community Life
[94:07] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV) — > “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Observation Questions

In Joshua 24:14-15, what specific choice does Joshua put before the people of Israel? What does he declare for his own household?
According to the sermon, what does “house” mean in Joshua’s statement—just a building, or something more? ([42:55])
What are some examples the pastor gave of “mess” or brokenness that can be passed down from one generation to the next? ([47:19])
What did the pastor say about the difference between the visible and invisible messes in our lives and homes? ([59:35])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Joshua emphasizes making a choice about whom to serve, instead of just assuming people will follow God by default? What does this say about spiritual legacy? ([40:05])
The pastor said, “What you tolerate, your children will embrace.” How does this idea challenge the way we think about the habits and priorities we allow in our homes? ([53:50])
In the sermon, the pastor described how we often clean up the visible parts of our lives but hide the mess in other rooms. What might be some reasons people do this spiritually? ([59:35])
The message said that Jesus doesn’t just point out the mess, but offers to clean it. What does it look like to let Jesus “inspect” and “clean” the hidden places in our lives? ([01:17:30])

Application Questions

Joshua made a public declaration: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” If you were to make a similar declaration today, what would it look like in your family or household? Is there anything holding you back from making that stand? ([40:05])
The pastor talked about generational cycles—like addiction, anger, or insecurity—that can be passed down. Are there any patterns in your family history that you see in yourself? What would it look like to let Jesus break that cycle with you? ([50:02])
Think about your “living room”—the most visible part of your life. Is there a “mess” you tend to hide when others are around? What about the “closets”—the hidden areas? What would it take to let Jesus into those places? ([59:35])
The sermon said, “What you tolerate, your children will embrace.” Are there things in your home or personal life that you’ve been tolerating, hoping they’ll just go away? What’s one step you could take this week to address it? ([53:50])
The pastor encouraged us not to try to clean up alone, but to let Jesus do the work. Is there an area where you’ve been trying to “fix” yourself without inviting Jesus in? How can you surrender that area to Him this week? ([01:17:30])
The message highlighted the importance of spiritual family and community. Is there someone in the church you could ask for help, mentorship, or accountability as you work to build a godly home? What’s stopping you from reaching out? ([01:28:53])
For parents: What is one practical way you can teach your children (or spiritual children) how to “clean up” spiritually, not just physically? For those without kids, how can you help break cycles of brokenness for the next generation? ([01:07:42])

Sermon Clips

You do not have to live in the home you grew up in. I'm here to tell you something. Your present does not have to look like your past. You don't have, the vision of this church is that anyone and everyone can come in and leave their past behind them, moving forward into what God has for them. [00:47:12] (28 seconds) #LeaveYourPastBehind

Generational iniquities or generational curses, that's what the Bible calls these things, they can run in your family until they run into you. Jesus didn't come just to save your soul. He came to free you from everything that binds you. He came so that you can walk without your past pulling you backwards. He came so that your home and your heart, your family, can be filled with the things of the Lord. [00:50:31] (40 seconds) #FreedomFromGenerationalChains

What is tolerated in one generation will be celebrated in the next. Let me help you with this. Because the reason missing church isn't a big deal is because your parents didn't make it a priority. [00:54:47] (15 seconds) #PrioritizeFaithNotTradition

The problems that we're facing today in the Christian world and in our walks with Christ, a lot of it is not our fault. It's not our doing. It was placed on us by parents, grandparents, generations past us. Okay? And if you leave here and you call your parents and Pastor Lloyd said, you failed. Don't you do that. They call me. I'm like, I don't even know who you are. No. It was placed through the bloodline. It was placed in the house. It was placed in the house. It's been passed down generation to generation and generation. So it's not your fault that you're facing it, but it is our fault and our choice to continue to allow it into our hearts and in our homes. What you don't confront will continue, but what you confront with Christ, you will conquer. [00:57:36] (53 seconds) #NotYourFaultButYourFight

When we decide this is as far as they can go so I can leave the mess here as long as I make this look clean, what we don't realize is we get used to that. This is how curses begin, this is how this stuff starts. When the visible places are clean but the places that aren't visible get more and more cluttered until it becomes a mess. [01:03:31] (29 seconds) #CleanTheInvisibleMess

Our kids are having to clean up a lot of our messes and we haven't even taught them how to clean yet. We haven't taught them what to do. We've allowed things in and it's been wild is what it's been and Joshua understood we can't bring all this stuff in with us. Look at what it did, it took a whole generation out of the promise, it took a whole generation out of the promise that God had given them. We can't let this go forward, we can't let this move on. [01:06:22] (36 seconds) #TeachKidsToCleanUp

Jesus is not interested in visiting your living room, he's interested in visiting your closet. He doesn't need to see the visible place that you present to him that you've prepared for him to see. No, he's interested in searching the part you don't want him looking in. [01:15:32] (23 seconds) #JesusSeesTheHidden

You don't have to clean up the mess. Wouldn't it be great, somebody comes to your house that was with full integrity, you don't have to worry about what they're doing, you don't have to worry about if they're going to follow through with what they're saying they're going to do, their reviews are through the roof, all right, they're without blemish, their resume is their google reviews are five stars all around, and they're saying I'm going to clean up your mess, you don't have to? Sign me up all day. Well, the priest wants to inspect your home today. Jesus wants to come into the visible places and the places you don't want him in. He wants to reveal the mess and for you to allow him to clean it. [01:16:51] (53 seconds) #InviteJesusToClean

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