AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #33
- Be a House of Prayer
” And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
“And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” Matthew 21:12-13
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Please remember, we are studying what it means to be a disciple of Jesus so we can be like Him. This is an event which must can be misunderstood as Jesus showing calculated anger – which is incorrect. This teaching must be carefully framed as “Righteous Indignation”.
Very little is said about this subject, but in this example we have a clear look at a powerful demonstration of “Righteous Indignation”, when it is appropriate and when it is called for.
There are only a few examples of when Jesus appears get angry. Each time it is related to someone or some group blocking access to our Father in heaven. And each time Jesus demonstrates “Righteous Indignation”.
One account of this event tells us that Jesus takes time to braid a cord into a whip, before entering the Temple. That would take time and forethought. This was not a sudden outburst of anger. It was thought out.
Yet, today, almost every one of our churches, claiming to be a “House of the Lord”, have turned His House into a Robber’s Den.
How? At various times, Sanctuaries of God are being used as entertainment centers, athletic centers, political stages or voter registration centers. It is a place to sell religious literature, CDs, DVDs, to raise money for activities in and outside the church – just like we see in Matthew 21.
So, ‘what wrong with that?’ you ask? Let me say, that if you have to ask that question then it may be a sign that you have, along with thousands of pastors, churches and entire denominations, drifted from so far from a basic understanding God and His Teachings and His Ways, that this small space cannot facilitate your question. One of the main reasons the contemporary church has lost its power and effectiveness in our world is that we fail to have fervent effective prayers and fail to recognize what Jesus is telling us.
I will close by quoting what Jesus, our Lord and Teacher, says, “MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER”. Jesus has set the example before us and it is THE CHURCH as a House of Prayer.
I beseech all of us to take this seriously. It is as if we are hemorrhaging our spiritual life blood away from ignorance and neglect of this Great Edict.
Let’s turn back to God in fervent, persistent and regular prayer.
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT?
HOW MUST YOU TEACH IT?
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Whitestone Fellowship 