SCRIPTURE: Luke (NIV) 19:45 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers’.” 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
OBSERVATION: The time of Jesus crucifixion was but days away. He would be making the necessary blood sacrifice to pay for the sins of all who would repent and receive forgiveness. It would cost Him His life, but it would be free to all. And Jesus walks into the temple area where people are buying and selling animals to be sacrificed for their sins, which could never take away their sins!
God’s house was to be a house of prayer, but they had devised a way to sell animals that were acceptable as sacrifices to the priests.
Instead of being a place to talk with God and building a relationship with Him, they were putting their trust in an animal they bought to pay for their sins! Is it any wonder Jesus was so angrily motivated to drive out the sellers!
APPLICATION: If God’s house is to be a “house of prayer” then prayer should be a major characteristic of every church! Every church should be a place to stop and pray. Every church should be known for the people who pray. The prayer room should be the heart of the church.
The Bible is clear that my personal body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that God dwells in my by His spirit. So, my body should be a “house of prayer!” People should recognize me as someone who talks to God and who hears God talk to me. When someone asks me to pray for them, it could be that they see me as a “house of prayer.”
PRAYER: Lord, I am a walking house of prayer. May your praise be always on my lips. When someone asks me to pray for them, may their request be mixed with those already arising from my heart to your throne. My motivation comes from spending time with you. May you enjoy living in my heart for it has the same atmosphere as heaven, one of worship and petition. Amen
Pastor Leon
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