The House of Prayer
Mark 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Intro:
A. The Perverting of the House of God – vs. 15
Judea was under the rule of the Romans, and the money in current use was Roman coin. However, the Jewish law required that every man should pay a tribute to the service of the sanctuary of “half a shekel” (Exodus 30:11–16), a Jewish coin. It became, therefore, a matter of convenience to have a place where the Roman coin could be exchanged for the Jewish half shekel. The money-changers provided this convenience but would demand a small sum for the exchange. Because so many thousands of people came up to the great feasts, changing money was a very profitable business and one that resulted in fraud and oppression of the poor. Also, according to the Law, two doves or pigeons were required to be offered in sacrifice (Leviticus 14:22; Luke 2:24). Yet it was difficult to bring them from the distant parts of Judea, so a lucrative business selling the birds sprang up, with the sellers gouging the faithful by charging exorbitant prices. There were other merchants selling cattle and sheep for the temple sacrifices as well. - (got questions . org)
B. The Purifying of the House of God – vs. 15c, 16
Jesus cleansed the temple twice. Jesus’ first cleansing of the temple is described in John 2:11–12 as having occurred just after Jesus’ first miracle, the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
The second cleansing of the temple occurred just after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem the last week of His life. This second cleansing is recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke but not in John. There are differences in the two events, aside from their being nearly three years apart. In the first cleansing, temple officials confronted Jesus immediately (John 2:18), whereas in the second cleansing, the chief priests and scribes confronted Him the following day (Matthew 21:17–23). In the first event, Jesus made a whip of cords with which to drive out the sellers, but there is no mention of a whip in the second cleansing.
C. The Profession of the House of God – “…my house shall be called the house of prayer…”
This statement is found in three of the four Gospels. Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17 and Luke 19:46.
In all three accounts, Jesus was adamant about one thing.
My house shall be called the house of prayer!
This was a reference to Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
For the church to be "A House of Prayer", it needs to be...
I. A House of a Prayerful Pastor
· Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
One of the reasons why the early church picked out some men to serve as deacons was to free up the men of God to pray and minister the word.s
Jesus set an example of a praying preacher.
· Matthew 4 – fasted and prayed for forty days
· Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
· Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
· Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
· Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
II. A House of a Prayerful People
· 1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Matthew 6
· 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
· 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
· 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
· 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
· Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
III. A House of a Prayerful Power
· Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Mark 9
· 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
· 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
IV. A House of a Prayerful Partnership
· 1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.
· 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
· Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
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