A House of Prayer

Note: This is not an original sermon. This is based upon a sermon we watched in Seminary. The notes I took from that sermon, along with a few lines from a 707 outline provided the impetus for this sermon. With that disclaimer, enjoy.

I want to share with you one of the strangest pictures of Jesus you will find in the entire New Testament. It is a Picture so out of sync with the children on his knee and the powerful yet peaceful teacher, that it causes one's view of Christ is shaken to the core.

Mark 11.15-18 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? 17 But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Someone that irate must not be in the spirit, yet this is Jesus we are talking about. And he didn't do it once, but twice. According to the Gospel of John, he had done the same thing three years earlier, making a whip. It was a premeditated act and now he is doing it again. And here is the most amazing thing of all: Jesus drove them out this time without a whip. He used his authority and presence. The disciples were merely spectators. Why did Jesus drive them out? Some say that the animals were prices too high. Others suggest that the money changers were using an unfair standard. Still others have suggested that they were selling animals that were unfit for sacrifice. While all of these may have been happening, the reason is much more simple. They were in the temple, but they were out of sync with the atmosphere of the temple, i.e., they didn't fit with the spirit of sacred worship. We'll all answer to God for what we've done with what is sacred (belongs to him). Are we touching what is sacred in a secular way? Jesus said this is a house of prayer. My father's house--is to be a house of prayer! You see the things of God have an atmosphere and aroma of prayer. Are we a church that belongs to God? Is there an atmosphere of prayer about us? Are we the people of God? Is there an aroma of prayer about us? Does not God say that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit? Are we not then to be houses of prayer?

“I fear this is not a praying age of the church. This is an age of toil and work and bigger, better, faster and more clever.”

When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, he told them to not be anxious about anything, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and petition. . . But, today we have forsaken that command and have replaced prayer with harder work, more education and shining reputations. None of these things were ever meant to supplant prayer!

God's work is often not as we imagine it to be. He doesn't call us the house of preaching and teaching, the house of scripture, or even of praise and worship--rather he chose prayer. What was going on in the upper room when the church was born at Pentecost? Praying. Acts 4--Peter and John before the Jewish council-threats (call a meeting, protest, PPR -- they went to a prayer meeting). When in trouble--Pray. When challenged--Pray. When persecuted--Pray. When you're at the end of your rope--Pray. Prayer is not some little mental thing. When Saul was converted, everyone was afraid of him. Ananias was praying. God spoke to this man about Saul. He replied, this is a dangerous man lord. This is how God said he's mine now -- behold, he prays. He's the real deal. In his instructions to Timothy, Paul said,first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone...and I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. (1Ti. 2.1,8). In Revelation, prayer is likened unto incense, which is kept in bowls before God and gives off a pleasant odor. And in Acts 2. They continued in prayer. Not just an hour on Sunday morning! The church is people who pray. What is the sign of revival and growth? They began to pray. Ask Charles Finney, Ask John Wesley, ask the great revivalist of our day...when the prayer ceases, so does the move of God. The single greatest thing we can learn as Christians is how to pray--to call people into the presence of Almighty God. Call the prayer meeting! Not the revival or a bible study, and how many show up? So there are more people living in sin than being baptized in the church. Today, there are more books on how to save your marriage and more divorces than every before. More books on how to raise children and more problems with kids than ever before. You can blame it on TV, movies, music, peers, or even Satan, but the biggest reason that our society is in such dire straights is that the church has ceased to be a house of prayer. But here is the promise: Let us boldly come before the throne of grace to receive grace and mercy to help us in our hour of need!

We've missed it by creating a religion that emphasizes everything except prayer--the sermon, the music. . .the focus shouldn't be either--it should be upon the alter rail, the places of prayer. The action isn't the sermon--it is bringing people to the throne of grace so God can touch them!

Too often, we speak of what God has done, and what he will do in the future, but the greatest disappointment is living our whole life without seeing God move. Jesus said, “You have not because you ask not.” Stop passively waiting and begin to pray. Not that God gives everything we want. I know the theological arguments, but there are things God wants us to have that we have not yet received. God has laid out a table, spread with all the blessings and graces we need, and all we need to do is pull up to the table. PRAY!

God will make us men and women of prayer if we ask him. He'll order our life so we'll become people of prayer. And he knows we'll say, 'No God, I can do it on my own." God smiles and says, "That's OK, when you hit the wall, I'll be here." If you get nothing else today, get a hold on this Life Lesson: If you beat the devil in prayer, you'll beat him on every level. Why? Because when you pray, God comes. When you can't stand any longer and you’re about to fall, pray and God will come and hold you up! When you call, he delights in answering.

This morning, there is someone here who is standing in the need of prayer. It might be you, it might be a spouse, it might be a child who needs a touch from God. It might be a grandchild who has walked away. As we sing this closing song, this alter is open. God is waiting here to meet you. don't let anything hold you back. If we were honest with God, the alter would be full. Are we willing to be people of prayer?

February Newletter

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, there has been a lot of talk about love. While we celebrate romantic love during this holiday, God tells us that we need to practice Christian love all year long. The question, then, arises: what is love. To answer this question, let us look into God's cookbook and see God's recipe for love.

Ingredients:

· Begin with 2 heaping cups of patience - love in passiveness. Love does not hurry, but it endures. (See Heb. 13:1)

· Mix in dash of kindness - love in action. We see this type of love in the parable of the sheep and the goats. What will we do for the least of these? (Matt. 25:31-46)

· stir in two handfuls of generosity - love in competition. How does my generosity measure up against those who aren’t saved? Is there a noticeable difference? (Heb.13.1-2)

· Next add a modest helping of Humility - love in hiding. Phil. 2.3

· Toss in a pinch of courtesy - love in society. Are we at home with all classes and cultures? We must treat them with respect, for they too are the creation of the Most High God.

· Sprinkle in a bit of unselfishness - love in essence. It will keep us from being sour or bitter. Putting others first always builds us up.

· Cover the mix with righteousness - love in conduct. Hate sin and aspire to become like Christ.

· Top the whole thing off with a good temper - love in disposition. Do not irritated or resentful.

· And season it with sincerity - love in profession. Don’t try to act perfect, but be real with people.

· Mix all the ingredients in your heart, spread over a lifetime, and serve to anyone you meet.

Have we tasted of God's love for us? Can others find that same love in us? If not, let us go to God's heavenly kitchen and try God's recipe for love. For more information, read 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

- Pastor Tom

Unity of Vision

Last two weeks we’ve looked at how we find our vision (see Six Keys to Finding our Vision) and what can stop it (see Vision Stoppers).

We’ve seen the last two weeks why vision is important (Proverbs 29:18b) and that it has been promised to us in these last days (Acts 2:17). And I want to say that our visions and our dreams are birthed out of who we are and what we are doing. Or maybe a better way to say it is that vision comes from who God says we are and what He wants us to be doing.

Today’s text comes from the eleventh chapter of Genesis, just after the death of Noah. (Gen 11.1-2) Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.2 As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. Not only was everyone speaking the same language, but they were all of one mind, saying the same things. Now skip down with me to verse 4. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." So arriving at Shinar, this great flat plain, they decided to build a great city where they could all live and to build a tower to heaven, so they could be reunited with God almighty. Now skip back a verse to verse three. 3 They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly. They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Bricks of clay instead of stone and slime instead of mortar. In other words, they did not have the right tools for the job, so they decided to use what was available to them.

Verse 5 and 6: 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.6 The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. God came down to see what was going on, and he discovered two amazing things: First, the people are all of one language and on e speech (i.e., united) and because of that, God says nothing they can imagine and plan will be impossible for them to accomplish. Now, is God a liar? Can God lie? NO! So watch this, church. God says, if I don’t do something, they will build a tower to heaven. With clay bricks for stone and slime for mortar, they will do what we with all of our technology could not even begin to fathom. That’s what God says!

So why is that a problem? Well, in Genesis 9:1,7 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the whole earth. 7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." Not suggestions, but commands that God gives to humanity. Instead, humanity decided to reach heaven by their own works. And top what purpose? So they could “make a name for themselves.” Motivated by pride, they sought to undo the loss caused by sin by sinning again. And the crazy thing is, because they had unity, they would have succeeded.

So God came down and confused their languages. Unable to communicate, they lost their unity and their common speech. For that reason, their great tower became known as the tower of Babel.

If we can come together with the visions and dreams that God has placed within us for His church, if we will unite with one language and with one speech (one mind), if we speak our faith over that which God has provided to us and begin with what we have, then church: Nothing that God puts in our heart will be impossible! If sinful, rebellious men could reach heaven with slime and bricks, how much more will we be able to see the kingdom of heaven be established in our community?

1. One mind. Put aside our differences and look to that which unites us. The things that unite us far outweigh the things that divide us.
   
2. One speech. Begin to speak your faith over the vision and your church.
3. Begin with what we have. No excuses. Whether it is people, money, materials, or expertise, God has already given us everything we need to begin.

God, we thank you for your word, which will not return void. We thank you for the dreams and visions that you are placing upon our hearts. And we thank you for bringing us into unity. Help us to put aside our differences, to speak our faith, and to take those first steps of faith, so your vision may become a reality. Begin this work within us, Lord. Begin it in me. In Christ's name.
Amen.

Vision Stoppers

Acts 2:17

Proverbs 29:18b

Job 33:14-18

Last week we looked at the six keys to finding our vision (Focused, Faithful, Fruitful, being willing to Fight, Friendly, and having Favor). Yet if vision is so vital, why don’t we already have vision and what is keeping us from fulfilling the vision we already do have? I want to look with you at seven things that will stop the vision of God.

1. Prayerlessness. There are few things Christians talk about more and do less than praying. Dr. Cho, who pastors the largest church in the world today was asked how his church grew so large. His answer was as profound as it was simple: I pray, then I obey. Billy Graham said, “Nothing happens without prayer.” You see, as the Body of Christ, prayer is our power source. Without prayer, we lack the power to see the vision become more than just a fond dream.

2. Our Stubbornness and unwillingness to change. In most churches, change is a dirty word. But, if we are growing with Christ, we must change. Growth means change. If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll only have what you already have. (and in all reality, you’ll have a little less, because that is the nature of time). Like riding a bicycle up hill. When you stop peddling, you don’t stand still.

3. Sin. Sin separates us from God. (raised fist and a blow to the face of God) James 4:17 Sin is when you know to do something and you don’t (sin of omission) and Romans 14:23b whatever isn’t of faith is sin.

4. Religion. Religion is defined as a search for truth. Christianity is not a religion (a search for truth), but a relationship with the one who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Another definition of religion is man’s efforts to please God. Man-made rules often stop the movement of God. We try to put God in a box, but he’ll go elsewhere before he conforms to our way. Are our traditions and rules more important than God’s will for us?

5. The Church becomes crancktified instead of sanctified. Yes that's a word; I just made it up. Sanctification is that process of growth that God works within us throughout our entire lives. The problem comes when we feel we’ve reached our full potential or when we refuse to let go of an offense. When this happens, we our own disobedience makes us hypersensitive to the sin in others. Instead of loving one another, we become quick to accuse, belittle, and judge one another. We become more interested in fighting one another than in fighting Satan. The good news is that even if we find ourselves in this state, all we have to do is realize our need for Christ and he will begin to soften our hearts and continue the work of sanctification in us. All we have to do is be willing to forgive.

6. Refuse to leave the old things behind. (Not saying throw away our history) This happens in two ways. First, there are some that allow the past to become an idol. They worship the way things were instead of serving God here and now. Others allow the past to become an anchor. The bad in their past holds them back and keeps them from reaching their full potential for God. It’s sad to think that some folks allow the past to keep them from being part of the vision God has for the future. Don’t let Satan bring up things that are under the blood. He has no right to them. (and if they aren’t under the blood, confess them and get them there)

7. Walking in fear. Fear is the opposite of faith. And the most often seen type of fear in relation to God’s vision is the fear of failure. We said last week faith was in two places: It is in your heart (your thoughts), and it is in your mouth (what you say). You see if we walk in fear, we stop when we reach the border of what we know. Fear holds us to what we know. But walking by faith allows us to step over the old boundaries and cross borders. There’s this book I read the other day that said we need to walk by faith and not by sight (that which we already know).

What happened when the church in Acts caught hold of this vision (Acts 2.41,46-7)

Church, as God begins to show us the dreams and vision that he has for us, I pray that you would examine your own life. Are there things there that will stop the vision of God? If so, will you come and let God help you overcome them?

Six Keys to Finding our Vision

Six Steps to Finding our Vision

Acts 2:17 "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

The words 'dream' and 'vision' are similar. Dreams are long-term, and more general while visions are short-term and very specific. Paul, quoting Joel, tells us that in this time, our young people will have vision and our older people will be dreaming dreams. Why is vision important?

Proverbs 29:18b: Without a vision, the people perish

So we'll look at six keys to finding our vision, and to make it easy, they are six f's.

1. Focus on it. Matthew 7:7,8: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

a. Are we looking for God’s vision? If we seek, ask, and knock, then He will give it.

2. Faithful. Faith is in the heart and in the mouth. As God gives us vision, we need first to get it into our very core, our heart. The vision isn't for someone else, but it becomes part of who we are! And once it has done that, we need to get it on our mouth. Can not talk down about the vision, however, and have faith for it at the same time. Too many Christians get God's vision and integrate it, only to be stopped by their mouth when they begin to give voice to all their doubts. We must begin to speak out faith.

3. Fruitful. Our vision will help us grow and bear fruit. Jesus said,(Mt. 7:17-20)Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

a. Personal growth (see Gal. and the fruit of the spirit)

b. Numerical growth (souls for the kingdom, not stealing sheep)

4. willing to Fight (Spiritually)

a. When we begin to ask God to show us His vision and work in us and through us, we can expect the enemy of our souls to everything in his power to stop us. We shouldn't be surprised when that attack comes. Instead, we need to know how to fight the spiritual battle. Our weapon is the Word of God. Read your Bible and learn what it says about the areas of our weakness.

b. And we need to learn about our Defenses: Blood of Christ (plead the blood), prayer covering, spiritual armor (Eph. 6)

5. Friendly (Love one another) Mt. 22.34-40 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

a. Our vision needs to help us love God and our neighbor

6. Favor: Pray for favor with God and with man. Favor will help us overcome every obstacle that will hold back the vision of God.

Walt Disney said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." If our church catches God’s vision, what will we be able do?

Snowy Days and Mondays

Well, the first snow of the season is covering the ground and I am red-eyed and tired. I stayed up too late watching the Buckeyes lose badly to Florida’s Gators. While I could make excuses, the simple fact is that Ohio State didn’t block well on offense, didn’t tackle well on defense, and lost their superstar special teams player on the first offensive series of the game. Any one of these could easily lead to a loss, but all three combined to make the game a total blowout. All I can say is congratulations Florida. You earned the title of National Champions.

Regulars of this blog may notice that the link to New Realities has been taken off the side bar. The two pastors who created the blog have shut it down due to changes in their personal and professional lives. Both Pastor Jared and Pastor Ric are personal friends and you guys are free to post on Pulpit Perspectives anytime you feel the urge and blessings to you both.

Pastor Tom