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?