26/08/13

Making the Lord's House into a den

45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

People think Jesus drove traders out of the Jewish Synagogue just once, but if one looks closely at the different scripture and the sequence of scriptures one will realize it was more than once (3 times) that Jesus drove the traders away from the Synagogues. But interestingly all those times Jesus did not hurt them He hit the ground with the cloth belt, but turned their money tables and set free the animals and birds that were caged; He hurt their business.

Today's message talks of what is still continuing in our Churches. We see each denomination leaders stating their own rules and regulation. The elders of each denomination claims to be led by the Spirit of God and tell all their members to fall in line with their understanding. If that is true than why do they contradict with the understanding of leaders of other denominations? How can the Holy Spirit lead different people according to different understandings?

People have their own understanding and are led more by their flesh and yet claim to be led by the Holy Spirit. The back ground is that many have made the Church a business center like the traders did in today's message.

Look at the Bible these traders were actually not doing anything wrong if one does not have a right understanding of scriptures. They were not selling vegetables or things that are sold in the marketplace. They were making available things that were necessary for performing the sacrifices as given in the books of Moses. They were simply enabling the people to perform their religious duties.

That is exactly what is happening in our Churches. Most people who head the Churches lack right understanding of scriptures therefore are doing religious duties more than the spiritual duties. They have created rule books like the Jews and thus condemn people and make them feel guilty of sin because they do not follow their understanding and rules.

Today God is telling them like He did in the Synagogues He will turn their tables and bring their business to loss. He will not hurt them are they are His flock, but He will hurt their ground and hurt their business because they have made His House into a religious place of business. He will judge them only on Judgement Day.

Christianity is not a religion; God is not a school master but a Father who loves His children. If God was what they have made Him to be then we would not have been any hope.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, even today many have made your congregations into business centers. They complete with each other and yet claim to be your House. They have caused your House to be a divided House. Lord we pray for a revival in your House, like You drove away the traders so also drive away those who have made your House a business center. Let your House be a House of Truth, a House of fellowship, a House of worship, a House of service and a House of prayer...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Luke 19:1,45-48
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Matthew 21:6-13
6 And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them,
7 and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon.
8 And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this?
11 And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.
12 And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;
13 and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.

John 2:12-16
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days.
13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables;
16 and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)