The Virtuous Kingdom: Evidence of the Reign of God in the Human Heart
The Virtue of Prayer
Mark 11:15-17
Sermon Objective: To encourage and explain the virtue of personal prayer.
Series Intro:
We are looking at Mark chapter 11 for the next few weeks. We have chosen to look at it from specific vantage points … to look at some of the Kingdom virtues God has imparted to the believer. The chapter shows our sovereign King making His way into his Holy City and temple for an official inspection. In doing so, He declares His reign.
“The Virtuous Kingdom: Evidence of the Reign of God in the Human Heart” is an appropriate title for such an event.
Last week we looked at verses 1-11 and saw the power and importance of living a lifestyle of worship.
In coming weeks we will look at fruit bearing (11:11-14, 20-21), faith (11:22-25), forgiveness (11:20-25), submission (11:1-6 & 27-33).
But today we will look at Mark 11:15-17.
15On 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, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " ’My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ’a den of robbers.’"
So what happened here? What was so egregious that Jesus became angry … even violent?
The religious leaders were restricting the Gentiles’ access to God. The bazaar was set up in the court of the Gentiles not in any of the other courts (all the others were reserved for Jews). God’s original intent was for ALL humankind to have access to him. God wanted all humankind to pray to him at the temple.
You see, the Court of the Gentiles was an ideal place for missionary work! But sadly, prayer could not take place there any longer. It was now a place for preying and paying … but not for prayer.
This event gives us insight into another of the kingdom virtues that God has imparted to His people: prayer.
PRAYER. WHAT A GIFT!
God does not play favorites in prayer. It has so very few parameters to it.
† God does not prefer for a Jew to commune with Him more than he does a Gentile (Pagan) … but the Jewish leadership thought so.
All people ought to pray because all people need God.
Romans 10:11-13 says: As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
God does not play favorites in prayer. It has so very few parameters to it.
† God is not more moved by a man’s prayer any more than he is a woman’s prayer … but the Jewish leadership thought so.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
God does not play favorites in prayer. It has so very few parameters to it.
† God does not hear an adult’s prayer quicker than a child’s prayer … but the Jews thought so.
In fact, in mark 9 Jesus makes it clear that children can teach us a thing or two about a relationship with God.
God does not play favorites in prayer. It has so very few parameters to it.
† God does not hear a wealthy man’s prayer more readily than He hears a poor man’s prayer … but the Jews thought so.
There is no special status for anyone when it comes to prayer. We are on equal footing.
Matthew 7:7-8 says: "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.
God does not play favorites in prayer. It has so very few parameters to it.
† Some contend that there is a proven format for prayer that gets God’s ear. I contend that God is more desirous to see you pray than He is that you do it via a certain format.
I read through a book this week that implied you could use a certain posture and go through a specific series of prayer rituals that God would hear from Heaven. That sounds like a superstition not a relationship of communion between a child and their Heavenly Father.
o Some people write prayers
o Some people use art or draw during their prayers
o Some people sing in prayer
o Some people are silent in prayer
o Some people lie prostrate in prayer
o Some people pray in the morning
o Some people pray at night
It is not the posture or the practice that warms God’s heart – it is the utterances of our soul that He responds to
PRAYER. WHAT A GIFT!
God does not play favorites in prayer. It has so very few parameters to it.
† Some people think that prayer is human-dominant. I contend that prayer needs to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:26 -27 says: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
† Some people think that prayer is all about talking. I contend that prayer is at least as much about listening.
Real prayer focuses on the interests of God.
A close look at the model prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) shows the first half focused on god’s interests not yours. Only then do personal interests find a place.
† Some contend that prayer changes the one praying. I contend that prayer changes everything.
PRAYER. WHAT A GIFT!
God so longs to have relationship and communion with humankind that He is willing to fight for you to have the privilege! And that violent scene in Mark 11 pales in comparison to the violence he was willing to ENDURE at Calvary to secure such a privilege for you.
Hebrews 2:17-18 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
When the King made his official inspection of the Holy City He was looking for evidence of God’s reign. There is no single place that it could be more evident that in the prayer courts of the temple. But there was clutter and chaos and corruption instead.
Where corruption resides prayer cannot and where prayer advances corruption subsides.
PRAYER. WHAT A GIFT!
Richard foster stated “All who have walked with God have viewed prayer as the main business of their lives. … The discipline of prayer brings us into the deepest and highest work of the human spirit. … In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God’s thoughts after Him: to desire the things he desires, to love the things he loves” (Celebration of Discipline).
Turn with me to Reading #633 in your hymnals.
This is Jesus’ model prayer from Matthew 6. Let’s read it together.
In his book, “Too Busy Not to Pray” Bill Hybels gives some simple advice regarding Jesus’ model prayer. He says:
PRAY SECRETLY
PRAY SINCERELY
PRAY SPECIFICALLY
I like that. That’s good advice.
Some of us look at those who excel in the virtue of prayer and think, “I could never pray like that so my prayers don’t count for much.” That’s not true. Those very same prayer warriors would be the first to tell you that your prayer time with God is effective and essential. The occasional jogger does not enter the Boston Marathon. However, he/she can with practice and discipline become qualified to one day enter such a marathon. As you draw closer to God you will discover your intimacy and communion with Him deepens and grows.
The key is to take advantage of the gift of prayer that Jesus has so aggressively preserved and provided for you.
YOU are God’s temple.
You are God’s house of prayer.
He longs to nurture intimacy with you.
Wrap-Up
Let’s watch this video together. (“The Machine”)
Have you ever given a gift to someone and knew immediately it was not appreciated? They gave the token platitudes but quickly discarded the gift, never wore it, used it or referred to it?
PRAYER. WHAT A GIFT!
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
And to our God, for he will freely pardon.
(Isaiah 55:6-7)
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear!
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam (New York) Church of the Nazarene
www.potsdam-naz.org
