The Ten P’s of God’s House
Matthew 21:4 Monte T. Brown
March 16, 2008 Palm Sunday
Heart O’ the Hills
Introduction
In preparation for the Holy Week, the days leading up to the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we must prepare ourselves for a cleansing, a renewal.
In order to do this we must make our church a church that God desires.
Within the scripture this morning we will see what type of church God calls His church.
There are “The Ten P’s of God’s House” this is what the title of our message is this morning and “The Ten P’s of God’s House” are, Purity, Prayer, Power, Praise, Promised, Pulled Down, Perdition, Purged, Promised, and Proclaim.
1. Purity
Matthew 21:12
God’s house is a house of prayer that prepares us for worship that is pure, not mingled with the ways of the world.
We must come before the Lord with a pure heart, not lusting after the things of the world.
Our place of worship must be free of the devices and pleasures of the world.
This is God’s house and it must represent God not our desires.
The only way that we can make God’s house a house of prayer is to follow the instructions found in 1 Timothy 4:12-13.
Give attendance to reading, (the Word of God) to exhortation, (applying the Word of God) to doctrine (the Word of God made known).
2. Prayer
Matthew 21:13
When God’s house becomes a house of prayer there will be those who are displeased, they will try to stop the prayer and change the way things are done. The enemy will rise up and convince us to start doing other things other than prayer.
Our prayer time will be shortening. Our focus will be changed.
We have forgotten how to communicate to God in our churches.
We think that we communicate to God with our success of great structures.
We think that we communicate to through our praise and worship music.
We think that we communicate to God through our preaching service.
All of these things are well and good, but God’s house is a house and prayer and we have failed to equip God’s house with what God desires it to be.
God desires, no God says, that His house shall be a house of prayer.
3. Power
Ephesians 3:18-21(KJV)
We must understand the greatness of the church, God’s house and realize that the love of Christ is all present there.
We must understand that we must be filled with the fullness of Christ because the Holy Spirit dwells within us and that is an awesome power.
We need not neglect the power of the Church, however I am afraid that the church has lost it’s power because we no longer see God’s house as a house of prayer.
4. Praise
Matthew 21:15
The house of God is a house of prayer and we honor God when we offer up a sacrifice of praise to him.
Hebrews 13:15 confirms that: Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
Our church should be filled with praise. Praise to God almighty, praise in our prayers, praise in our lives, and praise in our worship.
5. Promised (The Cross)
Matthew 27:43-50
God’s house is a place that sends out a clear and powerful message. Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected, proclaiming the blood and cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Our prayers are to proclaim the cross and plead the blood for all those lost sinners.
6. Pulled Down (The Vail)
Matthew 27:51
God’s house of prayer must let everyone know that at the access to God has been made easy. The Vail has been lifted and whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.
7. Perdition (Hell)
Matthew 12:40; 1 Peter 3:19
God’s house should be warning all, that there is a penalty for deigning the Son of God. Those that turn away will spend eternity in a place of everlasting torment.
8. Purged (Victory Over Death)
1 Peter 3:20-22
God’s house prays that all be transformed by the power of the cross and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ himself says this about death; 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 (KJV)
9. Promised (Salvation)
Mark 1:15
God’s house is a house of prayer that proclaims the promise of God to all of those that believe. No matter what the sermon topic is on it should always end up at the cross. Salvation is for all. It is promised to all. All that will call upon the Lord.
10. Proclaim (Witness)
Matthew 28:19-20
God’s house is full of people that are willing to teach the doctrine of God. Feed the people with the manna that is within the Holy Scriptures.
God’s house is full of people that are willing to share their love of Christ with others. Everywhere they go. Praying for a spiritual renewal. Praying for revival. Praying for those in all nations. Praying come quickly Lord Jesus.
Conclusion
Is our church the church that God desires? De we have the 10 P’s that God desires in the church and in our lives?
Do we have Purity, Prayer, Power, Praise, Promised, Pulled Down, Perdition, Purged, Promised, and do we Proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ?
