Note: This is a working outline. These are just my notes and thoughts on the topic.
Title: Cleaning the House of the Church or Getting the House in Order or Cleaning the Clutter
Theme:
Text: Matthew 21:12 - 14
Matthew 21:12-14 Then (when, right after the triumphal entry, the peoel had gathered in the streets to celebrate Christ (the Messiah's) coming, so he led them to the temple, the place of 1. worship 2. teaching 3. discipleship) Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
(13) And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' [114] but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " [115]
Thieves - stealing from people what God has given to them.
(14) Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
This is what got my attention. What happened when the temple was clean? The blind and lame came in and he healed them.
Then I began to ask the question: what is some clutter in the church that causes the blind and the lame to stay out.
Cleaning the Clutter of Faith - not superstition
John 5:1-9 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2) Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, [17] having five porches. (3) In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. (4) For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. [18] (5) Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. (6) When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" (7) The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." (8) Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." (9) And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
This man should have been going to the church for help and healing. He should have been brought in and prayed for. Yet he had to depend on superstition. Still that fell short.
No matter how much you believe in superstition. Nothing changes. You can wish, you can hope, you can even have faith in it but that does not change a thing. Some people say, “All you need is faith” Well that is not true if your faith is in the wrong person or in an object.
No man - this was the problem he was depending on man. God didn't save us to get others saved and dependant on us.
Man at the Pool of Bethesda – Getting to the Waters – Bringing them In
Do you really believe that God is a miracle worker? Then what is keeping you from inviting others?
Cleaning the Clutter of Religion
Luke 6:1-11 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first* that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. (2) And some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" (3) But Jesus answering them said, "Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: (4) how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?" (5) And He said to them, "The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (6) Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. (7) So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. (8) But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Arise and stand here." And he arose and stood. (9) Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?" [42] (10) And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, [43] "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. [44] (11) But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
The Pharisees were watching Jesus. This man needed healing, he didn't need regulations or religion. They wanted to see what Jesus would do. Would he heal the man? Jesus healed the man cause he needed it.
When we get God out of our box (religion) then God can work in the church.
Cleaning the Clutter of Sin
1Co 3:16 (16) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
(17) If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Ananias and Sapharia had to be removed. The spirit of lying and pride had to be removed then the healing happened.
Act 5:12-15
(12) And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.
(13) Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
(14) And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
(15) so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
1 Peter 2:1-3
(1) Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
(2) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, [8]
(3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1Peter 2:1-3 MSG
(1) So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk.
(2) Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God.
(3) You've had a taste of God.
Cleaning the Clutter of Worship
Acts 3:1-9 After the man was healed he entered into the temple and began to worship.
This man was sitting on the outside of the temple because he could not worship. He was hindered. He had been passed by many time but finally someone told him about the name of Jesus. Someone walked by with the power of the Holy Spirit working in them. When Peter spoke, "In the name of Jesus".
This is what the church needs to do, open the doors so people can worship. Go into the streets and see people saved. Bring them back into worship.
Conclusion
Are you ready to see the lame walk. Are you ready to see the blind see? Are you ready to see salvation come to the lost and multitudes added to the church. It is time to clean the clutter
