A House of Prayer
Matthew 21:12-13
February 6, 2004
Morning Service
Introduction
Research at San Francisco General Hospital has revealed that victims of heart attack, heart failure and other cardiac problems who were remembered in prayers fared better than those who were not. Cardiologist Randy Byrd assigned 192 patients to the "prayed-for" group and 201 patients to the "not-prayed-for" group. All patients were in the coronary intensive care unit. Patients, doctors and nurses did not know which group patients were in. Prayer group members were scattered around the nation and given only the first names, diagnoses and prognoses of patients. The researcher said that the results were dramatic. The prayed-for group had significantly fewer complications than the unremembered group. And fewer members of the former died. The latter group was five times more likely to develop infections requiring antibiotics, and three times more likely to develop a lung condition, leading to heart failure. These findings were published in the American Heart Association.
AC Dixon said this: When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do, and so on. Nor am I disposed to undervalue any of these things in their proper place, but when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do.
Prayer is one of the most powerful tools that we have been given by God but it also seems to be one of the least used tools of the church. We far too often rely on programs, ministries and our personal efforts to accomplish the work of God but in reality we need to start with prayer. I believe that Jesus is waiting to pour out His power, presence, peace, provision and protection to those who make the commitment to take a stand on their knees.
12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," he said to them, " `My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a `den of robbers.’ " Matthew 21:12-13
What was it that made Jesus so angry that day so long ago in Jerusalem? What was it that sent the one who was God in flesh into such aggressive action?
Let’s take a closer look at the situation going on in the temple court that day. When Jesus enters the temple area the first place that He would come to is the outer courts, which was a massive area of open space for people to come and pray. This area was always crowded with people and would have been a place dedicated for both Jewish and non-Jewish people to seek God. The day that Jesus walked into the temple courts there was something else going on: an absolute misuse of the area.
Jesus combats the problem - Jesus drove out those buying and selling
Why would people have been buying things in the temple courts?
The outer courts had been filled with merchants selling animals for people to purchase in order to sacrifice in the temple. Why were the merchants set up in the outer courts? Every person who came to offer sacrifices at the temple would have to have their animal inspected to be sure that it passed the criteria for sacrifices. The priests who were inspecting would look for reasons to no pass the animals people brought in and so they would be unable to worship.
Not to fear though the priests would direct these individuals to the merchants who just happened to be selling pre-approved animals. The merchants would have a significant mark up on these animals, sometimes over twice the actual value. So the people who were rejected by the priest would buy their animal from the merchants.
Jesus was removing the problem from the temple area and placing prayer back in the place it rightfully belonged. Jesus steps into the situation and gets things back on track. Why does Jesus do this?
Jesus placed a high priority on prayer throughout His personal ministry. Over and over again we see Jesus teaching about prayer and showing a vivid example of prayer by personal practice.
If Jesus placed this much emphasis on prayer with His disciples shouldn’t we also place a high priority on prayer?
What practices of this church need to be “drove out” so we can place prayer back in its rightful place? What things need to be given up so we can be pray more often?
The reality of our problem
• We become so busy serving that we fail to take the time to spend with Christ in prayer
• We become focused on the work of the church and forget the King we serve?
• We put emphasis on doing more for Christ instead of going deeper in Christ
Jesus confronts prayerless People - Jesus overturned the tables and benches
There was another problem, the temple had its own currency. Since the sales were happening in the temple the sale would have to be done in the temple money. The merchant would then send the people over to the tables of the money changers to exchange their currency for the temple currency. The money changers set an outrageous exchange rate, sometime four times the value of the persons money and also charge a fee for exchanging the money.
In terms we might understand today, the religious leaders at the temple were price gouging the people. As wrong as all of this is, the real problem was the fact that the people were being robbed spiritually. They were being robbed of the opportunity to pray to God and were becoming accustomed to not praying.
Jesus causes a major scene that day in the temple area. Jesus was showing the people that it was time to get back to being people of prayer. The simple truth is that when we fail to pray we lose God’s strength.
Illustration: Standard Oil float in the Rose Parade - Out of gas
A Christian who does not pray is like a car without gas, powerless.
We are not New testament Christians if we don’t have a prayer life. - Jim Cymbala
Jesus expects us to pray. There is no two ways about the issue. If we are following Christ we must be praying.
Jesus communicates the point - My house shall be called a house of prayer
Jesus says that God’s house is to be a place of prayer. Jesus did not say that the church is meant to be a house of singing, a house of preaching, a house of programs or a house of ministries. Jesus clearly says here that the house of God must also be a house of prayer. The two must go hand in hand and when they do not there is something wrong. When a church is not a house of prayer it will take on the qualities of a den of robbers. If we are honest about our church, which are we more like, a house of prayer or a den of robbers? Which do you want your church to be?
Jesus says the church is to be a house of prayer but why do we need to strive for such an atmosphere? Why do we need to place such a priority on prayer?
Why is prayer so vital to the life of the church?
Prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouses of God’s power and provision. There is nothing else that can replace genuine prayer and nothing else will ever come close. When the church fails to seek God in prayer we truly fail. More is accomplished in ten minutes of genuine prayer than ten hours of worship services.
Prayer moves the heart of Jesus
When Jesus entered the temple and saw that people were no longer able to pray His heart was moved to action. Make no mistake Jesus wants the church to be a place of active and vibrant ministry but the reality is that if we want Christ to bless our ministry efforts, we must first be committed to prayer. The heart of Jesus is moved by a realization of personal weakness that manifests itself in fervent prayer.
Here is what Paul has to say about the reality of weakness. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
The simple truth of the matter is that prayer still moves the heart of Jesus and that if we truly want to see the hand of Christ bless this church we must make a commitment to pray.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
Jesus wants for us to ASK
A - Ask: Asking - making requests
S - Seek: Attitude - never giving up
K - Knock: Action - putting action with our prayers
Conclusion
Our church does not need another ministry to reach out into the community. Our church does not need another program to fill time through the week. Our church does not need to come up with fancy plans for growth or more activities. What our church needs more than anything else is a breakthrough from God almighty. We need for the Holy Spirit to invade our church. We need for Jesus to do what only He can do. Our church is in desperate need for a touch from God.
The only way to get this is to seek God and His will each and everyday. This is why we are promoting 40 days of prayer and fasting. Do you really want to see God move in ways that are beyond our ability to comprehend?
This morning if the Spirit is speaking to you about something you need to commit to prayer, come to the altar and take some time to ASK Christ to move on your behalf.
