Restoring True Corporate Worship-2

RESTORING TRUE CORPORATE WORSHIP-II—Mark 11:15-19

Attention:

Need:

The need for current (temple) worship to be cleansed/readied/restored/renovated

Recovery/restoration of worship assumes that there was a time when worship was truly worship. A need for ‘Revival’ is a statement that true worship has been lost.

*Jn..4:23-24—““But the hour is coming, & now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit & truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, & those who worship Him must worship in spirit & truth.””

Jesus showed us the importance of recovering true corporate worship.

*Jesus took it upon Himself to remove the hindrances to true corporate worship.

True corporate worship can be restored/recovered.

How is true corporate worship to be restored/recovered?

6 landmarks toward recovering true corporate worship.

Jesus’ ‘Triumphal Entry’ into Jerusalem had taken place the day before(11:1-11) which was a Monday(MacArthur Matthew 16-23 pg. 265-266). He & the 12 had then retreated to Bethany for the night(:11). The temple cleansing takes place “the next day”(:12) on a Tuesday. The Passover/Lord’s Supper would be celebrated on Thursday evening (or early Friday by Jewish reckoning).

True corporate worship is Restored/Recovered thru...

1. PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION(:15a)

2. REMOVAL Of AVARICE(:15b)

3. ESTABLISHING TRAFFIC PATTERNS(:16)

4—True corporate worship is Restored/Recovered thru...

ESTABLISHED ORIENTATION(:17)

Explanation:(:17)Word of God/Avail closeness with God

:17—“Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’””

Jesus actions came with explanation. He quickly “taught” those present the rationale behind His actions. He was concerned to teach others something about the sacredness of this Temple which had been erected to their God.

Jesus reiterated a description gleaned from the Scriptures relating/regarding the sacredness of the Temple’s purpose.

A major objective of the Temple is to carry a strong sense of intercession regarding its purpose, thus speaking to God’s purpose among mankind.

Jesus quoted from Isa. 56:4-7—

“For thus says the LORD, “To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, To them I will give in My house & within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons & daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, & to love the name of the LORD, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath, And holds fast My covenant; Even those I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings & their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.””

Jesus asked those listening to reckon with the truth of Isaiah’s(actually God’s) statement that God’s house is to be called/considered/respected as a house of intercession/communion with God. And this is for all the nations.

“Prayer”—proseuch—1)Prayer addressed to God; 2) A place set apart or suited for the offering of prayer. It is a word of sacred character, being limited to prayer to God. It gives prominence to the element of devotion.

In Isa. 56:7—hlpt tef-il-law'—Strong—Intercession, supplication; by implication--A hymn. From llp paw-lal'—Meaning to to intervene, interpose, pray, mediate, judge, intercede.

The fact that the Temple had been allowed to degrade into a marketplace—particularly in regard to the Specially ordained Passover, Feasts of Unleavened Bread & Firstfruits—had shown that it was viewed not as God had intended but rather as a “robber’s den.”

Jesus quoted from Jer. 7:(1-11)11—““Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the LORD.”

What picture is intended for us in a thieve’s den?

A “den” is a naturally occurring place of shelter for animals, or a temporary place for people. It is essentially dark, damp & missing the common ‘creature comforts‘ of god-civilized humanity.

A “thieve’s/robber’s” den is a place where thieves/robber’s hide the goods which they have personally stolen. To keep their goods in the public eye would open them up to unwanted legalities & responsibilities.

A den of thieves is a ‘safe haven’ where perversions are condoned.

The Temple precinct had become a place of refuge for the irreverent & unjust.

*The business of the Temple had come to turn upon mercantile exchanges & monetary profits rather than upon worship.

*The intended spiritually celebrative atmosphere of the Temple had ironically become the means to very greedy & materialistic ends.

“Den”—sphlaion—1) A cave, den. Strong—A cavern; by implication--A hiding-place or resort.

“Thieves/Robber’s”—lhsthv—(Used here) denotes one who steals openly. One who is openly flaunts their thieveries as a profession. Klepthv—denotes one who steals by stealth.