“And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves” – Mark 11:15-17
LIGHT FOR NOW: A careless believer will downplay on prayer but a believer that is circumspect in his Christian walk, will not downplay prayer.
It is already an established truth that Jesus in Mark 11:15-17 was quoting from Isaiah 56:7. And thus, it is worthy of note that when Jesus said “…my house”, he was not referring to a physical building/structure (the temple). Hence, in John 2:19-22, the house/temple was explained by him as his body (that is, the church) which was built upon his resurrection (Matthew 16:18). He built his church when he rose, and we are members of his body (1Corinthians 12:27). Ephesians 1:20-23 throws more light, it reads “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath out all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all”.
Ephesians 5:30 elucidates further, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones”. Today, we (believers) are God’s temple – we are the Father’s house. 1Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Therefore, Isaiah’s utterance (in Isaiah 56:7) which was quoted by Jesus in Mark 11:17 was about the church; the body of Christ. Hence, the believer is the house of prayer. Prayer ought to be a constant activity of the believer. This explains the use of the phrases: “continuing instant”, “without ceasing”, “always”, “continue in” in Paul’s instructions to the church about prayer. Prayer therefore, is constant for the believer. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Take up the responsibilities that come with your realities.
CONFESSION: I put the knowledge of Christ communicated to me to work. I don’t just know about prayer, I give myself to prayer, in Jesus Name. Amen.
QUOTE: We don’t pray to become God’s house of prayer; we are God’s house of prayer.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3 EVENING: 1CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 