“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: The temple of God or the house of God is the house of prayer, that’s the believer in Christ.
A distinctive characteristic, a distinctive feature of the house of God is that it is a house of prayer; it is the fact that prayer always, continually, ceaselessly, without season, without ceasing goes up from it. Hence it is called a house of prayer. It is equally instructive to see that Jesus is Mark 11:15-17 was quoting from an Old Testament scripture; Isaiah 56:7 which reads “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people”. When Jesus said “…my house shall be called the house of prayer…” he was not referring to a physical building (the temple). See how he further explained “his house” (his temple/the temple) in John’s account; John 2:19-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said”.
Clearly, he was referring to his body (the church) which would be built upon his resurrection. Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. He has built his church (His body), and we are members of his body. 1Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular”; 1Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?” So we are that house of prayer that Jesus was talking about. We are God’s temple; God’s tabernacle and house. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: You are God’s house of prayer, pray!
CONFESSION: I wake up to my realities and I take up the responsibilities that come with that reality, in Jesus Name. Amen.
For more light; get the message ‘The Potency of Prayer’ by Dr. John Linus
QUOTE: The believer is God’s house of prayer.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW CHAPTER 16 EVENING: 1CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 