House or Heart of Prayer

Mark 11:12-26

Jesus is hungry looking for fruit not only in this tree but in Israel and all the nations

He has been challenging those who are blind to come into the light of Christ

Now he challenges those who confess to be holy yet within they are fruitless and faithless

Fruitless Holiness

Looks profitable on the outside

The leaves told a story that was not true on the inside

Jesus gives harsh judgment on this tree that is not like him at all

This shows the seriousness of living a false life before God

We will see how this is connected to our prayer life

The temple of Jerusalem did the same thing

This house of prayer had become a den of thieves

2 Chronicles 6 The dedication of the Temple

The heart and the temple must be in alignment

Faithless Heart

It was never the temple that would bring people close to God but the faith that Solomon talked about

Jesus cleans out the temple and then challenges his disciples to have faith in their heart when they pray

All those people were trusting in the temple rituals and practices rather than faith in God

Fruitful Faithfilled Forgiveness

This is demostrated by the heart of forgiveness

A love for all people following the example of Christ

forgiveness to a brother (Matthew 5:23-24)

1 Peter 3:7 prayers be not hindered

It is not what you see on the outside but what is on the inside