A House of Prayer

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (CSB)

19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

Yadi and I, We have been through some stuff,

And also specifically in our ministry.

Unless you understand our story and have walked a mile in our shoes you may come away with the assumption that we were weak.

However, what you wouldn’t know is of all of the struggles or disappointments we have had to face through out our years in ministry along the way.

Suffice it to say, we had gotten to the point where we decided it was time to step back from ministry life and re-evaluate our calling.

Have we been truly called to ministry or was it just my zeal for the things of Jesus that led us into ministry?

In Bible College, I had an Old Testament History Professor, Dr Jones.

Among all of the esteemed Professors in the College, he was the most disliked.

Anyway, he said something that bothered me to no end. He brought forth an argument that Philosophically argued that God doesn’t call us to serve.

We “Choose To serve”

Admittedly, I had lost sleep, and couldn’t function. I wrestled with this argument the whole week.

I prayed about this argument for a long time. Maybe I didn’t want to serve in this capacity.

If it was my choice, maybe I should quit. I thought God was in this whole thing in my life.

I was so confused I didn’t know what to do but Pray Pray Pray about it.

The professor knew I was struggling with this. in the Next class he called me out and asked what I had come up with, (in front of all Class), I told him, “I thought he was wrong and challenged him to prove it scripturally”

That was the wrong answer! I got a “B” instead of an “A.”

I so deserved an “A” and everyone knew it.

The point is,

After so many disappointments

in our years of in ministry His argument began to haunt me once again.

Nothing was happening.

We started asking again, “Is God in this thing or not?”

Let me tell you, when a Christian is in a weakened state of mind their whole world comes crashing down around them like a domino effect.

Why is that?

why is it at your most vulnerable moment in life you ultimately decided to follow Jesus?

That’s what happened to me.

Who else in here has had their whole life come crashing down in a moment, at one time or another?

Thats when we come crying out to Jesus isn’t it?

Why is it that in the midst of our turmoil, when we cry out to God for help but things just seem to get worse before they get better?

Even our Lord Jesus, when He was waiting in the Garden of Gethsemane Cried out to God

The Prayer in the Garden

Mark 14:32–36 (CSB)

32 Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.

34 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”

35 He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36 And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”

How did I get through the question the professor threw at me? I prayed through it!

How is that I find myself in the pulpit again preaching to you all here today?

After not so long ago I questioned whether or not I would ever preach again?

I prayed through it!

-Prayer is our life line

to all the answers God has for us

It is only through Prayer that anything spiritual happens.

If you want this, Jesus says, pray for it and believe and it shall be given.

Mark 11:24 (CSB)

24 Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

So why is it then that

things do not get better right away after I pray?

Or, have you ever stopped praying because nothing changes?

Have you ever been angry with God because your prayers go unanswered?

I’ve been there.

Mark 11:15–17 (CSB)

15 They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. 17 He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”

Now let’s turn to

John 2:13–16 (CSB)

13 The Jewish Passover was near, and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

-My house shall be a house of Prayer?

Where did Jesus get this from?

What is the house of prayer?

The house of the Lord is the Temple

Isaiah 56:7 (CSB)

7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and let them rejoice in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

So, now you are probably asking

-“What’s this have to do with you and your life’s issues?”

To get that answer lets look at

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (CSB)

19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

When you belong to Christ, you better be praying.

If not, sooner or later, you are going to find yourselves on your knees, begging God to give you this or fix that!

You don’t own yourself, you belong to Him. If you get to the point where you aren’t communicating with Him as often as He deems necessary, He will make a whip out of some chords in your life.

Then He’s going to come through your life and start over turning the tables in your life.

He will Chase out the obstruction you have before him, whether they be addictions, or sinful living, or what ever He doesn’t want in His house.

Because you are the temple, You are His house of Prayer!

This is painful.

Jesus starts uprooting your life while he Cleanses His Temple.

He does some House Cleaning

because since you don’t know what’s going on, you start crying out to Him,

“Jesus,, Help me!”

He says,

-“Don’t make my fathers house house of merchandise.

a 7/11 or a Walmart

Don’t let it be a den of thieves. Full of other things that come before God.

Things that will steal the spiritual tools God has placed there for your service to Him and nothing else.

His House “WILL" be called a house of Prayer.

When you get out of touch with Him, God will clear you out.

He’ll take whatever and do whatever to drive you to your knees.

And for What?

To pray!

If you are a follower of Jesus, and have been baptized, You “WILL” pray one way or the other

So, if you find yourself in turmoil and have no where else to go Start praying.

If you are already praying, keep praying

It means God is doing something in your life and He wants you to keep praying through it.

However, it’s important to remember to praise Him for who He is, and not for what He does!

The Bible warns us about becoming tired of praying

Because God knows that we get discouraged and disappointed.

But

-“victory isn’t in the answered prayer, its in the life and constant communication with Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (CSB)

17 pray constantly,

Luke 18:1–7 (CSB)

1 Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t fear God or respect people. 3 And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so that she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming.’ ”

6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them?

-Pray without ceasing

In closing,

As I was reading through the book of Acts, what struck me is in chapter 10:9; about Noon Peter went up to the roof to pray.

This guy has a lot going on, but he made time to pray.

You know the Muslims make time to pray.

So do the Hindus

-When is the last time you set aside a time just for prayer?

I remember camping once at the start of my understanding of Prayer. I woke up earlier than anyone else.

I found my way down to the water front and prayed over the serene calm water.

It was truly an addictive experience.

-Prayer is communion with God Almighty

I challenge everyone here to start a new prayer life

You should practice it faithfully.

I am convinced your life will change and you’ll feel closer to Jesus than ever before in your life