Cleaning House

Greeting and Intro

blessed by revival?

Revival recap: Theme “remember the day” What day are we remembering? A day that marveled at God’s grace. your salvation, God delivered you from oppression, or when gave you peace in the midst of a trial.

Our Speaker, Pastor Brandon took us through the first and last chapter of Job. the first night we were reminded that if we have followed after Jesus, there will be a day of suffering. the second night we peeled back the curtain and got fresh perspective on suffering, and last night we were encouraged to trust God in the midst not because He’s promised us wealth or happiness but because He’s God. and God is worthy of being trusted.

And speaking of remembering, Chris and I had a convo that really took me back - explain convo about living lords supper

One of the things I remember is my prayer.

I wonder if any of you have a prayer life similar to that. forgive this sin one more time, husband, wife, so long since you’ve felt God’s grace you feel like you’re being crushed under your guilt and you’re not sure if God can forgive you.

Tell you something i wish i could travel back in time and tell myself: You just don’t understand how God’s grace works. This morning I want to look at a scripture that can show a picture of God’s grace in action. God’s grace cleaning house.

Sermon summary: Prayer is the deciding factor for a life of holiness.

Open Bibles to Matthew 21:

Body

how many of you love drama?

this is a dramatic high point that signals the final act of Jesus’ Life

Jesus enters Jerusalem - old testament kings but to fulfill a prophecy, he comes in on a donkey - on the foal of a donkey

Hosanna - etamology - save us we pray!

son of David - recognize Jesus as the messiah

doesn’t go into the govener’s house, or the palace, goes to the temple

finds moneychangers and sacrifice merchants - explain their sin

Jesus drives them out with a whip.

What’s the connection? In this scene, Jesus cleanses an earthly temple. a brick and morter temple. but because of Jesus’s perfect life, and death and resurrection we no longer have to go to a physical temple - Jesus is our once and forever sacrifice and we are the literaly temples of God 1st Corinthians 3:16

when Jesus justified you before God, it looked similar to The cleansing of the temple

Jesus enters gently, but he enters with authority. Matthew 21:5

Jesus isn’t a weak willed indecisive person. when he enters into the city, he does so gently, and humble, but intentionally, and he does so ask king. and when Jesus enters your life and redeems your life with his grace, he does so gently, but intentionally. and with authority

that should bring joy! knowing that we were enemies of God and Jesus comes and claims us as his own.

2. Jesus knows the condition inside but enters anyway Matthew 21:12a

Jesus who could hear thoughts, see faith, heal the sick raise the dead, knew the state of the temple. but he enters anyway

what do you think you’ve hidden from Jesus? what do you think He hasnt seen? Jesus doesnt look at your sin and say ew. or leave you on your own. he walks in the temple anyway.

3. Jesus drives out the sin Matthew 21:12b

Jesus again with intentionality drives out sin. He becomes angry because God is always angry at sin. sin deserves God’s wrath but instead of calling down fire or raging he casts down to idols and drives the sin out.

Jesus did this for us with his death. once and for all we have been made right in the sight of God.

4. Jesus calls us to continue Matthew 21:13

what is Jesus’s response to his actions? my house is a house of prayer.

not prayer - just fix me one more time - youve already been made right in the sight of God, every sin has been paid for by the blood of Jesus - NOW we began the joys of worshiping, following, and being in his presence. that’s done with sancitfying prayer.

prayer is the difference between becoming holier in our walk with Jesus

JC Ryle - prayer and sin.

what needs to be driven out of your life right now.

i dont know what sin youre facing. freedom from it may not happen overnight. you cant fight this sin without prayer.