A House of Prayer

To see everyone. Tonight's gonna be the Lord's. house, as we get ready to

Have a Bible said, if you would take about wasn't with me to Matthew 21, Matthew chapter 21.

I'm beginning reading, inverse. Number one, Matthew 21. Inverse number. 1. Cuz now, when they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethpage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples saying to them going to the Village opposite, you and immediately, you will find a donkey tied and a Colt with her loose them, and bring them to me. And if anyone, and if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, the Lord has need of them and immediately, he will send them. All this was done that, it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by. The prophet saying, tell the daughter of Zion behold. Your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey a Colt, the foal of a donkey. So the disciples went and did as Jesus. Commanded they brought the donkey and the cult lay their clothes on them and set him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road and others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitude who went before and those who followed cried out saying, Hosanna to the son of David blessed. Is he who comes in the name of the Lord hosanna in the highest? And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved to saying, who is this? So the multitude said, this is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee when Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out, all those who bought and sold in the temple and overturning the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he said to them, and is quoting here from both the prophet Isaiah and Jeremiah My house shall be called a House of Prayer, but you have made it a den of Thieves. Let's pray to God. Our Father. We thank you, Lord, that we can meet together in this place. Lord. And as a body of Believers and Lord, we are thankful for your word. We asked the Lord to teach his father. The Eternal truths Lord that lay before us. Both are pray more than anything that the true that we here tonight. Lord would not just be things that we hold in our mind. But things that we would hide in our heart. That it would affect the way we live, and the way we think. That would cause us Lord to think more spiritually.

Father, we ask the Lord to bless. Those weren't unable to be here. Those who are sick. Those would love to be here. Otherwise, we pray for the children and the teachers and the youth downstairs. Father. We ask you lord to bless them in a special way west all these things of Christ name. Amen. Well, if we're going to view. Anything that is correct. If we're going to have a correct view of a certain Doctrine, what is a Doctrine will a Doctrine is a belief system and if you're going to have it correct you up belief system, then it's very important that we always view things from the lens of scripture. From the lands of scripture, are text houses that Jesus travels, from Jericho to the East and he passes through Bethpage and then Bethany. As he nears Bethpage in the Mount of Olives, he gives he gives his disciples instructions regarding a donkey and tells them what to do, what to say when they are challenged and by what Authority he was doing this. And what's happening right here? Matthew 21 is that Jesus is beginning to identify himself as the Messiah as the chosen one of God. He is the price. And he's identifying himself as the Messiah. And, of course, the disciples obey the Lord, and they heard the Lord, and obey the Lord. And as a result of them doing so scriptural Prophecy from several hundred years before given by Isaiah and Zechariah was for feel. And that Jesus made his way to Jerusalem. It was no small gathering whatsoever. There were thousands of people. There was a great number of people of Israel traveling from the North and the East, and they're coming through Bethany and they're falling behind the Lord, Jesus in The Crying Hosanna to the Lord. It would have been an awesome scene to behold. Crowds of cheering as Jesus. Passes by as everyone is making their way to Jerusalem as this is a start of Passover. When Jesus finally makes his way to Jerusalem, he makes his way to the temple. He saw the money changers there. And those who are selling animals to be used as a sacrificial offerings, for those who had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. They were selling the sacrificial animals at exuberant prices. And they were changing money in order to profit off of the needs of the people. And so these who were selling the sacrificial Lambs. They raise the prices, a great deal knowing that the pilgrims passing through to celebrate, Passover needed a lamb. They raise their prices. Well, Jesus holds the as he sees this and Jesus doesn't just sit by and allow this to take place seed us, something very radical. As a matter of fact, Jesus had a very radical Ministry. Do you know why he had such a radical Ministry? Because he had a very biblical Ministry. That's why. He had a very biblical Ministry because Jesus ministry. Everything he did was a direct fulfillment of what the Old Testament prophecies declared hundreds of years. Prior. The prophets declared where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The prophets declared what the Messiah would do when he was to come and start his Earthly Ministry. It says in the Old Testament that the blind would receive their sight, the lame would walk, and that is exactly what Jesus is doing. But unfortunately. Israel as a whole expecially the Pharisees and Sadducees. Did not see it or they willingly turned a blind eye to it. And one of the reasons why his ministry was really so radical to the Pharisees, is that it went against the teachings. It went against the traditions of the religious leaders of the day. It went against the socially accepted Norms of the day these norms and these Traditions that they had held onto as Pharisees were non-biblical traditions.

Their teachings and traditions in their mind was greater than scripture itself. This is why the Pharisees to the law. The law was not enough for them. And so they added laws upon laws. And so Jesus, seeing what he is sitting there in the temple. This is why Jesus turns over the tables and runs a Merchants out of the temple area. Because their traditions. And their mom was greater than scripture. The temple was no longer a place of personal relationship with God Almighty as it should have been. It was supposed to be a place to worship him. A place to pray for others and self and to hear from God. Instead, they have made it into a mini mall, or some kind of a Marketplace to meet the monetary wants of the selfish and greedy. Don't want us tonight to briefly. Look at this text scripture. Because I believe again, if we interpret a scripture the wrong way, then we are very apt to lose the correct, understanding of a certain Doctrine, in this case prayer. And how to pray in the temple was supposed to be the place that that John's people would go. If they could pray, they can hear from God. The holy place was separated from the holy of holies. Ragab resided by huge Veil and only the high priest could enter. But something amazing happened. When Jesus died on the cross, what happened? That's right. The veil was torn asunder. It was torn in two from top to bottom. So during the crucifixion, the curtain separating the holy place in the holy of holies separating man. From God was torn. And so now because of this, all the Old Testament symbolisms and all those things are no more. That you. And I as Believers have direct access to God without the need of some mediator without the need of some human priest. To go before I sing God. It is through Christ. We receive forgiveness of sin, in the opportunity that have a felony, that you have a personal relationship with God himself.

And if someone was to ask us tonight. Just to argue. You could honestly respond this way. Well, I am the temple of God. You could honestly say that and be scripturally. Correct as matter. Fact turn to 1st Corinthians chapter 3.

1st Corinthians chapter number 3.

And verse number 16.

Jesus is a fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies. In Jesus, he is our priest and King.

Notice what 1st Corinthians 3 verse 16 tells us. Do you not know that you are the temple of God? And that the spirit of God dwells in you. again, if you're a Jew, this is totally a foreign to you, because The presence of God in the spirit of God, always dwelt in the temple in the holy of holies before that. He dwells in the Tabernacle, but hear Paul is saying something very new. The spirit of God dwells in US. He goes on to say, if anyone defiles the temple of God, if anyone destroys the temple of God. God will destroy him. For the temple of God is Holy. Which Temple you are. And so because we are God's Temple. We are sacred. And we received the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord. And personal savior. We receive forgiveness of sin, and listen to the holy spirit of God takes up, residence in our heart is amazing. 1st Corinthians chapter 6. Look at this first Corinthians. Chapter 6. Verse 19.

Or do you not know? That your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you? Whom you have from God and you are not your own for you were bought at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. Now turn to 2nd Corinthians chapter 6.

2nd Corinthians chapter. Number 6.

Very plain teaching. That temples of that were made by hands are no longer. 2nd. Corinthians 6:16. Says in what agreement has the temple of God with Idols 4, you are the Temple of the Living. God has. God has said I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God and they shall be my people. So again after Christ, resurrected and ascended into heaven, the church all. Believers in. Jesus Christ are now called the house of God. The Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 3 but Christ is faithful as a son over God's house and we are his house. If indeed, we hold firmly to our confidence and the hole in which we Glory. And then Christians as Peter tosses and 1st. Peter 2:5 Christians, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood offering. Spiritual sacrifice is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. So again, God no longer dwells intense. She no longer dwells in buildings made by human hands, but in the lives of all those who receive Jesus Christ as your lord and savior and so we are God's house. We are God's Dwelling Place. Therefore we are God's House of Prayer. We are God's House of Prayer. You and I individually or a house of prayer. The question is, are we pure in? Are we clean or have? We like the temple? At Jesus cleanse. Have We Become corrupt. Is there sin in our life? Will if? So, we need to repent of those things for sure, but having a correct understanding of who we are in Christ that we are the temple of God. We are the house of God. This is where the Holy Spirit resides is very important to see it that way, or we'll have a misunderstanding. Regarding prayer. It's very important to understand. That sound theology must be the Catalyst that forms our Traditions biblical theology. What, how you interpret scripture is very important if you're going to have sound and correct traditions. Unfortunately, for many it is Traditions that drive everything else. But in reality, biblical theology, is greater than Traditions biblical theology, always trumps tradition. Now this leads us to several things as we think about the fact that we are a House of Prayer. We are a house of God, the temple of God. Think about this.

What is the proper position to pray in?

Some people would say, well, the proper position is kneeling. Are some major say, well standing is. Or laying down. Listen, there are no proper positions to pray. There are no proper position. We are to pray with humility of heart. That's the correct way of pray. What about the proper time to pray? There is none. We are to pray, the Bible tells us without ceasing. We are to pray without ceasing praying. Without ceasing means to be unconsciously, and naturally talking to God without even thinking about it. It is like, breathing. We don't have to think about breathing. We just naturally do it. and as we breathe without ceasing, so, must we pray without ceasing, and if I am to pray without ceasing, Listen to every second. Every moment is suitable prayer, and there is not a moment. That is more. Holy than any other moment. We are the temple of God, the house of God. We are a House of Prayer. That leads us to think about the proper words to pray.

We'll listen, there are none. We're talkin to God just like the disciples talked to God. They had a, what a personal relationship with God. They walked with him, the experience life together. And listen, that is what God wants for us today to experience him personally on a regular basis. What about the proper length of Prayer? Some may view that prayer is more powerful, if it is longer. That's not true. Where is that in Scripture? Someone said that true prayer is measured by weight and not by linked. A single grown before, God, may have more fullness of Prayer in it than a fine. Oration, of Great Lengths. Think about some of the shortest prayers and scriptures, those prayers that are sold powerful. We think about Peter as he's sinking there in that a Sea of Galilee as he takes his eyes off the Lord Jesus Peter didn't have time to have a big long flowery prayer. Did he? He just said, Lord, save me.

We think about the Publican who was praying in the temple. Cries out to the Lord Lord, forgive me a sinner. Short prayer. Think about the thief on the cross. Lord, remember me. Short, powerful prayers. There is no more power or spirituality.

In the length of a prayer. It ought to be measured by the weight. Of our prayer. And then we think about the proper place to pray. Well, listen, if we are. The house of God, if we are the temple of God. Then there is no proper place to pray. There is no more holy place to pray then wherever you pray. Hey, listen, I'm just thankful that God no longer dwells in a temple. He no longer dwells in a tabernacle made with hands and think about Abraham who every time he had to communicate to Worship the Lord. He had to build an altar. We no longer have to do that. We have direct access to God. For the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are a couple of quick tools that you can use that. You can use to boost your prayer life.

I've got it as an acronym of the word acts. A c t s acts like the book of Acts. The a stands for adoration.

Adoration. As we pray, we are to praise God for who he is. We have to praise Him of his worth. Of His Majesty of his glory. We are chicken fast. That's the sea confession. Confess our sins. When we confess our sins, we are agreeing with God that what we have done is sin. We are not somehow letting him know what we have done as if he did not know but rather we are agreeing. The things that we have done is seeing that's confession. The tea. Is Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving. Thank God for what he has done. Thank God for what he is currently doing and thank God for what he is going to do. Thanksgiving and then lastly, the S is supplication. Make your request known to God. So adoration. Confession, Thanksgiving supplication. Another thing that we can do, we want to boost our prayer life is to pray scripture. Pray, scripture 1st. John 1:9, if we confess our sins, he is faithful. And just to forgive us, our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And so we could pray, Lord, your word says, if I confess my sins, you will forgive me and my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness Lord. I pray that you would bring to my mind. Any seen in my life that has not been confessed. And if you do that, you better have a pen and paper. Ready.

So we're letting the scripture be arlynn's, were letting the scripture be our lives. It's very, very important that we do. So because if we have our own mindset that that we're not the house of God, that we're not the temple of God, then we can put more priority on a place. That is somehow more spiritual. We can put my more priority in a time or words. But listen, the most important thing is that you see yourself as the way the Lord sees you and you are sacred to him. You have been set apart. You are the house of God. Someone said this, if you are part of the family of God, not only are you his household, but you are also his House of Prayer. Tommaso, this ought to encourage us to pray more knowing that the Holy Spirit resides within us and that we can come boldly to the throne of grace, anytime. Anyway, anywhere. And pray. To our Heavenly Father. all right, will, let's take a few moments to

take some prayer request. Do we have any special needs? We need to mention tonight.

Okay, pray for Dylan.

Wow.

My soul. Pray for Dylan that he's able to see the dentist very soon. Yes, bud.

Goodnight. Goodnight.

Okay. Tom Ballard.

Wow.

Wow. Is there any change in Larry's? Hobbies, father?

They had to move him to, I see you. Put on dialysis.

Shut down.

But there were some positives today, the fluid that was on today.

Made it to go back to normal.

Does it look like?

Ride ride. Wow.

Okay, everybody Hyman. Yes. Okay.

All those have unspoken to slip your hand, the Lord knows those requests. Without us having to lift our hands. But Anyone else have? Yes?

Yes.

Okay, pray for Jerry Foster.

I talked to Shirley Hall yesterday. She's in good spirits and doing well, praise the Lord for that. Anyone else just lie.

Okay.

Very good. Yes.

Good.

Praise the Lord.

Aunt, Becky and Rehab. It looks like she's going to have to stay a long time.

Okay, that's your aunt. Okay.

Donna, you have your

wow.

Okay. Thank you for that. All right. There's no other prayer request. Let's go to the Lord and time of prayer in Cody. If you would start us out in the word of prayer, and then those who feel led to break and pray and then a Richard, if you would dismisses and no word of prayer, please.