The Praying Church (2)

Intro:

Mark 11:17 (NKJV)

17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

Jesus saw the Temple had become a place where the religious elite took advantage of sincere worshippers. In His angriest moment on record, He cleansed the Temple.

And promised: My House shall be called a house of prayer for all Nations. When we think nations we go think of countries in Africa, but the word nation is, people group, neighbors, co workers.

What He did physically in cleansing the Temple, He did spiritually for us at our conversion.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NKJV

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? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV

16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

Prior to Covid-19, we thought of GOING to church. For months, many could not Go to church. God wants to restore to us BEING the church, where every life and every home is a sanctuary.

We think of the public gathering, but God is focused on personal prayer.

How do you define prayer?

Conversing, a conversation with the Lord. It is not for the elites or the pastor. We think of prayer ministry team, altar workers, but all of are called to be a house of prayer. We are temple of the Spirit.

When we speak of a praying Church, we think of a building instead of a body. To have a praying church, it means every one that knows Christ has regular conversations with Him.

In the past it was about GOING to a building and hearing from God. People would GO to church to pray, GO to church to hear the Word, Go to church to worship.

God wants to reverse the order, it is not GO to church to GET something, but spend time with God EVERY DAY in prayer and BRING HIM to church with us.

1. Individuals Committed to Prayer

2. Families Consistent in Prayer

3. Congregations Consumed with Prayer