The Father's House

Luke 2:41–49 ESV

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

How did they lose Jesus????

Where did they find him?

The reference “I must be in my Father’s house.”

The reference is to the temple, the place of God’s presence.

Jesus’ ultimate purpose in life is to please not his parents but God.

The word “must” (dei) is a key word in Luke, referring to God’s plan.

House of Prayer

Luke 19:45–48 ESV

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

According to the Life Application Bible Commentary, all adult male Jews were required to go to Jerusalem for three annual celebrations: Passover in late spring, the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) in the fall, and the Feast of Weeks in early summer.

The “merchants” in verse 45 were the people who sold goods to worshipers.

People came to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. The temple was run by the high priest and his associates.

The outer court of the temple, where all of this was taking place, was called the court of the Gentiles—the only place where people of other nations who were not Jewish could gather for worship and prayer. All of the activity going on there made prayer and worship nearly impossible.

So not only were the vendors taking advantage of people, but they were also literally preventing foreigners from spending time with God. This was their greatest crime. Jesus’ actions assured all people access to the place of worship.

Jesus said that the temple was to be a place of prayer. How do people describe your church?

Great youth group, exciting missions trips?

Superb counseling and a terrific singles group?

Wonderful music and sound system?

• What about a place of prayer?

What is prayer?

Proseuche (Greek) - Prayer

According to the Lexham Bible Dictionary. Prayer is defined as communication with God, which may include petition, entreaty, supplication, thanksgiving, praise, hymns, and lament.

According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition)

prayer an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought

a set order of words used in praying

an earnest request or wish

the act or practice of praying to God

a religious service consisting chiefly of prayers

“Prayer itself is an art which the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer.” - Charles Spurgeon

“True prayer is trading is trading of the heart with God.” - Charles Sprugeon

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)

3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

The Second Cleansing of the Temple

John 2:13–22 ESV

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

They Believed

“God wants us so badly that he has made the condition as simple as he possibly could: Only believe.” — Smith Wigglesworth

“When I saw for the first time by the word of god that sickness was not the will of God. EVERYTHING in my nature rose up to defeat the will of the devil!” - John G. Lake

“Prayers outlived the lives of those who uttered them; outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.” - E.M. Bounds

Controversial Topics in the Body of Christ

And what I believe....

Oneness vs. Trinity

Jesus Name Baptism vs. baptising in titles.

Is Tithing really a new testament doctrine?

Is Speaking in Tongues for today?

Are the Apostles & Prophets still for today?

Deliverance & Exorcism

Did the Gifts Cease?

Annihilationism Vs. Eternal Hell

Let’s get back to the text...

Den of Robbers

Mark 11:15–17 (ESV)

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.

17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

Jesus entered the temple area. Driving out those who were buying and selling in the temple area shows Christ’s passion for true holiness (i.e., moral purity, spiritual wholeness, separation from evil and dedication to God) and prayer among those who claim to worship God (see Isa 56:7, note; Lk 19:45, note).

A house of prayer for all nations. Jesus makes it clear that God’s house was meant to be a special place where God’s people could meet with him for prayer and worship.

It must not be disrespected and corrupted by making it a center for social gatherings, selling merchandise or financial advancement.

“It is well said that neglected prayer is the birthplace of all evil.” - Charles Spurgeon

The Prophet’s Cry

Jeremiah 7:1-12 (ESV)

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:

2 “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord.

3 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.

4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’

5 “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,

6 if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm,

7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.

8 “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.

9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,

10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?

11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord.

The land of Judah was greatly deceived by thinking that simply coming to the Lord’s house would cover their sins.

They believed that they could act viley, and commit all manner of abominations without fear of judgement.

This heresy still exists today.

It is known as hyper-grace.

Which is not the Gospel!

You must repent of your sins!

Conclusion:

Isaiah 56:7 (ESV)

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”