Matthew 21

12 And Jesus went into the temple and drove out all who bought and sold in the sacred place, and He turned over the four-footed tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who sold doves.

13 He said to them, The Scripture says, my house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.

BOOTING OUT THE RUBBISH

Should Christians get angry?

Well, it says not to be angry.. but Jesus certainly was.. this shows us that we can be angry, but angry at what God is angry about.

There is such a thing as righteous anger, remember Jesus was sinless., this was not wrong what Jesus was doing.

This was taking place in the court of the gentiles, this was an area that was supposed to be set aside for worship, but had been turned into a place of commercial activity, and not one of high repute either, these merchants were fleecing the worshippers.

How many churches today have commercial activity going on within their walls.. bookstores, their pastors write books that are sold for many dollars?

What do you think Jesus would do if he came to your church?

Would he have to drive out the merchants from your place of prayer?

When churches become more like a business then they stop fulfilling their calling.

We sure need to clean house church and to remember that church is for reaching out to a lost world.. it is not a commercial operation.. it’s God’s operation to reach a needy and sin sick world.

The church in Ephesus was full of activity.. Jesus said that was good.. but they had missed the point.. it’s not about activity.. it’s about communion with God.. amen

Revelation 2

1To the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches 

2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.

3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

Two final questions…

How angry would Jesus be if he came to your church?

What would Jesus get rid of in your church?

We need to get rid of the things that hinder us.. Amen.

Jesus was angry because the place of prayer was being misused in the temple. How angry do you think the Father is when he sees the prayer meeting side-lined in the church?

TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE AND TO MAKE THE PLACE OF PRAYER THE MAIN PLACE

WALKING WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL

Philippians 1

27 Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).

We are citizens of heaven who are living here in enemy territory.  So how we behave is important, we are representatives of our Heavenly Father.  People cannot see God…  except through us.

It is no good sharing the gospel with someone, if your life doesn’t back up what you say.  Let me give you an example.

You witness to a friend at work and tell him/her about Jesus, and then you are dishonest in your dealings with people at work or you swear at work…  this is not conducting yourself in a manner that is worthy of the gospel.  You are bringing the gospel into disrepute.

Paul had great trust in these believers, that whether he was there or whether he wasn’t, they were behaving in a godly and gracious manner.

Are you just living in a godly manner, whilst you are being watched by your pastor or your fellow believers?  Your life should be the same whether Paul (your pastor) is present or not?

So how can we walk worthy of the Lord?  One of the main things is to be unified.  The song goes…  that they will know we are Christians by our love.  This along with our unity sets us apart from the world.

Why is unity with likeminded believers so important, because the gospel is pre-eminent?  We are not in competition with other bible believing Christians; we are to work together, to transform the world through the power of the gospel.

Let us walk worthy of the gospel… in love, unity, and power.

God Bless You,