psalm2004.com

A transition is taking place in our churches today.  Just as Christ made the changes in the temple of His day, He is making changes in our time.  As our story in Matthew begins, Jesus has just completed His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The crowds have cried “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:19).  Four days later they cry, “away with Him” and He hangs upon a Roman cross. After entering Jerusalem, Jesus immediately went to the temple.  He has some business to do there and a statement to make about the house of God.  He is about to declare the primary purpose of the house of the Lord, as He quotes from Isaiah 56:7 – “My house shall be a house of prayer.” But before the house can become what He intends, it must first be cleansed.  Twice our Lord cleansed the temple.  Once at the beginning of His ministry, as is recorded in the second chapter of John, and once again at the conclusion of His ministry as recorded in Matthew chapter twenty-one. 

The temple had become a commercial enterprise where people were manipulated and cheated.  What had begun as a convenience to long distance travelers had become distorted and perverted.  So Jesus formed a whip and drove out the buyers and the sellers.  They had made His house a den of thieves.  He would not leave it that way. 

Once again the Lord is visiting His house.  He is intent on purifying His Bride.  He is determined to remove all that hinders and distracts from His purposes.  As Malachi prophesied, He is coming “like a refiner’s fire and like a launderer’s soap” (3:2).  Whenever revival came in the Old Testament one of the initial acts was always a cleansing of the house of God. 

Having cleansed the temple Jesus declares its primary purpose – “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). 

Once again, in our day there is a crystal clear, clarion call from the Holy Spirit to make our churches houses of prayer.  It is time to make the main thing, the main thing. 

God is faithful and persistent, and a spirit of prayer is coming to many churches.  Thousands across Canada are praying and fasting through the forty days of Lent.  More prayer is being offered around the world now, than at any time in the history of the world.  We have come to realize that the hope for the world lies with a church on its knees. 

Matthew’s account continues: “the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them” (21:14).  When the church prays the power of God is released.  All over the world there is a restoration and the explosion of the mighty power of God.  And as the Canadian church prays, God’s power will be demonstrated and our churches will not only be houses of prayer, but houses of healing and deliverance. 

Finally the house of God becomes a house of praise.  Even the children are moved to worship, and they cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:15).  Jesus loved their praise to God.  His heart was warmed because God had always intended that His house be a house of praise. 

Once again the Lord is visiting his house.  He is cleansing us, He is calling us to prayer, He is demonstrating His mighty power; and His people are filling His house with joyous praise.