[Mark 11:17 KJV] “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves”.
Many of us come to church and are unable to understand or tell exactly what we have joined. We just come in and go out without a proper understanding. The truth you need to understand is the fact that the church is a spiritual thing, and we must see it as such. The church is the place where we come to find God. This text teaches three very important truths that we should not underestimate at all. This is the revelation of the text and the change that must take place in our theology and thinking.
Many of us come to church unaware of what we entered. Beloved, whenever you walk through that door, remember that;
1. You just entered a place that belongs to God.
The church is the house of God. We must always understand that the church is the house of God. He owns it; it belongs to him, and he does not share the right to this house with anyone. He wants to have full access to the church. This church does not belong to the pastor, or to his family, or to any one of us. It is dedicated to God and it belongs to God. We just came in to the house of God, honour it as such. Let us learn to revere this house. On the dawn that Jacob woke up at Bethel, he revered the house. He anointed the place and confessed that this is the house of God. When you come in, remember you have come to a place of all possibilities. This is not an ordinary place it is the house of God.
2. You just entered a house of prayer, make it one.
This house shall be called a house of prayer to the nations. That is what the church must be called. The nations must see us as a house of prayer. That is how we must make the nations see this place. They must see this place as a house of prayer. They must call this place ‘The House of Prayer’. We must make it a house of prayer. We must create an ambience and atmosphere that fosters prayer. We must create a place of prayer and intercession in the house of God.
3. We must guard against making this house a den of thieves.
There must be enough light in this place. Light that shines through the word and teachings. We must create a safe place where prayer may be offered. The Bible teaches clearly that this is a house of prayer, the house of the Lord must be seen as a place of prayer unto all nation. This is a place of prayer and God answers all who come here to petition Him. There is a call on the church to make this a place of worship and prayer. Let us be committed to building a place of prayer and not a haven for thieves.
#1. Let us pray therefore that the Lord shall restore unto us the spirit and an atmosphere of prayer. Tell the Lord to help us to catch the spirit of prayer. The Holy Spirit is that Spirit by which we can cry Abba Father!.
#2. Pray that the fire of the Holy Spirit shall sweep across the church, and raze down every den set up by thieves in our churches. Pull down those dens and create an atmosphere of prayer among us. Pray that no thief shall have a place in the church.
#3. Pray that any Spirit that causes people to be at ease in the house of God be cast out. Pray that this church will be on fire with prayer from today. May the Lord revive our hearts and set us ablaze for a revival. May you never grow cold any more.
#4. Pray that from today all nations will call this place a house of prayer as we do. Pray that there will be a change of perception of how people see our church. The world will acknowledge that we are a house of prayer and not a den of thieves.
#5. Pray that any wrong tag and perception that society have about you, should change now. Pray that people will see you in the right light. People shall not think evil of you anymore. You will be called a house of prayer.
I love you;
Noah Simpe Bediako
