Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Friday October 9, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of Matthew, please read chapters 21-22 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-october-9
Today's Message: The Temple of God
The Temple of God is one that should be of honor and a blessing, yet many are unaware of just how much they defile and degrade the body in which the Spirit of God dwells.
The day after Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, just a few days before His crucifixion, He enters the Temple of God. He found some of the courts of the Temple turned into a market for cattle and things used in the sacrifices, and partly occupied by the money-changers. “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” - Matthew 21:12,13. God's house is not a place of business, especially when it is to purchase forms of idolatry. Jesus telling us the purpose of the church, if it is God's house. It is important that we pay attention to this verse, “ My house shall be called the house of prayer” for it denotes exactly what the churches are for. If Christ came now into many parts of His visible church, how many secret evils would He discover and cleanse! And how many things daily practiced under the cloak of religion, would he show to be more suitable to a den of thieves than to a house of prayer.
The chief priests were outraged, “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?.......And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? ” - Matthew 21:15,16,23. They were referring to His accepting all the praise that the multitude had given Him as the Messiah, as well as questioning who gave Him authority to dismiss their money changers. The people knew who Jesus was, but the priests only knew that this man called Jesus was messing up their church program, and money making schemes. The high priest should have been praising God for the mighty works that were being done to the people of the temple, and shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David" himself. "Hosanna" in the Hebrew tongue means "save now" The people are calling out to Jesus to "save us now".
The Temple belonged to God, who was in their midst. Jesus' cleansing of the Temple illustrates the cleansing that Christ alone brings into our lives through His atoning blood. The provision made for perishing souls in the Gospel, is represented by a royal feast made by a king, with eastern liberality, on the marriage of his son. “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come........ Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:1-3,8-14. Our merciful God has not only provided food, but a royal feast, for the perishing souls of his rebellious creatures. There is enough and more to spare, of every thing that can add to our present comfort and everlasting happiness, in the salvation of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The guests first invited were the Jews. When the prophets of the Old Testament prevailed not, nor John the Baptist, nor Christ himself, who told them the kingdom of God was at hand, the apostles and ministers of the gospel were sent, after Christ's resurrection, to tell them it was come, and to persuade them to accept the offer. Those that walk unworthy of Christianity, forfeit all the happiness they presumptuously claimed. Our Savior here passes out of the parable into that which it teaches. Many are called to the wedding-feast, that is, to salvation, but few have the wedding-garment, the righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit.
Today, the Temple of God is the bodies of those whom have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” - I Corinthians 3:16-18. Since we are the Temple of God, it is very important that we present our bodies in a way that honors and glorifies Him. How can we claim to be a Christian if we are not willing to honor His dwelling? Think about the things you are doing right now. Are they things that honor God or are they things that defile Him?
Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, Your name stands out above every name. When we speak Your name the demons flee, the sick are restored, the weak are strengthened, and those held captive to sin are freed. It is only in the name of Jesus that we find salvation, for there is no other name in heaven or on earth whereby we can be saved. We, as Christians, want to honor You as we bear Your name before a cynical unbelieving world. May our actions and attitudes not bring blemish or present opportunity for the unconverted to mock and ridicule those who identify themselves as Christians. Instead may our lives be set apart for Your glory and not to defile Your Temple. Though the world may not agree with our stand for You may we be seen as people who are honorable and trustworthy. In Jesus' Name.........Amen.
Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and weekend.
God Bless You,
Christina
P.S. I apologize for not posting a message for a couple of days, I was ill.
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