Jesus Clears the Temple
15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace.[a] 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”[b] 18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.
19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left[c] the city.
Kevin challenged us to think about what tables/strongholds/sins would Jesus rip and tear out of the Temple He lives in, in me? In what areas am I cheating Him, perverting the Truth or selfishly glorifying myself above Him? Because obviously, this angers our Lord. The Savior who I love to much and care about - is angry about this. Rightfully so... Its neat to see and learn about what angers the Lord. When we use Him to our benefit... for our advancement in this life... not His advancement. When we take advantage of Him? When we are more about religion than relationship - that kinda goes back to cultivating the oil to me... for all the Arise Ministry Ladies. On this same note, I must share from the NASB Life Application Bible... about the fig tree... it says " The fig tree showed promise of fruit, but it produced none. Jesus was showing his anger at religious life without substance. If you claim to have faith without putting it to work in your life, you are like the barren fig tree, Genuine faith has great potential; ask God to help you bear fruit for His Kingdom." It says before how the fig tree situation and the clearing of the temple are related because the temple was supposed to be a place of worship, yet true worship had disappeared.
Psalm 46: 1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
Psalm 46: 1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
Thank you God that you are our refuge!! With all the earthquakes in the news that have been crumbling Haiti and Chili this passage seems very real to me right now. But, I still do not need to fear - because God is my refuge!
Even though all this destruction comes... and brings much of the compassion of the Lord out of me - and makes me cry out to the Lord on their behalf, still, even still - is God their refuge, and mine.
So encouraging to see your walk with the Lord. You are growing beautifully :)
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