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The Lord Jesus Christ.......Cleanser of Temples
Michelle gave me this idea with her recent blog.
On two separate occasions, Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem. Once at the beginning of His ministry (John 2:13-16), and near the end of His ministry (Matthew 21:12-13). Jesus was angry both times, and each occasion did it alone......while twelve young men stood watching.
Now, let's look at I Corinthians 6:19, " Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"
Question......How would Jesus do with us if we were dirtying our temples up with stuff from the world?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Colby on
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Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple.
We're more accustomed to a different Jesus, aren't we? The common, Sunday School image we have of Jesus is the meek good shepherd carrying a baby lamb on his shoulders. But when Jesus saw what was happening in the temple he got angry, and his anger was righteous.
In the present, we who are the Church need to admit that we, in some ways, are no different than the buyers and the sellers Jesus confronted in the temple. When our lives as the Church are turned over by Jesus the same way he turned over the temple tables, then we will begin to learn to be the Church.
The Apostle Peter writes: "You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5; NASB). These words from Peter tell us that we are called to be living stones, a building of God's Spirit, a holy priesthood, a people called to live as God's people.
What kind of church would we become if we all really took this call from God to heart?
What kind of church would we become if we were challenged by Jesus to get angry enough to turn over the tables of our lives?
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Richard,
We are given instructions in the Word of God to examine ourselves (and this should be done regularly). We know that the Israelites were told to remove all leaven from their homes in preparation for the Passover. This is a great illustration for us even today regarding our lives and the need to remove everything that is sin. We do recognize that we live in the flesh and this will be a life long battle, but we are to aspire to holiness ... to perfection.
Secondly, I believe that Jesus, in a sense, does do this in our lives today. We have the Holy Spirit living in us, that is in the children of God, who brings conviction/convincing when we are about to, or are engaged in, sin. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is gentle and at other times quite persuasive. He is as concerned about the Temple of God as much as the Lord Jesus. Like those Jesus drove out (even though we have no evidence they were thankful for the act) we should be thankful every time the Holy Spirit convicts us ... it is for our good and the glory of God, including His temple.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Michelle, after reading what you just wrote, I couldn't help but recall an article I read in "The Economist," a weekly publication from the UK, while on an overseas flight. In it, along with news and analysis on matters of global finance and politics, was an article that I read with great interest. The attention-grabbing headline posed this question: "Is America becoming more Christian, or is Christianity (in America) becoming more Americanized?"
Many of the trends that you mentioned (and more) were brought out in the article. These are often associated with the huge growth in attendance at Christian mega churches in affluent suburbs (mirroring the retail trend favoring big box stores). The writer also noted that many pastors have morphed into CEO's of churches that have become huge business enterprises. Many churches, intent on growing, are going to extraordinary lengths competing with each other in the religious marketplace to cater to the whims and sensitivities of our materialistic, individualistic and consumer-focused culture.
Colby
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Michelle,
The article made quite a lasting impression on me because it was written from the perspective of a secular British writer on the influence of Christianity on contemporary American culture, and vice versa. That the jury is still out is how I would characterize his conclusion.
This raises another closely-related question at the intersection of the church and our postmodern culture.
- How far should the church go to adapt to and incorporate aspects of the culture and technology in order to remain relevant and engaged?
- In other words, where do we draw the line?
- At what point, does the church risk compromising or creating confusion about its identity, purpose, and mission?
Colby
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Permalink Reply by Miss Kitty on
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YES, WITHOUT JETS WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REACH SO MANY AND TEACH THEM THE LOVE OF CHRIST. IT'S ABOUT BALANCE. DRESS MODESTLY, LIVE IN A MODERATE HOME. TAKE THE MONEY AND PUT IT BACK IN THE MINISTRY. JUST THINK HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE COULD BE FED, CLOTHED AND I CAN GO ON. OUR LIFE IS LIKE A GARDEN, IT HAS TO HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF RAIN, SUN AND FERILIZER TO GROW AND FLOURISH. IF NOT IT WIL SHRIVEL UP AND DIE, IT NEEDS BALANCE!!! JUST AS WE DO, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT FOODS OUR BODIES WANT FUNCTION PROPERLYAND SO ON. THE LORD WANTS US TO HAVE BALANCE IN OUR LIFE. IF WE DON'T WE TO WILL SHRIVEL UP AND DIE, SPIRITUALY AND PHYSICALLY
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THE TIME IS COMING WHEN THE MEGA CHURCHES ARE GOING TO FALL. GOD DOES NOT CONDONE THESE PRACTICES AT ALL!!! JESUS WAS A HUMBLE MAN. HE DRESSED IN A SIMPLE ROBE AND SANDALS, NOT DESIGNER SUITS!! HE SLEPT ON THE GROUND OR IN ONE OF HIS FOLLOWERS HOMES(DEFINITELY NOT A PILLOW-TOP MATRESS WITH HEAT AND AIR!!) METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION HE WALKED AND RODE A DONKEY (NO BIG JETS, NO MERCEDES!!!) WHAT DID HE EAT? FISH ,BREAD AND PROBABLY SOME FRUIT(DEFINITELY NOT PRIME RIB, LOBSTER, CAVIAR AND $100.00 BOTTLES OF WINE!!!) WHAT TYPE OF BUILDING DID HE HAVE HIS SERVICES IN?? THE COUNTRY SIDE OR SITTING ON THE GROUND IN THE CITY(NOT MILLION DOLLAR BUILDINGS WITH EXPENSIVE SURROUNDINGS) HE ALSO HAD SERVICES IN PEOPLES HOMES, WHERE HE HEALED THE SICK. DID JESUS NEED A BODY GUARD???? NO!!!!! HE HAD THE BEST, HIS HEAVENLY FAT HER!!!!!!!!WHERE DID JESUS LIVE? GROWING UP HE LIVED IN A SIMPLE HOUSE,WITH DIRT FLOORS WITH MARY AND JOSEPH AND LATER AS HE TRAVELED AND TAUGHT THE WORD AND LOVE OF GOD, HE REALLY TRUSTED HIS HEAVENLY FATHER FOR A ROOF OVER HIS HEAD. HE SUPLIED ALL OF JESUS'S NEEDS( NO 2-3 MILLION DOLLAR HOME) . I BELEIVE TODAY'S PASTOR'S OF MEGA CHURCHES ARE MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY!!!! PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!!! THEY NEVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TESTS AND TRIALS THAT YOU WILL GO THROUGH, THEREFORE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST SAVED AND ON THE MILK THINKING THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE LIFE ON EASY STREET!!!! AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THESE BABES IN CHRIST ARE GOING TO DO, THEY ARE GOING TO BACKSLIDE, THINKING JESUS IS SOME TYPE OF SANTA CLAUS. GOD HELP THEM!!! THEY ARE'NT TAUGHT THE WORD OF GOD!!!! WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TESTS AND TRIALS IN THIS LIFE AND GODES WORD SAYS DON'T BE AMAZED WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN. THEY HAVE TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO STAND AND TRUST THE LORD IN ALL THINGS, NO MATTER WHAT. SO SAD, WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT OUT THERE AND THEY ARE GETTING RICHER AND RICHER OFF OF THESE POOR PEOPLE, SOME GIVING EVERYTHING THEY OWN TO THESE MEGA CHURCHES. AND WHEN I SAY RICH, I SURE DON'T MEAN IN THE LORD!!!! WE MUST ALL STAND ON GOD'S WORD ABOUT THIS, PRAYING FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THIS, THEY ARE NOTHING BUT WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING!!!! LET US ALL PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL SHAKE THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF THESE TYPES OF PLACES SO HARD, THAT THEY WILL WAKE UP BEFORE IT'S TO LATE!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on
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Hi Group,
James 4:4 (KJV) says it all: "Ye adulterers, and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
Grace and Peace.
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AND WHY WOULD WE CRUCIFY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR AGAIN? OUR BODIES ARE THE DWELLING PLACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. LIGHT AND DARKNESS CAN NOT LIVE TOGETHER. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN NOT DWELL IN A UNCLEAN TEMPLE!!!!! THINK ABOUT IT!!!! ARE YOU SEPERATING YOURSELF FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT?????
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What would Jesus do with us if we were dirtying our "temples" (bodies) with stuff from the world?
The human body is a "temple of the Holy Spirit," says the Apostle Paul (1Cor6:19).
What do you think he means? Do you think a temple is sacred? Yes, of course! Our bodies, says Paul, are a temple; a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, which God gave you. When you were regenerated and brought to new life by the Holy Spirit, he claimed you as one of God's beloved children.
Paul continues: "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1Cor6:20, ESV). The Holy Spirit resides in you; he claims you for God. You were bought with a price: the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
The message is clear: you and I are to use our bodies to serve and glorify God.
When we engage in acts of sexual immorality, we aren't serving and glorifying God. Paul writes: "The body is not meant for sexual immorality" (1Cor6:13). God cares very much about how treat our bodies. He himself condescended to live among as Jesus born in a body. He suffered, died, and was resurrected in that body.
Temples are sacred. Our bodies, therefore, must be kept clean and chaste (physically and morally).
Sadly, this truth is lost on many Christians. They find all kinds of self-serving excuses, including selectively interpreting and contorting the meaning of the Scriptures, to rationalize sexually immorality: acts that are outside of the sacred marriage covenant of one man and one woman ordained by God. In their eyes, their bodies are temples of lust.
In Romans 12: 1 Paul says, "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Note that Paul specifically refers to our "bodies."
Paul gives this clear warning, which should give pause to those who defile their bodies:
"Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1Cor6:9-11, NIV).
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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I've started a study of the Jewish Feasts... and it's amazing to read the scriptures from the perspective of these feasts. We talked about Passover last week, and are only beginning to unpack it. There's more to this Feast, but this gives a brief synopsis of what Passover is and some of the significance to it.
In both instances of the scripture noted above, it was approaching the time of Passover. As we look at the Jewish Feasts it helps us to understand the significance, scripture and prophecy to a greater depth. I have also ordered a book which is on it's way in the mail.. :-)
What is Passover?
Passover served as a reminder that there is no atonement for sin apart from the shedding of blood. Unleavened Bread was a reminder of God's call on their lives to be a people set apart to holiness. Leaven was a symbol of sin. They were to be unleavened that is, holy before the nations as a witness of God.
What did the Jewish people do to prepare for Passover?
Their meal consisted as follows:
The grain product eaten during Passover is called matzah. Matzah is unleavened bread, made simply from flour and water and cooked very quickly. This is the bread that the Jews made for their flight from Egypt, it also has no yeast. The bread was taken quickly, so there was no time for the yeast to rise. This also represents that when deliverance comes, it comes quickly. Never become discouraged about praying for deliverance or salvation for yourself or someone else. Deliverance will come, and it will come quickly when it does come.
There are three pieces of matza. This is parallel with the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The middle piece of bread was taken and broken in two...this represents the Son of God who was broken for us. There is no yeast in this bread, Yeast represents sin, and there is no sin in our Saviour. The matza has to have a very specific appearance. It has burned straight line marks on it, and it also has tiny holes throughout it. The burned marks represent the bruising which Christ endured. The straight lines represent the stripes or whip marks when He was being tortured and the holes represent Him being pierced. The bread is also wrapped in linen just as Jesus our Lord was wrapped in linen and placed in a tomb. After the middle piece of bread is broken it is wrapped in linen and hidden beneath a stone. The children are sent out to find the broken bread, and in order to find it they must roll away a stone and there is great rejoicing.
The Shank bone from the lamb represents The Lamb of God who was sacrificed for us. The Shank is the main bone of the lamb. After the destruction of the temple, there would be no more lamb sacrifices.
The roasted egg was baked in the oven and it represents the destruction of the temple.
The Cheroset is a dessert of apple, spices and cinnamon, and it represents mortar and reminds the Jewish people of their times in slavery.
Maror was a mixture of bitter herbs...so bitter that it brings a tear to the eye. This represents suffering, which refines a man... Our finest abilities are unleashed only under a condition of challenge and trial. Jesus suffered on our behalf.
The people would clean their homes of all yeast which represents sin.. Yeast refers to being 'puffed up' or 'prideful.'
The process of cleaning the home of all chametz (yeast) in preparation for Pesach (Passover) is an enormous task. To do it right, you must prepare for several weeks and spend several days scrubbing everything down, going over the edges of your stove and fridge with a toothpick and a Q-Tip, covering all surfaces that come in contact with food with foil or shelf-liner, etc., etc., etc. After the cleaning is completed, the morning before the seder (meal), a formal search of the house for chametz is undertaken, and any remaining chametz is burned. The wife traditionally puts some dirt/yeast intentionally to be found after the cleaning is done, and the father of the house makes a big deal out of sweeping it out of the house.
Jewish people live out this tradition year after year, and they have no idea why or what these things represent.
Jesus Clears the Temple-John 2
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
Jesus Clears the Temple
12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”[f]
14 The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. 15 The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”
Passover pointed to the Messiah as our passover lamb whose blood would be shed for our sins. Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover, at the same time that the lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover meal that evening. During the Passover meal they would eat a bread 'Matzah' which is free of yeast (leaven-which of coarse represents sin). The Matzah represents our Lord and Messiah's sinless life, making Him the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Jesus' body was in the grave during the first days of this feast, like a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth as the bread of life.
Mark 18:6 says "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
I understand this leaven to be their hypocrisy and religious ceremonies.
I'm interested in hearing what people think about Matthew 16:8-11.
Why did Jesus need to remind them about what God had done for them in the past with the loaves of bread?
As the Jewish people were to clean their homes/temples of leaven (sin)... so are we to clean our temples (bodies) of leaven (sin). Passover reminds us of that. I think it's important to notice that the Pharisees thought themselves to be righteous as they cleaned themselves up externally...but internally their hearts were hardened. Therefore, we are to 'beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'
Blessings, Carla
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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on
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Richard
Great question, I think first He would examine our hearts. No matter the state, He would open the eyes of our hearts and remind us of His Love. He would show us how to return to Him, He would continue on the path with us. Unlike the moneychangers and the rest, they were doing what the religious leaders had allowed. As we are lead by The Spirit, our desires or flesh does rise up. Again, His Love bring us back, and shows us the way.
I know that I have messed up so very many times. He showed me once what it may be like without Him, it was far worse than death. Since than His Love has brought me back each time.
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Amen, Group,
What a complete and powerful cross section comment to my post.
Thank you.
Good word -
Colby
LT
Michelle
Kay Johnson
Carla
Chris
It's an honor to serve with you all.
Grace and Peace.
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