Editors Note: As the Spirit moves us in mind body and soul we note as sure as the Sun rises and sets as certain as the Moon Lights the midnight sky that Satan rides in various money wagons. Will the many church houses ever teach the Truth of Giving as noted in the New Testament? Meanwhile bankers and investors invade houses that are called places of worship. Smoke filled finance rooms galore as there is still no honor among the thieves that carry the Judas badge. Who will look to God and the Bible? There is no inherent blessing in being poor however there is surely no joy or pleasure in taking from the poor and giving to the rich.
“There were once two men. John was what they noted in the Hood as being dead broke. However he had joy as he fished along the river bank. Randolph was what they noted in his affluent neighborhood as filthy rich. He had sorrow and worry was his middle name he also was lost. Lost people perish. Meanwhile John made it back home with fresh fish to bake, fry and make delicious fish soup. He also thank Almighty God for all of his blessings”
Greetings Brethren,
Peace be unto you. To the Church (the Church of Christ Jesus the Prophets and Apostles) and believing Christians everywhere. To those that believe in the Bible (the Spirit of God) as the supreme authority that governs all of humankind. In this we give thanks to God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us the straightway.
At Matthew 21: 12-17, Mark 11: 12-12-19 and Luke 19: 45-48 we see that Jesus clears the temple of wrong doing. However our primary verse at each Gospel is the one that deals with “The House of Prayer.” So see Matthew 21: 13 and Luke 19: 46. Now follow us to our primary verse noted at Mark 11: 17.
But first why is the scripture so important for us today? Does the Temple or Church still need to be cleared and cleaned up by Jesus? What are the religious leaders doing about wrongdoing and money changing still going on in the Church today? Who is responsible for things brought into the Church house?
Mark 11: 17: “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.”
Jesus was very upset regarding the profiteering going on in the Temple. We are very upset with the Church today functioning as a business with the salvation of souls a byproduct of a premeditated economic motive. Meanwhile God is used in a vain and callous manner to benefit those that are church leaders and exploit the weak of mind and faith.
Our first cross reference is taken from Isaiah 56 where the Prophet writes about the blessings of the Gentiles.
Isaiah 56: 7: “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”
The major thought here for our purposes is that the Gentiles were predicted to be part of the Church in the Gospels as Jesus Christ would come to die for the sins of all that liveth. Meanwhile the house of prayer then was the Temple now it is the established Church. Therefore when we review this scripture and digest these words we are reminded that the Church is holy and a place of prayer. No prayer place should be used as a den of thieves. Are many prosperity driven Churches today dens of thieves, robber’s con men and women? Why is there such a great emphasis on Tithing and giving money to the Church? Meanwhile why don’t the pew members who are evidently weak in mind and faith not see the unscriptural messages of Tithing and the Prosperity Teaching?
As we turn to the Prophet Jeremiah at the 7th Division we see the Prophet writing about the disobedience of the people and false worship. Again we see in the Old the utter disdain for the House of God. These words still penetrate our soul today as we look to them for hope in understanding the present condition of the Church.
We will note Jeremiah 7: 11 as our primary verse however we will begin with the verse that precedes it to get a good feel for what Jeremiah records for us at verse 11.
Jeremiah 7: 10-11: “And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations?
“Is this house, which is called by my name become a den of robbers in your eyes Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.
Although the people had committed all kinds of things ungodly they still came into the Temple. So much so that they believed they were justified to do so. We still have this attitude today. Many church leaders have fallen from grace without showing any repentance or remorse and still enter the Temple the Church to pray and preach.
Meanwhile we see that God charges these people for coming into His house with hearts of larceny and as robbers and thieves. What is the destiny of those that deface the Church? How can one deface the Church? Are things unscriptural a clear way to discern what is acceptable in God’s house and what is not?
