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House of Prayer

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SCRIPTURE

And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it into a den of robbers.” - Luke 19:45-46

 

OBSERVATION

After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and weeping over the city, he proceeds to cleanse the temple. He did this in order to fulfill Isaiah 56. Amazingly enough, Isaiah 56 is a prophecy for God provide salvation for foreigners to experience joy in God and offer up sacrifices in God’s temple i.e. “for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (v.7). The house of God is not described as a house of preaching, fellowship, teaching or even worship but as the dwelling place of prayer. Jesus’ mission for all peoples in every nation, tribe and tongue is to come before the Lord in prayer. Prayer then is to be championed and prioritized in our worship service. 

 

APPLICATION

Prioritize prayer!

  • Church: Quarterly have ministry times for our church where people can come and be personally prayed for within our service. Have periodic and intentional community prayer where the church can pray for one another. 

  • Home: Is my home described as a house of prayer? Danganan house is a house of __________… Netflix, TV, yelling, peace? Besides prayer for food, before starting school work and bed times with the kids—are there intentional times of gratitude and seeking God in prayer? Get back to the things you did at first: wake up, get down on your knees in prayer and worship. Always have prayer time with Renee before going to sleep in bed. 

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for rekindling my passion for prayer this morning! Thank you Jesus that restored the temple as a house of prayer for me a foreign gentile. Lord, please strengthen me and give me the desire that in my life the vision of prayer in my house and your church. I love you. Maranatha!

Posted by John Danganan with
in Prayer

Identification in Prayer

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SCRIPTURE

To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. - Daniel 9:8-11a

 

OBSERVATION

The humility and heart of Daniel in his prayer is unbelievable. Here was a godly, righteous and upright prophet of God who chose to identify himself in confession of sin in his intercessory prayer. The old adage of “If being a Christian is illegal would there be any evidence of it in your life to convict you” reveals telling truth. Daniel was so godly that he actually was put in jail for obeying God and praying. Yet he identified himself as a sinner along with Israel for rebellion, disobedience and treachery. Genuine spirituality is realizing and coming to terms with one’s own brokenness in confession. It is not masking and covering our guilt with self righteousness.

 

APPLICATION

Points of obedience: Approach all life with humility. 

  •  Prayer: Identify myself with this nation and community in our sin when I pray and confess wholeheartedly. Function as a prophet in intercession for our nation for revival and renewal.

  • Bible: Don’t cast judgement on those who have fallen but identify in their weakness and sin.

  • Relationship: Be quick to confess and repent especially to Renee and kids.

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

I humble myself before you. Please forgive me of my self righteousness and cleanse me of any blind spot sins that I am unaware of. Would you help me to continue to pray for our nation, government and our leaders? Thank you for exposing blind spots in my life that need repentance. 

Posted by John Danganan with

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