“Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business” (John 2:16).

How I marvel at these words! How they stir up my insides!  Whereas we know from other passages that God does not dwell in a house made by human hands (Acts 7:48); and, from Jesus’ words just a few more lines down, He spoke of the temple of His body.  Further still, we find out later in the New Testament that each believer’s body becomes a home for the Holy Spirit–still, Jesus here refers to the the physical Temple, the building, as God’s house.  

This isn’t the first time.  As a young boy missing from his family’s caravan, when found in the Temple, He explained, “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).  

All of which is to say, God has a house.  Yes, heaven cannot contain Him.  And for sure, He dwells in every Christian.  But He does have a house, too.  And this, in our day, is not less than the church.  

I know, I know, I know…..the church is not a building, but people.  I know that.  But God’s people meet somewhere, typically in a building of sorts; albeit a home, a cathedral, or a tent.  The place where believers meet, that is the church, and that—this is what stirs my soul–is the Father’s house.  

People these days belittle the church.  Even Christians, they do not feel the need, nor do they have the desire, to gather together with other Christians in a place we call church.  Typically, the reasons fall along these lines:  the people are all hypocrites.  All they want from you is your money.  Or, I don’t have the time.  Much of the reason lies in the fact most Christians don’t read the Bible, so they don’t understand that we are told, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25).  Perhaps the greatest reason is that they don’t understand that the church is God’s house.  Worse yet, they don’t care.  

By definition a church is simply an assembly of persons.  In fact, is was used even of secular, non-religious meetings.  Yet for followers of Christ, whenever and wherever they gather together, there is a dynamic absent any other assembly on the face of the earth:  the Lord Jesus is there present among them.  

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20).  

Christians who neglect church–assembling together with other Christians–miss out on the Great Attender, Jesus Christ.  Why bother?  The Lord is there!  Yes, God is everywhere.  You can encounter Him in a forrest or field, on your knees or in the shower.  Yet the Lord does not promise His presence in these places; He promises it when there are two or more of you together in one spot.  

By referring to the Temple as “My Father’s house,” Jesus sanctions the physical location of God’s presence.  We, the people of God, are His house (cf., Hebrews 3:6)–when we are gathered together.

As for me, as much as I love the church, today I receive an attitude adjustment.  I do not love her enough.  I have not esteemed the assembly of saints (i.e., true believers) highly enough.  I have not regarded it as the Father’s house.  Today I do.  

I note with interest the balance of our Lord’s words.  He says, “stop making My Father’s house a place of business.”  These days the church in many respects has become big business.  It has business managers, financial experts, marketing and sales departments.  It has huge budgets, needing much cash to support the physical property it owns.  Not that these are not necessary; as the assembly expands, so the needs to accommodate them.  Yet the church is not a business; if it becomes that, the Lord’s rebuke has been issued.  It is a spiritual entity, an organism as opposed to an organization.   And, given God’s thoughts and ways are not man’s, and His kingdom opposite that of the world’s, it is operated completely different.  Sometimes not even making sense.  

Imagine God, maker of heaven and earth, the one who loves you and who sent His Son to die for you–imagine Him living just down the street, even next door.  Imagine Him inviting you to come visit Him.  This, my friend, requires no imagination.  He is doing just this.  He is beckoning you, “Come see Me.  Come to My house.  You who believe in Me, join with others who believe.  Gather together with My people in My house.  This is church; this is where I am.”

When you don’t know what to do, pray.

When you don’t know how to do a thing, pray.

When in the doing of a thing, you become confused, pray.

When you lack wisdom, pray.

When you lack desire, pray.

When you are tired and lacking strength, pray.

When you are afraid, pray.

When you feel anxious about a thing, pray.

When your job is in jeopardy, pray.

When your marriage is in trouble, pray.

When you lack resources, pray.

When you are sick or otherwise in ill health, pray.

When you are stressed, pray.

When you feel hopeless, pray.

When you need vision, pray.

When you do not know which direction to go, pray.

When faced with a decision to make, any decision, pray.

When you are hurting inside, pray.

When you don’t feel quite right–physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, pray.

When tragedy strikes, pray.

When in danger, pray.

When embarking on a journey, pray.

When your friend has a need, pray–then do what you can to help him.

When your spouse, or your son or your daughter, or your grandchild, or you friend, strays, pray.

Before you eat, pray.

After you eat, pray.

Before you lay you head upon your pillow, pray.

If you wake up in the morning, it is good cause to pray.

If you can see, hear, smell, taste, touch–if you can do anything at all, pray.

If you have food, clothing, and shelter, pray.

If your body works at all, pray.

If you are beginning a thing, pray.

Or ending a thing, pray.

If going to war, definitely pray.

If you come home from war, pray.

If you live in peace, in any degree of it, pray.

If you are under tyranny, pray.

If you are enslaved by anyone or anything, pray.

If you are free, pray.

If you are at the end of your life, pray. 

If you are pregnant, pray.

When giving birth, pray!

When raising that child, those children, absolutely pray.

When you send them off to school, pray.

When you give your daughter to another man in marriage, pray.

While she is growing up, and well before she ever meets the man she will marry, pray.

If you wish to be forgiven, pray.

Or to be free from a person or thing, pray.

If you have lost your way, pray.

If your heart has become hard, and you know it, pray.

Pray that your heart never becomes hard.

If you want to know the truth about anything, pray.

If you have a job, pray.

If you don’t have a job and are in need of one, pray.

If you are doing well, are well-off, pray.

If you have any need whatsoever, or no need at all, pray.

If you think you’ve no need, then you absolutely must pray.  

If and when anything good comes your way–and it always does, pray.

When it storms, pray.

When it is beautiful outside, pray.

When you meet the man or woman of your dreams, pray.

When you are old and decrepit, it is time to pray.

If you can think straight, pray.  

If you have breath in you, pray.

Pray at all times and in every circumstance, and never, ever give up.  

Luke 18:1, “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”

“Then He said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to Go what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21).

The question is, “What is God’s?” Scripture tells us the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. So everything, literally, is God’s. Obviously, however, Jesus here admits that the coin He has been given, the coin used to pay taxes to Caesar, belongs to Caesar because of his image and inscription on it. That is, Caesar produced it, it bore the mark of the Roman government. Jesus tells this coin belongs to Rome.

What then is it that belongs to God? What is He referring to?

I’ve heard it said recently that He refers here to the tithe. We learn from the book of Malachi that the tithe—or, 10% of a person’s income—belongs to God. To not give it to God is to rob God and short-change His work upon the earth (which, in our day, would be the ministry of the church). While I agree with this, that the tithe belongs to God, I do not believe this is what He refers to here. The key to understanding the lesson here are the words “likeness and inscription.”

The Bible teaches that we have been made in the “image and likeness” of God. That is, we bear His likeness in the qualities of our original specifications, and, frankly, we look like Him. We are, in our physical state, the spitting-image of God who made us.

Having reneged on our relationship with God in the Garden and been cut off from God, the Scripture also teaches we have come under the control of Satan, and are of our ‘father’ the devil. Jesus, in His redemptive work and for those who will accept it, ‘bought’ us back; we were, body, soul, and spirit, purchased by Jesus’ blood. Believers now belong to God.

I believe what Jesus teaches here is that we give the government what is rightfully theirs, our taxes, and to God what is rightfully His, our bodies.

This truth is born out in Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter twelve:

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual (or, reasonable) service of worship” (verse 1).

The rightful meaning is brought in Kenneth Wuest’s rendering. We are to “Place (our) bodies at the disposal of God.” We are, in effect, to say as Isaiah did when he saw the Lord: “Here I am. Send (or, use) me!”

The thing is, God needs our bodies. It might be said that God does not need anything—He is God! And that would be right. Yet He has chosen to confine Himself to the bodies of His saints for the purpose of living His life in and through them. He has chosen to do His work through people. “I will dwell in them in fellowship with them as in a home and I will live My life in and through them” (2 Corinthians 6:16 Wuest). Jesus has ascended into heaven, yet He continues His ministry in and through submitted men and women. Therefore, we are to give to Caesar (or, in our case, Uncle Sam) what is his, and to God what belongs to Him.

Of course, our bodies may have been purchased by God and are rightfully His, but what Paul refers to as our primary worship is that these need to be yielded to God. So it is that the commentators Jamieson, Faust, and Brown write, “It is through the body that all the gracious principles and affections of believers reveal themselves in the outward life.” That is, we have been redeemed, our souls saved, and the only appropriate response of gratitude for a transformed life is that of a yielded one. We present our “members (the members of our body) as instruments of righteousness to God.”

What is God’s then? Our total person, yet if our bodies are not yielded to His purpose our inner life is of no use. We may be super-spiritual yet of no good to anyone. Therefore I believe with all my heart that, not only is my spirit and soul God’s, but my body too. According to Jesus’ teaching then, I am to give it to God to use however He might wish.

When God’s people pray, they rule the world.
It only stands to reason. In the beginning, at the onset, Adam—the son of God—was given dominion. It was told him, “Rule,” but he lost that in the disobedience. In Christ Jesus it is restored. John writes, “He has made us kings and priests” (cf. Revelation 1). Christians not only minister on God’s behalf, they also reign. At least that is God’s intent.
When God’s people pray, God listens. Scripture tells us He does not hear the prayer of the wicked, nor of the one who turns away from His law-word, but He does lend His ear to the prayers of the righteous. They pray according to His will, and when they do that, He hears, and if He hears (John tells us), then they have the things for which they pray.
What is astonishing about God is what He promises regarding prayer. He says, in effect, ‘Whatever you want and ask for, I give it, you have it.’ And this, not only for people and things outside us, but for ourselves too. In one instance Jesus commands we ask—something for ourselves, whatever it is that we want (John 15:7 Wuest). This is well and good, but we’ve a greater purpose than ourselves. We are called to rule the world. There comes a day when we will do so from real, political offices. Some will be mayors, some governors; others will be commissioners and supervisors. This is the lesson of the parable of the minas. In the meantime, we do so through the medium of prayer.
When God’s people pray, He moves leaders’ hearts. Proverbs reveals that the hearts of kings are like watercourses in the hand of the Lord; He directs them wherever He wills. He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. He definitely changed Nebuchadnezzar’s. Cyrus’ heart He moved upon to aid the Jews in the rebuilding of the Temple.
When God’s people pray, He heals lands. That is, a country that has gone astray in rebellion against God—and is suffering the consequences, God can and will heal that land, if His people pray.
When God’s people pray, the Spirt falls, He comes down and the nations bear witness. They see and hear things they’ve not heard before. They come under the conviction of God and are led to repentance.
When God’s people pray, chains fall off and prison doors open; captives are freed.
When God’s people pray, the angels of God do battle in the heavenly realms, making their way to the pray-er with God’s response.
When God’s people pray, cities, states, and nations are spared God’s judgment.
When God’s people pray, their enemies are scattered; they even turn against themselves and self-destruct.
When God’s people pray, those commissioned by God experience open doors for the Gospel.
When God’s people pray, they are emboldened to speak the word of God themselves.
When God’s people pray, all kinds of things happen: needs are met, sickness and disease are healed, demons flee, circumstances change, battles are won, strength is regained, peace comes, hearts are comforted, relationships are restored, wisdom is imparted, discernment is given, and creativity flourishes. When they pray, a bulwark is established, a banner erected, and a refuge established. When they pray, the Lord Himself and all His host are mobilized.
There is no greater power on earth than the prayers of God’s people.
Not ISIS, nor Islam, nor North Korea, nor China or Russia, nor any bomb or missile or cyber assault. No philosophy, no government, no Supreme Court or Congress or President. No foreign army. Not even Satan himself—over whom God’s people have been given authority. Not one person, place, or thing, natural or spiritual, in heaven or on earth, or under the earth, compares in power to that inherent in the prayers of the saints of God.
The saints rule the world, and they do it through prayer. No prayer, no rule. Pray, the Scripture promises, and you get what you ask for. All power and authority vested in Christ Jesus is issued God’s people to be exercised through prayer. We pray therefore, God, hallowed by Your name; Your kingdom come and Your will be done—right here, right now, in our day and in our time. Heal our land—heal us! Move upon the hearts of our leaders. Turn the hearts of the peoples who have shunned You. Restore us to our original foundations as a nation. In Jesus’ name.

America, America, my heart mourns for you
I feel broken inside because you have faltered
Why does my heart mourn for you?
Why do I feel broken inside for you?
You taught me what it means to love my neighbor
You taught me to respect those in authority
You showed me what a healthy family looks like
I saw the value of the marriage covenant
You taught me there’s a reward for hard work
I learned these things in your schools
I learned them in your churches
My parents taught me
Because they had been taught
Because of you I have walked in liberty
I’ve worshiped freely
I’ve gone where I wanted
And done what I pleased
I’ve had everything I’ve needed
For you my fathers put their lives on the line
They labored, they prayed, they fought, and they died
Even today your men and your women lay down their lives because they believe in you
In you, and because of you, the nations of the world have benefited
The world is richer because of you
My heart mourns for you
I ache on the inside because of you
Where did you go?
Where have you gone?
You who were once the fairest of nations
You’ve taken a turn to ugly
Somewhere, somehow, someone lied to you
You have been successfully deceived
Somewhere, somehow, someone snuck in and poisoned your collective mind
Your heart has become sick
Your fruit rotten
They’ve taken your treasures because they hate you
Not your silver or gold, but your foundations
They knew, yes they knew, that if your foundations are destroyed,
What can anyone do?
They lied to you and deceived you because they hate you
They detest your freedom and liberty
And you, America, listened
You, America, bought their lies
I will tell you what I will do for you
Because my heart mourns for you
And my insides ache for you
I will pray for you
I will pray for a revival of your national soul
For the heart that went out to the nations of the world
You not only fed them food, but the good news that leads to liberty
You taught them the truth that free men prosper
You fostered good in the world
You held sacred those laws and principles and values that made you great
You drew people from all over the world because they wanted to be free
You took in the poor, the persecuted, the bound, the war torn
You fought other nations wars because it was the right thing to do
You valued life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Therefore you did these things
I will pray for your restoration
My heart mourns for you, O America
And because my heart mourns for you
I will work to rebuild what is broken down, lost, and forgotten
I will hold high what made you the America we’ve known until now
I will do what I want you to do:
I will do what is right
I will speak the truth
I will remain faithful to my wife
I will conduct my affairs with honesty and integrity
I will overcome evil with good
O America, you’re not done yet
It’s not over for you
Your best days are ahead
How can I say that?
I can say it because my heart is not the only one mourning
Mine are not the only prayers
What forged you before will forge you again
The seeds that made you great are being sown again

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).
There is so much practical wisdom in the Bible; it is a truly spiritual book, yet true spirituality plays out in real-time—it does no one any good if it is not practiced in everyones sphere of influence, be it large or small.
Here, the Lord’s people—in exile because of their rebellion and worship of other gods—are instructed to work for the good of the place to which they’ve been sent. They’re to make the best of the situation, to build houses, plant gardens, start families, and so forth. The prophet knows they’re going to be there a while, so they may as well settle in. Yet in doing so they are to not only look out for themselves, but the place to which they’ve been sent—even under the circumstances, even in the kingdom and under the rule of a ruthless king, the one God used to punish them, destroy their temple, and ravage their beloved city. As they seek the welfare of the place to which they’ve been sent, they in turn will benefit.
This is a lesson for those of us who are strangers in a foreign land, pilgrims on the path to everlasting life. This world is not our home; we are looking for a city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Christians are not of this world, just as our Lord Himself has said (John 17). However, we are to seek the good of the place we live and pray for its welfare. This principle the apostle Paul picks up and passes on to Timothy. In chapter two of 1 Timothy he writes,
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority.”
Why? “That we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” In other words, pray for them that it may go well with you; in their benefit you will benefit.
Strangely, many if not most Christians have little to do with the communities in which they live. For sure, there are churches and para-church organizations that do a lot of good in their cities; they’ve food banks, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and various outreach programs. But I know of only a few believers who are actually active in their community. For the most part we Christians leave it up to the ‘heathen’ to run our towns, our schools, our businesses and associations. And, as we are seeing presently, this isn’t working out too well.
I am not saying everyone needs to run for a political office, but what I believe God is saying is that if we want things to go well for us, if we want to live in peace and see our churches grow, if we want to see people saved and come to know the truth, then it is not going to happen by going to church on Sunday and Wednesday. We have to engage the world around us.
John Boles and Gina Johnsen are two people I know who have been politically active. Pastor Kevin volunteers his time mentoring at St. Vincent’s home for children. Shari Montgomery is in the process of developing a ministry to help women rescued from sex-trafficking. Len Hill, at 82 years old, is still hard at work serving those who are incarcerated. Beyond these, I am not aware of many others. And we wonder why our nation and cities are in decline.
As for me, I’m barely engaged in anything outside my own little realm. Yes, I run a business, and yes, I serve on Montgomery’s board. In the past I’ve served on other boards and have been active in various clubs and associations, even holding office at times, but not much now. To be honest, I hardly think of the community in which I live. I definitely don’t do anything to better it, and I rarely pray for it. I stand corrected by God.
What then can be done? I don’t feel called to political activism or to run for office—though this is definitely an option. Some things come to mind that could apply to any concerned (and I might add, obedient) Christian: attend city council, township, and/or school board meetings; contribute to and/or participate in those organizations that provide services or run ministries to those in need; better yet, run the organizations; participate in the political process by supporting godly candidates for office, writing letters or signing petitions; write letters to the editor or op-ed pieces for the local newspaper; initiate, support, and participate in church outreach or service programs. The list might be endless.
One such program I’m aware of is in the Detroit area, where a fried of mine, Jim Russell, Jr., in working with his church, started what was at first a small clinic, where a couple volunteer doctors served those needling health care. This has exploded throughout the metropolitan area, with multiple locations and considerable staff.
The one thing about Christians that ought be true is this: wherever they are should be getting better. As the salt of the earth we’re to make life palatable and stave off decay. We’re to be the light shining in the darkness. Instead of things dying off (speaking of the culture), they should be growing greener and more fruitful. From what I know of history, it is Christians and their influence that has brought the world stable families, good government, respect for life, private property, the arts and sciences, hospitals and healthcare, higher education, and the like. Indeed, we have made the world a better place. And this is our responsibility. Now is not a time to let up.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
I wrote of this yesterday, more or less focusing on the “so that” — we’re to pray in this way, for others welfare, so that we may live peaceful lives. “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,” Paul continues, and then we have a revelation: God “desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (verse 4). That is, we are to pray all kinds of prayers, not just for our leaders, but for all men, with God’s heart in mind: He wants them saved.
John Chrysostom comments, “Since He wishes that all should be saved, do you also wish it? And if you wish it, pray for it? For prayer is the instrument of effecting such things.”
Honestly, I don’t—meaning, I rarely do. I say this to my shame. If it is God’s will that all are saved, then it ought be mine too. If God went to all the trouble of sending His own Son out of a deep, deep love for men, shouldn’t I then at least go to some trouble? What does it take to lift up a few prayers for others?
It’s not that I haven’t. For years I designated each day of seven for a certain people group. There was immediate family, extended family, neighbors, employees, customers, the brothers, and then my Life Group. All these I would put before the Lord, and for a time I would pray a specific prayer, helped by an acronym (which now I cannot remember). I have held to this to some degree, but offering prayers is one thing; there being the heart of God behind the prayers is another. I admit, this is lacking.
I think God looked down from heaven and couldn’t stand it anymore. Paul writes of Christ coming and dying “at just the right time.” I think maybe His heart was ready to burst if something didn’t happen; so He sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those under the Law.” It was when “the fullness of the time came.” That is, He just could not wait any longer.
I have met people who have a passion for evangelism—I’ve had a passion for evangelism. My goodness! How often have I written of it, longed to do it, prayed to be used of God for it! Yet evangelism, of itself, is not God’s heart; people saved are. Evangelism is the means to that end. God’s love for people is the fuel of it.
When Paul exhorts we pray for all men, it’s because of the love God has for people. Peaceful, tranquil lives can be the fruit of it—Rome was a much better place to live under Constantine than Nero. But the purpose of the prayer, the ultimate goal is that folks are saved.
Make no mistake—not all will be saved, but they’ve not a chance if there are no prayers. And there are no prayers without a heartfelt love for people. Love for people, unbelievers and believers alike, is the core of effective prayer. The good news was (is), “God so loved the world” — this was the message of the Christ, these were Jesus’s words. Those born of God ought feel the same way.
I believe love must be cultivated. It is sown in our hearts, yes; but it must be recognized and acted upon. Prayer is the getting on place. We pray for people because we love them, and if we’re not feeling that then we pray for them because we want to love them.
The ultimate need of men is salvation.
Trueblood’s words come to mind:
“No one whose life has been truly touched by the life of Christ is free to leave the matter there; he must, as a consequence, extend the boon. No one to whom the love of Christ has been mediated so that he is in some sense a new person, is free to let this stop so long as he lives. If he has been, in any sense, liberated, he must join in the eternal fellowship of liberation. If the enkindling fire which Christ said He came to light has in any sense entered his soul, he cannot rest until he lights a many other fires as possible.”
So then, “entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority.” Why? Because God “desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” Such is the reason for the exhortation, and such is the heart and soul of prayer.