A House of Prayer
Mark 11:15-17

“It is surely a mark of spiritual poverty that we devote little attention to corporate prayer when we gather for worship. In many of our modern churches, there is much focus on the music, the sermon, or both, but corporate prayer often seems like an afterthought. It is proper, of course, to focus on the teaching of God’s Word and on the praises we sing to our Creator, but we must also emphasize the practice of prayer.”
R. C. Sproul - Ligonier Ministries

1. The priority of prayer

My house shall be called a house of prayer… vs. 17

…for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:7

“Why does Jesus care so much about His house being centered around prayer? Because prayer is the evidence that His house is God centered and based on relationship. The more focused we are on ourselves, the less we pray. The more God-centered we become, the more we pray. As the church becomes more God centered, prayer and worship increases in the church.”
Samuel Whitefield – International House of Prayer

2. The potential of misdirected priorities vs. 15 - 17b

…began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple…overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those that sold pigeons. vs. 15PICS from Holy Land far/near

…you have made it a den of robbers. vs. 17b

Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 7:11

3. The scope of God’s worship …a house of prayer for all the nations… vs. 17

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. Psalm 22:27

“While in the presence of God, the Holy Spirit reveals to a heart in five seconds that which can never be accomplished through years of human effort.” Daniel Henderson