“ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.” Mark 11:11
“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Mark:11:15-17 NIV
God who sees,
Thank You for the way Jesus spoke out when he saw wrong doing. He went into the Temple and saw everything wrong. But he did not blow up, rage or start a fight. He went to Bethany and slept on it. Then later returned to speak to those doing the wrong. He took an animal whip and drove the animals and I should think the people followed to catch them! And he turned over their their tables and scattered belongings. We do not know if they were dishonest traders, we do know they were in the Temple Courts. The prayer area. The Temple guards did not interfere. Perhaps they knew He was right.
Your Word says we are the Your temple. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in us and we are not our own. ( 1 Corinthians 6:19). Do we show a lack of respect and honour for our selves as Your dwelling place? What do You need to drive out of our lives? What is in our place of prayer? Some scholars say Luke’s story of the cleansing of the Temple is because Jesus told them on the first visit and returned and found them still there. Opportunity to get the message twice.
And there are times when we need to speak out about wrong. Perhaps not with a whip in hand! Help us to know when and how to do it Your way.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
God who sees,
For our close family. .
For our extended family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for..
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations. Mid week prayer meetings.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government. Lords and commons. Civil Servants. To change the laws for good.
For Ukraine and Russia. Drive out the desire for war.
For Israel, Lebanon, the Middle East. Drive out emotions and send Your Spirit of reconciliation.
For Sudan, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
For America and their political future.
For those who speak out about the wrong in their workplace.
For those who work within safeguarding and change the circumstances of abused and vulnerable children and adults.
For those working in our local community shops, dentist, doctors to have good work places.
For us to battle to keep praying however that works best for us. To speak out and pray and support those who work with persecuted Christians.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 18th October 2024
Peace does not always come without a battle. The story of this hymn is under the lyrics below.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high his royal banner,
It must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
His army shall he lead,
Till every foe is vanquished,
And Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Stand in his strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armour,
Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil
A crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory
Shall reign eternally.
Lyrics: George Duffield Jr.
In 1858, minister George Duffield Jr. was an associate of Dudley Atkins Tyng who had recently been removed from his local Episcopalian community for speaking against slavery. Duffield assisted Tyng in supporting a revival of evangelicalism in Pennsylvania. In March 1858, Tyng gave a sermon at a YMCA meeting of over 5,000 men on Exodus 10:11, “Go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord”, converting over 1,000 men listening in the crowd. The following month, Tyng was maimed in a farming accident. Before he died a few days after the accident he told his father “Tell my brethren of the ministry, wherever you meet them, to stand up for Jesus.”
Duffield then wrote the hymn based on those words, and also incorporated the phrase “Ye that are men now serve Him” from Tyng’s memorable sermon the month before he died. At a memorial service for Tyng, Duffield gave a sermon based on Ephesians 6:14, “Stand firm, wearing the whole armour of God”, and ended it by reciting the new hymn, Stand up stand up for Jesus, he had been inspired to write.