Divine Fit Throwing and Effectual Prayer

Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there.  He overturned tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  "It is written," he said to them, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers."  The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.  But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.  "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.  "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you not read, "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?"  And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.  Matthew 21:12-17

I love it when Sunday sermons line up with my own bible studies during the week!  Sunday morning, our pastor spoke on Matthew 21:12-17, Jesus at the temple.  I didn't realize it at first, but then it all started coming together and I was completely focused.  I wish I had brought my notes from this week with me, so that I could jot down the points.  But, I came without a purse, pen, or notebook.  All I had was my trusty Bible.  So, I'm doing my best to remember.

In this scripture, Jesus basically pitches a fit!  I mean, really pitches a fit.  He stormed into the temple, overturned tables and benches.  Can you imagine the scene?  Have you ever thrown such a fit?  Imagine the look on your family's face if you just stormed in and started turning over the kitchen table and couches.  Talk about a wake-up call!

Many of us wish that God would throw a divine fit in Washington D.C. or to straighten others out.  We want Him to heal our land.  But, you will find that Jesus only "pitches a fit" in scripture within His church.  He is not concerned with what others were doing.  He was concerned with what His followers were doing.  "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14  What He is saying here is that WE, as Christians, need to straighten ourselves out first.  We need to humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways before we start in on someone else's problems.

There were a few points Bro. James spoke about that stood out to me.  First of all, Jesus is throwing a fit because something concerned him.  Does he hate money?  No.  Does he hate doves?  No.  Does he hate money changers?  No.  But, what had happened in this temple is all this had become a distraction.  This kept people from meeting Him.  There are SO MANY distractions all around us.  Judgements.  Gossip.  Bitterness.  There are distractions that aren't necessarily bad.  For example, it is good to think about where you want to eat after church...as long as it is not distracting you from meeting Him there.  This scene at the temple had become a distraction, keeping people from worshiping.  True worship.  It was clutter.  Jesus came in to declutter His temple.  He didn't knock or ask to come in, because it belonged to Him and He could do what He wanted.  His house was to be a house of prayer.  He cleansed the temple.

Secondly, there were different reactions to his divine fit.  I'm sure many started scattering, grabbing what they could.  Only to return to do the same thing again.  How many of us have been the rebellious child?  Sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, when told not to touch something...we walk right over to it and touch.  Returning to our wicked ways unchanged.  Others, the blind and lame, came to Jesus at the temple and were healed.  Because Jesus 'cleaned house', these people were able to come to Jesus and be healed.  Still others, the children, were singing and praising Him.  You see how differently we react at times to God's "divine fit throwing?"  How do you react?  How will you react when He overturns your life like Jesus did those tables and benches?  Will you scatter only to return?  Will you come to Him and allow healing?  Will you sing and praise His name?

Lastly, we see Jesus leave the temple and go to Bethany.  Bethany is where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus's home was.  Speculation....but I imagine this is a place Jesus felt at home.  I imagine he liked the hospitality there as Mary sat at his feet and served him.  I imagine he liked the honor there as Martha worked feverishly to serve him.  I imagine he liked the honesty there.  This was a place Jesus enjoyed being.  I pray that our churches are His 'Bethany,' a place He enjoys being.  A place He feels at home.

I have been reading through What Happens When Women Pray by Evelyn Christenson during my bible study time.  I didn't realize when I first opened Chapter 1 how much I would enjoy it.  Nor did I realize how it would tie in with our sermon this week - getting the clutter out of our life before we worry about the sins of others.  This book teaches us how to pray effective intercessory prayer.  Intercessory prayer is praying for others.  James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."  Notice how it says the prayer of a righteous man.  Psalm 66:18 says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."  Iniquity is sin.  So many times, we come to God praying for others.  For others' salvation.  For others' attitudes.  For others' problems.  When all the while, we have sin in our heart.  Scripture plainly states that He will not hear me.  What iniquity do we have in our hearts?  Get it out!  Confess your sins and be forgiven before you start praying for others and their problems.  This doesn't mean God can't hear us.  He can!  Isaiah 59:1-2 tells us God is not weak or deaf!  He can hear us.  But, because of sins, He chooses to not listen.  However, 1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, He forgives us.  Christenson makes the statement, "Even little sins can muddy up our communication system."  So, we need to pray that God will bring to mind sins that keep Him from hearing our intercessory prayer.  Confess them and be forgiven, cleansing us from unrighteousness.  Only then, can we our prayers availeth much.  Only then will our prayers be prayers of a righteous man.

We need to allow Him to declutter our hearts.  Let Him 'clean house' so that He can hear our prayers.  Straighten ourselves out first before we begin praying for changes in others.  This is just the first step to effectual prayer.