Prayer Cards - Houses of Prayer

 Luke 19:46
Saying to them, "It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but you have made it a den of thieves."

Where It Is Written
Isaiah 56:7
"I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

A Den of Robbers
Jeremiah 7:11
"Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I, too, have seen it," declares The LORD.

A New Name
    While the reference here is to the temple with hands, we also know that we are the temple built without hands. Therefore, this verse in Luke refers to the believer, as well.
        2 Chronicles 7:16 "For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time."
        1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT) Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of The Holy Spirit, Who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
        Isaiah 62:2
Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of The LORD will bestow.
        Revelation 3:12
The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write The Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.
    Honor to God was not being given in either instance. We are houses of prayer, lively stones praising God and praying to God. Our voices reach His ears. Our actions are seen by His eyes. Our thoughts are known by His mind. There is no need for God to look down from heaven, because God lives in His people; He lives in our praises to Him.
    In our church buildings we are to come together to give our worship to Him with our praises and testimonies. We are come into together to receive from Him The Word which He has prepared for us on that day.
    In our hearts, and our lives, we are to do the same. We give Him praise and worship. We testify of God's amazing mercies and grace in our lives to anyone who will listen. We read our Bibles and study out, searching for the Truth, knowing God will reveal Himself to us in it. We pray that God manifests Himself in us through all of it, as His glory filled the temples of old, may He fill these temples, these vessels of mercy, even now.
    May we, indeed, be God's houses of prayer, bearing His Name.

HOUSE OF PRAYER - Eddie James

WHEN I KNEEL TO PRAY - ElenAmor

Holiness vs Unholiness

 Psalm 93:5

Your testimonies are very sure;
Holiness adorns
Your house,
O LORD, forever.

1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know you not that your body is the temple of The Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of The Living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see The Lord.
1 Peter 1:15, 16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2; 20:7)

    As God's people, we are also God's dwellingplace: His residence, His home, His house and His temple. In God's temple all aspects of it are holy, including the thoughts of the mind and the intentions of the heart. Therefore, we are to have nothing to do with unclean, unholy, unrighteous imaginations and vain glories.

    1 Corinthians 6 informs us how to settle our differences as God's people [verses 1-8]; who is united with Christ and who is not [verses 9-17]; that we are the temple of The Holy Spirit and have been purchased at a high cost [verses 18-20].

    We are The LORD's house and, as such, we need to maintain a holy lifestyle, a holy walk. This gets easier the closer we are to The Lord and the longer we walk with Him. Yes, there will be trials. Yes, there are obstacles on this course. But the destination is worth the effort. Paul tells the church that we are to "run with endurance the race that is set before us." [Hebrews 12:1]

    And, again, in 2 Corinthians 7:1, Paul states, "Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." What are we cleansing ourselves from, what defiles us--makes us unholy--that we may be God's holy people?

UNHOLY LIVING

    James 1:21 'Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept The Word planted in you, which can save your souls.'

    Ephesians 4:22; 5:3 'to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;' and 'But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.'

    Colossians 3:8, 9 'But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices.'

    1 Peter 4:3 'For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.'

    Titus 3:3 'For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.'

    1 Corinthians 6:18 'Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.'

    Galatians 5:19-21 'The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.'

    James 3:14-16 'But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.'

    Romans 1:29-31 'They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.'

    Mark 7:20-22 'He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man."

    Revelation 21:8 'But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.'

HOLINESS/HOLY LIVING

    Galatians 5:22, 23 'But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.'

    Ephesians 4:1-3 'As a prisoner in The Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of The Spirit through the bond of peace.'

    Colossians 3:12-15 'Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as The Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.'

    Romans 13:14 'Instead, clothe yourselves with The Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.'

    Galatians 3:27 'For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.'

    1 Peter 3:8, 9 'Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.'

    Ephesians 4:32 'Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.'

    1 Peter 4:8-10 ' The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.'

    These are but a few Bible references informing the Christian--Christ-follower--how to live a humble, holy lifestyle in Christ. When we obey the leading of God's Holy Spirit, we are able to discover so much more in God's Word and be fully equipped to overcome temptations which would cause us to fall from God's grace.

    Daily Bible reading, daily praying, daily worship work together in the spirit realm to keep us holy, to keep us as God's house, His temple, His dwellingplace. Seeking Him out to know Him better than we knew Him yesterday.

    And so we pray, "Lord, make us more like You. Lead us and guide us in Your Word to that which would make us holy, that we might be Your dwellingplace forever and ever. We surrender what we want in our lives for what You want in us. We submit to Your Authority our hearts and our minds and our bodies. Live in us and through us for Your glory, Your honor and Your praise." In Jesus' Name, Amen.

TAKE MY LIFE - Micah Stampley

    

The Lord is In His Holy Temple

 

Habakkuk 2:19,20

Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all in the midst of it. 

“But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

Psalm 11:4

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.

    There is no God but our God. Wooden idols cannot breathe, speak or move under their own power. Stone carvings cannot move under their own strength, for they have none. They are empty gods and have no power.

     Only God is Holy. Only God breathes. Only God speaks. Only God moves. For He is GOD. He is JEHOVAH. And His very presence demands a holy, sanctified people. 

    There will be a day when all peoples everywhere will take a knee in His presence. Every tongue, every nation, every language will praise God. Isaiah spoke of this event first - Isaiah 45:23 - and Paul repeated it when teaching the church, the believers, in Rome - Romans 14:11. 

    To God be the glory. To God be the praise. To God, and to God alone, our worship is directed. It's why we look to the skies, for He is above the heavens. It's why we lift our hands and raise our arms: we long for His embrace. It's why we fall to the ground, when we worship: for we awed when He extends Himself to be with us where we are. We revere our God for He IS GOD. 

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Sovereign Lord

 

Luke 2:27-32

27. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,

28. Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:

29. “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.

30. For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31. which You have prepared in the sight of all people,

32. a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1203

Sovereign: lord, master, prince

From the Greek word 'despotés' (pronounced des-pot'-ace). Indicative of  'someone exercising "unrestricted power and absolute domination, confessing no limitations or restraints"'. One who exercises complete jurisdiction.

SOVEREIGN LORD

Matthew 28:18

Then Jesus came to them and said, "ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth has been given to Me."

1 Corinthians 15:25

For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

John 3:31

The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.

Having been bought by Christ, we, the born again believer, are under His authority, His jurisdiction. Jesus Christ is our Lord, our Master and our Prince. 

2 Peter 2:1

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Timothy 2:21

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the Master of the house, ready for every good work.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

CHRIST THE LORD

Luke 2:11

Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! 

Matthew 16:16

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

John 4:25, 26

25. The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”

26. Jesus answered, “I who speak to you am He.”

CHRIST THE MASTER

Teacher, Chief, Commander

Luke 5:5

"Master," Simon replied, "we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets."

Luke 9:49. 50

49. “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”

50. “Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Luke 17:12-13

12. As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance

13. and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

CHRIST THE PRINCE

In order for there to be a Prince, there must first be a King, under whose Authority the Prince reigns. 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

John 6:40

"For it is My Father's will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

It is important to note that Simeon came into the temple courts, or courtyards of the temple to see The Lord's Christ. The Spirit of God said, "Go here." And at the appointed time, just as Simeon arrived, so did Joseph and Mary with their infant Jesus. 

They were all standing in the temple courtyards in front of the temple: they were standing by the East Gate in the East Courtyard: the designated place of worship, before reaching the altar of sacrifice. (Before we offer God a sacrifice, it is necessary to worship Him first, acknowledging that He is Who He says He Is, loving Him for Himself before we can know what it is we bring as an offering to Him.

It is here that Simeon blesses God, and gives a prophetic blessing over the young Jesus.

(Although, in the temple which Herod built, the courtyard was not as large as the one which was ordained of God, still they were able to meet at the place of worship together.) It is not the size of the place of worship which determines how one worships and who is being worshiped by whom, but where a worshiper's heart is. 

John 4:23, 24

23. But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.

24. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

First, we bless God for His faithfulness and keeping His promises to us. (v28)
Second, we recognize Him when we meet Him as Sovereign Lord. (v29)

Thirdly, we acknowledge that the Sovereign Lord is Savior. (v30)

Fourth, we see the revelation of God's prepared plan for us. (v 31)

Fifth, we see that this Savior is the Light of the Gentiles and the Glory of Israel. 

How beautiful the Word of God is to me! How faithful is God in His promises to us!

 HEAVEN HAS COME by Young Oceans

MY PORTION by Isla Vista

LIGHT HAS COME by Port City Worship

The Guards of The Garden of Eden-Cherubim

I have heard it said that the apple is the tree of knowledge, while some contend that the pomegranate is. Neither is true. We just don't know what that fruit actually was or looked like, or even tasted like. Why? Because it grows in the garden of Eden. And Eden is blocked from our view and reach.


While Scripture does not reveal how many are guarding it, we do know that Cherubims prevent us from accessing it. The garden must be very large, because a small garden would only require one Cherubim, as they are very huge, according to the descriptions given throughout Scripture.
Exodus 37:6-9 describes the making of the Mercy Seat with the two Cherubims over it. And while I have found a variety of images that could give us a visual description of it, this is the best I could find:

One cubit equals 18-inches. The Mercy Seat in the tabernacle was 45 inches long and 27-inches wide. The cherubims were made out of one piece of pure gold, including their wings, which covered the Mercy Seat they faced.





The description given in 1 Kings 6:23-30 is of the cherubims filling the oracle within the house of The LORD that King Solomon built for God. The cherubims carved of olive tree wood were ten cubits high. Verse 24 says their wings were 5 cubits each from tip to tip. Fifteen feet high and, wing-wise, seven and one-half feet wide; HUGE. Verse 27 "And he (King Solomon) set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house(of God).

The Book of Ezekiel has various descriptions of the actual cherubim who are always with God. Ezekiel 1:5-25; Ezekiel 41:18-19. Other references are made to cherubs in his visions, but these two sections are descriptive. Each cherub has two faces, one a man and one a lion; one face faces one direction, the other face faces the opposite direction.

But how big do you suppose the Cherubims actually are? Let's search the Scriptures and see what they do;

Isaiah 37:16---wherein God dwells
Psalm 99:1---The LORD sits between them
2 Kings 19:15; Psalms 80:1---where God dwells
Psalm 18:10--The LORD rides upon a cherub

They are The LORD's throne and chariot. They are many and do many things, as we see here. Throne; chariot; guard. I like that description in Ezekiel 1 of their movement. (I could actually visualize it this time.) These are they who stand guard over the garden of Eden.