Encouragement for your walk with God

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“…See the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.  He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”   -Revelation 5:5

Zeal For The Father’s House

Jesus loved his Father and his zeal was very strong for his Father’s house.  Because of his great fervor and love, Jesus cleared the temple courts, in what some consider an act of sin.  

“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here!  How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market” (John 2:13-16)! 

However, it wasn’t sinful what Jesus did.  Jesus was responding to the money changer’s corrupt deeds with righteous anger and a mighty zeal for his Father’s house.  John‬ ‭2:17‬ says, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”  Jesus was justified to drive out the men selling livestock in the temple courts.  They were making a mockery of his Father’s house.  In fact, church is meant to be a house of prayer; a holy place of worship, not a marketplace for sin!  In Matthew 21:13, Jesus said, “It is written…’My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers'”.   

The people who sold animals for sacrifice were only at the temple to make money and not to pray or glorify God.  Jesus knew their hearts were evil and that he must protect his Father’s house.  He most certainly did that, yet they still questioned him and wondered by what authority he could drive them out.

Authority

“Then the Jews demanded of him, ‘What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this'” (v. 18)?  Jesus answered them with a prophetic word about himself:  “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (v. 19).

Incredibly Jesus was prophesying his death and resurrection!  The Jews would destroy his temple (body) but Jesus would raise it up again in three days.  Jesus’ resurrection did prove his authority and displayed the greatest miraculous sign anyone could ever ask for!  The Lion of the Tribe of Judah triumped over sin and death through the cross and the grave.  Jesus is the ultimate authority and has the victory!  

My Temple

1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.”  Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to honor God with our body.  The story of Jesus clearing the temple, his Father’s house, has a very important parallel to what Jesus wants to do with us.  He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and does not take sin lightly.  In fact, he wants to clear our temple-our body-from sin and darkness.  

Jesus wants to heal, deliver and forgive us!  Jesus wants to bring freedom where we’ve struggled for years with sin.  He wants to break strongholds and addictions; he wants to help us have breakthrough.  And this can only happen through Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  For Jesus is mighty and his roar is powerful!  

So, are we willing to be set free?  Will we surrender our temple (body) unto the Lord?  Jesus is zealous for us, like he is for his Father’s house.  He longs for us with a jealous kind of love.  And Jesus wants to fight for us and give us victory!  But he won’t force us to surrender.  That is up to us.  

How will you respond to the ROAR! of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah?

“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”  -Deuteronomy 20:4

“Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring today…The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  -Exodus 14:13-14 

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.”  –1 Corinthians 6:19

6 Comments

  1. Ted

    Excellent !

    Reply
    • Curtis Sikes

      Thanks Ted! God bless you!!

      Reply
  2. Grace

    Great devotional, Curt!

    The Lion illustration works well with the scripture, too.

    Good job!

    Reply
    • Curtis Sikes

      Thank you Grace! May God bless you today!!

      Reply
  3. Casey

    Curt, I love the parallel between Jesus clearing his father’s house from evil and how he wants to do the same for us- amen! He loves us so much, and he is the Lion of Judah who has come to free us from all our sins!
    Psalm 32 speaks of the sweet confession of sins and Gods willingness to forgive our sins – and the sweet relief that comes. Praise be to our mighty savior and God!

    Reply
    • Curtis Sikes

      Amen and amen! Thank you for your comment Casey. Psalm 32 is a wonderful passage and verse 7 stands out to me: “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” May the Lord bless you and keep you!

      Reply

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