WHEN THE TABLE TURNS(3)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*WHEN THE TABLE TURNS (3)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Matt 21:12-13.

*And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,*

*And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Jesus teaches that the Temple of God is a

Purpose Place, which exists to restore hope to the People.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

We mentioned two of the few lessons we could learn from Jesus' judgment on the money changers.

Today, we will further look at some other ones.

First, Jesus, by His judgment, on the money changers teaches us the purpose of the Temple of God.

The Church is a safe haven, Prov 18:10, 30:5.

While it is not a prison, ref John 8:31-32, 2 Cor 3:7, it serves as a correctional facility ref Ps 73:17, as a rehabilitation, Rom 12:1-2, Eph 4:22-24, and often a retributive place, Matt 21:12-13, 1 Pet 4:17.

Second, Jesus teaches us about the place or the location. It is a holy ground.

We must keep the Temple of God holy and in the fear of God.

The table turned against the money changers because of their location.

The money changers chose the wrong location.

Why would you choose a Temple for ungodly things?

Be careful who you deceive or where you are deceiving.

The table usually turns quickly when it is located, where the intended purpose is not for extortions, buying and selling, and deception.

The intended purpose of the Temple was for God and not only a place of prayer but a place to pray.

It tells us that the name of a spiritual thing may not point to the spiritual it represents. Immoral things happen in the place called Church, Rev 2:20.

The money changers stood for corruption, but the table must be overthrown because the Temple was abused.

Jesus overturned it, taking a stand against corruption and restoring the temple to its intended purpose as a place of prayer. 

The people who were at a disadvantaged position of extortion were now free and had a proper sense of what the Temple was made for while the extortioner found themselves in an unfavorable position.

Third, having seen the Church as a place with purpose, it is important to see its effect on the people.

Besides the activities of the money changers, widows, members of husband or wife absent homes are to receive a sense of belonginess and not to be neglected.

We must be careful. The Church is not a business center.

God is ready to overturn the table of any Church that engages to profit from people's investment mixed with religious undertone.

We must be careful not to persuade people to invest in money-making ventures in the Church in the name of God.

While you can be taught on investment in the Church, giving to propagate the Kingdom of God, Exd 25:1-8, how to use your money wisely and wealth building we must know that the Church does not become an organization or a starting point as an investment brokerage or corporate platform for stocks, insider trading or local, multi or international tradings.

We must set boundaries and quickly know when business is encroaching the spiritual.

Jesus is not discouraging that we provide freely and/or allow opportunities for people to provide services at revival grounds and evangelistic crusades in exchange for money.

We must refresh people at conferences and convention grounds to encourage their comfortable lifestyle to survive.

Jesus also allowed people to sit around His table and eat, John 6:10.

He encouraged people to eat around Him. He marked the people and took a census of them in order to make provision for them.

Either we encourage charges for this or not, is not what Jesus is saying.

What He was avoiding is the risk of playing with people's senses of the risk of where they might lose or profit for gain.

Where this exists, there is bound to be agitation, cheating, etc.

Churches are not trading places for people with opportunities to exchange money.

Where money is traded, some will win, and some will lose. Money becomes the center piece, and there will be dissatisfaction in the Church.

The Church is not a place for trading to make the poor rich or to make the rich richer.

It is, however, a place to turn the table for the weak to be strong, the poor to the taken out of the dunghill in order to sit with the princes,

the sick to be made whole, the captives be set free, the broken-hearted be healed, etc.

It is not for you to risk what you possess, and in the process, you lose all or hope to gain more.

It is not for one to risk what one possesses

but for one to *"....give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee"*, Deut 16:17

It is not for you to risk what you possess but

*For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have*, 2 Cor 8:12.

It is not for you to risk what you possess but for *"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"*, 2 Cor 9:7

People's fortune change in trading places.

Tables turn in some's favor, but there are often extortions and bad blood.

God turns tables in Church, and He can do it in your favour.

*Remorse corner.*

When the table turns in your favor with God, there is no sorrow!

*Call to Word action.*

Prov 10:22 *The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Do you want the table to turn in your favour?

God can do it. Allow Him!

*Prayer.*

Lord, turn the table of life in my favor. Help me not to misbehave, in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and be blessed as you come into His presence.

God bless you.