'...is your home a house of prayer?'

Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship on
Sunday 17th August 2008

Acts 13:28-41

Ac 13:28 "And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.
29 "Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30 "But God raised Him from the dead
31 "He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people
32 "And we declare to you glad tidings--that promise which was made to the fathers.
33 "God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'
34 "And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I will give you the sure mercies of David.'
35 "Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.'
36 "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;
37 "but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.
38 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
39 "and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 "Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 "Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.'"

Look at verse 36

36 "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;

• For David after he had served his own generation
• By the will of God
• Fell asleep
• Was buried with his fathers
• And saw corruption

Are you serving your own generation by the will of God?

David lived, and like us all here in this room, fell asleep, was buried, with his fathers, and saw corruption!

Whatever things were written about David in times past were written for our learning in order that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4).

David falls asleep and sees corruption!

Look at Verse 37

"But He whom God raised up saw no corruption.

• But He whom God raised up
• Saw no corruption

But Jesus, Hallelujah, God raised up, and he saw no corruption!

Jesus saw no corruption! Hallelujah!

In the same way that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and saw no corruption, we should walk in the newness of life that he has given us.

If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11).

He will raise you up and you will see no corruption! Hallelujah!

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Acts 10: 19-33

Ac 10:19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you.
20 "Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?"
22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you."
23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man."
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 "Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?"
30 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 "and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.
32 'Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.'
33 "So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God."

Look at verse 30

30 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

• I was fasting until this hour
• At the ninth hour I prayed in my house
• Behold a man stood before me
• In bright clothing

Here is a man called Cornelius praying in his own house

His name means ‘The beam of the sun’!

He is a converted Roman centurion.

He is a devout man

Here is a man who prays in his own house.

How many of you can say that you pray within the walls of your own house?

Is your house a house of prayer?

Jesus said of his house it was to be a house of Prayer! (Matthew 21:13)

But you have made it a den of thieves!

What goes on in your house?

Not do you say the odd prayer here and there now and again.

Could it be said of your house it has become a house of Prayer?

Into this house of Cornelius, the house which had become a house of prayer, a man stood before him in bright clothing.

Look at verse 2 of this chapter,

Ac 10:2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

Cornelius was:

• A devout man
• He feared God
• All his household feared God
• He gave generously to the people
• He prayed to God always

This ‘beam of the sun’, did not have a home where prayer was now and again. It was a place where prayer to God was always going on.

Wow! How about you? Is your home a house of prayer?

An angel appears in his house of prayer. He describes it as a man.

But look it was standing in his house. Wow!

An angel standing in the front room!

There’s something!

An angel standing in your front room and telling you to find a man called Peter who will tell you words by which you and your entire household will be saved. Hallelujah!

The power of God to save a household, your household

Look at acts 11

Here is Peter explaining himself for going into a gentile house, when it was not allowed for a Jew to do so.

Look at verse 4

Ac 11:4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:

Verse 5

5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.

• Peter was in the city of Joppa
• Praying

Peter is praying

Cornelius is praying, and each is hearing from the living God as to the very details of their respective lives.

The wonder of words used in prayer, said in our own houses, bringing the very words of God to our ears, in vision and angelic visitation.

I ask you again ‘Is your house a house of prayer?’

Let’s move on and look at Job 16: 1-5

Where we find lots of words!

Job 16:1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!
3 Shall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you do, If your soul were in my soul's place. I could heap up words against you, And shake my head at you;
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.

Look at verse 2

"I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!

• Job has heard many of the things being pointed out by his comforters
• Job calls all of them Miserable comforters.

Here Job calls those who come to him with words ‘miserable comforters’

Verse 4

I also could speak as you do, If your soul were in my soul's place. I could heap up words against you, And shake my head at you;

• Job could speak as his comforters were doing
• If his comforters were in the place that job’s soul was
• Job could heap up words against them
• Job could shake his head at them

Have you ever had someone come to you and all they do is heap up words against you?

Miserable councillors!

Look at Job 42:7

Job 42:7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

• My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends
• For you have not spoken of Me what is right
• As My servant Job has

These miserable councillors have not spoken right things about God! Yes they piled up words for him in his trouble, but all there words which they spoke were not right.

Look at Job 19:2

Job 19:2 "How long will you torment my soul, And break me in pieces with words?

• How long will you torment my soul?
• How long will you break me in pieces with words?

It is so easy to torment the soul of another with words, so easy to break in pieces another with words.

The power of the use of words

Cornelius ‘the beam of the sun’, used words in his prayer, His home was a house of prayer.

Peter whom Jesus called ‘Rocky’ used words in Prayer.

Words used in prayer!

Let’s go to Psalm 34:1-22

Ps 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Look at verse 7

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

• The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him
• The angel of the LORD delivers them

Amen!

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

• Come you children
• Listen to me
• I will teach you the fear of the LORD

Hear is something you all can do

Come and listen to the LORD

Look at verse 12

Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?

• Who is the man who desires life
• Who is the man who loves many days
• Who is the man who wants to see good.

Look at verse 13

13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

• Keep your tongue from evil
• Keep your lips from speaking deceit

Look at verse 4

14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

• Depart from evil
• Do good
• Seek peace
• Pursue peace

Turn to Psalm 66:8-20

Ps 66:8 Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
9 Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.
10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.
12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfilment.
13 I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

Look at verse 12

You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfilment.

• You have caused men to ride over our heads
• We went through fire
• We went through water
• But you brought us out into rich fulfilment.

Verse 16

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.

• Come and hear
• all you who fear God
• I will declare What He has done for my soul

Verse 17

17 I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.

• I cried to him with my mouth ( in prayer)
• He was extolled with my tongue

Verse 18

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.

• If I regard iniquity in my heart
• The LORD will not hear

Verse 19

19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

• God has heard me!
• He has attendee to the voice of my prayer

We have no iniquity within our hearts because of Jesus.

Verse 20

Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

• Blessed be God
• Blessed be God
• Who has not turned away my prayer!
• Blessed be God
• Blessed be God
• Who has not turned His mercy from me!

He has answered my prayers in my house, he has had mercy on me for all my past.

Blessed be God
Blessed Be God
Blessed be God

Turn to Psalm 68:33-35

Ps 68:32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

Look at verse 35

35 O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

• O God
• Your are more awesome than Your holy places

We are a holy place for you O LORD,

But you are more awesome than this place.

Glen Aros has become a holy place for his people

But you O LORD are more awesome than this place

Blessed be God!

Blessed be God!

Can you say with me!

Blessed be God

Who has given us words to speak that our homes may become houses of prayer? Remembering that even our homes of prayer are less awesome that God himself.

Blessed be God!

Blessed be God!

Blessed be God!

Psalm 69:16

Hear me, O LORD, for Your loving kindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.

• Hear me O LORD
• Your loving kindness is good
• Turn to me according to the multitude of your tender mercies

Romans 9:16

Ro 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

• Not of him who wills
• Not of him who runs
• But on God who shows mercy

Verse 18

Ro 9:18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

• He has mercy on whom he wills
• He hardens him whom he wills

Romans 9:23

And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

• That he might make known the riches of his glory
• On the vessels of mercy
• Which he had prepared beforehand for glory

Blessed be God for his mercy

Blessed be God

Blessed be God.