Driving Out The Money Changers - Zac Poonen
Summary
The central message is that spiritual growth requires changing one's mind to think like Christ, which is demonstrated by understanding the mind of Christ's righteous anger. The speaker uses Jesus' cleansing of the temple and his confrontation with the Pharisees to illustrate that true concern for others' deliverance from sin must overcome self-interest and exploitation, warning against making the church a place of profit.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Having the mind of ChristSpiritual growth is marked by our minds becoming like Jesus Christ, which changes our character, behavior, and outlook on life.
Cleansing the temple at the start of ministryOne of Jesus's first public actions was driving out those selling oxen, sheep, doves, and changing money in the temple.
Understanding righteous angerWhile we should not be angry over personal offenses, scripture speaks of a righteous anger that is without sin, mirroring God's heart against evil.
Anger coupled with grief over hard heartsJesus looked at the Pharisees with anger and grief because their hard hearts prevented needy people from being healed and delivered.Mark 3:5
Exploiting the poor in God's houseJust as money changers and merchants exploited poor worshippers with high prices, modern preachers often profit off sermons and songs.
The new covenant partnership of Haggai and ZechariahUnlike earlier prophets who worked alone, Haggai and Zechariah displayed a rare new covenant grace by working together to rebuild God's house.
No businessmen in the house of the LordZechariah prophesied of a future day when the Lord is king over all the earth and there is no longer a businessman or merchant in the house of the Lord.
Jesus never got angry at personal mistreatmentJesus never grew angry when people insulted, betrayed, or mistreated him personally, but he burned with anger when others were exploited.
Driving out the animals and overturning tablesJesus made a thick rope, drove out the sheep and oxen, opened the bird cages, and scattered the money changers' coins.
Zeal for your house will consume meThe disciples remembered the scripture showing that a passionate zeal for the purity of God's house must consume every child of God.
Cleansing our own hearts firstBefore trying to cleanse the church, we must examine our own hearts and bodies to ensure no money changers or self-seeking spirits dwell within.
Returning to cleanse the temple at ministry's endNear the end of his ministry before his crucifixion, Jesus entered the temple a second time to drive out those buying and selling.Mark 11:2
A house of prayer or a robber's denJesus declared that his house should be a house of prayer, but letting commercialism creep back in had turned it into a robber's den.
Old Testament examples of zeal for God's houseFigures like Moses and Elijah displayed holy zeal and anger against idolatry and corruption to keep God's people pure.
When God abandons a houseWhen warnings are ignored, a church transitions from being "my house" to "your house," losing its lampstand and prophetic purity.Matthew 23:37
The desperate need for the prophetic word todayAmid a modern famine of the true word of the Lord, believers must stay faithful and clothed with zeal until Christ returns.
