I Will Turn The Tables Over In My Church!

A couple of years ago I was going through a very tough time with the church I was attending. They were not doing things right, “in my eyes”, and it seemed as though my “church” needed a great awakening. Well “ I thought to myself”, maybe God is calling me to cleanse this place. I read Mark 11:15-18 and Matt. 21:12-15 where Jesus cleanses the Temple. And what was really exciting is when I read John 2:13-19 and read where Jesus made a whip and went in and totally cleaned the place out.
I thought to myself, “oh boy, wouldn’t that be great to see the faces of the people in this church if the Reviver came to town”? Ya, Jesus will clean this place up, turn over all the tables, spill all the coffee in the fancy little coffee shop next to the sanctuary and maybe slap a few of the leaders around, cause they really need it.
That Sunday I sat in the same usual seat next to my wife, with all of these thoughts running through my mind. It was time for worship to start, and I thought, Hmmm, this will be a great time to crack open my Bible and read those scriptures again and just imagine Jesus coming in about then and “I think I can even hear the “Snap” of the whip”.

I closed my eyes…

I started Praying, “God, you need to do something or I will”.

Then I started to weep….Allot..

My Prayer supernaturally turned…

Jesus, “Come”, Turn the tables over… “in my heart”… cleanse my temple….

You see, so often we want to change our surroundings, our way. Yes, we want to see Revival, but Revival does not come to those that pursue it with hardened hearts.

and lo and behold, that was your conclusion too!

I also read with interest as to the conclusion. it is interesting how God often turns things back on us while we look on to be critical of others?

I think also that the same Jesus that overturns tables also relieves the afflicted and binds up the wounds of the brokenhearted. What unity of diversity of goodness! I want the whole Jesus!

The way I see it, is life goes on. And life is good because God is good. Next time God knocks on your door, just open it and let him in, who knows what blessings he will leave behind for you and you and you and you and you and you, and you too. :-)

No, my brothers and sisters, you have it all wrong. This is the season where we must rejoice the most. The life and birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, this is the season of giving, and shouldn’t we give of ourselves to others in there time of need. You see thousands upon thousands shopping, and trying to get the best deals for that special person, but have you stopped to think for a second how that gift will change that person’s life around? It might momentarily depending on the gift, but what is it doing for you, did you poor yourself out giving that gift, that simple but priceless gift? Was it something you had in your heart all along, and waited for the RIGHT, time to give to that special person? God gave his only begotten son, so that we could have life and life more abundantly. A life filled with his Spirit a life where we can honestly say that we are free to love one another in the Lord, as brothers and sisters, this my friend is revival. Oh, I know it all too well, a life filled with all the fruits of the Spirit in Christ Jesus, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, (Galatians 5:22)

I pray that this season you truly listen to everyone around you, listen to there hearts, as they run to answer every thread, and pour of themselves on every discussion, pray that the Holy Spirit will open every hidden door that has been closed. Pray first and listen and discern there hearts cry. Fill them with the love of Jesus, before giving them something that will break, or fade, or get lost etc.

Pray for Unity and Humility (Philippians 2) – Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.

Don’t be selfish: don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.

Joy to the World. – My father Rafaki says Hello.

That Sunday I sat in the same usual seat next to my wife, with all of these thoughts running through my mind. It was time for worship to start, and I thought, Hmmm, this will be a great time to crack open my Bible and read those scriptures again and just imagine Jesus coming in about then and “I think I can even hear the “Snap” of the whip”.

Larry, I recently shared your testimony with a Presbyterian minister and he was deeply touched. He understood you completely. That got me thinking: Those who are in positions of authority, those who have the awesome power of the microphone, the pulpit, web blogs, etc, can be easily tempted to take up the whip - and feel very justified about it. It can give an exhilarating sense of power and control over all the “sinners out there”. It can liberate one from that overwhelming feeling of helplessness and insecurity.

For those of us who do not have the opportunity to "crack the whip", we can experience the same satisfaction by merely imagining it.

Jeremiah struggled with a sense of helpessness too. He was frustrated with the people of his day because they won’t change. And then God gave him a simple visual aid:

"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
“Go down to the potter’s house,
and there I will give you my message.”
So I went down to the potter’s house,
and I saw him working at the wheel.
But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands;
so the potter formed it into another pot,
shaping it as seemed best to him.
(Jeremiah 18:1-4)

It is always good to remember that Jesus went on to die, and that’s how change came about. Salvation and change is not brought about by human power and coercion but by the power of God.

Thank you Larry for sharing your testimony. It is a treasure, and I will never forget it.

Diane

Hello Rafiki,

My father Rafaki says Hello.

My native language is English. Your screen name and the closing of your post are 'Greek' to me. What significance do they hold? You seem to be speaking in puzzles, please illuminate. I Googled 'Rafiki' and found a reference to the Story 'The Lion King.' Is that your intention? I have never watched/read the story so if it has significance it is lost on me.

Please, do not be offended, I only strive for understanding and clarification. I do not know what meaning those words hold for you.

In case you do not know, the screen name I use, 'white stone' is from the book of The Revelations of Jesus Christ.

Rv:2:17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a [b][size=x-small][color=0000FF]white stone[/color][/size][/b], and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Kind regards,
white stone

I have to admit I was a little concerned as I first began to read your post. I know what it is like to see the short comings of other people and ministries and have a zeal to see things change so they conform to Gods standard.

A scripture that has become so dear to my heart is "Take the beam out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to help your brother." For many years I had somehow bypassed that requirment. Interesting that Jesus did not say dont try to help your brother get the speck out of his eye. He just declared that the pre-requisite for being able to help your brother is to first have spiritual acuity that can only come by first performing eye surgery on your own heart.

My, how many well meaning ministrers could have saved themselves if they had only followed this command of the King. Im glad that you heard the voice of Truth speaking to your heart because at the end of the day the issue will be, were the tables of our heart clean.

Good reminder Larry. I appreciate it. Grace, Grace to you.

Rafiki means friend in swahili.