Being labeled a “sellout”
isn’t a good thing, to put it lightly. It usually means that someone has betrayed a cause, set of values, or relationship. Never good! Being sold out however, is quite different. “Sold out” means completely committed, devoted, and totally engaged. This is high praise.
On two occasions during His ministry, once at the beginning in John 2, and then again three years later in Mark 11, Jesus confronts the sellouts by going into the temple, turning over the tables of the money changers, and casting out those who are there for personal profit.
“When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace.”
Mark 11:15–16 (NLT)
When I was young, I thought for sure that this scripture taught that purchasing or selling in the church lobby was strictly forbidden. In reality, this scripture is deeply personal.
As a church, we are praying for and considering what it means to have revival. This past Sunday we heard a powerful message on repentance, given to us by Pastor Sandy Baird – you can click here to listen to it. There can be no revival without personal repentance.
I believe that this is the true meaning of what we learn in Mark 11. The real question is about what I have done with the temple of my body and my life. How have I used the temple that God has given me, the temple purchased with His blood? Do I see my body and life as a tool for my own pleasure and personal fulfillment, or do I see it as the dwelling place of the Lord?
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NLT)
If we are going to have true revival, then we must let Jesus cleanse the temple! Tables of sin and selfishness must be overturned. The money changers inside of us, who turn the worship of God into personal profit and gain, must be driven out. It all begins with repentance.
“He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, “My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,” but you have turned it into a den of thieves.'”
Mark 11:17 (NLT)
Here are three great truths to remember from this passage:
1. My life, my body, is His temple first and foremost.
2. The purpose of the temple is to be a place of prayer, where the focus is knowing God Himself.
3. The way I use the temple should be a light to all people, that they too would know our Amazing God.
Thank God that Jesus Christ was sold-out for us. He literally gave His life on the cross for you! Let Jesus cleanse the temple of your life and then you can go all in for Him!
Sold out for Jesus!
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