Are You An Altar Builder?

ARE YOU AN ALTAR BUILDER?

Gen. 13:4

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A man traveling on a plane noticed the woman sitting next to him was wearing a dazzling diamond ring. “That’s a beautiful ring,” he remarked.

2. “Thank you. It’s the famous Vanderburg diamond,” she said. “But it also comes with a terrible curse.” He said, “A curse? What kind of curse?” “Mr. Vanderburg.”

B. THESIS & TITLE

1. I want to talk about prayer this morning. Prayer opens the channel between you and Almighty God.

2. Prayer pulls back the curtain of the temporary and lets us see into the eternal. Prayer opens possibilities of help from the greatest source. Prayer moves the arm that moves the world!

3. “History proves, beyond question, that prayer can change the world. A prayer warrior, on their knees [can] alter the very destiny of people and nations.” Dick Eastman, paraphrased

4. If prayer is that important, then your altar-time with God is all-important! YOU NEED TO BE AN ALTAR BUILDER!

5. Abraham, the “father of faith” and “friend of God” was an altar builder; he built altars in Shechem (12:7), Bethel (12:8), Hebron (13:8), probably Beersheba (21:32), and Jerusalem (22:9).

6. Many others were altar builders, so we’re going to look at the PURPOSE, the SACRIFICES, and the 7 STEPS to building an altar. Q “Are You an Altar Builder?”

I. THE PURPOSE OF THE ALTAR

A. IT’S A SACRED PLACE OF WORSHIP

1. When Abraham took stones and built an altar, it wasn’t how the stones were set up that mattered, but the INTENT of his heart. He was setting up official place/ formal/ serious… to meet with God.

2. It wasn’t a casual meeting. Abraham wasn’t meeting with an equal, but with God, who’s the Great King (Mal. 1:14). We should approach Him with respect and honor.

3. He’s not the “man-upstairs” or just “daddy God.” He’s the God who’s eternal, immortal, omnipresent & omnipotent, whom we can’t comprehend. You show me a worm that comprehend a man, and I will show you a man that can comprehend God! There’s no one else like Him!

4. We don’t worship Him because He needs it, but because it’s the right thing to do. Just like you can’t help but say, “Awesome!” when you see a spectacular mountain scene, or be moved by a magnificent piece of music, just so we should be moved by the love, goodness, and character of God!

5. We come to worship, to praise, and to give Him glory for His goodness and grace toward us!

B. IT’S A PLACE OF SACRIFICE

1. The whole idea of “sacrifice” is that you lose or give up something. David knew this, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord… that [which] COSTS ME NOTHING” 2 Sam. 24:24. We have the innate desire to give God something of worth. All we have…is the devotion of our hearts.

2. Many people put little or no effort into their prayer life. They’re not consistent about meeting with God daily. YOU WILL HAVE TO “SACRIFICE” YOUR TIME & THOUGHT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

3. Don’t think you can demand great things from God unless you are prepared to sacrifice great things for God. The fire doesn’t fall on an empty altar, a selfish life, a life of pleasure or a monument built to our own greatness. The fire falls on the sacrificial life offered to God.

C. A PLACE OF REVELATION/MANIFESTATION

1. Down the centuries God revealed Himself to the patriarchs and prophets when they sought Him.

2. Frequently a supernatural manifestations took place at altars, as with Moses (Ex. 40:29,34), Manoah (Judg. 13:19), Samuel (1 Sam. 7:10), David (2 Sam. 24:17,25), Solomon (2 Chron. 7:1), and Elijah (1 Kgs. 18:38).

3. DO YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE SUPERNATURAL? Do you want to have God revealed to you? Then you must have a regular meeting place with God!

4. God made covenants – that is, PROMISES, to Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Elijah, etc. – after meetings at an altar. If you commune with God and obey Him, God won’t fail to reward you. “He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” Heb. 11:6.

D. A PLACE OF FELLOWSHIP & INTERCESSION

1. Abraham built altars to call on the name of the Lord, to fellowship with God, and to pray. Abraham had such a close relationship with God that he was called “the Friend of God” (2 Chron. 20:7; Isaiah 41:8) by God Himself!

2. Q How many of you want to be the “friend of God?” Then you need to SET ASIDE TIME to spend with Him every day; not a hurried 5 minutes to check off your “to-do” list, but a sweet, unhurried, time - to wait on God & bask in His glory.