Building Altars That Move God

BUILDING ALTARS THAT MOVE GOD

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Genesis 8:20-22

Supporting Texts: Genesis 12:7-8, 1 Kings 18:30-39, 2 Samuel 24:24-25, Psalm 50:5, Hebrews 13:10

INTRODUCTION:

Altars are spiritual platforms where humanity meets divinity. In the Old Testament, altars were physical structures, but in the New Testament, they represent places of personal devotion, sacrifice, and encounter. Every altar that moved God in Scripture was built with sincerity, sacrifice, and purpose.

Altars are not just religious routines or structures; they are raised to honour God, to intercede, to covenant, and to seek His face. When built rightly, they attract the fire of God, just as Elijah’s altar did on Mount Carmel. An altar is a statement of dependency and devotion to the Almighty.

In our day, believers must rebuild personal altars that attract God’s presence and power. If we desire divine response, we must return to building spiritual altars of worship, intercession, and total surrender. Such altars stir heaven and shift destinies.

1. ALTARS ARE PLACES OF SACRIFICE AND WORSHIP

God responds to altars built in reverence and sacrifice.

a) Noah Built an Altar After the Flood (Genesis 8:20)

Noah’s sacrifice brought a generational covenant from God.

b) Abraham Built Altars Everywhere He Went (Genesis 12:7–8)

He acknowledged God’s lordship and worshipped through sacrifice.

c) David Refused a Free Altar—He Paid the Price (2 Samuel 24:24)

Genuine altars must cost the builder something.

d) True Worship Is the Offering of Ourselves (Romans 12:1)

The New Testament altar is built with living sacrifices—our lives.

Biblical Example: Noah’s altar moved God to pronounce a blessing over the earth and promise never to destroy it again with water. It touched God’s heart.

2. ALTARS ARE PLACES OF COVENANT AND DIVINE ENCOUNTER

God often reveals Himself where altars are raised in His honour.

a) Jacob Encountered God at Bethel (Genesis 28:12–19)

He built an altar and called it the house of God after the vision of the ladder.

b) Altars Seal Promises and Divine Commitments (Genesis 35:1–7)

Jacob returned to Bethel to reaffirm the vow he made to God.

c) God Honors the Altars Built in Faith and Obedience (Psalm 50:5)

“Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

d) When We Build Altars, Heaven Responds with Revelation (Acts 10:1–4)

Cornelius’ prayers and offerings came up before God as a memorial.

Biblical Example: Jacob’s altar at Bethel became the birthplace of a covenant relationship that defined his destiny.

3. ALTARS ATTRACT THE FIRE AND POWER OF GOD

The fire of God always falls on a prepared and consecrated altar.

a) Elijah Repaired the Broken Altar Before Praying (1 Kings 18:30)

Before God could answer, the altar had to be set in order.

b) The Fire Fell Only After the Sacrifice Was Laid (1 Kings 18:38)

God responds to properly built altars and heartfelt petitions.

c) Altars Bring Down God’s Glory and Supernatural Acts (Leviticus 9:24)

When Aaron offered sacrifice, fire came out from God and consumed it.

d) Unholy Altars Cannot Carry God’s Fire (Leviticus 10:1–2)

Strange fire leads to destruction; only consecrated altars attract divine fire.

Biblical Example: Elijah’s altar on Mount Carmel called down fire from heaven and proved that the Lord alone is God.

4. ALTARS MUST BE MAINTAINED THROUGH CONSISTENT DEVOTION

Building an altar is not enough; it must be serviced and sustained.

a) The Fire on the Altar Must Never Go Out (Leviticus 6:12–13)

Daily devotion, prayer, and word study keep the altar burning.

b) Neglected Altars Become Cold and Powerless (Revelation 2:4–5)

Losing our first love results in empty altars.

c) God Desires a Consistent Relationship, Not Occasional Sacrifice (Psalm 27:4)

The desire to dwell in God’s presence fuels continual altar life.

d) We Must Rebuild Broken Altars in Our Lives (1 Kings 18:30)

Many need to repair the altars of prayer, worship, and the Word.

Biblical Example: The priests were commanded to tend the fire daily. A neglected altar was a sign of spiritual decline.

CONCLUSION:

Altars are spiritual power stations. They invite God’s presence, provoke His power, and seal His promises. Every believer must raise and maintain an altar that moves God. It is not about physical stones or rituals, but about our hearts, our sacrifices, and our worship.

Rebuilding your altar may mean restoring your personal prayer life, recommitting to regular worship, or offering your life afresh to God. The altar you build today can determine the encounters and breakthroughs you experience tomorrow.

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Lord, help me to build an altar that pleases You.

2. Every broken altar in my life—be restored by fire.

3. Let the fire on my altar never go out.

4. Father, make my altar a place of divine encounters.

5. I offer myself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You.