Building An Alter

Building An Altar Genesis 12:6-8

Intro:

As I walk into a Church one of the first things I do, is look for the Altar. I like to see the different styles of Altars, I notice if they are straight altars, or curved altars, some churches I have been in have no standing altar at all.

In our day and time, the Altar is for prayer, a place for our bodies to be presented as a living sacrifice The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

In the Old Testament altars where built by Gods people to be used mostly for sacrifice. An altar in the Old Testament an Altar also could identify with a notable encounter with God. Altars in the Old Testament were built with rough stones.

Do you realize in our day and time we have these nice smooth top altars and they are used less often than the old rough stone altars of the Old Testament.

In Genesis 12:8 we find a man named Abram built an altar to God.

Abram didn’t build one alter but he built many altars during his life, There are three reasons why Abram built these Altars:

1. For a place of Prayer

2. A place of Worship

3. So he could remember God’s promise to bless him.

Thinking of the reasons Abram built an altar, I ask you this morning as I preach, to think about the Question “Have I built An Alter to the Lord.”

1. Place Of Prayer

I want you to notice the first thing that Abram did after building the Altar verse 8 “called upon the name of the Lord”

Do you know why there is so much trouble in the street, do you know why children are rebelling against there parents do you know why husband and wives are divorcing these days? Because we have taken God and the altar out of the home.

One of the worst things that ever happened to this nation was when prayer was taken out of school. I can honestly say though ,that I get a little sick and tired when I hear people saying our children would not turn out like they are if prayer would still be in school. This is partially true, but I tell you this morning worse than prayer being taken out of school, we parents have taken it out of the home. In stead of blaming the supreme court, we parents need to take the responabilty of what is happening, because we never spend time with our kids in devotion we never talk to kids about God, we never talk to our kids about eternity, but worst all we are guilty of not bathing our children in prayer. We send kids out the door, with lunch money, make sure they have there books, but never do the most important Christian obligation and that is to pray for there protection.

Most Husbands and wives never pray with or for each other, knowing Good and well that devil is trying to destroy the home, and temptation is the strongest that it has ever been.

There are some of you who say Why am I so spiritual week, why do I have such a hard time living for God, Why do I never feel a move of the Holy Spirit in my life. The reason is you don’t have a prayer closet. Jesus said in Matt 6:6 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

There are sick people who never get well because people do not pray for them, James 5:14 “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: James 5:16 “......The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

There are lost people who never receive salvation because no one will pray for there soul, Matt 9:38 “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

There are churches that will never see revival because the church members want pray for it. 2 Chor 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I ask you as a church family have you built your altar of prayer to God.