IT IS TIME TO REPAIR ALL BROKEN ALTARS
1. Joshua 4:1 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. 6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? 7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever..
2. 1 Kings 18 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it…”
INTRODUCTION: REPAIRING THE BROKEN ALTAR
I Continue My Expansion On The Trip To Israel. Last time we looked at Jeremiah who suffered for preaching the Word. Today let me tell of another experience. We were in the region of Jericho and the guide took us to Gilgal where they believed the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This is not far from Jericho. Then we then realized we were standing in the midst of an ancient altar near the base of a mountain in about 1406 BC. Joshua 4 tells of how God commanded Israel to erect the altar of 12 stones from the flooded Jordan River as memorial.
WHAT IS AN ALTAR?
1. An Altar Is A Place Of Prayer Or Worship Of God Or Gods. It is a contact place with the spirit or spiritual world.
2. It Is A Place Of Spiritual Sacrifice Or Of Making Of Covenants. There is always power from the altar of God or from the altar of Devil. Every altar operates with powers to control the area and the people that surround it. Those who stand in Satanic altars have power to control those who live near them - they are responsible for controlling alcohol bars, prostitutions, drugs, divorces , sickness and all other evil things in that area. For Satan to work and fulfill his mission here in earth/city or village there must be an altar where he performs those evil things. Example: Near The Merrimack River
3. The Altar Is Where The Physical Contacts The Spiritual That Is The Place Where Human Beings Go To Contact Either God Or Demons. But the altar we are talking about is the altar of the Lord. Whether it is God or demons that you want to contact, you are expected to prepare a place, where the two of you can meet. Building of the altar is your own responsibility.
4. The Power Of A Ministry Is Determined By Which Altar it Operates & Serves. The strongest and mighty men of God are those who operate and serve in Holy Altars. Those altars are destructive to the kingdom of darkness & destroys every other altars around them. 1 Timothy 4: 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. Exodus 4: The Altars in Egypt that defied God.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALTARS!
1. Godly Altars: An altar of prayer, intercession, worship, thanksgiving, tithing, sacrificial giving unto God and His kingdom.
2. Satanic Altars: Also an altar of prayer, intercession, worship, thanksgiving, tithing, sacrificial giving unto God and His kingdom.
GODLY OR SATANIC ALTARS CAN BE:
1. A Personal Altar: Your own personal quite time with the Lord.(Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.)
2. A Family Altar: For you and your family praying together. ( Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.)
3. A Corporate Altar: For the church, (the saints) where you gather for fellowship and worship (Acts 4:23-31, Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.)
REASONS FOR REPAIRING THE ALTAR OF THE LORD
1. The Altar Is A Place Of Consecration: Re-dedicating our all to Christ will bring a fresh fire on the altar. In the OT, the priests were reminded, "A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out." It reminds us of the importance of the fire of total consecration to Christ.
2. The Altar Is A Place Of Confession & Repentance! When the Holy Spirit is moving, people are brought to the altar in confession of sin & repentance. Worldliness and sins have become so commonplace around us – we must ask God to establish the power & bring cleansing, confession and repentance into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 59:2"For your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." But through confession, the Holy Spirit cleanses us by applying the precious blood of Christ. Then the barriers are removed, and God promises, Acts 2:17-18: "I will no longer hide My face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit on the house of Israel."
3. The Altar Is A Place Of Surrender. As people come to the altar in surrender, lives are transformed. The altar is a powerful place for evangelism, as people are called to come forward to the altar to receive Christ as Lord. People coming forward to the altar under anointed preaching and the working of the Holy Spirit leads to definite conversions. At the altar, prodigal sons and daughters come back to Christ.
4. The Altar Is A Place Of Prayer. The Spirit is calling us to prayer, with an urgency and a compelling voice. 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land." As we pray and seek His face, God will bring healing to our land.
5. The Altar Is A Place To Receive The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit. John 7:37 Jesus said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!" As we come to the feet of Jesus, He will pour out His Baptism of the Holy Spirit upon a hungry people. Truly there is an urgent need for people to be baptized in the Spirit, to receive power to witness, and to receive anointing for victorious Christian living. Lord, pour out your Spirit at our altars and in our hearts, in fresh power IJN.
6. The Altar Is A Place Of Healing. As people come forward to receive prayer for healing, healing gifts of the Spirit can be given to those in need. Elders of the church can anoint with oil, following James 5:14-16, and the prayer of faith will result in healing of the sick. In times of seeking God and prayer, powerful miracles have occurred in people's lives through divine healing. God also sovereignly touches and heals people to demonstrate His compassion and glory.
7. The Altar Is A Place Of Worship. As people enter into worship at God's altar, the presence of God becomes tangible. The atmosphere of worship invites the presence of the Holy Spirit to touch people's hearts. "Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and on the harp I will praise you, O God, my God." (Psalm 43:4).
8. An Altar Of Peace (Genesis 13.14-18). This is where people receive reconciliation from God and others. Abram and Lot had acquired flocks and herds and tents; strife and division broke out among the herdsmen so that they could no longer "dwell together". Abram pleads, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee…for we be brethren" (Ps 133.1). Abram and Lot therefore decided to separate. Abram nobly allowed Lot first choice of the land. Thus Abram moved to Mamre (vigor) in Hebron (fellowship). He was now separated from Egypt, free from strife, and enjoying complete security; hence "he built there an altar unto the Lord" to enjoy the peace and presence of God.
9. An Altar Of Provision (Genesis 22. 9-14) As Abraham was building this altar on Mount Moriah his heart must have been breaking, for he was about to offer up to God his only beloved son, not only to be slain, but to be burnt to ashes as a burnt offering. He knew God must have Isaac, even though he was the heir of promise, so he raised the sacrificial knife "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead" (Hebrews 11.19). But what was thought to be a moment of death became a moment of triumph - a substitute, a provision, was found and Isaac was spared. Abraham's faith had been tried to the limit and rewarded: "God will provide himself a lamb, for a burnt offering" (v.8). "God did not want Isaac, He wanted the heart of Abraham"; Abraham was really upon the altar, not Isaac! 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".
UNDER GRACE, THERE IS A NEW ALTAR
1. Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2. 1 Corinthians 6: 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
REQUIREMENTS IN REPAIRING THE ALTAR OF THE LORD
1. We Must Again Accept The Bible As Authoritative/Accurate. 2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture…
2. We Must Again Affirm That Salvation Is God’s Gift Offered Freely Without Merit on the part of any mere mortal.
3. We Must Again Insist That Salvation Is Revealed Through A Godly Life—it is possession and not profession that must be sought.
4. We Must Again That The Saved Must Seek out a congregation where they can faithfully participate in the services.
5. We Must Again Insist That Discipline Among The Churches Be Required - If We Will Honor God.
6. Family Heads Must Again Accept Responsibility To Serve As Spiritual Leaders For Their Own Families.
WHEN YOU REPAIR GOD’S ALTAR & BUILD A NEW ONE LIKE ELIJAH, WE CAN EXPECT
1. Instant Answer To Your Prayer Psalm 50:14 -15 When you have repaired his altar, when your obedience to all his laws is complete, he said you call on me in the day of trouble and I will answer you.
2. Offering Shall Be Accepted Of The Lord. - Genesis 4:3-5 Two people brought offerings to God; Cain and Abel. God accepted the offering of one and rejected the offering of another.
3. Potentials Shall Be Activated. When the fire fell on Mount Carmel, it was an answer to a man’s prayer. Inside you is a potential, there is something God put in you when he created you, God didn’t send you into this world to just come and eat and wear some dress. He wanted you to become a blessings to your generation and that will begin as you repair the altar of the Lord.
4. Hardship Will Become Opportunity In Your Life. When the fire fell on mount Carmel, it was not only the fire wood that he consumes, it consumes the Rock; the symbol of hardship was removed.
WHAT DOES ELIJAH DO?
1. He Invites All Of The People To Come Near, So They Can Watch And See.
2. He Repairs The Altar Of The Lord - that was broken down.
3. He Takes 12 Stones, symbolizing the tribes of Israel and rebuilt the altar
4. He Makes A Trench, deep enough to hold 2 measures of seed
5. He Puts The Wood In Place, cut the bullock in pieces and gave orders
6. He Fills 4 Barrels Of Water, Pour It On The Burnt Sacrifice 3 times (12 barrels total)
7. He Prays Specifically For Fire - the fire comes down.
8. God Shows Up – In Full View.
SOME ALTARS TO REPAIR
1. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Preaching. Are you preaching the Word?
2. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Prayer. Where does prayer come on your list?
3. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Purpose. What is your motive for serving God?
4. Repair This Altar By Our Sacrifice (Giving). 2 Samuel 24:24 "And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."
5. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Power With God. Where does your power come from? God, man, Satan, world, etc.? Psalm 51:10 Repair this altar by having a right spirit. God sent the Holy Spirit to empower us.
6. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Relationship: We have allowed walls before us and people to be broken. Matthew 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
7. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Church Attendance: I want to find people who are covenanted in organizations who never attend meetings or go to work. Only Christians stay home and say they are part of a church – especially when difficult times come.
8. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Reading The Word: Are you reading and studying the Word? Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone….
9. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Forgiveness: Matthew 6:12-14 Forgive us our sins…
10. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Finances: They operate under financial losses...
11. Some Need To Repair The Altar Of Relationship: They cannot keep social connections – romantic or friendship.
ALTARS FOR GOD DO HAVE REQUIREMENTS
Make Your Own Lives A Living Altar Unto The Lord. Psalm 24:3-6 3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. 5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him.
