I’m Putting My Heart Upon the Alter.
HHM Pastor Jim Parisi Sept 1, 2001
Sometimes you can love or desire something so much that it could cloud your vision and focus for God
You start to focus on an object or a person, your eye becomes fixed on it, and we lose sight of the Lord
You can want something or even cherish an object so much or maybe become consumed with a situation, that it can become a stumbling block for you and walk with the Lord.
We put ourselves in situations each day --- some of compromise, where decisions have to be made that could affect our whole future
You can want or pray for something like a ministry or a new car and this is ok as long as your heart is in order
It becomes a point of positioning ourselves properly with God in our hearts and walk
His order is that, He comes first and all else comes after Him
It’s a funny thing about a heart
Not only is it in the center of your chest but it is the organ that is needed to thrust oxygen filled blood to every other part of your anatomy so that it can regenerate again and again.
Oxygen is pushed thru the body
Look at any Olympic athlete, he trains for weeks, months, years for just ONE moment,
He may be tired and beat up, too exhausted to even rest on his bed,
However, there is an enhanced side to this man; his superior side shows his commitment to his cause.
TO make him stronger and better To win at any cost.
That is his dedication that is his devotion that is his passion
Sometimes God will ask you to put your most precious things like your heart things you love on the alter
Let’s look at Abraham in Gen 22
Genesis 22: 1 -14 nkjv 1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." 12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The Lord it shall be provided."
Verse 1 God tests Abraham with his most precious possession
Isaac His joy …. His heart Abraham loved Isaac
Could you do the same?
Put what you love the most on the alter ……. don’t answer yet…….
Verse 2 Then comes the command from God
Sometimes God who wants the best for us will give us a command
Even that we can’t understand or comprehend it we have to be obedient to it.
Verse 3 you are obedient to Gods plan, prepare, and set out to do it
You may need to pray or gather provisions or even understanding
Verse 4 Sometimes you must travel a road blindly for a season to arrive to the place in God that you have to be
Verse 5,6 not every one can come with you to make your sacrifice
Some times it is just you and your heart…
Verse 7 there may be a little confusion and some questions from your heart
Verse 8 There has to be faith. Faith that the Lord will do the right thing The Lord will provide
Verse 9-10 The action of ultimate sacrifice to put your heart on the alter
Verse 11-12 once he knows that you love him first and will obey his call
He will return your heart to you …ram caught in a thicket
Verse 13- He makes the provision for you
Verse 14 You worship Him … make a monument to him
and thank Him for he has showed you mercy and provided for you a provision.
Communion Sunday Put your heart upon the alter
