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.
2. A Place Of Worship
Ill. A visiting minister was filling the pulpit of the famous preacher Henry Beecher. A large audience had gathered to hear the popular preacher. When time for the preaching came around, the visiting minister entered into the pulpit. Leaning that Rev Beecher was not going to be there, several began to move towards the door. The Visiting minister stood up and said “All who have came to worship Henry Beecher may now leave the Church! All who have came to worship God keep your seats!”
When we come to church we are to come to worship God. God wants hands to go up in praise, God wants people to testify, God wants people to lift his Holy name. Acts 2:47 tells us the new testament church was meeting daily “Praising God”
If we have a Altar in our life to God it will not be a problem to come worship God at Church. If you have an altar it will not be a problem to worship God outside the Church. The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; If you have an altar to than everyday of your life will proclaim “this is the day the lord hath made let us rejoice and be glad it in.”
I have heard people ask why do younger people not worship the lord, I ask why did the older generation ever stop. Didn’t the Bible say Jesus was the same yesterday, today, and forever. Didn’t the Bible say we serve the same God as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since he is the same God it seems to me he expects the same from us, that we build and altar of worship in our lives.
3. Remembered God’s promise to Bless Him.
God had told Abram in Genesis 12:2 “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Everyone of us need to build an altar remembering God has promised to bless us.
Jesus said in Matt 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
David said in Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want”
God has promised to bless his Children, this does not mean with great wealth, but with all of our needs meet, He has promised to bless us with food, clothes, he has promised when we facing sickness or death, when facing trails and heavy burdens he has promised the blessing of carry our load for us.
Ill. A preacher was in his study. He asked his young son if he would go up stairs and grab a book for him. His son was gone a while. After a few minutes the father thought he heard crying on the steps. The father went to see what was wrong. The son cried “Oh Daddy; it’s so heavy I can’t carry it. The father reached down and grabbed his son and the book and carried them back to his study. The preacher said this reminded him of God. How God deals with his children, he carries both them and their burdens.
God has promised us blessings on this earth today, but he also has promised us the blessing of eternal life and a eternal home. 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
2 Corinthians 6:16 “God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Conclusion:
I ask you in closing to think Have you built an Altar of Prayer, and Worship. Have you built and Altar to remember the blessings of God.
