"There I will go to the altar of God,
to God—the source of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp,
O God, my God!"
The Altar is representative of our prayer life. Unlike in the Old Testament, Because of the work of Jesus in the cross we can now talk to God where ever we call out to Him.
We all need a place where we can talk to God, where we can meet face to face with Him.
What the Altar represents;
The Altar is designed for sacrifice
The altar represents the place where God is
The altar is a place of refuge
The altar represents the place where the priest intercedes.
The Altar represents the place where we can take our sorrows
The altar represents where we can talk to God
The Altar represents the place of blessings
How do we build an altar unto the lord?
1. Your priorities have to be in the right place.
A. God first
B. Family second. Family is your first ministry
C. Business, job or career third.
These are things that you need in order to live in the material world but they will not profit you any for the eternal life.
-You cant build two kingdoms at the same time. Jesus said; You cant serve two masters.......
-You cant build your kingdom and build God’s kingdom.
God says; You build His kingdom and He will build yours.
- If you take time to build God’s kingdom He will give you success in everything you do.
-God blesses you as you build His kingdom.
-You have the favor of God as you are building His kingdom.
2. You need a plan.
In the construction business we call this a blueprint or the plans of the house.
Jesus said; no one build a house without first of all counting the cost.
A. You need a solid foundation. If you don’t have it, don’t build walls on sinking sand because in the long run it is going to be worthless.
B. You need solid walls. The nails have to be set in the right place and space apart at the correct distance.
C. There are things that are essential.
-Insulation
-The right copper wire for your electric to flow correctly.
-The right plumbing.
-Shingles in the roof and the correct thickness paper underneath to secure no leaks.
- Some want a good spiritual home but they settle for cheap materials.
3. Understand that its going to cost you something Jesus said that its foolish building anything without first counting the cost.
-The cost is not what you say or what you are willing to do, God tells you what the cost is.
Jesus said; You must die to self and pick up your cross and follow Him.
Not every sacrifice is acceptable,
Heb.13:15,With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name. 16 Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.
Other verses in this chapter show us the sacrifices that are acceptable to the Lord;
Chapter 3:1, Continue to love each other with true Christian love.* 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Don’t forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.5 Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,"I will never fail you.I will never forsake you."*6 That is why we can say with confidence,"The Lord is my helper,so I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?"*7 Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God’s special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.10 We have an altar from which the priests in the Temple on earth have no right to eat. 11 Under the system of Jewish laws, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, but the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates in order to make his people holy by shedding his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him outside the camp and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.15 With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name. 16 Don’t Don’t to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.17 Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
4. Your Altar has to be decorated with Spiritual things.
-Incense, oil, a pulpit separated for God, etc.
- The Holy of Holies is a picture of this.
All these things are only types and shadows. What God really wants to see is the fruit of the spirit working in our lives.
5. You need to use your altar.
All the work of preparation is in vain if at the end we don’t talk to God.
