The First Altar

Genesis chapter 8, Genesis chapter 8, this morning we want to continue and our series on the biblical altars. We started last week with the wonderful presentation about altars and we talked about the first family altar last week. But today, as you've always heard me, talk about, when you're looking for a subject, go back to the First Dimension in the word of God. I don't know if this is technically the first alter, I believe that it might be but in Genesis chapter 8, are we find here? What we believe is is the first mention of Altar and we say that because after the flood this is the first altar that was built for the Lord. And in the Bible, you go back to the first mention of something to be taught basic principles about the subject. It's the, it's the law first dimensions and you learn so much about a subject by going back to the first time in the Bible. It's mention, I'm from worship to Revival to giving the stewardship to all kinds of subjects Genesis chapter 8. These verses will be up on the screen and you can certainly follow. And I apologize again that my voice is not the best today but hope that you can follow verse 13. And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the Earth.

And Noah, remove the covering of the Ark. And looked and behold the face of the ground was dry.

and in the second month on the 7th and 20th day of the month, Was the earth dried. God spake unto Noah saying, go forth of the Ark. Valentine's wife, and I sons. And I Sons wives with the bring forth with the, every living thing that is with the of All Flesh, both of foul and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth that they may breed abundantly in the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon the Earth. How many of you would have been kind of satisfied of snakes would have? Never made it off the art? What are some good, sleep, whatever. I don't care. I couldn't even live without the good snakes, to be honest with you, all right. First 18 and Noah went forth and his sons and his wife and his sons wives with him. Every Beast every creeping thing, every file and whatsoever. Creepeth upon the Earth. After their kinds went forth out of the Ark. And Noah, builded in alter. Unto the Lord. And took of every clean beast and of every clean bow. And offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour. And the Lord said in his heart, I will not again, curse the ground anymore for man's sake. The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I against my anymore? Everything living as I have done. Well, the Earth remaineth seedtime and harvest and cold and heat and summer and winter and day and night shall not. Cease.

The first altar. We're going to learn some things today. That gives us groundwork. For altars even in 2023. Let's pray, Lord, we love you, thank you for all that. You've done. Thanks for every person here. We all have different stories. Different reasons, different obstacles, different victories. That have brought us here today, but we're here. Laurie heard the wonderful music that is prepared. Our heart. But we're here not to hear from a preacher. We're here to hear from you. Tell Lord, I pray that you would bless this very precious Passage. Lord. Do a work in our hearts. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Or we dig into this thing of altars. I just wanted to say, I know many of you been praying Guess you didn't get to see him, it's so good to see WhatsApp here today. And a Butch has graduated from the wheelchair to the walker. And a witch is in 100% And he's got a little ways to go, but he was determined to get to church. Aren't you glad to see people determined to get to church? And Butch has a whole bunch of reasons not to even try to come here today, but he's here and I appreciate it. Let's give but your hand today, and we've missed him.

We missed him. It's not the same, when he's not here, and I'm glad he's here today. Genesis chapter 8, the first altar. We have here the flood, the art, you know, the story. The art comes to rest and Noah looks out in the face of the Earth was dry but the Earth wasn't dry. So God left him there for another month or two and then Noah look down in the Earth was dry. And God said all right now get off the arc and you and your wife, your wife, and your sons and their wives, and all the living creatures that are on the ark. With you, go ahead and get off The Arc in as Noah. Got off the art, the first thing he did, He built an altar. And the Bible says that he took of every clean beast and every clean fowl. Any offered sacrifice unto God. What are we to learn from this? Number one, I want you to understand that this first altar in the word of God never won it represents forgiveness of sin. Forgiveness of sin. Not understand this. Why this was so what reporters called poignant? That's a word. They love to use. It means this moment in time. There's so much behind it as Noah. Built this altar in his bill will prepare these sacrifices. We've got to know what went on in the background and I want you to see these verses and Genesis 6:6. It says that it repented confuse me it repented. The Lord that he had made man.

God regretted that he had even made man on the Earth.

That's sad. And it grieved him. At its heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man. Who might have created from the face of the Earth. Both man and Beast and the creeping thing and the fowls of the air for it. Repenteth me that I have made them. That's where God was. That's what God had decided. But we find a verse here that kind of Changed History. You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for this worse.

First aid says, but Noah found Grace. In the eyes of the Lord.

now, the whole flood narrative God's mad at man in God's mad at man sin and so God decides to judge the Earth, God's going to bring a flood. He's going to destroy mankind, but Because Noah found Grace in the eyes of the Lord. God gave Noah instructions and he says, I want you to build an ark. He gives him the exact dimensions and exact dimensions, of that Arc isn't just so that Noah can get a certain amount of animals on that heart, I believe. God made that aren't the exact dimensions. That anybody that wanted to that were living at that time could get on that arm. You see, God allowed Noah to preach for hundreds of years to warn people that judgment was coming, that a flood was coming, that God was going to judge the Earth. He gave man a chance. Noah, preached, Noah warned, Noah built the ark was a type of Christ.

but man, refused

so, the floods came and the Bible says that Noah didn't close the door that are God closed, the door that Ark

and as those floods begin to rise everyone on Earth, at that time was killed. Was destroyed. Now that whole Narrative of the flood brings us to this question. How could a God who destroys man? Because of their sin? Be the same God, who dies. Four-man Anderson.

That is what people at your job, or going to ask you. How can you say that? Oh, Jesus loves me. How could you say all that? Now, you say that? That God the Father God, the son. God, the Holy Spirit are all one. Yeah, what this God in Genesis killed, every man on Earth. He wiped them all out with a flood because they were Sinners. And then you tell me that that same God came to Earth and died on the cross because man is a sinner.

What do you see? We have a problem here because God Is Only God is just and it is the wrath of God because God is just a God is Holy that has to be satisfied. but may I remind you that the Bible teaches that God is also love So how can the justice of God and the love of God coexist? Because the justice of God has to destroy sin, but the love of God, love sinners.

It's called Grace. In the Bible says that Noah found Grace and that Arc was a picture of Grace, that Arc was a picture of Jesus that wants to come the Messiah. He is a picture of Grace because God's justice is wrath and God's love can only be rectified. It can only coexist in Jesus Christ because in Jesus Christ, God's Wrath is a beast but God's love is displayed.

so, when Noah found Grace, That aren't represented forgiveness. Absence.

Anyone could have gotten on that Ark. But they refused.

Let's go down Earth, rise up. Noah was in the ark like you and I are in Christ. and there's no one gets off that are keep bills that alter a sign of the grace. But he had received. may, I remind you today, one of the reason you and I spend time in an altar,

it's because we've been forgiven of our sense. It's because we've been given something we didn't deserve, it's called Grace.

Number two. I don't want you to get this in and let me use a will preacher. I don't fully understand this. Well before I give you a number to, let me give you this verse, cuz you might have questions. Ephesians, chapter 1 verse 6.

To the praise of the glory of his grace. Where and he hath made us accepted in the Beloved in whom we have Redemption through his blood, the Forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of what is Grace. When Noah found Grace, he found forgiveness of sins. Number two.

This altar represented not just forgiveness of sins but a fresh start. A fresh start.

Simple Man have been wiped off the Earth. Noah and his family had been saved and they get off this Ark all animals, all these all files and have been wiped off the Earth. Every living thing had been killed. The entire Topography of Earth had changed land had changed Maps. Had changed. Everything had changed.

Because of the ark. Noah, and his family had been spared. They found Grace. and if they get off this Ark, Noah build stair and alter. Any sacrifices unto the Lord? This represented a fresh start. After a horrible tragedy. This was a fresh start. After man's Rebellion against God. This was a fresh start after man's rejection. Of God's salvation.

God, provided an R. God, warned the people. They had rejected God's judgment came up on man, but Noah found God's grace and Noah found God's grace. Look at me, he didn't just fine. Forgiveness, send Noah, found a fresh start.

The horse. Got a fresh start. Why? Because of God's grace?

Noah gets out there. The earth looks different, everything's different everything. Starting new, everything starting over old, things are passed away.

Behold, all things are become new. You know what this all to represents in your life when you found Jesus Christ, when you got on the ark, when you found salvation, you didn't just find forgiveness of sins. You were given a fresh start.

Tell me about old life it looks different. Now, Old church was apart of the back then. That didn't look good to you back then but you've been given a fresh start. Everything else has been wiped out now. It's different. The topography has changed. Is anybody hearing what I'm saying today?

Anybody else glad for the fresh start? You got when you were saved.

I mean, God help us if we're that ungrateful as God's children. Let me tell you something that first call to represented a fresh start. Man rejected man was judged but God provided an arc, he provided Grace. And in his judgment, he gave a fresh start.

I don't know about you, but I want you to know something today. Do you know any time of the day? You can go to an altar. you know, in fact this whole series is going to end up in the book of Hebrews and I preached on it before 8 to give you a little tidbit of head but we're going to Because in the book of Hebrews, one of the greatest books on Doctrine in the book of Hebrews. The Bible says we have an altar, And guess who it is? Jesus Christ.

You see, we don't have to build an altar, we don't have to put animals on it anymore, we have in them.

That means any time you can go to Jesus. And get a fresh start.

So, you sitting here at church today. You can't, you can't seem to look ahead because you're so burdened and bog down by what you've done.

You're so disappointed by how you failed and how the same stuff in the same jump keeps keeps getting you and Kenny you and getting you may, I remind you the grace of God gives you a fresh start. And Jesus can give you a fresh start anytime you want.

Number three. This first alter, not just represented forgiveness of sin. It didn't just represent a fresh start. The number three. This first alter represented a first step of first step. Now, that I've been given a fresh start. Now, that this is all starting all over. What's the first thing we're going to do when we get off this Ark? What is the first priority? What's the first thing that we're going to do? Look at 4:18? The Bible says and Noah went forth. Little bit later, it says out of the Ark. First 20, and Noah, build an altar unto the Lord. The first thing, The first step. No one decides he's going to worship God. The first priority, I'm going to thank God. I'm going to obey, God. I'm going to worship God. I'm going to praise God. I'm going to acknowledge God.

Listen to Mean, Noah has now gone into a desolate isolated world. One might think that is First Step would have been to build a house for himself.

Somebody might think that the first step would be to create some kind of shelter. Somebody might think that the first step would be hate where we going to set up shop.

But he begins first. With an altar. T'god.

Matthew Henry said this. He begins well that begins with God.

He begins. Well. That begins with God, can I ask you something? What's your first step? What's your first reaction? What's your first priority? What do you do first in the daytime? What do you do first when problems? Come? What do you do first when burdens hit your life? What is, what is the, what is the first reaction in your life? Now? what I find, interesting is the newest stock of catalyst, small and Although that he had been on that orocan, although he had all kinds of questions and although he didn't know what the future held. He decided that his first step. What's going to be toward God? The first thing done in the new world was an act of worship.

We got me this Earth, that you and I are standing on right now this Earth the way it looks. And it looks basically the same besides buildings on it and all that. Topography, and although it looks exactly like it looked from the moment we're reading right now and Noah come up. And the first thing done on this Earth was an act of worship.

Can I tell you what the last thing that's going to be done on this Earth, it's going to be it's going to be an act of worship.

After our King rules and Reigns on this Earth for a thousand years.

Look at me, I want you to get this. Please, you say, preacher. What do you mean this first step? When he built an altar? Their notice number one, it was an act of worship. It was thanking God for keeping him safe. It was worshiping God for the prettiest creation. It was worshiping God because he has kept his promise number to. It was gratitude. It was not just an act of worship. It was an act of gratitude. Thank you for what you provided. Thank you for the arc. Thank you for keeping your promise. Thank you for keeping us safe. Listen the art didn't have a writer. The Ogden have a steering wheel. God guided that Arc. It was granted to notice third. This was this was an act of offering. The Bible says, he literally went and he got offering. He got animals and fell and he offered sacrifice, he offered something. Can I ask you something? What is our first reaction? Do we offer something to God? Or is our first reaction demanding? Something from God.

Is our first reaction. We have problems. God, why haven't you fix this?

Why isn't our first reaction when we have problems gone? What can I do for you? Oh my goodness, that makes no sense. Does it? We are so entitled.

You know what? Most of us would have been I've been on this Ark. I'm all these days. Them stinky animals. But wife has it shut her mouth once. I've been with my stinking brother-in-law. All these months.

Going to do something for me.

Know what was Noah's? First reaction. I'm going to do something for God. Worship. Gratitude offering notice sacrifice. He made a sacrifice. Notice last it was an act of obedience.

You seem Exodus chapter 10 verse 25. Later on down the lineage tree. And Moses said, thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord. You see Noah was obey.

You know, the Bible tells us in Romans 12. I beseech you. Therefore Brothers by the mercies of God.

That you present your bodies. A Living Sacrifice. Holy acceptable, unto God, which is your reasonable service. This is this, this should be obedience.

This should be what we do.

I want you to notice the number for, Not just at this all to represent. Forgiveness of sin. Not just a fresh start. Not just the first step. The number for this altar represented a faith, sacrifice of Faith, sacrifice. Now, this is big and I want you to get it. We're not far from being done. Because you would have first 20. The Bible says a 20 and Noah building an altar into the Lord.

and took of every, Queen Beast. And a very clean file, which tells us that God sees some animals as clean and some as unclean.

Notice and offered burnt offerings on the altar. No, it did not just take one or two animals and make a sacrifice. Noah literally took of every clean Beast notice and of every clean, how you say, why is that a faith sacrifice? Noah has the future to look at? Noah has to consider. How are we going to exist? How are we going to? How are we going to eat? There is no fruit. There is no vegetables and there's no trees. There's no anything. God has wiped everything off this Earth. What is on batard? That is the only representation of how we can live. Are you with me? Say, Amen.

So, he takes one of every clean animal, and he takes one of every clean bird. This was a costly offering from Noah to God. One because he only had seven of each animal on the ark. And not only that, Noah risk extinction by sacrificing these animals because not all seven of each of these animals was going to live. And he didn't know if they were going to live how they would survive and then he takes of the clean animals, which is what they would have eaten. Any sacrifices them to God. You see one of the reasons, God love this sacrifice so much. It's because Noah didn't give the leftovers. Noah gave the best.

Noah stepped out by faith. Noah didn't give what was comfortable. Noah gave what hurt?

Noah gave, what was risky?

Noah gave the best by Noah, sacrificing the best he was saying God, we are depending on you. Poor survive. You know what? I thought of when I saw this, I thought all the way of the second, Samuel 24, Where David said that he would never offer God something that cost him nothing. You know, God loves when you and I sacrifice something that cost us something.

Why preacher? Cuz God wants God wants to God wants us to lose a lot. God loves when you and I give him something, when we get him, something that cost 2 something. Because he gave us Jesus. And Jesus gave us everything.

So when you and I offered Jesus, something that cost of something, it reminds him of his son. This sacrifice this sacrifice reminded him. Of his son that would give himself in the future. Which brings us to the last point about the last, but the main one number five, this alter represented a fragrance smell.

A fragrance smell. Believer, 21. And the Lord smelled. A sweet savour.

God loved that sacrifice.

He loved it. You see, you think you preacher? You think it was the physical smell of it. No. I don't maybe I don't know. You ever been to a good barbecue

Sounds good to me.

What God loved. Was the heart behind it.

May I ask you something today? I wonder if you and I have been it have been sacrificing anything. On our altars that God enjoys.

have we offered anything lately that God Has enjoyed smelling.

Has anything we've done lately? Smell good to God. Has it cost us anything.

That we exercised. Any faith at all? Or are we just living in the comfort zone? You know, Alters aren't just about going through Our obligation altars, are about worship. Altars are about sacrifice. Officer about gratitude.

Noah sacrificed all those animals. And by killing the very thing that no one needed to survive. No, I was saying God, I believe that you will help us survive. We're not depending on these animals. We're depending on you and God, love that sexy.

Can I read you another verse? Ephesians 5:2. Look at this verse. And walk in love as Christ, also, hath loved us. And have given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling. Savor.

You know, I got enjoy the smell. About sacrifice.

Spell, like it's time. Smell like Jesus. spell like the sacrifice, his son was going to give for you and for me,

can I read you another verse? Philippians 4:18. Look at this first. Paul says, but I have all in a bound, I am a fool having received a password that has two things, which were sent from you. He said, you've been a blessing. You you've given sacrificially to me? An odor of a sweet smell. Sacrifice acceptable. Well pleasing. To God. No officer sacrifice.

. Smells it? Smells like my son. Jesus gives himself on the cross.

How it smells it? That's my son. and now when you and I sacrificially, give of ourselves God Smells like my son.

It's not about us. It's not about us getting the glory. It's about Jesus getting the glory.

That's what Alters are all about. Alters. Or about what goes up, remind God of Jesus.

That's the whole point of altars. Whatever is sacrificed the smell should remind God. Jesus.

as we close just so that I can give you the whole Passage Number 6, this altar represented a final settlement.

Because God, and smelled a sweet savour. 421. And the Lord said in his heart, I will not again. Curse the ground anymore for mansea for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. That's where we get it. That, you know what? You can sit here and say, Juniors, perfect if you want to, but he's not

You sit here and say you're a great, grandkids are perfect. If you want to, well, maybe they are, but

It's not going to say anything. I don't have it yet because I don't want to be hypocritical as when I have them on my think that they are but I see your grandkids and they aren't

What you doing God's promised not to destroy the Earth by flood again? He did not promise that because he expected people to improve. He knew people would be as simple as ever. If God always dealt with people, that way he would be flooding this Earth constant. He promised not to flood the Earth again because he knew people wouldn't improve. He knew they would get worse.

So he made us settle. I judge with water, but I provided in Ark. So, I'm not going to judge with water again. We know from God's word. Next time he touches will be by fire and he's provided a Seder.

So he made a settlement. Set from now on. But did he say while the Earth from anus? Don't you like the goblin or something? It was horrible.

God gives us a little hint that the Earth isn't always going to remain. but while it does, what did he say?

Seedtime and harvest. Call Danny. Summer and winter. Day and night. And he has kept his promise. And you always will. The first altar. Forgiveness of sin. A fresh start. First step. Face. Sacrifice. What is your first step?

You and I need to learn our first step in life. How to be worshipped Fort Scott. The first thing we do, The priority of our life.

Should be him.

You and I need to quit giving sacrifices that don't cost us anything. We need to quit phone 50 cents in the offering plate.

I say lovingly goddamn need your 50 Cent. If it don't cost you nothing and that's all God means to you, he can do it without you.

You want God to smell Jesus and you that's what this offer is about.

What's this all about? Florida, love you today.

Lord, I want my life to be a fragrance smell.

Or I'm afraid. Sometimes all you smell is US instead of Jesus.

And it stinks.

Or maybe understand that our life.

Should represent Christ.

you giving us forgiveness, if said you've given us a fresh start,

Florida, first step. How to be to worship you and praise you. And

Sacrifice to you and make an offering to you and praise, you glorify you.

Our heads about her eyes are closed. When I ask you to stand all over the building.

The altar is open.

Feel free to use it.

The first vault. What a traumatic time. Those months must have been in that art.

After hearing all those people screaming dying being killed. Drowning in that flood.

How grateful? They must have been through the dark.