The Uncut (Unhewn) Stone. Don't Cut The Stone

Exodus 20:22–25 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”

Introduction- Cultural Background

The people of God had just experienced a might deliverance from the gruesome grip of slavery and oppression in Egypt.

and God is now giving him his requirements for sacrifice and worship.

Right here in Chapter 20 of the book of Exodus, about 1300 BC , under Moses, God establishes them as a nation.

God is now giving Moses his requirements for sacrifice and worship. Right after He gives him the 10 commandments. He then gives them instructions on how to build his Altar.

The Purpose of the Altar

The altar would become Israels central place of worship.

The altar would be a constant reminder of the delivering nature of God who was faithful to His people

A place of atonement and ultimately a place of the sinners redemption

The Altar would be a place where the people of God would encounter God’s Glory

Where God would meet with his people and bless them.

And Listen to what God says about the consturction of such an altar

He tells them, his expectation-

When you build God’s altar, dont make it ornate or artistic

But rather make it very simple, our of uncarved, uncut, unpolished stone

Any stone used to build the altar must remain in its purest, original form.

No hewn stone—“no works,” no trace of human tool or skill must be on it

“If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou has polluted it.

The Tension in The Text

And the question that comes to mind is: Why would God require us to build His altar with uncut stones? When the children of Israel had skilled individuals with wisdom and ingenuity to shape the altar into a design that was more aesthetically pleasing to the eyes of the beholder.

And it is here that we begin to identify the tension in the text:

God know that - We are often times tempted to use the tools of our Human wisdom to cut the stones of God’s altar to suit our preferred design.

We are often times guilty of trying to improve on God’s laws and wisdom.

And we end up messing up what God has blessed.

Charles Spurgeon said:

We are always tempted to trim and arrange the doctrine of the cross into a system more artificial and more acceptable with our fallen nature. And instead of improving the gospel, carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all.

God was trying to protect Israel

Israel was getting ready to enter into the land of Canaan where they would receive their inheritance. But in the land of their inheritance they would become exposed to other altars or worship.

The altars of Canaan which were full of Ornamental, altars that were designed and fashioned by man’s hands. Altars that anybody would be proud to stand and admire its beauty.

God did not want his people to copy and recreate the Altars of Canaan. His Atar was to be different and made according to God’s specification.

Application 1

We must fight the tendency to taper the stone of God’s law to fit the parameters of our lifestyle and preferences. The doctrine of the word are to be Unhewn Stones.

Any alterations and amendments of the Word are defilements and pollutions.

The Doctrine of the word of God which should never be cut to fit our lifestyle preferences

We can never improve upon the perfection of God’s word with our man made tools.

Observations- Tension in the text -

Good engineering sense will tell you, It is harder to build an altar with uncut stone. It would be much eaiser to build the altar with cut stones or cylinder blocks.

The altar would be more astetically pleasing to the eye if we were able to just do a little tweaking with some tool work.

How do we avoid worshippers getting cut or injured by sharp edges from the altar. Who pays the medical bill?

Everyone in Canaan has the upgraded, new and improved ornamental altar. We are the only ones left with an archaic old fashion, old school.

The altar had to be of earth, teaching us the lessons of humility, simplicity and self-abasement. Teaching us that we should not adjust the altar to fit our lifestyle, but rather allow our lives be Altered at the Altar.

Application- Seeker Friendly Church

With new popular trends of the emergent church we are temped to tweak the gospel to be more palatable and acceptable to the seeker.

Living in the age of information and advanced technology we must fight the urge to cut the stone of the word of God to fit a more convenient lifestyle.

Political correctness (PC) is defined as “a term that describes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, religious belief, disability, and age-related contexts.” The key word here is offense. No individual or group is to be offended in the PC world. Certainly, as Christians, we are not to go out of our way to offend anyone personally,

but the truth is that Christianity itself is offensive.

Every now and again you will be cut by the sharp edges of the word of God. The apostle Paul references the “offense of the cross” in Galatians 5:11.

Galatians 5:11 “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.” That message is as offensive today as it was in Jesus’ day. No one likes to be told there is nothing he can do to earn his place in heaven. Equally offensive is the necessity of dying to self in order to follow Christ. Of all the religions of the world today, Christianity is the only one where its founder tells you to follow Him and die. "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me'" (Matthew 16:24). Those who heard this message knew exactly what Jesus meant; to follow Him was to die to self and give up everything they ever held dear. That’s why everyone ran away when He was arrested; they weren’t prepared to die with Him. ,

We are tempted to adjust our message to become more seeker friendly and politically correct.

architecturally asticially pleasing to the eye of the viewer.

Application

We need to put away our our tools, God wants us to fall upon our knees in humble submission to His plan and design of Worship!

He is the architect and designer of true Worship!

It is our duty to follow the specifications of His word!

We are tempted to find better more convenient ways of doing church, But….

Isn’t there a more politically correct way?

Proposition Statement:

Our text tonight is blueprint which provides the material specification which is crucial for building God’s church. The reasons for building the atlar with UNCUT STONE is because:

God wants our Focus to be on the Sacrifice,

Our Foundation to be Secure

And our Altar to be Functionally Sound

Our Focus Will Be on The Sacrifice (Focus on Jesus)

(Focus on Jesus) Tension Altar is antiquated and unpolished. (Christ Rejected)

Exodus 20:25

And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

The altar was not to be ornate or artistic. But in its purest from. Very simple, made of dirt or uncut, unpolished stone.

Why? So that the focus would be not on the altar but on the sacrifice.

God is more concerned about the quality of your sacrifice. Than the beauty of the Altar

If thou wilt make me an altar of stone … not … of hewn stone.

The reason was, that in the polish of a human chisel the emblematic idea suggested by the earth would be entirely lost, while inventions in decorative art would pre-occupy the minds of the worshippers.

Idolatry

Because the moment we start to beautify the altar with juman effort is the moment we shift the focus off the God we worship to the artist. That is idolatry! We have shifted the focus to artists.

Mt Carmel illustration

Choos ye this day whom you will serve. if God be God then Serve Him. If Baal be God then Serve Him.

The danger of carving the Altar is that we We begin to worship the Altar- Preoccupied with the beauty of the altar, Idol worship, Altar Worship.

Lest in following the prevalent styles of architecture, they should be led to carve the altar with figures and ornaments which might lead to superstition; and if once familiarized with such artificial fabrics, they might, on their settlement, appropriate to the worship of God altars that had been besmeared with victims offered to Canaanite idols.

The Focus must be on the Sacrifice

The sacrifice speaks of Jesus, the Lamb of God

He is the chiIf cornerstone

The sacrifice was bloody but it Saves Souls ( People no longer want to preach about the blood of Jesus)

Isaiah 53 “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he opened not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:8–12 “He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”

Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. When Jesus was crucified, the cross was rugged, bloody.

I know the gospel is bloody, but we don’t need to compensate a bloody cross.

Lets not try to shift the focus from a bloody sacrifice by carving beautiful A;tars.

I know it was the blood!

Aaron and the Golden Calf

avoiding idolatry- Golden Calf - Impatient and wanting to be like other peoples

God desires sacrifice of obedience

God desires sacrifices of a broken and a contrite Heart.

If you are going to chisel anything, don’t chisel the stone, chisel your will.

Let the sharp edges of the altar cut away the hardness of our rebellious Heart.

Romans 12:1–2 “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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

there is always a temptation to beautify the exernal at the expense of the beauty of inside

when they got to the promised land, they would discove that the Cananites had polished beautified altars for their gods

when they go up dont make steps lest the priest be exposed and the people be distracted (they didnt have levi’s boxers) God wnated the focus to be on him. (too many of us want to take the focus away from God.

Prayer meetings are too acaic, we would rather concerts. fasting is too arcaic we would rather banquets.

Great but not at the expense of the purity of the sacrifice.

God does not accept the altar he consumes the sacrifice.

God is not concerened with the beauty of the altar but the purity of the sacrifice.

God is more concerned about the quality of your sacrifice. Than the beauty of the Altar

Lift hm up - Let the Focus be on Jesus

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Our Foundation Will Be Secure (The more you cut it, the weaker it becomes) Sampson

The unhewn stone would become the Foundation of the Saints

Matthew 16:15–18 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus chief cornerstone

Isaiah 28:16 (KJV 1900)

Therefore thus saith the Lord God,

Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone,

A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation:

He that believeth shall not make haste.

Paul under inspiration writes that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and the New Testament prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Cornerstone.

Matthew 16:16–18 KJV 1900

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The Apostolic church has been given stones to build an altar of sacrifice and salvation and power. is not built on Peter but on the revelation of the mighty God in Christ Jesus.

Acts 5:40–42 (KJV 1900)

, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

They preached Jesus! Because only He is the chief Cornerstone

They didn’t compromise Doctrine

Galatians 1:8–9 KJV 1900

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Problem

•Men all over the world are building churches and creating businesses and industries, chasing after wealth, constructing houses, and so on.

•And They are building, building, building,

•- but the reason why - their lives are falling apart—

•- their relationships are falling apart, •-their family lives are Breaking apart,

•- their children are hooked on drugs, and they themselves are drug addicts, alcoholics and workaholics.

•Is because the chief corner stone is missing in their lives. Hence all other facets of their life can not hold together. Therefore they don’t have the sense of what life is really.

When a school, a church, or another building is dedicated, Notice that they often put a little plaque on the bottom corner of the building. That’s only a ceremonial cornerstone - It’s not a real cornerstone but that practice comes from the placing of an actual cornerstone. And Whose name goes on that ceremonial cornerstone? Many times, if you notice carefully, it is the builder’s name. It doesn’t matter how important, talented, or rich you think you are. Whatever you are building have got to have a cornerstone and the question is; Who’s holding up the life you are trying to build for yourself? Whose name is on your cornerstone? Is it’s Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius,Harrikrishna, materialism—

• whatever it is—if it is not Jesus Christ, I can tell you how the future of your building will look because it’s just a matter of time and It will ultimately come crumbling down in your face- • But the Scripture assures us in

Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” Jesus is God. Colossians 1:15–23 .

He is “the image of the invisible God” and “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15).

“For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).

This means that Jesus is not created He is the Creator. He is God.

“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:17–18).

Jesus has authority—over creation, over the Church, over death, and finally “in everything.” Christ is both before all things and encompasses all things (“in Him all things hold together”). Therefore, Christ is supreme.

But Men for millennia have rejected the Cornerstone

John 1:1,14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

He came to his own and his own received him not!

Psalm 118:22 (KJV 1900)

The stone which the builders refused

Is become the head stone of the corner.

Song: My hope

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sand

11am When darkness veils His lovely face I'll rest on His unchanging grace In every high and stormy day My anchor holds within the veil

His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood When all around my soul gives way He then is all my hope and stay

When He shall come with trumpet sound Oh, may I then in Him be found Dressed in His righteousness alone Faultless to stand before the throne

ON CHRIST!!!

And they Continued steadfastly in the Apostles Doctrine, in fellowship and breaking of bread.

It is crucial that we don’t compromise the foundation stone of Apostles Doctrine. Lest it become profane and ineffective.

We must Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.

Galatians 1:6-10 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

In a world where there are no longer absolutes. I boldly rise to declare the scriptures, that there is only one Gospel.

Pauls says I am Astonished - amazed, shocked that you have Abandoned from Him that called you into the grace of Christ and so quickly

It is Christ who has called you

Him who called you is, of course, God, not Paul. The Galatians have not simply abandoned a theological position; they have abandoned a personal, loving God, who has manifested that love by calling them in the grace of Christ.

By Grace

Some ancient witnesses to the text read only ‘him who called you by grace’ (so neb); this makes no real difference to the sense. Others read ‘from Christ who called you by grace’.

‘I am astounded that you are so quickly turning away from the one who called you by Christ’s grace—to a different gospel. Not that there really are two sorts of gospel; it is only that there are certain parties who are throwing you into confusion, actually aiming at the distortion of the gospel of the Messiah. But even if it were I myself, or a very messenger direct from heaven, who should bring a gospel to you other than the one that I actually preached to you, you must turn in horror from him, as being one under God’s curse. As I have already told you, so now I repeat: if anyone is preaching a gospel different from that which you received, let him be under God’s curse.’

Paul is playing the role of a loving parent of the Gospel. We see loving, caring tone in …

Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,”

I am concerned about your maturity in Christ. I am committed to your growth and development.

Galatians 1:7 “Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” How?

Def: change, alter, distort. WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO CUT THE STONE OF THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE

Who were these perverters of the Gospel? The Judiazers

Why?

The Gospel they preached is not another Gospel, there can be no other Gospel (Good news) Paul is referring to a distorted Alterd version of the Gospel.

Brining confusion to the minds of the converts.

Here Paul is questioning not their sincerity but their theology: sincerity in itself is not enough, and indeed, if misdirected, may do more damage, as here.

The Distorted Gospel/Confused, troubled mind.

#1 Pay not attention to the outward qualifications of the messenger

Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Ornamental Altars

8. Paul’s answer to this challenge is direct. The Galatians must learn to pay no attention to the outward qualifications of the messenger.

No doubt they had been overawed by these august figures from the ‘mother church’ in Jerusalem, who apparently claimed apostolic authority for their message.

Theough “we” they must not even receive Paul himself if he should return preaching a gospel like this.

Paul, the test of ‘apostolic ministry’ is to be found in its fruits.

Even if an angel from heaven were to preach any gospel to them other than that which they had already received, Paul’s prayer is that such a messenger should be anathema, which conveys the same idea as the Hebrew ḥērem, that of being ‘under the curse’, ‘under the wrath of God’.

Men Pleasers

Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:”

*He repeats the statement for emphasis

#2 Remember you Received it- You experienced it

9. Perhaps Paul fears that the Galatians do not yet understand the seriousness of the matter, so he reiterates it. As we have said before, so now I say again.

The phrase ho parelabete, which you received, is interesting. In one sense, Paul’s own experience represents a decisive break with religious tradition, as seen in its Jewish form.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”

The Unperverted Gospel -

Luke 24:46-49 “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Acts 2:37-39 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

1 Jesus Died- Repentance (Power to erase your mistakes)

1 Corinthians 15:1-3 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

Romans 6:2 “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

2 Jesus Was Buried- Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (Power to remove the effect and guilt)

1 Corinthians 15:4 “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Romans 6:3-4 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

3 Jesus Resurrection- The Gift of the Holy Ghost (Power to make new and empower)

1 Corinthians 15:4 “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (revive or make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

#1 It is because of this undistorted Gospel that I am CALLED

#2 It is because of this unaltered Gosepl that I was converted CONVERTS US

#3 It is because of this unaltered Gospel that there was CONFERRED upon me apostolic Power and Authority (granted upon me honor)

Same Gospel Today !!! It is Available

Book of Acts- Blueprint for the Apostolic Church

Functionally Sound (Holiness and Authority) Let the Fire Fall!!!

Exodus 20:25 “And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”

The Altar is defiled, You make it unacceptable to me

The Consequence of cutting the stone is Pollution. Polluted altars malfunction. The altar becomes unacceptable. You defile it, You profane (relating to that which is not sacred, secular rather than religious). it. ineffective

The opposite is true, if we refrain from cutting the stone. The purer the stone, the purer the worship. The more effective the experience.

Naaman the Leper- What I’m going home with is more valuable than what I brought with me to Israel

People are Building Beautiful Altars to substitute for a lack of the Glory

We build beautiful altars in an attempt to substitute for the lack of the glory. If we don’t have it, lets recreate it. Take the focus away from the lack of the glory. (God wants suitable sacrifices of obedience

Generally speaking, the farther a people stray away from a real relationship with God, the greater the tendency will be toward grandeur and glory in altar-building. When the Spirit of God is not moving, the artisans and architects try to figure out how to create a feeling to mask the lack.

When holiness is compromised, Apostolic demonstration is weakened.

When they disobyed God, they lost the battle.

Tired of water down church. We don’t want a knock off version of pentecost. We need a move of God!

The Fire will Fall upon a functional Altar. An Altar with Uncut stones.

Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set.

These signs shall follow them that believe

Pastor. Thank you for not cutting the stone while building the altar!

Conclusion- Here is what God promises to do when you build the altar with uncut stones>>

In conclusion, there are three things that the Lord promises to do in an uncompromised place of worship.

Exodus 20:24 “An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.”

When we build the altar according the God’s specifications: And I believe God wants to do this tonight in this service:

Divine Authority

text says God will Record his name there- In other words, God’s Signature of Approval will be known by the manifestation of the characteristis of His name- there will be eveidence of Divine Authority, that comes from the name of Jesus- Healing, deliverance, Breakthrough, for His name sake.

Divine Visitations

The Lord will come unto us- In other words w We will experience a Divine Visitation of the Holy Spirit (intimacy, direction, fellowship) Thy Kingdom Come. When the sacrifice is right, The Fire will Fall.

Divine Favor

I will Bless thee - Divine Favor, whatever you need - Tonight there is a release in the atmosphere. Tonight is a night of jubilee.