RAISING AN ALTAR

Absolutely. I have used the uploaded teaching as the primary foundation, preserving its central emphasis on the altar, covenant, sacrifice, consistency, faith, divine appointments, and the supervising work of the Holy Spirit, while shaping it into a coherent sermon that can be preached in a church setting.

Becoming a People Who Carry the Presence of God

Primary Text

Psalm 50:5

“Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

Supporting Scriptures

Genesis 8:20–22

Genesis 12:7–8

Genesis 13:3–4

Genesis 26:25

Genesis 28:16–22

Genesis 31:13

Exodus 29:38–42

1 Kings 18:30–39

Hebrews 11:6

Luke 24:45–49

Romans 12:1–2

Hebrews 13:15–16

1 Peter 2:5

INTRODUCTION

There are moments when God wants to change a person, a family, a church, a city, or even a generation.

And when God wants to make a serious intervention, He looks for people who have built an altar.

An altar is not merely a physical structure. In Scripture, an altar represents a place of encounter, covenant, sacrifice, worship, prayer and divine government.

The altar is where a person says:

“God, I am not merely interested in what You can give me. I am interested in knowing You, obeying You and becoming available to You.”

Psalm 50:5 says:

“Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

Notice that God did not simply say, “Gather everybody.”

He identified a particular people:

Those who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice.

This means that there is a dimension of God's dealings that requires intentional consecration.

The question therefore is not:

“Do I believe in God?”

The deeper question is:

“Have I built an altar unto God?”

1. WHAT IS AN ALTAR?

An altar is a meeting place between God and man.

Throughout Scripture, whenever God did something significant in the life of a person, that person often responded by building an altar.

Noah

After the flood, Noah built an altar.

Genesis 8:20

“And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD…”

The first major thing Noah did after leaving the ark was not build a house.

He built an altar.

Why?

Because Noah understood that the preservation of his life was connected to the God who preserved him.

Abraham

When God appeared to Abraham, Abraham built an altar.

Genesis 12:7

“And there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”

Again in Genesis 12:8, Abraham built another altar.

Abraham's journey was marked by altars.

Every significant movement with God produced another altar.

Jacob

Jacob encountered God at Bethel and responded by establishing a covenant.

Genesis 28:18–22

He took the stone upon which he had slept and made it a pillar.

The place of encounter became a place of covenant.

2. THE ALTAR IS A PLACE OF COVENANT

Psalm 50:5 connects two words:

Covenant + Sacrifice.

“Those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

An altar without commitment becomes a religious symbol.

But an altar built through covenant becomes a declaration of belonging.

When you establish an altar, you are saying:

“God, I belong to You.”

“My time belongs to You.”

“My body belongs to You.”

“My resources belong to You.”

“My gifts belong to You.”

“My future belongs to You.”

“My family belongs to You.”

Romans 12:1 says:

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The New Testament altar is no longer primarily about placing an animal upon a physical structure.

We become the living sacrifice.

3. THE FIRST ALTAR MUST BE AN ALTAR OF FAITH

Hebrews 11:6 says:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him…”

You cannot build an effective altar to God without faith.

Why?

Because God is invisible.

You cannot relate to Him merely through your physical senses.

You must believe:

That He is.

That He can be known.

That He responds to those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 continues:

“…he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

This is critical.

God responds to diligent seekers.

Not casual seekers.

Not occasional seekers.

Not emergency seekers.

Diligent seekers.

The altar begins when a person makes a decision:

“I will seek God deliberately.”

4. THE ALTAR REQUIRES SACRIFICE

Sacrifice means that something valuable is surrendered because something greater is being pursued.

David understood this principle.

When Araunah offered him the threshing floor freely, David refused.

2 Samuel 24:24

“Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.”

David understood something powerful:

An altar that costs nothing often means nothing.

Sacrifice may involve:

Time

Prayer

Fasting

Worship

Giving

Obedience

Consecration

Service

Discipline

Separation from distractions

But we must be careful:

Our sacrifice does not purchase salvation.

Christ has already paid the ultimate price for our redemption.

Our sacrifice is not an attempt to buy God's love.

Rather, our sacrifice is a response to the love He has already shown us.

5. YOUR ALTAR MUST HAVE A CONSISTENT PATTERN

One of the greatest enemies of an altar is inconsistency.

Many people start well.

They pray for three days.

They fast for seven days.

They become excited for two weeks.

Then the altar goes cold.

But Scripture teaches us that the fire on the altar was not supposed to go out.

Leviticus 6:13

“The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.”

The principle is powerful:

Your altar must have continuity.

You need a pattern.

Perhaps your altar involves:

Morning prayer

Evening prayer

Daily Scripture meditation

Weekly fasting

Regular worship

Consistent giving

Periodic retreat

Personal consecration

The specific pattern may differ from person to person.

But the principle remains:

Build a sustainable altar.

Don't build an altar based solely on emotion.

Build an altar based on conviction.

6. THE ALTAR IS WHERE YOU DEVELOP SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE

When you consistently meet with God, you begin to learn His ways.

You begin to recognise His voice.

You begin to discern His instructions.

You begin to understand His priorities.

You begin to distinguish between your own desires and divine direction.

Jesus said:

John 10:27

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

An altar is therefore not merely a place where you talk to God.

It is a place where God talks to you.

Prayer is not a monologue.

Prayer is relationship.

Prayer is communion.

Prayer is alignment.

Prayer is where heaven's priorities begin to shape earthly decisions.

7. THE ALTAR REQUIRES TARRYING

Jesus gave His disciples an instruction in Luke 24:49:

“Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

The word tarry carries the idea of remaining, waiting and continuing.

Some encounters with God require persistence.

You cannot always determine when God will answer.

You cannot always determine when the breakthrough will come.

You cannot manufacture an encounter.

But you can prepare an altar.

You can remain available.

You can continue seeking.

You can continue praying.

You can continue worshipping.

You can continue obeying.

Sometimes the greatest test of your altar is not how passionately you start.

It is how long you are willing to remain.

8. GOD RECOGNISES CONSISTENCY

There is a difference between an event and a lifestyle.

An event may produce excitement.

A lifestyle produces transformation.

God is looking for people who can say:

“Whether I feel something or not, I will still pray.”

“Whether the answer has come or not, I will still worship.”

“Whether people recognise me or not, I will still obey.”

“Whether the heavens appear silent or not, I will still seek Him.”

That is altar mentality.

The altar says:

“God, I am here because You are worthy—not merely because I need something from You.”

9. THE ALTAR CAN BECOME A PLACE OF DIVINE DIRECTION

Genesis 31:13 records God's word to Jacob:

“I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me…”

God reminded Jacob of the place where he had established an altar.

Then God gave him instruction:

“Arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.”

This teaches us something profound:

An altar can become a place of divine instruction.

God doesn't merely want to meet you.

He wants to direct you.

There are decisions that human intelligence cannot settle.

There are doors that look right but are wrong.

There are opportunities that appear attractive but are outside divine timing.

There are relationships that seem beneficial but can damage destiny.

You need divine direction.

And a consistent altar creates a life that is increasingly sensitive to the voice of God.

10. THE ALTAR ESTABLISHES DIVINE CULTURE IN YOUR LIFE

Every environment has a culture.

Culture is created through repeated values, practices and behaviours.

If you want to change the culture of your:

Home

Marriage

Family

Church

Business

Community

Generation

you must establish a kingdom culture.

Joshua said:

Joshua 24:15

“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua was establishing an altar of family allegiance.

Your home should have a spiritual atmosphere.

Your children should know that:

“In this house, we pray.”

“In this house, we worship.”

“In this house, we honour God.”

“In this house, Scripture is respected.”

“In this house, we forgive.”

“In this house, we serve.”

That is how spiritual culture is transmitted from one generation to another.

11. THE ALTAR CAN CHANGE TERRITORIES

One of the most powerful biblical pictures of altar and territory is Elijah on Mount Carmel.

Israel had been influenced by false worship.

Then Elijah repaired the broken altar of the Lord.

1 Kings 18:30

“And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.”

Notice the order:

Repair the altar.

Then:

Call upon God.

Then:

God answers by fire.

The altar was connected to the confrontation of competing spiritual influence.

This gives us a principle:

If you want to see transformation around you, begin with the altar within you.

Before you complain about the darkness in society, build an altar.

Before you complain about the spiritual condition of your family, build an altar.

Before you complain about your church, build an altar.

Before you complain about your generation, build an altar.

12. THE ALTAR MUST BE BUILT ON CHRIST

The Christian altar is ultimately centred on Jesus Christ.

We are not returning to Old Testament animal sacrifices.

Jesus is the perfect and final sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:12

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”

Therefore, we do not build an altar to compete with the cross.

We build our lives upon the finished work of Christ.

Our sacrifice is now the sacrifice of:

Praise

Worship

Obedience

Prayer

Service

Generosity

Holiness

Love

Hebrews 13:15 says:

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually…”

Notice the word:

Continually.

13. WHAT DOES A RAISED ALTAR LOOK LIKE?

A raised altar is not simply a prayer schedule.

It is a life that has been surrendered to God.

A raised altar has:

1. A place

Have somewhere you consistently meet with God.

2. A time

Give God intentional time.

3. A sacrifice

Something valuable must be surrendered.

4. A covenant

Make deliberate commitments to God.

5. A Scripture foundation

Your altar must be governed by God's Word.

6. Consistency

Don't build an altar today and abandon it tomorrow.

7. Worship

Don't only ask God for things. Worship Him.

8. Listening

Give God room to speak.

9. Obedience

An instruction ignored is an altar neglected.

10. Christ at the centre

Everything must ultimately point to Jesus.

14. BUILD AN ALTAR FOR YOUR PERSONAL LIFE

Before you build an altar for a city, build one in your secret place.

Before you pray for nations, pray for yourself.

Before you ask God to change your church, ask Him to change you.

Jesus said:

Matthew 6:6

“When thou prayest, enter into thy closet…”

There is a place where nobody sees you.

No microphone.

No audience.

No applause.

No platform.

Just you and God.

That is where many genuine spiritual journeys begin.

15. BUILD AN ALTAR FOR YOUR FAMILY

Parents, build an altar for your children.

Husbands, build an altar for your marriage.

Wives, build an altar for your home.

Families should pray together.

Families should worship together.

Families should study Scripture together.

Families should learn to forgive one another.

The enemy wants to establish patterns in families.

But you can establish a different pattern.

Say:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

16. BUILD AN ALTAR FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT

God has given every believer influence.

Your profession can become an altar.

Your business can become an altar.

Your ministry can become an altar.

Your leadership can become an altar.

Your resources can become an altar.

The question is:

“How can my life become a platform through which God's purposes are advanced?”

Your workplace should experience the evidence of your relationship with Christ.

Your leadership should carry integrity.

Your business should carry justice.

Your speech should carry grace.

Your resources should advance the Kingdom.

Your influence should point people toward Christ.

17. RESTORE THE BROKEN ALTAR

Perhaps your altar has become weak.

Perhaps you used to pray but stopped.

Perhaps you used to study Scripture but became distracted.

Perhaps you used to worship deeply but became spiritually dry.

Perhaps you used to fast but abandoned the discipline.

Perhaps your first love has weakened.

The good news is:

Broken altars can be repaired.

Elijah repaired the altar.

You can begin again.

You don't need to wait for January.

You don't need to wait for a conference.

You don't need to wait for another prophetic word.

You can begin today.

One prayer.

One Scripture.

One act of obedience.

One surrendered decision.

One renewed commitment.

Raise the altar again.

18. WHEN THE ALTAR IS RAISED, EXPECT GOD TO RESPOND

Elijah repaired the altar and called upon God.

1 Kings 18:36–38

God answered by fire.

We must understand that we do not manipulate God.

We don't build altars as a formula for controlling God.

We build altars because God is worthy.

But Scripture repeatedly demonstrates that genuine consecration creates an environment in which people encounter God.

Moses encountered God.

Abraham encountered God.

Jacob encountered God.

Elijah encountered God.

David encountered God.

The apostles encountered God.

And throughout church history, God has repeatedly used people who cultivated deep lives of prayer and consecration.

THE DANGER OF A LIFE WITHOUT AN ALTAR

A person without an altar becomes easily governed by competing voices.

Culture speaks.

Social media speaks.

Money speaks.

Fear speaks.

Ambition speaks.

Peer pressure speaks.

The flesh speaks.

But the altar creates a place where another voice becomes dominant:

The voice of God.

The question is not whether you will be influenced.

You will.

The question is:

Who will influence you?

THE ALTAR OF THIS GENERATION

We are living in a generation that desperately needs people who know God.

Not merely people who attend church.

Not merely people who carry titles.

Not merely people who know Christian vocabulary.

We need:

Men of the altar.

Women of the altar.

Families of the altar.

Young people of the altar.

Pastors of the altar.

Leaders of the altar.

People who can stand in the gap.

People who can pray when nobody is watching.

People who can worship when there is no music.

People who can obey when obedience is costly.

People who can remain faithful when there is no applause.

People who can say:

“For me to live is Christ.”

A CALL TO RAISE THE ALTAR

Today, God is calling us back.

Back to prayer.

Back to Scripture.

Back to holiness.

Back to worship.

Back to consecration.

Back to obedience.

Back to spiritual hunger.

Back to the secret place.

Back to the altar.

The question is not:

“Does God want revival?”

The question is:

“Can God find people who will prepare the altar?”

The question is not:

“Will God move?”

The question is:

“Will we make ourselves available for God to move through?”

ALTAR ACTIVATION

I want you to make three commitments today.

1. BUILD A PERSONAL ALTAR

Choose a consistent time and place to meet with God.

2. BUILD A FAMILY ALTAR

Establish prayer and Scripture as part of your household culture.

3. BUILD AN ASSIGNMENT ALTAR

Dedicate your gifts, resources, profession and influence to God.

Say:

“Lord, my life belongs to You.”

“My time belongs to You.”

“My family belongs to You.”

“My gifts belong to You.”

“My resources belong to You.”

“My future belongs to You.”

“Let my life become an altar upon which Your purposes can be fulfilled.”

CONCLUSION

An altar is a declaration.

It declares:

God, You are first.

It declares:

I belong to You.

It declares:

My life is available to You.

It declares:

My family belongs to You.

It declares:

My generation belongs to You.

And it declares:

I will seek You until I know You.

Psalm 50:5 says:

“Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

May God raise a generation that does not merely talk about His presence but builds lives that host His presence.

May He raise men and women who know the secret place.

May He raise families whose homes are houses of prayer.

May He raise churches whose altars are burning.

May He raise young people who refuse to bow to the idols of their generation.

May He raise leaders who will carry His presence into every sphere of society.

And may the testimony of our generation be:

“We found God because we sought Him, and we became a people of the altar.”

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, in the name of Jesus,

We come before You today.

Restore our altars.

Restore our hunger.

Restore our prayer lives.

Restore our passion for Your presence.

Deliver us from inconsistency.

Deliver us from spiritual distraction.

Deliver us from the desire for results without relationship.

Give us grace to seek You diligently.

Teach us to wait upon You.

Teach us to hear Your voice.

Teach us to obey Your instructions.

Make our homes altars.

Make our churches altars.

Make our lives altars.

Let the fire of prayer burn again.

Let the fire of worship burn again.

Let the fire of holiness burn again.

Let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn again.

Raise men of the altar.

Raise women of the altar.

Raise children of the altar.

Raise young people of the altar.

Raise pastors of the altar.

Raise leaders of the altar.

And let our generation encounter Jesus Christ.

Let every broken altar be repaired.

Let every dying altar receive fresh fire.

Let every abandoned altar be restored.

Let every polluted altar be cleansed through the blood of Jesus.

And let our lives become instruments through which Your Kingdom is established on earth.

In Jesus' mighty name.

AMEN.