The Alter Of Burnt Offering

The New International Version Psalm 130

3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,

Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness,

so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

When I say the word God. What do you think of? Who do you think of.

You need God.

)

Worship

Introduction

Saved for worship.

Question: Why did you come to church this evening? Perhaps you came because you were made to come. Perhaps you came because you are bored at home? Maybe you came to sing some hymns and psalms, maybe you came for the community a chat and a cup of Coffee. Maybe you came tonight because, well going to church is what you have always done! Why did you come to church? Did you come for God, to experience him in the church? Did you come to give thanks? Did you come to confess your sins, Did you come to adore God and express your love to him through singing and praying. Did you come to learn more about him from the hearing of His word? Do you come to church to keep yourself in his “Good books” Did you come out of habit, or a combination of all these things, Why did you come, did you come because you want God to do something for you? To bless you and your family, Who is God to you?

Did you come to give thanks to God? Did you come to confess your sins to God? Did you come to worship and adore God and express your love to him through singing. Did you come to learn more about him from the hearing of His word? Do you come to church to keep yourself in his “Good books” Did you come out of habit, to confess sin, did you come because you were made too?. Why did you come, did you come because you want God to do something for you? To bless you and your family, Who is God to you?

Question 1. Who is God to you?

A personal being? The creator of all things? A Job title for the one who’s duty it is to provide for me and bless my life?

Introduction

Question 2: Why did you come to church tonight?

Perhaps you came because you were made to come! Perhaps you came because you are bored at home? Maybe you came to sing some hymns and psalms, maybe you came for the community a chat and a cup of Coffee. Maybe you came tonight because, well going to church is what you have always done! Did you come for God, Did you come to give thanks? Did you come to confess your sins, Did you come to adore God and express your love to him through singing and praying. Did you come to learn more about him from the hearing of His word? Do you come to church to keep yourself in his “Good books” Did you come out of habit, or a combination of all these things, Why did you come, did you come because you want God to do something for you? To bless you and your family.

Three Profound Truth

Bob Dylan: “you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.”

Worship

We are worshippers by nature. We were made for worship. We need God, we were made for God, without God we will never be truly happy, we will perish we wither and we die.

There is only one true and living God, Father Son and Holy Spirit and he is good. He is the Creator of the heavens and earth and all that is in them. He has revealed himself most fully to humanity through the life death and resection of Jesus.

There is only one true and living God, Father Son and Holy Spirit and he is good. He is the Creator of the heavens and earth and all that is in them. He has revealed himself most fully to humanity through the life death and resection of Jesus.

God alone is worthy of our worship. There is only one true and living God, Father Son and Holy Spirit and he is good. He is the Creator of the heavens and earth and all that is in them. He has revealed himself most fully to humanity through the life death and resection of Jesus. As the creator God, he alone is worthy of our worship.

We need God, we were made for worshipping God, without God we perish and die. He is the source of all that is alive and living and he alone deserves our worship.

We need God, we were made for God, without we die and perish. He is the source of all that is alive and living and he commands all men to turn from their ways and to come to him.

We give ourselves over to things that are by nature not Gods. (The God of Self Centeredness, the God of materialism, etc) These false Gods cannot give us eternal life or bring the lasting satisfaction we seek.

We need God, we were made for God, without we die and perish. He is the source of all that is alive and living and he commands all men to turn from their ways and to come to him.

Saved for Worship: In the OT God revealed himself to Moses and the Israelites by name. He saw their slavery and bondage in eygypt and out of all of the nations in the Ancinet world chose them to be his holy people. will be your God and you will be my people.

Saved for Worship: I will be your God and you will be my people.

Do you have no needs. If not God then who are you looking to to provide for your needs.

Everybody has to serve somebody and God wants to be your God for his Glory and your eternal Joy. That means he wants to be the one you worship. The one you rely on, depend on, trust in, find your fulfilment and satisfaction and delight in, he wants to be your provider, your protector, he wants to be your rest, your peace and your Joy, he desires to be your Father and as he draws near to you he wants you to draw near to him.

And

We need God, you were made for God, without God you will die and perish. He is the source of all that is alive and living and he commands you to come to him.

God wants to be your God for his Glory and your eternal Joy. That

The true and living God wants to be your God and is Jealous for your worship because it rightfully belongs to him! That means he wants to be the one you depend on, trust in, find your souls fulfilment and satisfaction and delight in, he wants to be your provider, your protector, he wants to be your rest, your peace and your Joy, he desires to be your heavenly Father, you cannot live on bread alone and as he draws near to you he wants you to draw near to him.

One of the most profound and moving truths in all of Scripture is that there is only one true and living God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. He is the Creator of the heavens and earth and has revealed himself most fully to humanity through the life death and resection of Jesus.

But that he desires to be your God.

You need God, you were made for God, without God you will die and perish. He is the source of all that is alive and living.

The word God is not simply a name, God indeed has a name revealed in the Bible as Yahweh and in the person of his Son (Jeshua.

God is crazy about you and wants to be your God. That means he wants to be the one you rely on, depend on, trust in, find your fulfilment and satisfaction and delight in, he wants to be your provider he wants to be your rest, your peace and your Joy, he desires to be your Father.

God has a problem with humanity and we have a problem with God, God is good, we are not, we deserve wrath.

Saved for Worship: In the OT God revealed himself to Moses and the Israelites by name. He saw their slavery and bondage in Egypt and out of all of the nations in the Ancient world chose them to be his holy people. “I will be your God and you will be my people.”

Made for Worship. Bob Dylan: “you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.”

The first humans Adam and Eve decided they didn't want to serve and worship God, but rather tried elevate themselves above God, by disobeying his command not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. They turned their backs on the God who loved them and gave them life, to do the bidding of Satan by serving and elevating themselves. Consequently Sin and human death came into the world.

Bob Dylan: “you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.”

Big Idea

Big Idea

Saved for Worship: Many thousands of years after these events (The true and living God) sought out a man called Abraham and his descendants after him to worship and serve God exclusively. This was part of Gods great plan to redeem humanity following the fall of the first Humans Adam and Eve. To get the human project back on track so to speak. (To create a people who would be true worshipers of God.)

God

God saw the Israelites their slavery and bondage in the land of ancient Egypt, (a land of false Gods) and had compassion on them. Out of all of the nations in the Ancient world he chose the Israelites to be his own special holy people. He loved them and He rescued them for the purpose of worship. “let my people go so that they may worship me” He said to pharoh through their lead Moses..

from the He revealed himself to a people (The Israelites) by name. He saw their slavery and bondage in the land of ancient Egypt, (a land of false Gods) and out of all of the nations in the Ancient world chose the Israelites to be his holy people. He loved them and He rescued them “I will be your God and you will be my people.” He saved them for the purpose of “worship” and it was his desire to live among them.

God loved them and chose to live among them in something called a Tabernacle (a sacred temple in the form of a tent) made with fancy expensive materials and strange furniture. But in order for the people to draw near to God’s tabernacle in worship, A sacrifice had to be made on what was called an Alter (Big Barbecue). All of this was to teach them about the seriousness of their sin, and the barrier that sin created between them and God. Ultimately, if they were to have unhindered access to God and enjoy the full benefits of being Gods own people, a great sacrifice would need to be made to deal with their inherited sin problem, the offense of sin would need to be removed and Gods Just anger against sin appeased. That was the purpose of an Alter.

Stay Tuned

As we study the tabernacle and the alter this evening, remember, everything that was written in the past was for our benefit so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Remember, everything that was written in the past was for our benefit so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. ()

Big Idea

As we study the tabernacle and the alter this evening, remember, “everything that was written in the past was for our benefit so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” ()

Big Idea

Stay Tuned - Remember, everything was written in the past was for our benefit so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. ()

Leviticus 4:10 NIV

just as the fat is removed from the ox sacrificed as a fellowship offering. Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering.

Remember, everything was written in the past was for our benefit so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Why You Should Care?

Stay Tuned

Sacrifice is required for access to God ()

Why did you come to church this evening? Did you come to worship? Did you come to meet with God? Did you come to petition God to ask him to do something for you. Do you come to church to keep yourself in his Good books, so that it may go well with you.

Know the Depth of Gods Love.

Stay Tuned

Remember, everything was written in the past was for our benefit so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Non Christians/ Seekers (For those who dont know this)

As we study the tabernacle and the alter this evening, remember, “everything that was written in the past was for our benefit so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” ()

We come to God through the means that he graciously provides.

Remember, everything that was written in the past was for our benefit so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. ()

Be convinced that you need God.

Know the Depth of Gods Love.

Christians (For those who already know this)

The Tabernacle.

A reminder - Here is a reminder of what the Tabernacle looked like (Slide or Printout)

Just as you were shown on the Mountain - God told their leader Moses to conform the tabernacle and its furniture to a divine “blueprint” make what you where shown..

The Alter

The Alter

There were two altars associated with the tabernacle—a bronze altar for sacrifices, and a golden altar for the burning of incense (). The bronze altar (The one we are concerned with tonight) stood in the courtyard of the tabernacle, just inside the entrance of the court. ()

Acts 4:12 NIV

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

There was one entrance and one altar, just as there is only one way of salvation for lost sinners ().

Verse 1

Exodus 27:1 NIV

“Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.

It was a big grilling area made to accommodate the continuous offerings. (This is not your average barbecue.) (four and half feet high off ground and 7 and half on each side)

It was fairly a fairly big grilling area made to acomodate the continuous offerings. (This is not your average barbecue.)

Verse 2

Exodus 27:2 NIV

Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.

The Burnt Offering

Verse 2

The Horns. We dont know exact what purpose the horns served, probably for hanging meat. but In Scripture, the horn is always a symbol of strength, salvation, and security. “[The Lord] will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed,”

2 Samuel 22:3 NIV

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.

(Zecheriahs Sonng)

Exodus 21:12–14 NIV

“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.

Luke 1:69 NIV

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

In , Jesus is described as a “Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns.” So the horns on the altar speak of salvation and saving power.

In , Jesus is described as a “Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns.” So the horns on the altar speak of salvation and saving power.

For example, We do know that clinging to the horns of the altar was a way of seeking refuge in God’s presence from some harm (; ). By clinging to the horns of the Alter someone was seen to be under the divine protection of Yahweh.

The Horns

Bronze - The outside was layered with Bronze probably to prevent the thing from going on fire itself. The alter of insense (The second alter inside the most holy place) was made of Gold. This teaches us the closer to God the more Holy, the precious the metal.

Verse 3

Exodus 27:3 NIV

Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.

Pans and shovels were available for cleaning out the ashes, basins for handling the blood, and flesh-hooks for taking the priests’ share of the offerings. These pieces of equipment had no symbolic value but served the needs of the cooks (priests) in the various parts of the cooking process But they where specially set apart for the Lords service and so the utensils themselves were considered Holy.

Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans

Verse 4 and 5

Exodus 27:4–5 NIV

Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar.

Airflow and Grill. Grating probably to provide some airflow to the flames and to make the grill overlay itself.

Verse 6, 7 and 8

Exodus 27:6–8 NIV

Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

Easy Transportation and Lightweight.

Some facts

Just as you were shown on the Mountain - God told their leader Moses to conform the tabernacle and its furniture to a divine “blueprint” make what you where shown..

People came to Alter to worship. Sometimes they would come with Rejoicing and singing and musical instruments, Other times they came with tears but they always came with a Sacrifice.

The flames of the alter never went out. ()

Leviticus 6:12–13 NIV

The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

God himself lit the fire and the flames were to never go out, (Except when on the move)

Leviticus 6:12–13 NIV

The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

When the Hebrew brought his offering to the altar, he would lay his hands upon it before killing it, thus identifying himself with the animal. He would then offer this animal as a blood sacrifice in his own place.

The Burnt Offering

The Burnt Offering

The fire on the altar, therefore, served as a constant reminder of God’s presence and power. No other source of fire was acceptable to God (see ). This fire also represented God’s presence. “God is a consuming fire” (). God in some way was present in the Fire.

Numbers 3:4 NIV

Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

This fire also represented God’s presence. “God is a consuming fire” (). The Shekinah glory was visible in the fire at the altar of burnt offering. This ongoing presence of God reminded the Israelites that salvation is of the Lord. The atonement made at the burnt offering could only be made through Him.

This fire also represented God’s presence. “God is a consuming fire” ().

5 offerings that people could Bring. (We are concerned with the main one)

Deuteronomy 4:24 NIV

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:24 NIV

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

People came to Alter to worship. Sometimes they would come with Rejoicing and singing (psalm 43:4) other times they came with tears (mal:2:13) but they always came with a Sacrifice.

The Burnt Offering

People came to alter to worship. Sometimes they would come with Rejoicing and singing, Other times they came with tears and confessions, but they always came with a Sacrifice.

The process

They would bring an unblemished animal that they had raised or paid for themselves. (It was a sacrifice)

They would lay their hands on the head of the animal identifying the animal with their own life.

They would slaughter the animal

The priest would then take the animal and put it on the alter to be burned. The intervention of the priest indicates that a specially holy person must perform the actions necessary to present the worshiper before God, even after the death of the animal. The priest takes some of the blood and sprinkles it on the sides of the bronze altar or on the horns of the altar … depending on the particular type of sacrifice.… All of these actions constitute the permanent marking of the altar as testimony to the fact that the animal has died.

Substitution. God taught his people the basic principle of salvation from sin: something that God considers a substitute must die in my place so that I may live. “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (). (Atonement means to be at one, To be reconciled through the moving of some obstacle).

, for example, that blood is to be put on the horns, thus suggesting some type of redemptive symbolism, but just what is not clear. We do know that clinging to the horns of the altar was a way of seeking refuge in God’s presence from some harm (; ).

Why?

The seriousness of our sin is only understood in relation to the one in whom we have sinned against (Use Calums capital offence illustration)

The seriousness of our sin is only understood in relation to the one in whom we have sinned

All of this for-shadowed (foretold) the necessity of Jesus’s Sacrifice on the the cross on our behalf, to grant us free and unobstructed access to God, so that we would be able to worship and serve him freely.

All of this for-shadowed (foretold) the necessity of Jesus’s Sacrifice on the the cross on our behalf, to grant us free and unobstructed access to God, so that we would be able to worship and serve God freely. Jesus Died and bore the wrath of God for us.

The blood of goats and bulls could never take away the sin of God’s chosen people, if they could they would never have to have been offered over and over and over agin on the Bronze Alter.. ()

What people needed was a perfect sacrifice, one that does away with sin once and for all. This is what they longed for and that is what we have in the Gospel

Application And Challenge.

Hebrews 10:3–4 NIV

But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

All of this for-shadowed (foretold) the necessity of Jesus’s Sacrifice on the the cross on our behalf, to grant us free and unobstructed access to God, so that we would be able to worship and serve God freely. Jesus Died and bore the wrath of God for us.

Jesus offered on the cross: one perfect sacrifice to atone for sin forever. Jesus didn’t make his sacrifice on the bronze altar at the tabernacle. He did it by suffering and dying on the cross, shedding his own blood—the very blood of God. And when he did this, Jesus was making atonement for our sins. He was serving as our substitute, dying in our place so that we could have forgiveness and come into a right relationship with God.

This was the greatest act of Love in Human History. Jesus did that for you. It was God stepping in..God making the Sacrifice. If you ever doubt that god loves you, understand this, God Loves the Son because he lays down his life for the sheep. He didnt just live for you, and die for you. He rose for you.

And of course this is what Jesus offered on the cross: one perfect sacrifice to atone for sin forever. Jesus didn’t make his sacrifice on the bronze altar at the tabernacle. He did it by suffering and dying on the cross, shedding his own blood—the very blood of God. And when he did this, Jesus was making atonement for our sins. He was serving as our substitute, dying in our place so that we could have forgiveness and come into a right relationship with God. The Bible says:

Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary .

Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary .

Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary .

Hebrews 9:24–26 NIV

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

that was only a copy of the true one; (Remeber the tabenacle was made after a heavenly blueprint)he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. ()

Application And Challenge.

You were made for worshipping and serving God, you can try fill that whole in your heart by worshipping at the alter carear, materialsm or pleasure seeking you will never find life, fulfilment and satisfaction without God.

If you are going to come to God,Who is going to be your advocate, your priest, your Alter, your Substitute?

The true and living God wants to be your God and is Jealous for your worship because it rightfully belongs to him! That means he wants to be the one you depend on, trust in, find your souls fulfilment and satisfaction and delight in, he wants to be your provider, your protector, he wants to be your rest, your peace and your Joy, he desires to be your heavenly Father, you cannot live on bread alone and as he draws near to you he wants you to draw near to him. He has provided the sacrifice (Christ) The Alter (Calvary’s Cross) and the Priest (Jesus to plead your case before God)

You dont just need forgivness? Who will be your sacrifice? Who will be your alter who will be your advocate,

People came to Alter to worship. Sometimes they would come with Rejoicing and singing and musical instruments, Other times they came with tears but they always came with a Sacrifice

Good News

No more sacrifice for sin is needed: “Now when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices” (, nlt). However, there is one sacrifice that we can still make, which is to offer ourselves for God’s service. Now that Jesus has paid the price of our sin, God no longer commands us to bring a sacrifice, but he does want us to become one! He says, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (). This is the sacrifice we make, not on an altar of bronze, but on the altar of our own minds and hearts.

GOOD NEWS

“The altar which we now have is Christ alone, and his sacrifice. For he was both priest, altar, and sacrifice, all in himself.”13 We come to God through Jesus, and through the cross where he died. If we trust in him, then we have an atoning sacrifice, and our sins are forgiven.

No more sacrifice for sin is needed: ()

Hebrews 10:18 NIV

And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

GOOD NEWS

Landing

Hebrews 9:11 NIV

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.

However, there is one sacrifice that we can still make, which is to offer ourselves for God’s service. Now that Jesus has paid the price of our sin, God no longer commands us to bring a sacrifice, but he does want us to become one! He says, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (). This is the sacrifice we make, we live for God.

However, there is one sacrifice that we can still make, which is to offer ourselves for God’s service. Now that Jesus has paid the price of our sin, God no longer commands us to bring a sacrifice, but he does want us to become one! He says, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (). This is the sacrifice we make, not on an altar of bronze, but on the altar of our own minds and hearts.

Landing

“Now when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices” (, nlt). However, there is one sacrifice that we can still make, which is to offer ourselves for God’s service. Now that Jesus has paid the price of our sin, God no longer commands us to bring a sacrifice, but he does want us to become one! He says, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (). This is the sacrifice we make, not on an altar of bronze, but on the altar of our own minds and hearts.

“you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.”

The Horns