Pitch Tents and Build Altars

Intro

since the pandemic, it seems that people have speeded up in making moves: engaged, married, retiring, starting businesses, changing careers, writing books, moving, joining the military, moving out, moving in

and all the move making is great, if that is what the Lord is telling you to do

If you are making moves, I have a word for you

Even if you are not making moves, I have a word for you because sometimes life will move you

Genesis 12:8 KJV 1900

8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.

God called Abraham to leave his home and relatives

God gave Abraham purpose and made him promises

Abraham responded with faith: living for purpose, and believing in the promises of God

Abraham is constantly on the move, and when he stops, he has learned to pitch tents and build altars. A pattern that continues throughout his life, and provides instruction for us.

pitch tents

Abraham is a nomad, and nomads use tents

tents are for a temporary residence

living quarters for a limited time

for when you understand that things are not permanent

in other words: you don’t plan on staying long, because you recognize that where you are is not your home, nor final destination

if it was, you would build house, home, community, walled city, and settle down

When you serve the Lord, follow God, living for his purposes - you must recognize that this world is not your home, nor final destination, you are just passing through,

therefore, wherever you go, you should have the mind set that I am just pitching tents

in other words, don’t settle down with the world

don’t get too comfortable with the things of this world

don’t put down strong roots in this world

don’t put your hope in this world

don’t lose yourself in this world . . . just pitch a tent

When I went off to school, the people who did best, came with an attitude that I came there to get out . . . college was a temporary residence . . . .pitched tents

they enjoyed their time, but they came in to leave

they came in to graduate, and get out . . . .they had careers to start

Those like me, who did not fare so well, came with an attitude that “I am here to enjoy this thing called college life

got so caught up in being at college that I did not do well in college

Are you getting so caught up in living life, that you are not doing good in life?

In other words, are you living like you are here to stay?

let me give you some godly wisdom

put effort into trying to have a good career, but don’t get caught up

seek multiple streams of income, but don’t get caught up

increase your education, but don’t get caught up

be as healthy as possible, but don’t get caught up

enjoy your family, but don’t get caught up

just pitch a tent, because all these things are temporary . . . yet we are tempted to try to build a walled fortress around the good things in life

If I could just go back 15/20 years!

first of all, I was younger . . .

mom and dad, alive and healthy, family members were all at the same church, no one lived too far away

all the kids at the age where you could say, go and play, and not have to really watch them, and they had child level problems, instead of adult level problems they have today

go to work with my sister every day

on sundays, after church, my immediate family, my sisters immediate family, we would go to mom and dad’s house after church . . . mom and dad would pay for most of the food . . . . eat, talk, play games, and laugh

If I could just stay right there, build a brick home right there, put down roots right there

but God did not put me on this earth just to eat, talk, laugh, and play games with my family . . . that was just a blessing he allowed me to enjoy

my purpose is to not enjoy my family, but be there for my family

my purpose is to lead God’s people

preach the gospel, teach his word, lead lost souls to Christ Jesus, comfort/encourage his people

make music that will lift up the name of the most high

let my light so shine before men . .

so wherever I am, even if it’s a glorious time . . . I must pitch a tent

my dad used to say, “things in life will be taken from you, or you will be taken from them”

so our children continued to grow and go, people moved to locations further out, new obligations made scheduling get togethers difficult, people began to grow apart, my sister and I no longer worked at the same job, health issues began to crop up, and even death arrived at the door . . . so I had to pack up my tent and move from that spot

things have drastically changed, and today I live in a totally new situational tent with some expected changes, and some unexpected changes . . . but my purpose has not changed, cause God’s purpose for our lives travels well

I am still called to be there for my family

lead God’s people

preach the gospel, teach his word, lead lost souls to Christ Jesus, comfort/encourage his people

make music that will lift up the name of the most high

let my light so shine before men . .

so even in good times, learn from Abraham, and just pitch a tent

pitching a tent also helps you in the rough times

when you have that, “I’m just living in a pitched tent” mentality, you realize that in bad times, you are not stuck in a walled city, you are in a temporary tent

you might have to endure for a while, but you won’t be there always

There have been great times at WMBC, and some rough times at WMBC

having to have church in YMCA - just temporary

having church in a little run down house - just temporary

when we got kicked out of church building across the street and had church at my parents’ home

pandemic causing us to not meet in person for over a year

those were rough times, but God helped us each time, we were not stuck there, nor felt we were stuck there

and in all those times, our purpose remained the same, “showing the love and power of God”

I told you that purpose travels well

that problem that you are facing, is real, but you’re not stuck with it, it’s temporary, you will be moving on

you don’t have to build a house in despair and misery

just pitch a tent, and focus on your purpose

Building altars

as Abraham moves, not only does he pitch tents, he also builds altars

“and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord”

altars are about recognizing /respecting God

connecting with God, thanking God, praising God, calling upon God for help

everywhere you go in life, recognize/respect the Lord

in places you like, in places you don’t like

circumstances you like, circumstances you don’t like

build an altar

even when it seems that you don’t need him cause things are going good

even when you’re mad at God because of what he allowed in your life

build an altar

always recognize/respect God, connect with God, thank God, worship God

call on the name of the Lord

build an altar

altars were made out of stone, not easily torn down

so when we talk building an altar, we are not talking a casual connection with God, but a strong one

a strong connection/relationship that’s not easily torn down

the winds of life should not be able to knock your altar down

in every stage of life, with every move you make keep a strong connection with the Lord

so very often when we get to a new stage in life, or make the life altering move

we leave people and things behind

but you better not leave the Lord behind

everywhere you go, with every move you make, with every step you take, you need to build a altar

you can’t really use the old altar . . . you’re in a new situation

you need to connect with God in this NEW situation, so you need a new altar

for God tends to move differently in different places

Just like with Moses, hit the rock the first time, speak to the rock the second time

just like with David, take the giant head on the first time, but when facing an evil king . . .run away and I will sustain you

likewise in your new situation, things might be different

at the last place you needed patience to do what you are called to do . . . in this place you need peace

last place you had to overcome an obstacle . . . this place you have to overcome a person

last place you needed to trust God with finances . . . this place you have to trust him with health

therefore you must connect with God all over again, in every season of your life

this is Abraham’s second altar already, he had just built one in verse 7

but he made a move, so he built an altar

new job, build an altar

get a promotion

career change

new baby on the way

child leaving the house

going to school

graduated school

don’t try to use an old level of spirituality on a new level of living

Let me speak plainly on what I mean by building an altar to the Lord, especially a new one

not only do you need to pray everyday like your life depends on it

and your prayers should be evolving

more informed, more scriptural, less selfish

more reflective of the new situation

more about listening

you need to keep learning God’s Holy Word

you should know more about the Bible this year, than you did last year

Too many Christians think if they know the Lord’s prayer, they’re set (or John 3:16)

your understanding should be deeper

you should know what the Bible says about your current situation

and altars are for sacrifices

a sign that you have built an altar is that you are making sacrifices

at every stage of life you should be making sacrifices for the Lord

sacrificing time, money, your will in order to do His will

what are you sacrificing right now

I could be doing this, but instead I am doing this for the Lord

I could have spend money on this, but instead I gave it the church

I could have said this and really hurt their feelings, but I sacrificed my pride on the altar and kept my mouth shut

Let’s put it all together

what was your last move, . . .whether you initiated it, or it happened to you?

marriage, divorce, career change, graduation, going back to school, promotion at the job, quitting a job, birth of a child, new relationship, lost relationship?

First, only pitch a tent in this situation

good or bad, understand that it’s not forever

don’t get so wrapped up in it that you lose focus on your God given purpose

don’t get lost in the joy of it

or lose yourself in the pain of it

just set up a tent in your new condition

your purpose is still the same, and must remain the focus

I will enjoy the blessing but not lose sight of why God put me here

with the strength of God I will endure the pain, and still produce fruit according to my purpose

(if you don’t know, you really need to seek the Lord)

Secondly, build an altar in this new situation

determine to stay connected with God, don’t drift away

you still need God

keep praying, keep learning the word

see what type of sacrifices God wants you to make in this new place

God must remain first

then it sounds funny, but any pastor with experience is concerned when a dedicated member is blessed

when they were broke, single, and walking you couldn’t beat them to church: they were at every service, every Bible study, every prayer call

but when they got some money, when they met someone special, when they finally got that car, they forgot to build an altar . . . and they drift away

don’t be that person

to any young people: when you leave the house don’t leave God

build a altar at your new situation

As a church - we have to let go of pre-pandemic church and pitch a tent in 2021

some members we simply won’t see anymore, they have left for good

founding pastor and 1st lady have passed away

it’s sad, it hurts . . . but we can’t get lost in the way it was

our purpose remains, “show the love and power of God”

so we pitch a tent in this new era, and fulfill our purpose

knowing that God might move us again in 3 months or 3 years

As a church - we also have to build an altar where we are

connect with God in this new season

some new prayer warriors need to arise

as a church body we must pray together, and pray for each other

when the prayer request come on our phone, pray like never before

have to get in on this Bible Study, even though it’s on Zoom

grown in your own personal Bible Study

sacrifice and take on different or new positions and responsibilities

sacrifice our comfort level and do some things a new way

ex. lights and tripods in the middle of the sanctuary

Even Jesus pitched a tent

He came from glory and pitched his tent on earth for 33 years

He plainly told the people, I am not of this world

often he didn’t even have a tent, he said foxes have dens and birds have nest, but I don’t have a place to lay my head

but that did not matter because Jesus was focused on his purpose

he pitched his tent in a mortal body, and fulfilled his purpose by living, dying, and rising from the dead

He didn’t have to build an altar because he was God

he said I and the Father are one

but at every major move we find Jesus praying

before starting his ministry

before picking the 12

before going to cross

always keeping that connection strong

and one day, all of this tent pitching will be over, for Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you

now that’s the place where we can finally settle down

John the Revealator said, I saw a new heaven and a new earth, that’s a place where you can settle down

and he saw a holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God

permanent place for Revelation said that it had a great and high wall

with twelve gates, three gates in the east

with precious stones everywhere

and there was no temple, thus no altar . . . the the Lord God almighty will dwell among us

and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, no more death, sorrow, crying, pain . .. passed away

no more tents, no more temporary homes

take your rest, you’re finally home . . . Well done

Personal Story

Dad and mom seemed to get a kick out of saying that I was their pastor

though it was kind of embarassing, it felt good to know they were proud of me

Dad would says this from hospital to hospital, nursing home to nursing home

i believe he felt some measure of comfort that the ministry, purpose of the church was carrying on

WMBC was so important to him

Sad but inspiring event transpired his last time in the hospital

you could tell his mind was cloudy, and he was starting to lose memory

I asked, “What is the name of your church?

a man who founded WMBC

Pastored for over 30 years

put his heart, soul, sweat, tears into WMBC

His life’s work

the one so proud to say my son is the pastor of WMBC

He said, Bethel AME . . . the church were he got saved . . .

you could say that it was the church where he first built an altar, where he first called on the name of the Lord

when it comes down to it, everything is temporary but your relationship with God

Invitation

even the unsaved can see that folks dying left and right (buildings collapsing, shooters shooting, storm winds blowing)

trying to build a permanent home in this life, makes no sense

the only strong tower is the name of the Lord

build your first altar, give your life to Christ