Restoring the Altar
Notes
Transcript
The first altar we read of is that built by Noah (Gen. 8:20).
Genesis 8:20 (NIV)
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.
Altars were built by Abraham (Gen. 12:7; 13:4; 22:9),
Genesis 12:7 (NIV)
7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
Genesis 13:4 (NIV)
4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Genesis 22:9 (NIV)
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
by Isaac (Gen. 26:25),
Genesis 26:25 (NIV)
25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
by Jacob (33:20; 35:1, 3),
Genesis 35:7 (NIV)
7 There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.
and by Moses (Ex. 17:15, “Jehovah-nissi”).
15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.
What Is an Altar?
What Is an Altar?
An altar is a place of relationship between a holy God and you, a place where He can meet with you, and His fire can fall—the fire of blessing, renewal, revival.
7 There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.
In the Old Testament, the altar was related directly to the spiritual and material blessings God intended for His people.
It was established so they could be restored to fellowship with Him by bringing sin, guilt, and fellowship offerings.
In God’s plan, the altar is the place for expressing lasting love:
At the altar, we give, and we receive.
At the altar, we give, and we receive.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
Restoring an altar for fresh fire today is not about building a physical structure or maintaining a natural fire.
Matthew 23:18–19 (NIV)
18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’
19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
Rather, the altar God desires is a heart that is fully committed to Him.
Remember, the Old Testament altar gave a foreshadowing of what was to come through Christ Jesus.
The altar stood at the core of God’s plan of salvation because it pointed to the cross of Christ, which is the source of all God’s blessings.
At the Altar is where worship originates
At the Altar is where worship originates
The altar, then, is where worship of God almighty originates.
Worship is acknowledging God as Creator and Redeemer, the beginning and the end.
It means not only making Him first but also starting everything and finishing everything for Him and with Him.
The only way we can build an altar and bring the sacrifice of worship that honors God is by making Him Lord of everything.
As we live by the principles of His power and authority, it becomes very natural and desirable to be in right standing with the One we worship.
In fact, without an altar of worship, spiritual progress and lasting change are not possible.
Worship means placing God first.
Worship means placing God first.
And this can be done only in the context of a right-standing relationship with God.
It means loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength;
Mark 12:29–31 (NIV)
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
it means submitting to His authority fully;
it means walking in the holy reverence of His majesty.
At the altar, you will see the fulfillment of your desires, vision, and purpose.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
What does the word altar mean to you?
How can you more clearly visualize a spiritual altar as a place of renewal in God’s presence?
What Worship Is Not—and What It Is
What Worship Is Not—and What It Is
Worship is often wrongly defined. Worship services include various styles or forms of expression, including songs, praise, and adoration.
People who stand and sing, believe that is true worship. Those who raise their hands think they are worshiping. People performing a holy dance before the Lord feel that is worship.
Biblically speaking, none of these is worship; these are expressions of worship.
Sincere worship is encountering our holy God. In that encounter, we come to understand His holiness, purity, majesty, and character. We recognize that He alone is worthy to receive our praise, adoration, and worship. The form or style of worship is not important; standing, dancing, raising our hands, or singing does not define “true” worship, but only worship’s expression.
What is important is the reason for worship. The issue is not how we sing or dance, but why we sing or dance. In fact, if worship is based on our encounters with the Lord, this means that sometimes we have nothing to say; we are silent and still. John, for example, saw Jesus walking among the churches described in Revelation. He looked at Jesus from head to foot, at His majesty, power, and glory. Soon John was on his face like a dead man. Was that worship? Yes.
What about when David brought back the Ark of God and jumped before the Lord with all his might? Was that worship? Yes.
Neither of the men worshiped with a predetermined style or form. Both worshiped in a unique and individual way that was a natural response to his reason for worshiping—his awe, joy, and understanding of who God is.
Worship is our genuine, wholehearted response to a holy God. There is no formula for worship since true worship can and should happen at any moment, anywhere. This is part of the paradigm shift we must embrace concerning worship and the altar of God. Our focus on personal renewal—the restoring of our hearts to our Creator—must begin with this core issue: worship. The altar of worship is the foundation of a covenant relationship with God.
Questions to Ponder:
Was there a time when you experienced true worship? What gave it such special meaning? If you have not experienced true worship, what do you think is the reason?