Rev. Dr. A. A. Obe (JP)
May 22, 2022
THE SECRET OF THE ALTAR.
Text: Genesis 4:4-5; 8:20-22; 12:1-8
Genesis 4:4-5
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 8:20-22
20 And Noah build an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savior; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
22 While the earth remained, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 12:1-8
1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moher. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there build he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.
8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he build an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
Definitions:
A. An altar is a raised area in a house of worship where people can honor God with offerings. It is prominent in the Bible as “God’s table” a sacred place for sacrifices and gifts offered up to God.
B. An altar is also said to be a raised structure or place on which sacrifice are offered or incense is burnt in worship.
C. Altar, in religion is a raised structure or place that is used for sacrifice, worship, or prayer.
D. An altar is a place of sacrifice and Power Point to draw spiritual and supernatural strength
E. Altars are places if separation where we separate ourselves to God, meditating on His word, seeking His face, and worship Him.
F. Altar I also a place where God’s present is felt and prayers are answered
Introduction
The word altar is first used in Genesis 8:20 when Noah built an altar to the Lord after leaving the ark. However, the idea was present as early as Genesis 4:3–4 when Cain and Abel brought their sacrifices to the Lord. They most likely presented their offerings on some type of altar, even though the word altar is not used in that passage.
What to note about an altar
Altars are also known as:
1. A place of encounter (Moses and the burning bush)
2. A place of forgiveness (Solomon’s temple)
3. A place of worship (David)
4. A place of covenant (God and Abraham)
5. A place of intercession (Praying for Peter)
6. A place of atonement
7. A place of shelter (David)
8. A place of meditation (Jesus)
9. A place of sacrifice (Abraham)
10. A place of answers to prayers (Daniel)
Types of altars
1. Church altar
2. Family altar
3. Personal altar
4. Corporate altar
5. Couples altar
6. Parent altar
7. General altar.
What the altar does:
1. The altar draws you closer to God
2. The altar helps you to be spiritually focus
3. The altar builds your inner strength and helps you to live and survive life challenges each day.
4. The altar helps your concentration in studying the Word of God
5. The altar is your spiritual engine room where you fuel and generate power for service.
Note: Altar must continually be burning day by day (the fire must not go off.)
Conclusion
Christians today are not taking their prayer altar very serious. But we should know that whenever God reveals Himself to us, we are meant to raise an altar there. Whenever God speaks to us whether in the dream or otherwise, presenting gifts, blessings and favor, we need to secure those blessings by going straight to our established altar, Church altar or raising an altar there at that spot and sealing the revelation. Altar helps us to have a very good and close communion with God. May the secret power of our altar work for us in Jesus Name.
Rev. Dr. A. A Obe.