Today’s Reading:
Genesis 12:1-9 (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 built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord” (v. 8)
An altar may simply be defined as a place of sacrifice, worship, consecration. A meeting point between human and spirit beings. When men on earth raise a righteous altar unto the Lord, it becomes a gateway to heaven – Genesis 28: 16-18). God will never despise the incense that comes to Him from a righteous altar. Exodus 20:24-25 specifies what this altar should be (an altar of earth thou shalt make unto Me, and shall sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings in all places where I record My name I will come unto thee, and will bless thee).
In building altars of righteousness to our God, the first step is to make our own lives a living altar unto the Lord. Psalm 24:3-6 gives a good description of those who can ascend into the “hill of the Lord’. Altars have power to bless or curse (Numbers 23:1-30). Altars can and do speak for generations (Genesis 28:11-22). Altars stand as a memorial for those who raised them. Even the descendants of godly men who raised righteous altars are blessed by reason of God’s covenant relationship with their ancestors (Genesis 17:15-21, Genesis 22:15-18, 1 Samuel 7:8-12). Praise and worship presented from a holy and sanctified altar represent sweet incense that God cannot reject. One of the most important things we must do is to build altars of righteousness in our locations so that the Holy Spirit can enter through these gates to change the face of the earth. An altar is an instrument of legislation. The corporate altar of the church is the strongest legislature on earth. Jesus raised the church to be the supreme legislature on earth (Matthew 16:18). The city altar you build provides a prayer shield for your city. Through the corporate altar in your city, you can help defend and strengthen the territorial church. God is building a people of power. You have an obligation to build an altar that will bless and sustain the next generation. As a church, we have the power to open and shut the gates of heaven. Elijah did this in 1Kings 17:1; 18:1-45. The revival must not stop with us. We must, in unity, love and wisdom operate the key of David (Isaiah 22; 1John 2:1-14). From your altar you can enforce God’s judgement on the workers of iniquity in your nation.
Only a person who is spiritually alive (close relationship with God) and qualified (Born again) can raise an altar. When God begins to speak to people about altars, He wants to enter into a fresh covenant with them. He wants to visit the land. He wants to bring about changes. That is why we must keep the altars of our nations alive. When God calls on people to repair their altars, He wants to redeem and empower them to carry out a major assignment for Him. When Elijah rebuilt the altar at Mount Carmel, this singular event caused ripples in the nations. According to 1Kings 18:39, fire came down, and fear came back to the house of God. When altars are repaired, God judge wickedness in the land and when the Spirit of God touches the earth a new season begins. This is what happened in the days of Elijah when God visited the earth with rain after years of drought (1Kings 18:40). All the prophets of Baal were killed. Will you build an altar of Praise and worship, Prayer, Righteousness, Holiness unto the Lord and Judgement on the worker of iniquity today? Arise and build an altar unto the Lord now.
OLAJIDE OGUNFUWA
Prayer:
Ask the Lord to purge you inside and outside. Purge you from – idle words, destructive words, besetting sin and all forms of corrupting influences from your ancestors and your foundations.
Ask God to help you to remain focus in building an altar unto the Lord.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will become your friend, your guide, your intercessor, and your teacher.
Lord, make me wise, make me a soul winner, make my fruits remain that the jewels on my crown will shine as the stars in heaven.
Lord make our Church leaders agents of restoration; restorer of the paths of righteousness to dwell in; bridge builders to link lost and perishing souls to you in Jesus name.
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