“And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.”
(Genesis 26:24-25)
In this verse you will notice the words: “he builded an ALTAR there,” “pitched his TENT there,” and “servants digged a WELL.” Altar, tent and well form a trinity which ought to be regarded as indivisible.
I – THE ALTAR - In the Old Testament, altars were constructed by the Hebrews for the purpose of offering of sacrifices and the burning of incense.
Under the old system, everything was cleansed by animal sacrifices, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”(Hebrews 9:22).
This has an important lesson for us today. Gifts and sacrifices were offered but these failed to cleanse the hearts of the people who brought them. “Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.”(Hebrews 9:9).
In the New Testament, the Altar is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Altar looked to the great sacrifice that the Son of God was to make on the cross. For the people of God (believers in Christ), altars were more than places of sacrifice. Altar reminds us of the VERTICAL DIMENSION of our lines. Altar symbolized communion with God and personal encounter with God. “And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.”(Deuteronomy 12:2-3).
We too should be ruthless in finding and removing any “heather altars” we have in our lives. They maybe activities, attitudes, possessions, relationship, places, or habits – anything that reminds us and tempt us to do wrong. When we want God’s help, when we undertake large tasks, we must first check to see that our relationship with God is firmly established.
I – THE ALTAR - In the Old Testament, altars were constructed by the Hebrews for the purpose of offering of sacrifices and the burning of incense.
Under the old system, everything was cleansed by animal sacrifices, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”(Hebrews 9:22).
This has an important lesson for us today. Gifts and sacrifices were offered but these failed to cleanse the hearts of the people who brought them. “Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.”(Hebrews 9:9).
In the New Testament, the Altar is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Altar looked to the great sacrifice that the Son of God was to make on the cross. For the people of God (believers in Christ), altars were more than places of sacrifice. Altar reminds us of the VERTICAL DIMENSION of our lines. Altar symbolized communion with God and personal encounter with God. “And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.”(Deuteronomy 12:2-3).
We too should be ruthless in finding and removing any “heather altars” we have in our lives. They maybe activities, attitudes, possessions, relationship, places, or habits – anything that reminds us and tempt us to do wrong. When we want God’s help, when we undertake large tasks, we must first check to see that our relationship with God is firmly established.
Hymn: “Is Your All On The Altar”
Is your all on the ALTAR of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be BLEST,
And have PEACE and SWEET REST,
As you yield Him your body and soul.
Altar speaks of SACRIFICE. The word “sacrifice” implies giving something that costs the giver in terms of self, time or talent. Giving God what costs you nothing does not demonstrate commitment.
ALTAR speaks of OBEDIENCE. Obeying God is often a struggle because it may mean giving up something we truly want.
“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22:2). Note the words: “Thine only son,”“whom thou lovest,” and “offer him.”
“Surrender” isn’t giving up something you don’t WANT. It is GIVING UP WHAT YOU WANT. Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued ABOVE ALL. In other words: Christ must be No.1.
Number one in our prayersALTAR speaks of OBEDIENCE. Obeying God is often a struggle because it may mean giving up something we truly want.
“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22:2). Note the words: “Thine only son,”“whom thou lovest,” and “offer him.”
“Surrender” isn’t giving up something you don’t WANT. It is GIVING UP WHAT YOU WANT. Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued ABOVE ALL. In other words: Christ must be No.1.
Number one in reading our Bible.
Number one in witnessing to people.
Number one in our giving.
Difficulties should never be excuses for missing services for God. Rather as difficulties arise, we should make an even greater effort to be faithful in serving the Lord.
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