Why The Altar? Pastor Dan 9/3/17 The altar represents the place of surrender, sacrifice, and divine encounters with God.

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1 Why The Altar? Pastor Dan 9/3/17 The altar represents the place of surrender, sacrifice, and divine encounters with God. Samuel Rodriguez

2 A Special Place For Connection and Relationship

3 Noah s Altar of Sacrifice and Encounter with God 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. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma Genesis 8:20-21 Noah s divine encounter with God and God s covenant with Noah Genesis 9:1-17

4 Abram s Altars and Encounters with God 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. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. Genesis 12:7-8

5 Abraham s Altar of Sacrifice of Isaac and Their Encounter with God Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar 11 Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. Gen 22:9-13 God provided a ram as a sacrifice God blessed Abraham and us through Jesus Christ 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me. Gen 22:18

6 God Gives Moses Instructions for the Formal Altars Places for Meeting with God The Bronze Altar of Burnt Offerings (the place of sacrifice) Build an altar of acacia wood... Exodus 27:1 There I will meet you and speak to you; 43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. Exodus 29:42-43

7 God Gives Moses Instructions for the Formal Altars Places for Meeting with God The Altar of Incense (representing the prayers to God) Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. Ex 30:1 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law where I will meet with you. Exodus 30:6

8 The Earthly Sanctuary a Copy of the Heavenly 5 They (the priests) serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." Hebrews 8:5 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God s presence. Hebrews 9:23-24

9 The Heavenly Altars The Altar of Sacrifice Jesus our perfect sacrifice When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. Revelation 6:9 The Altar of Incense - Our prayers being offered to God Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. Revelation 8:3

10 Pastor Dan Altar Stories and Experiences The altar represents the place of surrender, sacrifice, and divine encounters with God. approaching the altar represented a transparent, authentic, genuine response to God. Church-based altar calls and services depict a public expression of faith, humility and commitment that runs counter to a world full of facades. Samuel Rodriguez

11 Communion as an Encounter with God Through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body. 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sin. Matthew 26:26-27

12 Time at the Altar for a Divine Encounter with God 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22