Getting Back to the Altar I Kings 18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. II Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. The first scripture text I read is following a drought in Israel. o Elijah had told the king there would be no rain. o After three and half yeas of no rain when Ahab, the king of Israel, meets Elijah he says to him, Art thou he that troubeleth Israel? Trouble means to stir up, disturb, to agitate; to afflict with pain or discomfort. To cause mental agitation or distress. You have to realize that when you get serious about serving God, and you are 100% sold out, you will be viewed as a trouble maker, why? o Because most people are satisfied to live around the altar, but you have chosen to live on the altar. A living sacrifice. o (Romans 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Elijah called the nation back to the altar. o The great need of this hour is for men and women who will rebuild the altar in their lives. The altar is the meeting place with God: o It s where you climb Mt Moriah and give your Isaacs up to God, it is a place of sacrifice, (death to self) it is a place of consecration. Elijah took 12 stones (which represented the 12 tribes). o This was a picture of divine order or divine Government. o He was building a picture of Israel back under God s divine
government Living according to His Word. He rebuilt the altar. o He knew that if he could bring Israel back to the altar, and the altar back to Israel, that he would bring them back to God. This is where were at in America right now. The greatest structure that we can build in America is not rebuilding the world trade center. o It s in every city, and in every church and in every home, it s the structure called the altar. It wasn t torn down by terrorists attack. o There is no terrorist that could destroy the altar, o It was torn down through neglect, and decay, and rejection, in favor of a more comfortable and less painful and humiliating way. When a person rebuilds something they have to be qualified. o You have to have blueprints that are certified. o You must have a licensed contractor. Let me tell you who is qualified to rebuild the altar. o Humble people can pray and are qualified. o Weak people can pray and are qualified. o Poor people can pray and are qualified. o Helpless people can pray and are qualified. o Needy people can pray and are qualified.. The Greatest sin of America is pride. o It s not a symbol of national pride that we need in America today, it s a symbol of national humility and total dependence upon God. o It s the old fashioned, out dated place called the altar. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
The stones were whole stones, no tool lifted up on them, for that would pollute the altar before God. o Exodus 20:25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. o This means: #1 God doesn t want fragments of our lives. #2 No flesh shall glory in his presence, He will never give His glory and His honor to the prideful self-efforts of man. He also said, I will dress the other bullock I will present as God has required. Contrary to popular opinion, God will not accept any old offering or sacrifice. o Romans 12:1 That ye present your bodies, a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God o 1 Peter 5:5 God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. o Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Elijah called for an investment of the people. o If you don t ever make an investment in anything you don t care about it. o Pursuit is the proof of Desire o If you really want something you will spend time in the pursuit of it. o You know the importance of a thing by the time you are willing to give to it. The 12 barrels of water in time of drought and famine was a tremendous sacrifice. o If we really want to see a move of God in our lives, it is going to cost us something. There will never be fire from heaven without an investment of water. o Water: in the time of famine. 12 barrels of water, during a drought. o It seems today that the church is in a spiritual drought.
The drought of dry eyes. We don t see enough tears on the altar anymore. o It is still a true statement that The fire will still fall when the wood is wet. We also have to recognize the type of water on the sacrifice is the word of God. o Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word o Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Elijah had them dig a trench around the altar. If we are going to see the power of God manifested, there has to be more work around the altar. o If we don t have any time to pray then we should not think it strange that we are powerless, and that there is no supernatural fire in our midst. Prayer is hard work. o Hard on the flesh o Hard on pride o Hard on the carnal mind Notice how the scripture says: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. We know that seed is the word of God. o This shows us how vitally connected the preaching of the word is with prayer If we would see preaching that results in changed lives we must saturate the word with prayer. Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Then as the water covered the altar and sacrifice, it filled the trench round about. o This is speaking of a deep work of the spirit, more than a touch, (transformation). Soaking saturation of the Word of God.
o You can t just hear the word preached o You have got to let it soak into your life until dirt becomes mud = A symbol of the natural in submission to the Divine. Jesus the Word = The Divine Spit into the dirt and made mud, and put it on the blind mans eyes, and he received sight. o After all had been done. Elijah calls on God. And God Answers from heaven by fire. The fire consumes the sacrifice, the altar, the stones of the altar, licks up the water in the trench, and licks up the dust. The supernatural Fire of God always falls on the Divine Order of God. o If we desire the divine supernatural fire of God in our lives we have to get back to the altar. CLOSING You must use the altar while you can. I want to tell you about two men and their altar experiences. The first man was Adonijah. o Adonijah was one of David s sons. o David was old and ready to die and he had not yet appointed a new king. o Adonijah set himself up as king. o David then anointed Solomon. o When Adonijah heard it he ran to the temple and grabbed a hold of the horns of the altar. o He saw his need and he ran to the temple. o Solomon told him to be faithful and go home to his family. The second man was Joab. o Joab was a loyal captain in charge for King David and he won lot of battles for his king. He had also risked his life in many occasions for the sake of Kingdom of Israel and David. o He did make some mistakes, however: He killed Abner who came to reconcile with David. Joab might have felt threatened by this reconciliation. (II Samuel 3:26-30)
He killed Amasa who was made captain by David. (II Samuel 20) He killed Absalom for whom David had given specific instructions not harm him in any ways. (II Samuel 18) In the Old Testament they were supposed to go to the Tabernacle and offer a sacrifice on the altar at least once a year. Joab had many opportunities to go to the altar but he waited until it was too late. I Kings 2:29-31 29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. 30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. 31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him. We must use the altar before judgment comes down.