The Altar

Genesis chapter 22 I'm going to talk about something today that I have for quite some time been very passionate about I've taught on it I've preached on it I felt like the Lord was bringing some things back to my mind. Again, because it's an important topic to cover not just as a church, but in our individual lives for us to work on I'm going to be talking about the altar today Genesis 22 verse 6-9 very familiar story says Abraham took the wood of the burnt. Offering and laid it on Isaac his son and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said my father and he said here I am my son, and he said look the fire and the wood. But where is the Lamb for a burnt offering and Abraham said my son God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering.

So the two of them went together and they came to the place of which God had told him, and Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order and he bound Isaac his son. And laid him on the altar upon the wood God I love you and I thank you I feel you near me today I pray Lord that you would open our hearts, and our minds that you would anoint us to receive your anointed word that it would accomplish. Your purpose and your plan we surrender ourselves over to you for the next little while in Jesus name we pray, and amen they are built from stone or brick or wood and sometimes they are differing materials that are piled together in a specific Place. Sometimes they measure carefully and lay everything with precision and intentionality sometimes they are simply left in a raw State sometimes they're covered with precious metals such as gold or silver or bronze you know 2500 years ago they were built out in the open air.

In the valleys and beside the riverbeds and on mountain tops, but today they are elaborate works of architecture, and crafted to be centered in showpieces and ornate Cathedrals I'm talking about altars many people today have a mental image of an altar as a place. Where mysterious religious rituals take place communion wine and away ERS are served there prayers are given at an altar, and it seems far and above beyond the reach of someone who's. Just a simple lay person others us we know that the altar is a place where our relationship with God came into reality it was at the altar. When I knelt and found the Lord it was at the altar where I found his repentance, and forgiveness of the sins and trespasses in my life it's the altar where I received spiritual blessings it's the altar where I consecrated my life to him and he opened.

A door for Ministry for me it was at the altar where my heavenly vision was made clear it was at the altar where my soul was put into action it's at the altar where the best things in my life have happened. And it was at the altar I took my vows to my precious wife it was at the altar where we brought our children back and dedicated them to the Lord. So many of the greatest moments in my life have happened at an altar yes. When you read through scripture you will see that every Bible patriarch built an altar Noah having been spared along with his wife, and his sons and their wives from the devastation of the flood. When the Lord wiped out all of known civilization and the very first thing he did when he exited the boat was he built an altar it was from that humble construction he gave thanks.

And blessed the God who saved him from the Fate that would be to the world Abraham obeyed the call of God to leave Haron, and sojourned to a new land and God made a covenant with Abraham that wherever Abraham went as far as his I could see. Everywhere that his foot would go God would give him that land and Abraham immediately built an honor an altar to honor the Lord his God, and by the same token I would love for you to note for those of us who who have read. Through the Bible and understand that he had a nephew named lot lot did not build an altar he chose instead of the well-watered Plains of Jordan to dwell in he took his family where there was no recognition of God. And God was not honored as his provider and there is never an altar associated with lot that should stand out to you, and I something about that Elijah the flamboyant Prophet.

Who was a thorn to King Ahab put the power of the Lord on display on top of a mountain have after he picked on the false prophets of Baal, and for them to call out to their God to respond by fire. And they did their show and dance and nothing happened and then he went over, and he rebuilt the altar that was there piled the stones upon one another poured out 12 barrels of water that was there. And by example he prayed a very simple and pointed prayer and the altar of Elijah became the symbol of God's power. Because all of a sudden fire descended from heaven and consume the sacrifice that was there I want you to know ladies, and gentlemen there's something powerful and important about you having an altar in your life maybe you're asking the question pastor Kevin. Well, how do you build an altar to me there's a very revealing passage in Exodus 20: 22 it says, and the Lord said unto Moses thus Thou shalt say unto the children of Israel you have seen that I have talked with you from Heaven.

You shall not make with me gods of silver neither shall you make unto you gods of gold an altar of Earth Thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings. And thy peace offerings thy sheep and thine oxen and all the places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee and that will make me an altar of stone Thou shalt not Thou shalt not build it of Hune. Stones for if thou lift up a tool upon it thou Hast polluted it neither shal thou go by the steps of my altar that thy nakedness be not discovered there on, and during this times an altar was not something that was unusual it was very. Common amongst the peoples that lived in the Far East and the near East it was something that was a part of society it was something regardless of your religious associations of what you believed an altar was a part of life.

When you had a God in your life in fact the altars of pagan nations were elaborate they were they were very ornate works of art they did not talk or speak or show. Or demonstrate humility but instead Pride was their goal they did not bring glory to God instead they glorified man in fact tribes, and cities and Nations competed with each other to see. Who it was who could build the biggest Monument or the biggest altar to their God it was a sign that their God was more powerful than any other gods many of the Heathen Nations had ceremonies the exalted flesh rather than honoring the Holiness of God. But that was never what God desired God didn't want any of those things he didn't want anything that was chiseled or made with hand instead he said you make me an altar of Earth. Or you make me an altar of stone and if you make it of stone I don't want you to cut it out I don't want to be I don't want to be pretty.

Or appealing that's not the point that's not the goal of an altar that's not. What the desire should be I don't want you to work your craftsmanship I don't want you to pour in your ideas into it should be something that's simply made. So that I can visit with you the goal of an altar is for there to be a sacrifice placed on it not to look pretty it's not about the looks it's about the function it's about what takes place it's a it's something where you and I have an opportunity. To come in contact with the almighty God and God says I don't want you to get. So caught up in your ability that you did you somehow want honor for yourself. Then you got to be careful because Pride will seep in that's not what I desire I just want to meet with you I just want to meet with you I don't want anything else to get in the way.

What I want to do is I want you to bring a sacrifice and I'll honor. What you bring and I will meet you in that Altar and in that altar I will tell you the plans I have for your life I will hear your cry, and The Plea you make takes place at an altar. Thank you Lord build my altar out of Earth don't carve it up don't chisel it don't shape it don't try to make it beautiful. Don't glorify your flesh when you come to worship me don't glorify your flesh when you come to worship me in other words. Don't make your sacrifice to God all about you I feel god with me right. Now, you got to be mindful of what we're doing when we come before his presence we shouldn't be mindful about what people are going to think are we are we only worshiping.

Because we get we see people are paying attention to us worshiping or are we only doing it so that we'll have a pat on the back, and someone recognize that they must be spiritual they must walk with god. Look, how they worship look how demonstrative they are they must be in tune they must be close to God you got to be careful the reason behind your worship yeah you got to be mindful of what it is that your intentions are when you come. To your altar before God what you're doing don't let your flesh glorify when you come. Because his word says no flesh will glory in my presence that's what the word tells us that if you if you're seeking Glory that's all you're going to get in that moment God's not going to hear you God resist the proud. Don't make it about a beautiful altar that you can build with your hands make it about the sacrifice that you're willing to give to your God today's altars are usually.

How and temples Chassy and I have been blessed to have traveled some in our life, and I've been to some of these beautiful cathedrals I've been to notredam In Paris and I've been to St Paul's Cathedral in London. And seen them they're they are beautiful in their own way and unique, but what always surprised me when I walk into those beautiful edifices, and see all the work and the craftsmanship of man. And all that man can do to make it beautiful and appealing and it is it is it is it is something to see, and I would encourage you if you have an opportunity to go yourself. And to visit these places and see but I want you to notice something that is absent from those places is that when I walked into those things that were supposedly dedicated to God. What I seen was glaringly obvious is the presence of God was absent from those things his presence.

Wasn't there something that someone had spent so much time and so much effort and so much money, and so much intentionality and making sure that every detail was put into order and it is from a from a Van's Viewpoint from a fleshly standpoint it is appealing. To the eye it is beautiful but I didn't feel the presence of God when I walked into a house that was dedicated for his worship, and I become to an understanding that the point was missed it was not about what man can do it has nothing. To do with what man can do it has everything to do with what God can do and only. When I come before him only when we come before him with a right spirit, and a humble heart and we bring our sacrifice to an altar that we build ourselves will God show up will his fire fall down in our life.

And he'll consume the sacrifice that we bring oh we got to have an altar. But we got to have a right mindset when come before God the Bible says that you, and I that we are the Temple of the Holy Ghost that his presence desires to reside inside of us do not buy into the popular view that your temple. Must reflect the world idea of beauty or fashion the Bible says in Psalms 96 and9 oh Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness the more you try to make yourself pleasing to the world the less you make yourself pleasing to God do you know. That God loves you it seems like an odd question to ask in church let me ask it another way do you know. What God God loves do you do you know what God loves not what appeals to you come on not.

What catches your eye say that but do you know what God loves do you know. What God is drawn to do you know what catches his attention the Bible tells us if we read it if we dive in there his personality is revealed in the words that are in this book. And you'll see that our God he loves the simple he loves the spontaneous free flowing worship that comes out of a humble heart he's not looking for Pomp, and ceremony he's looking for a genuine commitment to him he's not looking for the accolades he's. Looking for somebody who just stand before him and say God I love you with all that I have Lord I'll bring to you just. Just just an Open Heart Lord I freely worship you because I understand the sacrifice that you made for me so that I have hope in this life.

So that I have a chance Lord for eternity that you would think enough of me that you would want my body my life to be the place where your spirit dwells God. How amazing that is Lord of all the things that could be built with man's hands you don't desire any of those things. But you want to live inside of your creation where you breathe life where you put your best work inside of mankind have you really thought about what God loves there's a purpose to an altar an altar is meant to be a memorial something that the Builder. Can go back and offer another sacrifice at the altar and thereby relive the great event to which the altar was built for, and commemorated to and the priests of Israel built the honor after the crossing over into miraculously into Cana. And they put up and buil up Stones there as a memorial for generations to tell the story about how good, and faithful God is never ever forget.

What has happened to you never ever forget where God has brought you from never ever forget. How good God has been don't let it be absent from your mind where it was when God really found you when he started with you what were what you were doing in your life. And where you were at and life has a way of sometimes us us forgetting or misremembering things that's why an altar is important. Because it brings you back to a moment in a time when God met you in a time of Crisis where God met you in a time of need where he met you in a moment. When you cried out for deliverance and he showed up just in time it's good to have altars in your life to go back, and revisit never ever forget that it was the hand of God that brought it about in your life an altar means.

That something with great personal meaning to the life of an individual happened at a certain place we read in the scriptures where Jacob had a powerful dream after he was fleeing away, and running from his brother after he was living up to his name. After he was allowing deception to take place he was tired he left his father's home he laid down, and he took a nap he Dreamed a powerful dream about a ladder ascending up from the Earth Earth of Heaven that he was on the road. As he was there and on this ladder he saw angels coming down and going up, and he awakened and he built an altar there saying surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not he built an altar out of one stone. It was the same stone that he slept on that night and used as a pillow an altar that was built as a symbol of a place where he had an encounter with God yes I'm speaking to somebody today today.

And I hope the word registers in your heart today an altar is built as a symbol of a place of sacrifice sacrifice say sacrifice with me sacrifice it's a word that doesn't get embraced in our society today it's a word that is that is often. Times disregarded or pushed away I hope it registers to us that sacrifice is so important Psalms 51-1 17 says the sacrifices of God or a broken spirit, and a broken contra heart these oh God you will not despise I need you to understand I need. This reality to set in I know I'm going to say what I'm going to say, and then many of us who've been in church a long time we our automatic response is to nod in approval. And I'm okay you can nod but I want you to be sure that you understand. Why you're nodding I think we get so trained we're we're we're like Pablo's dog we in Apostolic pentecost's church I can just say say a thing, and it automatically invokes a response without even thinking about why we're resp respond in that way.

So listen to this and think about the response salvation cost something salvation cost God something. Now, listen to me this is where some of you are going to be tempted to get off the train. But Salvation also cost you something say that now I'm not a guy that's ever going to preach salvation by works. Because you and I in the entirety of our life with the best effort every day fall woefully short of ever being able to do what he did right you, and I we can't we cannot earn our way into heaven that we can misbehave our way. Into hell but you cannot earn your way into heaven salvation is a gift that he purchased on Calvary. But it does have a cost in our life too yes 2 Samuel 24 and 24 King David had been offered free of charge a place to sacrifice to the Lord he shows up there.

And he says to the man who owns the place he goes I'm not going to I'm going to buy it at a price I don't want you to give I don't want you to give me the land I don't want you to give me land. I want to worship I want to sacrifice to my God I know I'm the king, and I appreciate your kindness I appreciate you acknowledging I appreciate your willingness to help me out. But I need you to understand a principle there now neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and The Oxen for 50 shekels of silver no one is going to be greatly used of God until you've built an altar yourself. Now, listen I got about maybe 10 minutes in this message left and I'm getting to the Crux point, and I want you to miss this you have to have an altar in your life.

Now, if your desire is to Simply only have an occasional experience with God if that if that's your goal. Just to have an occasional experience just to occasionally I want to feel his presence. Just occasionally I just want to have just just a little moment there that if that's your desire there. Then then it's not going to cost you much for that it's not, but if you're going to live the life that he has for you all right an Abundant Life a life with purpose. And fulfillment a life where you add to the kingdom a life where you walk hand in hand with the King it's going to cost you something. If you want the approval and the blessing of God in your life you must sacrifice the things that have often times meaning to your flesh, and your ego and your power and your pleasure.

And your position the altar is where you establish an entirely new set of priorities in life the church our church is moving forward God has been so good to us, but here is a realization that I that I'm fully aware of that we are only. We are only as powerful as our personal altars are we're only as powerful as our prayer rooms are a few weeks ago chassis, and I were privileged to go down to Winchester Tennessee we got to go into the Apostolic Church there in Winchester Pastor by brother Jordan. Ainson and when we got out of the car in the parking lot in that church that was there I immediately felt the presence of God I could hear the prayer room from the parking lot I could hear their prayer room from the parking lot. I walked into their to their small little little foyer we walked in and it was packed with people.

But I could hear I could hear I could hear the fire falling down on in that prayer room immediately my spirit became very excited I was excited CH I looked around, and there were people everywhere their little building was seat comfortably with seat 80. There was like5 people packed in there and there were all kind of people it was so exciting I was I going be honest with you I get invitations to preach out quite a bit I don't accept a whole lot of them because I love. Preaching here this is home this is where God's called me to be and this is my favoritest place not good English it's my favoritest place to preach is here it's my favorite place it is I love this is home. And I get I get excited every time I get a chance to preach here, and honored and humbled I get to preach here I'm going to tell you what I was just as excited to preach in that little church down there.

Because there was such a powerful presence of God and I felt God telling me he speak spoke to me he brought back my remembrance before we moved over here in the sanctuary. When our prayer room was the youth room how many times that fire was falling over there. How many times sister Freeman you remember being over there people would get the Holy Ghost before we ever started Church in the prayer room, and I was convicted I was convicted I was convicted. Because it's been a while since our prayer room sounded like it sounded when I was in Winchester, and God began to spin these thoughts inside my mind and as I was trying to finish up the Easter series. And was working through all that I couldn't get away from this lingering thought that God kept putting in there he goes you remember. What was there you remember what I wanted to do and my desire is to continue to do the great things, and believe me there's stuff going on around our church throughout the week.

And I'm so happy that we're starting to truly be a church this seven days a week. But I am longing I'm Longing To Hear Jes the Fire Fall in our prayer rooms. Again, I'm Longing To Hear in our prayer rooms over here now pre- service I would love it if we would just we could just hear that fire fall down over there pre. Thank you for the ones who show up thank you for the ones who were coming over there. But I'm not it's more than just making an appearance it's more than just walking in the room I'm missing the ones. Who would get down in the carpet I'm missing my intercessors I'm missing those Warriors.

Who would get in there I'm missing those off that were being built in there. When people were getting a hold of the horns of the Altar and they were refusing to move until God was doing something powerful I'm here as Pastor making a call. Again, we've got to get back to having a priority of altars in our life we got to get back I want to see God do all that he wants to do in this place. And it's more than just people receiving the Holy Ghost and it's more than people. Just being baptized in Jesus name but there are Miracles and signs and wonders and there are backsliders, and there are prodical to be brought back into the house of God and I'm telling you those things are only going to happen. When we wake up and we get back to an altar and we grab a hold of the horns, and say God I refuse to move I refuse to move I refuse to let go until you hear my petition Until You Hear My Cry God.

I know you know where I'm at and I'm here to do my part oh wish. Somebody would rise up with me and get back to a moment when you knew that you could feel God's presence in a Mighty way at your altar at your consecration place before we receive from him we have to build the altar before we receive. The himym sometimes we have to go back and rebuild the altar the altar we build is not with hand clapping, and standing and raising our hands and saying memorized words to God God's looking for some meaningful sacrifices he's looking for some people to not. Wait on Pastor to call a church wide fast he's looking for some people just on their own to say you know. What my flesh is getting the better part of me right now and I need to I need to get it back in its place he's looking for somebody to dive into this word stronger than they ever have to embrace it, and say God I have to have this.

Like I have to have air I need it like I need food in my life God help me help me to consume your word, and help me to understand it and help me to apply it and help me to live it it's what he's. Looking for God never demands something from you without giving something back for greater value Revival is here center point it is here it is here. But I'm afraid we've let our fires grow cold on our altars oh would somebody please give him your life, and let him give you a life back that's much better give him your dreams. And he'll replace it with a dream that far exceeds your imagin ation and ability give him your desires, and he'll create in you a new heart a heart that desires righteousness and Holiness. And peace give him what you have and watch him Bring Back Your lost loved ones give him what you have, and watch him heal your body give him what he have and watch us reach this city give him what you have on an altar.

In the Old Testament the priests went and sent up sweet incense before the Lord on the altar in the new New Testament this corresponds with our praise, and worship Hebrews 13 and 14 says by him therefore. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name I'm going to tell you something ladies, and gentlemen this is something I did in the series we had a couple of months ago it's powerful. Truth but the fruit of the spirit only grows in the garden of obedience the fruit of the spirit only grows in the garden of obedience, and part of going to an altar is bringing your will back into alignment with his that's what happens I know. I say it so many times but it's the best example we have is when Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane he could not leave there knowing.

What he had to go face knowing what was awaiting him knowing what was on the other side of the day he kept going back to that place of prayer, and would not leave until he could live out nevertheless not my will, but thy will be done. It happened at a place at an altar the altar is where we come to worship Lord Church attendance, and maintaining a holy lifestyle and a commitment to truth the altar represents the way I worship my God Jesus told us emphatically in John 4:23 the hour. Cometh and now is when true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and Truth for the father seeketh such to worship him God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit. And Truth today today you and I we build an altar to God by becoming a living walking talking Memorial of him today by sacrificing ourselves for him, and by turning our lives into a continual offering something happens.

When you build your altar when you take the elements of your life when you take your body, and your soul and your spirit and your mind and your strength and you build an altar to God. And you testify for all that you see this is what the Apostle Paul talked about he showed us the example in Romans 1:16 for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. To the Jew first and also to the Greek not only that, but you yourself your body your mind your soul becomes a witness to the world to the power of God Acts 1:8. But you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost come upon you and you shall be my Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and Juda and Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth.

So as I get ready to bring this to a close I'm going to take you back to the altar of Elijah he placed the sacrifice on the altar he poured water on the sacrifice. And you've heard me teach this before I never really understood the water thing until God gave me a revelation to me I like it's crazy as a drought. Why you getting water some say it was a faith thing and I agree with you it was a faith thing. But God revealed to me he took all of the rest of the hope they had in the middle of in the middle of a three-year drought you got to go get 12 barrels of water. What he did is he went around cuz it says that all of Jerusalem was present. So what he did Terry Freeman he went around everybody's canteen and said pour it out pour it out empty your canteen empty your water supply.

Now, you w bet there was some grumbling going on get to mess with somebody's water. But he poured it out on that sacrifice because he was determined for the people to buy in it wasn't. Just about the prophet buying in but the people had to buy in remember the prophet said you need to choose today. How how long are you going to Halt between two opinions choose you today who's going to be your God, and it I told you it cost it cost them something they had they had to give up. What a little bit of security they had they poured that water out on that sacrifice he prayed a very simple prayer, and that was the extent of human ability that was all man could do man gave everything they had they gave all the water. The prophet rebuilt the sacrifice right he rebuilt the altar they gave all their everything that's it that's that's all man can do, and they prayed that that's the complete sum total of everything the man can do only God could send the fire yes.

But it had to be in a right mindset, but when you go to an altar and you've poured everything out. Listen, to me when you go to an altar and you give all that you have see this is this is this is this is the deal this is this is how we are this is the height of our arrogance that even before God we'll. Try to pretend to be better than we are we'll try to print it better we are, but the power comes in is when you go before your altar, and you lay it all out before him God this is all I am this is me broken. And shattered and bruised this is me full of pride and arrogance this is me stubborn trying to do it my own way this. Just pour it out lay it all out on the alar there because that's the moment.

When the fire can fall see to me this whole this whole dialogue reminds me a whole lot of Acts 2, and one and when the day of Pentecost was fully. Come they were with one Accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a Russian Mighty Wind, and it filled all the house with their set and they p on them clo tongues as of a fire. And set upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and begin to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance something else happens at the altar this is where you honor. And glorify God you worship Him you praise him you give him your all your commitments these are the things they're not. Just the incidentals they're not just meaningless they're not just rituals they are real life components of sincere worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

But the last is that out alar and I knew I had my confirmation today. When we saying you are a covenant keeping God CU my last point for you is simply this at altars is where God makes covenants it's where God makes covenants with you, and I it's where he makes commitments he made a covenant with Noah he preserved. Isaac for Abraham he blessed Jacob and revived him at the altar he sent fire on Elijah's altar he required the families of Israel to meet him at the altar with sin offerings, and when they did he kept the Covenant. And he kept forgiving their sins If my people Chronicles 7:14 second chronicles 74 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 forgive their sins and heal their L did you notice did you notice.

Let's leave that up there just leave that right there did you notice who God's talking to who's he talking to his people it wasn't strangers on it wasn't foreigners it wasn't people that were unfamiliar with what God desired yes. But God speaks again and reaches out and says if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways I love. What he says then then then will I hear about you, but I look at this, and I see that God will do the same for you if you build an altar it has to be an altar of sacrifice of worship of Thanksgiving here here. Here's what I here's what I here's what I believe I believe this I believe two things. Don't go in Desiring great big things from God if you're not willing to give up great big things for him, but I also believe this I believe in praying big prayers to a big God.

Who does big things I do I believe in praying big prayers to a big God. Who does big things but it starts with you and I connecting with him at an altar I don't know where we're at, but I know. What God has showed me if we have yet to fully comprehend all he desires to do I'm not a prophet I'm not. But I'm going be prophetic for a minute our sons and daughters our backsliders our prodical they are still in his hand they are still in his hand H. If we could stroke the fire on the altar again our God is going to bring them back we have promises he's married to the backslider he loves them he loves them, and when his time is right he's going to bring those back. But it takes you and I getting serious with God we're going to start more churches we're going to start more churches.

Because God's desire is for all people to be reached our city is growing too big we're going to start more churches we're going to do it in Jesus name we've done nine we're going to keep going. Because God's got a big work to do God is sending us people and he's equipping us to do these things we're fixing to see some quick Works happen it's going to happen I feel it I feel it, but the key component to this happen. Is for us as The Core Body of this church to get serious and go into our altars. So I'm asking for a Buy in today I'm asking cuz I know there's a few few of you who are some dedicated tremendously committed people, and I thank God for you look here's the deal I just want you to know that my office sets. Right here on this corner and I see everybody that goes to the prayer room throughout the week I see you that doesn't mean you have to drive 80 miles out of the way to pull through the parking lot honk the horn wave it Pastor go.

In the prayer room like can I get my check look I know not everybody's schedule allows that I understand that, but I also. Don't want you to have any excuses as to why you're not having an altar somewhere somewhere. So much is dependent upon you and I engaging with him my last verse First Kings 18:29 and it came to pass. When midday was passed and they prophesied on the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice there was neither voice nor any answer nor any that regard Ed and Elijah said the people. Come near unto me and all the people came near to him and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down to me the sad part about that story was there had been an altar there there had been a time. When there had been encounters with God and sacrifices were made, but somewhere along the way the busyness of Life had overtook them hey who's not busy right raise your hand.

If you're not busy so we can all hate you we're all busy, but I'm telling you regardless. If you're the busiest person in the world you still got to find time to pray you still got to find time for an altar you still got to find a time to meet with him stand with me today I feel like there needs to be a rebuilding. Moment in our service so I'm going to pray and I'm going to invite any. Who wants to do a little rebuilding to come down to this altar down here. If anybody needs to pull some weeds and some thorns and stack some rocks back, and get the wood the way it needs to go I'm telling you today the day for some rebuilded altars rebuilt altars today in this place. Let's pray Jesus I'm thankful to feel you and know you're here thankful for the truth that we read in your word, and your scripture show us God I know your desire is to continually meet with us to talk with us to commune with us it's your desire.

But God we get busy we get busy it's not intentional it's not always on purpose Lord we get distracted. But Lord I pray today we would be purposeful in rebuilding our altar we'd be purposeful in making sure it's ready to go Stone upon Stone we would bring our sacrifice the sacrifice of our lips in praise. And worship sacrifice of our time sacrifice of our talent sacrifice of our ability we bring it to you, and commit it to you God I pray that you would Open the Eyes of those people that are here today in this room open their spiritual. Eyes to see all it is you desire do through them for Center Point for this city in these last days God it's not a time for us to get lost in the distractions of the world for the time is at hand you're coming back.

Soon you're coming back soon you're coming back soon and I pray when you come back you find our altars are hot, and ready to meet you in Jesus name in Jesus name it's prayer time Church. Let's find a place to pray.