A Review of ALTARS
We completed our message series, ALTARS. Much was taught and much was learned. And if there’s one thing I captured for myself, is that I will forever be an ALTAR for God’s presence and God’s activity.
In the next few days I will post some short highlights of my notes. I hope they help and inspire. Our messages our posted in video and audio format on our website and on our iPhone /Android phone apps. If you own one of these smartphones, download the app for free from your app store. Enjoy.
- An Altar is a place where divinity meets with humanity.
- In the Bible, God responded actively to “altar” activity.
- An Altar is a place of sacrifice; a place of remembrance; and a place of prayer.
- Nothing of real value ever comes to us without an understanding of sacrifice!
- A true Biblical faith is one that recognizes the priority of sacrifice and the willingness to give rather than to get.
- Self-preservation is natural … but self-sacrifice is supernatural!
- Paul spells it out clearly in the New Testament, “…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…” 12:1
- Paul tells explains clearly what is symbolized by the altar of sacrifice … we are to be a LIVING SACRIFICE!
- The Old Testament sacrifices were killed … since Christ paid the price of death we don’t need to physically die anymore, thus we are to be “living” sacrifices!
- But here’s the problem… Unlike a dead sacrifice living ones tend to want to crawl off the altar – especially when they feel the heat!
- A dynamic worship service is not so much what I get … as much as what I give!
- We are to be a Sacrifice…
- Of praise.
- Of our material resources … tithes & offerings.
- Of time.
- Of talents.
- We can’t miss God’s best in our lives if we have approached God by way of the altar of sacrifice!
- Those that begin with the altar of sacrifice end up in the very presence of God!
- Those who bypass the altar of sacrifice bypass the very purpose of their faith and will always miss out on the true presence of God in their lives!