Take It To The Altar

In the book of Exodus God gave to Moses a plan for the building of the Tabernacle.

And in it was His desire for the construction of an altar of sacrifice.

It was the priest who would first approach the Tabernacle by way of the brazen alter, and there he would offer the sacrifice for sin.  The brazen altar was approximately seven and a half feet square and four and a half feet high.  It was made of acacia wood overlaid with brass.  It was a place of death and shedding of blood.  It represents to us today the death of Jesus, which was purchased our salvation.

The altar was a prominent feature of the Tabernacle and it’s worship.   It was placed in front of the gate of the court of the Tabernacle.  It was the first object that met the eye of the worshiper as he came into the court to present his sacrifice unto the Lord.  The alter was not hidden in some remote place in the court, removed from the gaze of the people, nor did it stand inside the Tabernacle where only a few could approach it.  It was placed where all could see it and all could approach it.  Only the priests could see the golden lampstand, the table of shewbread, and the alter of incense, which were inside the Tabernacle itself.  No one but the high priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies and he did so only on the Day of Atonement.  By contrast, the altar was plainly visible from without.  In fact, no one could enter the Holy Place except by passing this sacred emblem where the sacrificial blood of costly animals was offered.

It was not merely the altar that gave the worshiper access to the Holy Place, by putting away of his sins, for there had to be a sacrifice upon the altar.  The relationship of the altar to every other part of the tabernacle service and it’s furniture was like that of the root of a tree, the heart to the body, and the foundation to a building.  Everything inside and even the brazen laver in front of the door of the tabernacle depended upon the work done at the altar.

Without the altar, all else, no matter how magnificent was useless.  Everyone had to come to God by way of the alter.

All the priests, their garments, the sacred vessels, and everything else were unfit for the service until the bloodshed at the altar touched and sanctified them.  It was costly blood that was shed there.  Some would give all that they had on that altar.

That’s what our heavenly father did for us at Calvary.  He bankrupt heaven to spill the blood of the precious lamb of God.

Early in Israel’s history things seemed simple enough.

•                     God gave them 10 commandments.

•                     Just 10

•                     Not 100 or 1,000

•                     Just 10 simple principles to live by.

But you see life is very complex.

•                     And the longer you live it the more you realize that even a simple faith founded in truth can be shaken.

•                     You see life is confusing.

So at time the scribes had to detail and explain the 10 simple commandments.

•                     If it said there could be no work done on the Sabbath day, they had to explain what work was.

•                     It if said you could not bear false witness , they had to explain what a false witness was.

•                     If it said thou shalt not kill, they had to determine what was killing, or at least what was necessary killing.

•                     So as time went on the Scribes detailed the 10 Commandments into literally millions of do’s and don’ts

You know something friend,…Just when you thought you had things figured out the Devil throws this curve ball at you to cause you to Question what used to be a simple commandment of God in your life.

It’s like Eve in the garden of Eden!

•                     They had only 1 commandment.

•                     But Satan caused her to question it.

•                     He will cause you to question your very existence.

•                     He will cause you to question everything you know about God.

The morning after I received the precious Holy Ghost

·                     He was there

·                     Causing me to question if I had really received it.

•                     He’ll cause you to question God’s faithfulness.

•                     He’ll cause you to question God’s holiness.

•                     He’ll cause you to question God’s love and concern for you.

But when the Question runs so deep

•                     And there is no one there to answer them.

•                     “There is always an altar.”

He said “ I will plead your case”

•                     “I’m the wonderful counselor”

•                     Just take it to the alter

“The penalty for your offence to God has been paid at the altar.”

It’s not a pretty place.

•                     But the blood that covers it is costly blood.

It’s not a popular place.

·                     Your best friend might not be there.

·                     Your dad or mom may not be there.

·                     Your neighbor may go there

·                     But God is there!!!

«    Waiting to receive your sacrifice at the altar.

«    He waiting.

«    Waiting for the one who has lost their way

«    Waiting for the one who just had their faith challenged.

«    Waiting

«    Waiting for the one who needs a miracle

«    Waiting for the one who needs strength

«    Waiting for the one who Satan has lied to.

•                     He’s waiting there for you!!!

Did you know that of all the marvelous things that must have been in that beautiful garden of Eden...

•                     There was one thing that was not there…

•                     AN ALTAR

If they would have had an altar, Eve could have ran to it and found mercy.

•                     That’s why God had to move them out.

•                     They needed a place where there was an altar.

•                     He had to remove them from the beauty of Eden, because as beautiful as it was

As magnificent as it was

•                     As awesome as it was…

•                     “There was no altar”

Did you know that some people try to live their lives in some proverbial Eden.

•                     They have a huge home

•                     A fancy car

•                     A large Bank account

•                     Expensive toys

•                     The latest styles

•                     But if there is no altar in it…

•                     Where is the peace of mind

•                     Where is the sacrifice for sin.

•                     Where is the calmness in the midnight hour.

•                     Where is the comfort in the storm.

“I don’t know how some people make it without an altar”

•                     How do they get thru the storm without it?

•                     How do they get thru the sickness without it?

•                     When life has just handed them the unexpected,

•                     how do they handle it?

I’m glad I have an altar.

I’m glad I can go to it and find peace in the storm.

4 ½ yrs ago – 3 things

•                     I took it to the altar – the next morning phone rang…all 3 things answered.

5 yrs ago we noticed several large lumps on our sons neck and head.

•                     We took him to the altar.

•                     Would you know that when we got back to our seats those bumps were gone.

Not long ago someone brought and left some cigarettes to this altar.

•                     God will deliver you!

I’ll never forget the first time I went the altar.

•                     I’ll never forget the love of God that I felt.

•                     I’ll never forget the forgiveness of God that I felt

Can’t you see the blood covering that old testament altar?

•                     That precious Blood of the Lamb

•                     Song says…” O the blood of Jesus

O the blood of Jesus

O the blood of Jesus ..that washes white as snow.

•                     How long has it been since you felt white as snow.

•                     How long has it been since you felt his cleansing power.

Another song says….

•                     ”there is power, power …wonder-working power in the blood of the lamb

•                     I wonder today if someone here needs that wonder working power in their live?

•                     I wonder if there is someone who is at the point where they are willing to forsake all for one trip to the altar?

Jesus said “Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden & I will give you rest.”                                  

Isn’t it time to give it to God at the altar?