COMMUNION INTERWOVEN PART 2

    

Image by John Snyder

In part 1 of this mini series, I explained that God, The Father, weaves the theme of the communion through time. He takes the past event and uses it in the present to prophecy into the future. By our participation, we partake in communion, not just remember it as a thing of the past. However, our participation goes further than this. Communion is an act with significance. Many people testify that it helps them stay in the presence of God. You might think that it is what you already know but, do you really?

When we take communion we remember the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is in this way interwoven into the history of the world. We should remember that He fulfilled all prophecy by coming to us as a baby born of a virgin mother. Oh dear, I have to specify it is not a virgin man but a virgin woman (hahaha these are the times we live in).  

We should remember that Jesus Christ came as a man and faced temptations like us. He had to tolerate our follies and love us still. When they took Him and questioned Him, He held His peace. He answered but with control and specificity. He took the abuse that was beyond that which was required. 

It is important to understand that the enemy wanted to kill Jesus. The enemy beat Him with a vengeance and tortured Him. The enemy degraded Him in terrible ways. The enemy enjoyed this and had his fill with it. The enemy thought he had the victory over Christ. Jesus on the other hand, tolerated, accepted it, and went through it. He knew the idea was to keep Him from going on the cross. The enemy did not want Jesus to make it through. 

That devil knew that there was more to Jesus's death. Perhaps he did not fully understand. Jesus made it through to the cross. He survived to carry the cross part way and to walk through the streets in shame and incredible pain. It is all part of the communion. We have to get it into our heads that Jesus did not have to do any of it. 

Communion is a celebration of Jesus's death on the cross because He did not have to do it. It celebrates everything that Jesus endured culminating in the cross because the enemy tried to keep Him from the cross. He even gave Him vinegar to drink instead of water. His love for The Father and us led Jesus to the cross. 

Man separated from God because of sin committed by Adam and Eve. Sin continued in the world and further separated us from God. When sin was committed in the garden of Eden, a plan to reconcile man to God was set in motion. Maybe even before this, who knows? Jesus was obedient since that time, knowing it led to the cross. Can you see the interweaving of communion in our history now? The plan of salvation or the perfect work of the cross is what we celebrate in communion.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-28

 

Jesus said we should eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was not yet on the cross. The mistake a lot of people make is to say that communion celebrates the death of Christ. It is a lot more than this. It celebrates God's tender heart for His people. As the master event planner, God took every opportunity to prepare us. He wanted us to understand how the cross worked. 

God taught the Jews about sacrifice and altars. In fact Most of the people groups in history had an understanding of this. However, God specially chose a people so that we can now say that He, God did this. Blood for forgiveness or sacrifice for an exchange.

According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

I pray you are made stronger in your faith in Christ by reading this blog in Jesus name.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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COMMUNION INTERWOVEN PART 1

    I have been a Christian for more than twenty years. It still amazes me that Jesus died on the cross so that I could have eternal life in heaven. He died for you too. I have been learning about the communion and about His life here on the earth. But I am well aware that there is so much more to learn. I get excited because through all that I learn I see the personality and skills of Father God. It is the reason for using the word 'interwoven' in the title of this blog. When it comes to event planning, there is no greater master than The Almighty.   

Communion is taken by Christians all over the world. It is for us to remember and be part of the perfect work of the sacrifice made by Christ. Communion is a celebration, an act of memory, and for us to partake in the victory of it. Through our participation, we can live in it. Let us look at John 6:58. In this verse it is understood that the tense is present continuous. The word 'eating' is 'trogo' or τρώγω which means 'partaking'. 

There are different ways to partake in something. Nowadays, you participate on social media by liking, reviewing, commenting, sharing etc. It works similarly when you partake in the communion. Your participation indicates two things; that you are agreeing that there is meaning and that you want to be part of it. You are sharing in the act of memory of it, therefore commenting on it. Each time you partake, you review what it is and what it represents.

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 'Communion' has two meanings:

1. 'an intimate fellowship or rapport'

2. '... bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the realisation of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ'

Both meanings indicate a close relationship between parties. Communion began after the ascension of Christ but has roots in history spanning thousands of years. It is supposed to be a regular act. Most churches have a corporate communion at a main service once a month. Then there is personal communion at an individual or family level. I try to take communion daily. 

1 Corinthians 11:26, For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. It is present continuous tense because it is meant to continue until Jesus comes. It is still ongoing. The meaning of the communion will not come to fulfillment until Jesus returns. This makes our participation or our role in it even more profound.

Yes, I mean 'our role'. In participating or partaking in communion, we have a function. We keep it alive. But this is a down-played attitude towards an event that affects billions of people over thousands of years, even all eternity. The crucifixion of Christ would not have been necessary except for the sake of mankind. Communion is for the Christian people or Gentile people. By taking the communion we are testifying to the death of Jesus on the cross and that He will return. Hallelujah!

Just through the present continuous tense we can see how amazingly God interweaves His majesty into our; lives, history, purpose, salvation, and world. God takes the event and continues it through us. He determines the end to be at an appointed time. He fulfils prophecies and uses the celebration of the event to prophecy another grand event. 

The event has a beginning, various acts and scenes, a climax, and an end.  Can any event planner do better? Can any scriptwriter do better? In the following blogs I will explain more on how communion is interwoven in history and the religions of all who call themselves the sons and daughters of Abraham. 

I pray you never stop appreciating the communion and able to partake in it daily. I pray you live in the victory of Christ and everything hindering you from your victories be removed and cast away never to return to humans again, in Jesus name.  

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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WHAT'S ON YOUR ALTAR? PART 5

    

Today's blog is a revelation for me, and perhaps for you too! I thank God for the men and women of God who teach the word of God without holding back. My job here is to pass on the teaching and revelation I am getting. In this instance, it is from Apostle Tobi Arayomi. 

When I ask, What's on your altar? I am hoping that you know exactly what you are sacrificing to God and if it is acceptable. Is it possible that you don't know? If you often ask yourself the following questions, you may want to continue reading;

• Why don't I see the rewards of my work for The Lord?
• Where is my breakthrough?
• How is it happening for others but not for me?

Have you ever felt that someone else in walking in your blessing or your destiny? I do. Does this sound strange? Do you think someone has stolen the blessing from you? Does it feel as though someone else is living the life that was meant for you? 

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

I can identify the thief when I look at the following scriptures; 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. John 10:1 

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44

The character or traits of the thief is that of a liar and a killer. He fulfils the desires or 'lusts' of his father and lives in deception, 'abode not in the truth'. He will enter the church and pretend to be a Christian but does not have Jesus as His Saviour. 

The meaning of 'kill' in John 10:10 is not simple. It is in the original Greek θύω pronounced as thýō meaning 'sacrifice'. It is not just to take something or to murder, it is to offer in sacrifice in the spiritual realm. It affects both natural and spiritual realms. 

In a previous blog I wrote about the sacrifice as a transaction in exchange or trade off for something. Here I want to expand this to include 'substitute'. As Christians we try to make our lives a living sacrifice. But often we feel that we get nothing for it. Sometimes we are not in the right position or posture to receive the blessing.

We sabotage ourselves without realising it. Each time we do this the devil claims the reward or answer to our prayer for one of his own people. It is sacrificed and you are substituted. This is just one way in which many of us give authority to the enemy or transfer the blessing to him. We should think about the things we have made common or normal instead of extraordinary. 

We can go a step further with this. When satan tempted Jesus he offered Him the kingdom. Jesus understood that it was a trick. He wanted Him to transfer spiritual authority to him, satan. Like Jesus, we are to avoid bargaining with the devil. Do you remember there was a popular American slogan, 'We don't negotiate with terrorists'? 

Do you remember what happened with Daniel? He asked God a question. The answer was sent but it took 21 days to get to him. The Prince of Persia tried to take it from the angel. As soon as we pray, the answer is sent but it could get stolen by the thief before it gets to us. The devil wants us to pray. He will try to take the answers and give it to his own people.

Recently, I heard a Christian woman say that the Old Testament is no longer relevant and I cringed inside. From the first word in the Bible to the last, there is truth. The word of God is a present truth. It is still applicable today. There is more of the Old Testament than in the New Testament. Much of the New Testament is a continuation of the Old Testament. 

Many people died thousands of years to ensure we have access to God's word. Even non-believers use the Bible as an historical document. God's words are recorded in it. For me it is like killing the prophets all over again by making such a statement.  

You may be familiar with the account of Esau; 

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:30-34

Esau trivialised the things of God by putting flesh first. We should not get familiar with the spiritual. He did not even think of passing the birthright to his children. When you commit this sin, you transfer power or your birthright to another.  His birthright was his spiritual inheritance from his father. God said he hated Esau for this. These are very strong words. Are we trivialising the spiritual inheritance we have as heir to the throne with Jesus. Think about the spiritual things that God cares about.

I can understand God's anger with Esau. I am writing, and I have confess that I am upset. Let us not undervalue the things of God. Another example of a coveted spiritual practice is fasting. Fasting is an act of sacrifice. There are Christians today who have never fasted. The breakthrough will come with fasting.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8

I pray you are wise to the things of God in Jesus name. I pray you have boldness, stamina, and courage to give importance to the things of God.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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WHAT'S ON YOUR ALTAR? PART 4

Threshing floor in Santori, Greece by Stan Zurek

    The more I write on this topic the more I find that I want to share new insights. I started out thinking that within three articles I would have exhausted the theme, but I am discovering so much I feel I have to share it with you. My faith is growing and I would like yours to be too. Today I look at the sacrifice on the altar and give a little more on the historical background that led to Jesus being the ultimate sacrifice to point you back to the question of how to apply this in your life. 

Like myself, many people think they understand the meaning of sacrifice, but it is very misunderstood. What is a sacrifice? As Christians, we are taught Jesus paid a price for us, and we should give ourselves in sacrifice to The Lord. But we stop there and do not carry the concept forward. I want to start by explaining a second stage of development of what sacrificing meant to God.

The first stage of altars and sacrifices can be found in part 1. It was a practise used by many people groups. I compare the sacrifice to a transaction in part 2. You can find out more about the kind of sacrifice that God is looking for, in part 3, but here in part 4 I want to go into a little more detail on the second phase or turning point for Israel. I apologise that this blog is bit longer than usual as it is needed to look at the final stage of sacrifice which is in how we apply it (to be found in part 5). 

Let us take a look at the account of David. But this event shows how God is a master planner and has a forgiving heart to the point where He repents of the very punishment that is deserving for the people of Israel. In 2 Samuel 24:18-25, God using Gad, the prophet, told David to go to Araunah's threshing floor and build an altar for Him.  Instead of receiving the gift of the property from the man, David insisted on paying something. This principle is still practised. To secure the purchase of an asset today, lawyers usually advise that it is to be bought by money or fiat, even if it is for just one dollar. The purchase seals the deal.

Now the backstory to this is that God was angry with Israel. David was tempted to number the people as a test. King and people caused God to pass judgement. Matthew 6:31 says, Bring us not into temptation, so it is possible for God to allow a temptation as a test. He moved David against them 2 Samuel 24:1. David failed the test, which meant that there was a high probability that the sin that angered God would continue, or become institutionalised or go without correction. It was evident at all levels of society. 

When faced with punishment, David chose to be at the mercy of God. But when David saw many people were dying, he was repentant and understood as king he should take responsibility. God too was repentant vs 16, 'the LORD repented Him of the evil'.  This is why God says David had a heart after His own (Acts 13:22, 1 Samuel 13:14).

And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. 2 Samuel 24:16.

At this point the angel was at Jerusalem. 

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. 2 Samuel 24:24-25

I find it especially noteworthy that David conquered this land. He did not have to pay for it. At this point, David had not built a temple for the LORD nor did he know where it should be. It was to be located at Jerusalem or Yireh-salem or Jireh-salem. This was the same place where God put a stop to the angel. 

Charles Spurgeon said;

Meet God in a barn!” one says. Why not? Does that astonish you? God met Adam in a garden, Abraham under a tree, and Noah in an ark. There is less of man in the open field than in the cathedral, and where there is least of man there is at least an opportunity to find most of God.

The threshing floor of Ornan was to become the permanent meeting place of God and the site for all of Israel to be one with one sacrifice made on one altar. As a Jebusite, Araunah was from the cursed lineage of Canaan. It was a statement against the pride of the Jews. Since God punishes where the sin lies, I can safely say that the sin He responded to was one of pride although it is not stated.

The threshing floor is curious for several reasons. In Latin, threshing means tribulation. The threshing floor is where we ought to be in prayer. It is where David confessed sin, see verse 17;

And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

On the threshing floor, sin is put down, and death is overcome. The wheat is separated from the chaff. It is where God's provision is evident. As with Cain and Abel, the sacrifice determines the state of the heart for God. God reserves the right as Sovereign God to sift and to judge. He is perfect and without sin or blame. Jesus intercedes for us continuously setting an example for us. Each of us has to have a threshing floor. At this point let me ask you, What's on your altar? The effort and pains that God goes through for us, lends importance to our altars and our sacrifices.

As a people, Adonai wants us to have one altar and one sacrifice. Having one location builds on His oneness. It taught the people to meet with God, to be in prayer and supplication, and to repent. God set the example of repentance. As a people He wants to be the one and only God. Where is our meeting place with God? He is in Christ and the in-dwelling of The Holy Spirit. God is a dwelling place for even Jesus says this; 

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever The Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

The final stage of sacrifice is in multiplication through us. Soon I will publish part 5 on why Christians do not see the evidence of God's prosperity in their lives or why we find that we give so much and have nothing to show for it. 

 

I pray you have revelation of the sacrifice of your heart for God. I pray your sacrifice is as a sweet smelling savour for Him who is Sovereign, in Jesus name. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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WHAT'S ON YOUR ALTAR? PART 3

    In this blog I again ask you a personal question. In part 2 I write about the altar itself and in part 1 I established that Jesus was the sacrifice made for the sins of the world. Again I ask the same question but with a different meaning. Again, I am focusing on Abraham. Abraham acted on faith. By any measure, it was, and still is, a huge gesture of faith. There are many publications and sermons written about this. You can find the account in Genesis 22:1-19.

God tested Abraham. However, as a man, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his most prized treasure, his son Isaac. What brought Abraham to this point? Isaac represented the promise of God. Today, I want to ask you, what or who is your most prized treasure? Are you willing to sacrifice your treasure to God if He asks? What can you put on your personal altar? Perhaps it is a relationship with a spouse.

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Genesis 22:2

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. Genesis 22:6

This test was never required again. It is the only time God has asked anyone to sacrifice a child. At that time sacrificing children was common, just as abortion is common in some countries. The account of Abraham is a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb slain for the sins of the world.

There are similarities to consider. God was willing to sacrifice His only Son, Jesus, just as Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. Take a look at the comparison below.

Obedience means a lot to God. It should be important to us as well. Obedience is better than sacrifice. 

And Samuel said, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22

Abraham had learnt his lesson of disobedience. His sin with Hagar was punished. If we don't understand who our God is then we can be like Abraham and mistake the identity of the real promise. I will make a quick detour to explain this.

Sarah, Abraham's married wife was not Ishmael's birth mother. They substituted God's perfect will for a tradition. This was a situation contrived by humans and did not reflect God's character. God did not create this situation. If God makes you a promise, it is based on the terms He determines to be acceptable. God did not approve of the use of a handmaiden. 

God is able and therefore man's interference (both Abraham's and Sarah's) was due to doubt in God's ability to keep good on His promise. In short they are saying; God is not able. It is similar to slapping God in the face. Yet, despite this, because Ishmael is of the seed of Abraham, God has blessed and continues to bless the Ishmaelites.

  

Let us continue. Abraham was punished in the same place of the sin. The whole family had to be circumcised. Circumcision is practised to this day and is a memorial of Abraham's disobedience and distrust. God asks us to give complete submission and obedience.

At this point in his life Abraham's attitude is different. When God asks him to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering he complies fully. Abraham did not know that it was a test. He had to trust that God knew what a great sacrifice it would be for him. He had to believe that God will keep His promise to give him nations as descendants. When God speaks it is fixed.

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8

The reward was a covenant formed between God and Abraham and his lineage. 

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:17-18

The sacrifice made by Jesus is a fulfilment of Isaac's near sacrifice. It ultimately fulfils the request made by Father God. God will not ask you anything that He is not able or willing to do Himself. He will even take the burden away from you as He did by providing Jesus in place of Isaac. Look at verse 8, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. Out of Abraham's mouth was the prophecy, it is in future tense and it says that God will do it Himself. 

In the King James Version (KJV), the Hebrew word 'Jehovahjireh' is used, it means 'The LORD will provide'. Compare Genesis 22:14 in the KJV to the Berean Standard Bible (BSB);

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.  (KJV)

And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” (BSB)

The sacrifice and provision of God was so immensely important to the Jews, they changed the name of the location. It was once called 'Salem'. Shem called it 'Salem' but Abraham called it 'yireh'. The two names were combined to be 'yireh-salem' which eventually became Jerusalem.

When we face tests we build capacity. The testings are to see our obedience. God tests to build strength in us but the devil tests to weaken us and separate us from God. In direct comparison, the ministry of the cross is that of reconciliation with God. Separation occurred with the sin of disobedience in the garden of Eden.

Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, rendering any animal sacrifice unnecessary. Sometimes we place obstacles in the way of our relationship with God. Jesus's sacrifice brought us back to God. Sometimes those obstacles are relationships or things we care about deeply. Can you give it up to God? Would you be content with God's solution or response? He prefers obedience.

I pray you have strength to be obedient to God in Jesus name.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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WHAT'S ON YOUR ALTAR? PART 2

In part 1 of this mini series, I spoke of altars and sacrifices. When Jesus died on the cross He became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. In this part, I want to ask the same question but with a different meaning. In the first part, it is explained that Jesus was on the altar for us. In this part I am asking you about your personal altar. 

Altar

An altar is a place of sacrifice. A place where a transaction occurs. Something is offered, and something is accepted or rejected. If the terms are accepted, an exchange occurs. Jesus became the lamb that was slain and God accepted the sacrifice. In return for pleasing God on the cross, God forgives us of our sins provided that we too, accept the sacrifice. This transaction is called a covenant. 

Altars and sacrifices were used to create covenant between man and God. 

Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:7 

Abram's altar commemorates the gift and is used to give back something pleasing to God. However, for God to accept your sacrifice, the altar and the sacrifice must be satisfactory. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus says;

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Jesus is saying the transaction or altar cannot be accepted if your heart is filled with anger or someone has an accusation against you. Also, only clean animals should be sacrificed on the altars. Animals should be without blemish. This is why Jesus's sacrifice is perfect and still effective. Jesus is without sin. 

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. Genesis 8:20 

With a clean heart given to God, we can have covenant with God. Our sacrifice can be acceptable. With a clean heart, we can approach God or be in His presence. Your altar is not clean if your life is not clean. You cannot engage in sin and expect God to accept your altar. As David said, 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Psalm 51:10-11

Since we no longer build physical altars we are to use our hearts as our altars. What is your altar made of? Is it without spot or sin? Do you clean your altar by going before God with a repentant heart? Do you act with forgiveness towards others to avoid accusations made against you?

I pray that your altar is made with a good foundation of the love of Christ and the sweet fellowship of The Holy Spirit in Jesus name.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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WHAT'S ON YOUR ALTAR? PART 1

Church in Berlin, pic by Bodo Kubrak

    Christians and non-Christians are very familiar with the account of Abraham and the burning bush. The story has been told with different lessons garnered from it. Today I want to look at the altar. Often we overlook the structure and focus on the people involved. A number of religions have altars and because of this I think it is worthy of a little more thought. 

The Bible speaks of altars set up by the Jews in God's honour and it speaks of altars for other deities. In the field of research, the altars or bamah set up by other people groups have proven the Bible as a historical record. The altar is situated in or near a place of worship (1 Kings 12:31) and represent the deity it was built for. The size, height or location seems to have little meaning today.

Christians generally feel that altars are only relevant to the church setting but this is far from the truth. We have both the physical altar and the spiritual altar. The altar in the church is to be maintained with the holiness of the those using the altar. The Christian altar is located in a space that it kept holy unto Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. 

Prior to the building of the temple by King Solomon, there were high places or shrines used e.g., at Bethel.  It was used for the worship of Yahweh (1 Samuel 9:16-24). But when used to worship other gods it was referred to as not good in the Bible. After the temple of Jerusalem was built, it was no longer acceptable to use these shrines and altars. 

Meanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the Lord until those days. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. 1 Kings 3:2-3

Kings were judged based on how they treated the altar. 

Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” 1 Kings 3:4-5

Solomon received immense favour from God. He even got what He did not request. For Christians today the altar is not just a physical structure. The altar itself is no longer in the open and can be small. Sacrificing animals is not required because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. Romans 8:3

As Christians, we have the assuredness of Christ Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice on the altar before God. He is perfect and acceptable to The Father. God provided the sacrificial lamb for Abraham just as He did with Jesus who does the will of The Father.

I pray Jesus is on your altar and that you live each day thanking God for giving the sacrificial lamb and accepting Him for your sins. I am eternally grateful myself.

 Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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