SPEAK TO THAT ALTAR

SPEAK TO THAT ALTAR

1Ki 13:1-10 KJV 1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. 4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. 5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. 7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. 8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: 9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. 10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.

What is an altar?

According to the dictionary, an altar is defined as a table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites. or a raised area around an altar in a church or the sanctuary.

The first mention of an altar is in Genesis.

Gen 8:20 KJV And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

It was at this altar that the course of mankind was changed. After the sacrifice of Noah, God promised not to destroy the earth with water again. Therefore by that sacrifice, Noah put an end to destruction by flooding

An altar therefore is a place of communion or communication between a deity and mankind.

An altar is a place of sacrifice where things, blood, material, animals and even humans in archaic time were offered.

Altar is as ancient as man. Invocations and prayers take place at the altar. Pouring liberation takes place at the altar.

Different type of altar

Exo 30:28 KJV And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.

Luk 1:11 KJV And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

How do they use an altar

There was war between the Moabites and the three kings gathered by Israel. They were the King of Israel, Judah and Edom. The three kings had consulted Elisha and because of Elisha, they had the prophecy and success for the outcome of the war.

Before you embark on a journey, project and things like that, consult and seek the face of God for directions and blessings.

In the course of the battle something strange happened.

2Ki 3:26-27 KJV 26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. 27 Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.

The Bible says that the king of Moab attempted severely to break through but it was resisted, the battle was so strong, then he did the abomination. He sacrificed his eldest son who would have reigned in his place instead.

The result was that there was a great indignation, splinter, or wrath against Israel and they departed from him. The battle was brought to an abrupt end because of the sacrifice of the man.

Not only the holy Scriptures, but several heathen writers, assure us that in cases of great extremity it was customary among various people to sacrifice to their gods whatever was most dear to them. 

He offered to his gods to pacify them: which barbarous cruelty moved the Israelites hearts of pity to depart.The deed aroused an indignation against Israel, which led to the siege being raised. But an indignation on whose part? Some people thinks, on God”s. But could God be angry with Israel for an act of the King of Moab, which they had no ground for anticipating, and which they could not possibly have pro-vented? especially when the Israelites had done nothing to cause the act, except by carrying out God”s own command to them through his prophet, to “smite every fenced city and every choice city” (ver. 19). The indignation, therefore, must have been human. But who felt it? Probably the Moabites. The terrible act of their king, to which they considered that Israel had driven him, stirred up such a feeling of fury among the residue of the Moabites nation, that the confederates quailed before it, and came to the conclusion that they had best give up the siege and retire. They therefore departed from him

What I am bringing out is the extent the power can go to achieve their aim against you.

When a pronouncement is made at the altar alongside with such magnitude sacrifice, it becomes nearly impossible to break.

Paul says they sacrifice unto the devil.

1Co 10:20 KJV But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

What should a Christian do against such an evil altar?

In the text we read, Jeroboam was offering sacrifice at the altar, in the course of that a man of God came and spoke against the altar. The altar collapsed, the ashes on it spilt out. 360 years after the prophecy was fulfilled according to the Bible

2Ki 23:15-17 KJV 15 Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove. 16 And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. 17 Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel.

Under the new Covenant

The Lord Jesus said we should speak to the mountain.

Mar 11:23 KJV For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

 The way you will speak to the mountain will be based on the understanding that someone could be speaking at one altar against you.

What gives us the audacity?

We have an altar

Heb 13:10 KJV We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Paul was telling the religious Jews when he was comparing Judaism with the new Covenant. The priests under Judaism partook of the offering sacrifices but as long as they continue in that they cannot partake of the benefits of the New Covenant. 

Those who persist in adhering to the Jewish economy can have no part in the blessing of the new covenant. The two are mutually exclusive. 

We who are Christians. The Jews had an altar on which their sacrifices were offered which was regarded as sacred, and of the benefit of which no others might partake. The design of the apostle is to show that the same thing substantially, so far as “privilege” and “sanctifying influence” were concerned, was enjoyed by Christians.

A part of the meat offered in sacrifice among the Jews became the property of the priests and Levites, and they had, by the Law, a right to this as a part of their support; see Lev 6:25-26; Num 18:9-10. But the apostle says that there is a higher and more valuable sacrifice of which they have no right to partake while they remain in the service of the “tabernacle” or temple; that is, while they remain Jews. The participation in the great Christian sacrifice pertains only to those who were the friends of the Redeemer, and however much they might value themselves on the privilege of partaking of the sacrifices offered under the Jewish Law, that of partaking of the great sacrifice made by the Son of God was much greater.

We Christians, says the apostle, have an altar: that is, a sacrifice, a priest offered upon, and sanctified by, the altar of the cross.

The church of Christ alone and his sacrifice; for he was both priest, altar, and sacrifice, all himself, and still continueth so to be.

This altar, is every way sufficient in itself for the ends of an altar; and therefore the introduction of any other sacrifice requiring a material altar, is derogatory to the sacrifice of Christ, and exclusive of him from being an altar

The altar is Jesus Christ Himself, He was the lamb of God, the altar is also the cross on which the sacrifice was done. The altar also includes the benefits of atonement, pardon, forgiveness, salvation and redemption.

The blood of Jesus speaks better things than the blood of Abel and any other blood. It speaks of blessings, abundance, breakthrough, fruitfulness, liberty. Heb 12: 24

Jesus had performed the greatest sacrifice that could ever be performed. Therefore every sacrifice to be made today must be consistent with what He had done. 

The provision from the Christian altar is Jesus Christ himself, the great Sacrifice. By faith” we become partakers of Christ;” we appropriate him as the Life and the Sustenance of the soul. Our Lord said, “I am the living Bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever,” etc. (John 6:51-58)

1Co 5:7 KJV Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Heb 10:12-14 KJV 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Not to add, improve or diminish from it. today we are only ask to offer sacrifice of our body Ro 12:2-3, of our lips and praise to God Heb 13: 15

Any sacrifice therefore done to any deity that is not consistent with Jesus’ sacrifice is an abomination. If anyone is standing behind any altar to curse you, it wont work because Jesus became a curse for your sake.

Gal 3:13 KJV Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Solomon said something about such curses:

Pro 26:2 KJV As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

We ourselves are altar embedded. Since we are the temple of God, and wherever you see the temple you see an altar.

1Co 3:16 KJV Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Co 6:19 KJV What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

2Co 6:16 KJV And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

1John 5: 4 says greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

What happens when you speak?

– Sacrifice will be terminated

– Altar shall scattered

– The man behind the sacrifice will receive fire like Jeroboam

– The evil voice will be silent forever

Prayers:

Pray Is 54: 17

Isa 54:17 KJV No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Josiah burnt the altar, therefore every evil altar raised against me catches fire now In Jesus name.

Wherever the altar is located, let the fire locate them now.

Every object representing me upon any altar is destroyed in Jesus name.

Every altar speaking stagnation, barrenness, unfruitfulness, disappointment, failure, wretchedness over my life and destiny be consumed by fire in Jesus name.

Altar a place of blessing.

Exo 20:24 KJV 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: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

By the reason of the sacrifice of Jesus, I am blessed, the work of my hands is blessed, I refuse to be sick, poor or suffer.