Following In Jesus Christ Footsteps

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Do we need an altar in the church today?


Altar:

Do we need an altar today in the church?

What should the modern church look like? 150 years of ministry, so now what?

Do we need an altar today? In history the altar was a place of blood sacrifice for sins. The patriarchs of the Old Testament regularly offered the blood of animals as payment for their sins. In the temple and in the tabernacle people came to offer sacrifices to God on the brazen altar. Inside the holy place of the tabernacle was an altar of incense, which represented the offering of prayers unto God. But, what about today? Do we still need an altar? The cross is our place of blood sacrifice for our sins. Since the sin debt has been paid, do we need to continue to have an altar in a church? The place in the front of the Baptist Church where people come to pray is called the altar. It is a place of sacrifice. Here people come to give themselves to God. Also, in front of the church is a table. We call it the communion table. On the first Sunday of every month we use the table to hold the elements of the Lord’s Supper. The bread represents the broken body of our Lord and the fruit of the vine or juice represents the blood of our Lord that is our blood sacrifice. During the rest of the worship services this table holds the candles, the offering plates, and the Bible. All of these have significant meaning in our worship and in our sacrifice. I believe there is a place in the church for the altar. Do you remember what the apostle Paul said in Romans 12 concerning our worship and sacrifice?

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

There is a need for an altar of prayer in today’s church. This is an altar of living sacrifice. The communion table in most modern churches represents this. Paul said that we needed to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. The dead sacrifice has already been offered once and for all. This is the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God. Jesus is our blood sacrifice. In view of this Paul says that we need to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. So then we should die to self and say yes to God. Become alive to God’s Spirit. We present ourselves to Him and receive His gifts to us. On the communion table we have the offering plates representing our physical gifts to God. We voluntarily come because we believe. We believe because we have heard the truth, so then on the table we have the Bible which is the Word of God. We give because of His Mercies. We give sacrificially which is a costly gift. In a world where people are constantly demanding their rights, the believer shines as those who give up their rights for the rights of others. We live with the Lord and shine the light in the dark, so that others may see the Lord. To represent the light we have the candles on the table. This is a living sacrifice.

There is also a need for an altar of service. We should become living servants.

We give our body as his temple and our heart as the altar. We give our mind, which is being renewed and transformed into his image. Our transformation continues daily as we continue to invite God in and continue to grow in him. Our service to Him is a service to others. This is our reasonable service. Think about it. Is this reasonable to you? Is it reasonable that God would die for you on a cross? Is it reasonable that you would give yourself for Him? As living servants we give God our cares and problems. He wants them and He wants you to give yourself in His service. In this altar of service we care about others so we make intercession for friends and family. In this way the altar of service means that you bring yourself in service to God. Would you present yourself to God in living sacrifice and service? This is what being a Christian is all about. Do we need an altar today? In History the altar was a pace of blood sacrifice for sins. The cross is our place of blood sacrifice for the sins of the people. The sin debt has been paid. So then today do we need to continue to come to an altar in a church? This represents our love for the Lord and our desire to give ourselves to Him in service to others.

I. Altar of prayer: in today’s church

  1. Altar of Sacrifice: Living Sacrifice
    1. We die to self and say yes to God.
    2. Become alive to God’s Spirit.
    3. We present ourselves to God.
    4. We voluntarily come because we believe
    5. We give because of His Mercies.
    6. We give sacrificially which is a costly gift.

  1. Altar of Service: Living service
    1. Our body is his temple and our heart is the Altar.
    2. Our mind is renewed and transformed into his image.
    3. Transformation continues daily as we continue to invite God in and continue to grow.
    4. Our reasonable service: Think about it. Is this reasonable to you?
    5. Give God our cares and problems.
    6. Make intercession for friends and family.
    7. Bring yourself in Service to God

Invitation: Would you present yourself to God?

Would you give yourself in Service? Would you make intercession for others?

The dictionary speaks of intercession as “the act of interceding, meditation, pleading, or Prayer on behalf of another.” Intercession is prayer offered for others as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

An intercessor stands in the gap, as the word of God says, someone who will “ stand in the gap” " Ezekiel 22:30)

God is searching for those who will be intercessors, for those who can actually change the news to the glory of God, change life’s situations, circumstances and people through their fervent, upright prayers. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

God has given us the authority through Jesus (the anointed one) and his anointing to change circumstances and the devils work through intercession. When you enter into the Holy of Holies and fellowship with the Father, The Holy Spirit leads you and shows you what needs to be done in prayer, be obedient. When you are obedient, dynamic and powerful things happen in the spiritual realm. You can destroy the devils work

Whenever the Holy Spirit brings something to your spirit to pray, be sure to speak it out .

As you enter into His presence, start worshipping and praising Him, and then ask the Holy Spirit to show you what is on the Fathers heart to pray. Wait upon Him to guide you in what to pray. Whenever we pray what is on the Father's heart we know that it will move mountains. The Word says that HIS Word will not return unto Him void. Intercession is different than just praying. There are different types of prayers and some of them are listed on this page. We are trying to get you to go directly to the throne room and wait on the Father. If you are a part of a group of intercessors and only one person is praying and leading, be cautious. The Holy Spirit will show the whole group. You will be on one accord, one heart, one mind and the purpose is to pray effectively. If the Body Of Christ would get the understanding of what intercession really is, the devil would tremble. The Father longs for true intercessors who are after His heart and not their own agenda.

The Holy Spirit may bring an individuals name to someone in the group to pray for or He may tell you to pray for a certain nation that may be having trouble. These are just examples. The main thing is to let the Holy Spirit show you. When we try to pray without His directions, we are praying less than His will. It is usually our desires or religious ideas. God knows all things, He is Omniscient, so He knows what needs to be set in motion through prayer. Be obedient.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit will wake you up at night to pray. Be obedient. You may be saving a life in another country. There is no distance in prayer in the spirit, which is where prayer works.

Whenever I first started interceding and waiting on the Father, sometimes I would get just one word, but to my mind it did not make sense, but the Holy Spirit would not let me go any further, until I spoke out what he shared, and thank God I did, because if I had not we would not have received the whole picture ( blueprint ) of what God had wanted to share. He had to train me how to do this, but the Word says that He teaches us all things.

A lot of the things He had us pray and set in motion have come to past, and I believe the rest will also, because it was His will that we prayed and not ours.


Here are some scriptures to meditate on

Heb 7:25 wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Prov 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Psa 81:11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. Psa 81:12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Psa 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Psa 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Psa 119:105 . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.


Father, I pray that all those that read this teaching on Intercession will get the divine revelation of interceding and I pray that the spirit of intercession come upon them and they allow the Holy Spirit to lead them in what to pray for the people.

I pray that their hearts will burn with desire to pray for The Body Of Christ to be in perfect unity, with one mind and on one accord.
I pray that they will get the understanding of how prayer changes things and that before they pray that they will get set free of all unforgiveness and that they will get the desire to walk in your Love, the agape love and that they will receive the complete understanding of who they are in you.

I pray that they receive the understanding that we are new creatures in Christ and that old things have passed away and all things have become new. 2 COR:5:17. Father, I know that I pray prayers of faith, believing that I receive what I pray for, so I consider this prayer answered in the name of JESUS.

We are all one body, The Body Of Christ, but many members, so pray these prayers for the Body. We may not see these things with our natural eyes, but we have to see it through the eyes of faith. We call those things that be not as though they are. Faith is Now!!!



Scripture Reference: Colossians, Chapter 1: 9-14

We thank you Father that the Body Of Christ is filled with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; and we walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; we are strengthened with all might, according to your glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; and we give thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, and has delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: We thank you Father that The Body Of Christ does continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; In Jesus Name.



Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1: 17-2

We thank you Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that you have given unto the Body of Christ the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Jesus:


We thank you that the eyes of our understanding have being enlightened; and that we do know what is the hope of our calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places and far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: In Jesus Name!!!



Scripture Reference: Ephesians 3: 16-20

Thank You Father that according to the riches of your glory, the Body Of Christ has been strengthened with might by your Spirit in the inner man; and that Christ does dwell in our hearts by faith; and we are rooted and grounded in love, and able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, and we are filled with all the fullness of God.
Father we thank you for doing exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. We give you glory, praise and honor, in Jesus name.



Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:13-16

Father, we thank You that the Body Of Christ has come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, and we are not children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; we speak the truth in love, and have grown up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. We give you all the glory, Father. In Jesus Name!!



Scripture Reference: Philippians 1: 9-11& 2: 2& 3

Father, I thank you that the Body Of Christ’s love does abound in knowledge and in all judgment; and is sincere, without offence until the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. We let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind, we esteem our brothers and sisters more highly than ourselves; therefore our joy is full and we are like-minded, having the same love, being on one accord and of one mind. In Jesus Name!! Amen


Different types of prayer has been added on 10-07-02

1 Tim 2:1-3 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Types of Prayer


Prayer Of Commitment

Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

We must first commit our lives to the Lord. When we do that we are casting our cares up to Him. 1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Say this prayer

I am praying right now Father and believing that You have strengthened and enabled me to do what You have called me to do, so I cast this situation on you God. Whatever evil, wicked and perverted thing that the devil is trying to tell me that is going to happen is Your problem Father and not mine, because I am going to do what You have told me to do and leave the rest to You.


Prayer of consecration or dedication

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

When we give something to God in prayer that is a prayer of consecration or dedication. In essence we are saying I give you all my money, my time and my mind or whatever He is telling us to give. When we give, dedicate, and consecrate to the Lord our bodies, and all our members, for His use, we are giving our reasonable service and worship.


Prayer of Praise and Worship

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Praise is remembering His goodness and His faithfulness. It is telling Him of all the good things He has done for you.

Worship is adoring Him, ministering to Him and spending time to be intimate with Him. It is recognizing Him for who He is and what He is. When we worship Him we enter into His glory and come to a place that we only are thinking of Him. We are not after what is in His hand; we are there to glorify Him.

We are to be thankful to God always, continually acknowledging Him, confessing and glorifying His name in praise and worship


Prayer of Thanksgiving

1 Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

1 Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

No matter what are circumstances are, we are to continuously give thanks to Him , because it is the will of God for us to do so.

True thanksgiving flows continually out of a heart that is full of gratitude and praise to God for who He is as much as what He does.


PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING -.

"Our Dear Heavenly and Gracious Father, thank you for divine health: mental, physical, spiritual and material for---------------. Thank you for all blessings known and unknown, and for showering down blessings on us so great that we can not receive them. Thank you for the complete restoration of our bodies. Thank you for restoring ------------------------. Thank you for restoring-------------------. We especially thank you for restoring us from-----------------------. Thank you now for restoration in all areas of our life, so that we can do Your Work. Amen."


My prayers to you

Phil 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

1 Th 5:23 I pray that the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray to God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 1:17-21 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

I pray that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:


Father, I thank You that because of Jesus we are living and walking in the light as he (Jesus) is in the Light. We have true unbroken fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt, and keeps us cleansed from sin in all it's forms and manifestations. 1 John 1:7


Psalm 136:3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.


Peaceful Sleep

When I lie down to sleep, I am not afraid, and I have a sweet and peaceful sleep. Father, I revere and worship You with awe and thank you that the angels encamp around me as I sleep. I bring every thought, and every dream captive into the obedience of Christ, the anointed one. No weapon formed against me as I sleep shall prosper, and Father you have given the angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. Thank you Father that as I sleep the Holy Spirit is ministering to my inner man. I truly rejoice knowing that even as I am sleeping, You are working on my behalf, because You love me.

The Father has many things to say to His Children in regards to the things happening on the earth today, so we must always be ready to hear Him. Do not just pray prayers from our own will. Take time and get with the Father and ask Him what to pray. He will tell you. The Word says that the Holy Spirit shows us things to come, and many things are coming, so get quiet and listen. The Word says that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.




catcmo2006

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