Articles

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, " To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:7-8)

He (Jacob) built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother. (Genesis 35:7)

So with the stones he (Elijah) built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. . . You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. ³⁷ Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God . . .When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God." (from 1 Kings 18:32-39)

Throughout Scriptures we see the building altars to establish places of worship and consecration before the Lord.  These altars were built in response to a revelation or encounter with the Lord, and also in faith-filled anticipation and hopeful expectation of establishing a place where the Lord's abiding, manifest presence permeated and brought the rule of the Lord into the earth. 

Altars represent places where earth welcomes and opens to the Lord, and the eternal realm of the Kingdom of God flows into the earth.  The gate (or portal) established opens for the reality of the atmosphere of Heaven to impact the atmosphere of earth.  The measure of influence increases according to the consecration of those who submit to the rule of the One who is worshiped. 

Note, this is true also in the dimension of demonically established altars where false gods and tyrannical demonic principalities are established. This explains why areas where occult or pagan worship is strong the atmosphere is hardened and resistant to the  Gospel of the Kingdom. 

Who is worshiped at the altars of a territory sets the atmosphere.  The battle in every territory is over worship.  The battle is over what kind of altar will be established -- the altar of the Lord or altars to the enemy and his minions.   This is true in the hearts of individuals, families, communities, people groups, and nations.  

Altars establish gates of rulership. Remember the conflict of Elijah and prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.  It was a conflict over who would rule, over revealing who was truly the Lord.  The altar was built, then the Lord answered with fire from heaven demonstrating that the Lord God, He is the God.  (see I Kings 18)

This week I have been meditating on Pentecost and specifically on the Upper Room.  In this place,  Christ's disciples, along with other faithful followers, gathered in obedience to Christ's words to "tarry in Jerusalem until . . "  As these 120 faithful ones gathered they "with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer." (Acts 1:12-14) As living stones, they built an altar to the Lord. 

They were surrendered to the will of the Lord, offering themselves as a "living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." (Romans 12:1)  In that posture of humility, devotion, and obedience (and without a doubt a measure of desperation), they became an altar, establishing a gate of heaven - a portal for the atmosphere of Heaven to break into the earth. 

Then. . heaven broke into earth.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

God, once again, answered with Fire from Heaven.  He sent forth Holy Spirit, appearing as tongues of fire, and the followers of Christ gathered in an upper room, suddenly became carriers of His glory - His very presence. Now, they were empowered to be and do all He had spoken of while He walked on the earth. 

God is calling us to build altars of worship, not with stones and mortar, but altars of worship established by absolute surrender and devotion to the Lord, Who is the Only One Who is Worthy!  He is calling us to gather as living stones fit together by His design to offer sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Christ (See I Peter 2:4-5).  He is looking for places built for His glory to become gates of His Kingdom rule to flow through in the earth. 

Altars to the Lord are to be established as places prepared for the fire of His glory and power.   Altars of the Lord are to open the portals of heaven and as we worship and minister unto the Lord, the gate opens wider and the influence of the atmosphere of the Kingdom of Heaven increases and the awakening that has been released in the earth grows stronger and stronger. 

In preparation for this year's Pentecost, let the altars of the Lord be prepared to receive fresh fire from the Lord, and may the portal of the Lord be opened to bring greater measures of Christ's Kingdom on earth even as it is in Heaven. in Jesus' mighty name! 

It is a joy to serve the Lord with you to see altars of His glory established, first in individual hearts and then, as we come together to establish altars that become gates of His Kingdom.