THE ALTAR AND MY GLORY

THE ALTAR AND MY GLORY

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Texts: 1 Kings 18:30-39; Isaiah 60:1-2; Leviticus 6:12-13

Key Verse: 1 Kings 18:38
“Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

Supporting Texts: Genesis 8:20-22; Genesis 12:7-8; Exodus 29:38-43; Psalm 141:2; Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:10; 1 Peter 2:5; Isaiah 58:8

Description: The altar is a place of sacrifice, consecration, prayer and divine encounter, and when the altar is restored and maintained, the glory of God can arise upon His people.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout Scripture, the altar was a significant place of encounter between God and His people. Men and women who built altars were often declaring their dependence upon God, their commitment to Him and their desire for His presence. The altar represented surrender, worship, sacrifice and fellowship with God.

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah repaired the broken altar of the Lord before he prayed for fire from heaven. The fire did not fall upon a neglected altar; it fell after the altar had been repaired and the sacrifice had been properly arranged. This teaches us that there are spiritual things that must be restored when we desire fresh manifestations of God's power and glory.

Isaiah 60 declares, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” Before there can be a manifestation of glory, there must be a people prepared to arise. The altar of our hearts must remain alive before God. When the altar burns, spiritual darkness cannot have the final word, and God's glory can be manifested through our lives.

1. THE ALTAR IS A PLACE OF ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

An altar represents a meeting place between God and His people. It is where sacrifice is offered and where the heart is deliberately turned towards God.

a. The Altar Represents Fellowship With God (Exodus 29:42) — God promised to meet His people at the place of sacrifice.

b. The Altar Represents Worship (Genesis 12:7-8) — Abraham built altars as expressions of his worship and dependence upon God.

c. The Altar Represents Surrender (Romans 12:1) — The believer's body and life must become a living sacrifice unto God.

d. The Altar Represents Consecration (Leviticus 8:10-11) — Things dedicated to God are separated for His holy purpose.

Biblical Example: Abraham built an altar to the Lord after God appeared to him and confirmed His promise concerning his future (Genesis 12:7-8).

2. A BROKEN ALTAR CAN HINDER SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATION

Before Elijah prayed for fire, he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been broken down. A broken altar represents neglected devotion, prayerlessness, disobedience and spiritual decline.

a. Elijah Repaired The Broken Altar (1 Kings 18:30) — Restoration of the altar came before the manifestation of fire.

b. Neglect Can Weaken Spiritual Life (Matthew 26:40-41) — Prayerlessness makes believers vulnerable to spiritual weakness.

c. Compromise Can Damage The Altar (Judges 6:25-26) — Gideon first had to deal with the wrong altar before establishing an altar to the Lord.

d. Restoration Requires Deliberate Action (1 Kings 18:31-32) — Elijah did not merely complain about the broken altar; he repaired it.

Biblical Example: Elijah restored the altar of the Lord before confronting the prophets of Baal and calling upon God for fire (1 Kings 18:30-39).

3. THE ALTAR MUST CARRY SACRIFICE

An altar without sacrifice is incomplete. Throughout Scripture, sacrifice was associated with worship, surrender and covenant relationship with God.

a. Give Yourself To God (Romans 12:1) — The greatest sacrifice a believer can offer is a life completely surrendered to God.

b. Offer Spiritual Sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5) — Believers are called to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

c. Let Praise Rise From Your Altar (Hebrews 13:15) — Praise is a sacrifice that continually honours God.

d. Serve God With Your Resources (Proverbs 3:9) — Our possessions and resources should also honour the Lord.

Biblical Example: Noah built an altar after the flood and offered burnt offerings to the Lord, demonstrating gratitude and worship after God's deliverance (Genesis 8:20-21).

4. THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR MUST NEVER GO OUT

Leviticus 6:12-13 establishes a powerful principle: the fire on the altar was to be kept burning continually. Spiritual fire must not be allowed to die.

a. The Fire Must Be Maintained (Leviticus 6:12) — The priest had responsibility for keeping the altar fire burning.

b. The Fire Requires Fresh Wood (Leviticus 6:12) — Continuous spiritual fire requires continuous spiritual attention.

c. Prayer Keeps The Altar Burning (Psalm 141:2) — Prayer is part of the believer's continual spiritual offering.

d. Spiritual Fervency Must Be Maintained (Romans 12:11) — We are commanded to remain spiritually fervent in serving the Lord.

Biblical Example: The priests in Israel were instructed to maintain the fire continually, demonstrating that the worship of God was not intended to become cold or occasional (Leviticus 6:12-13).

5. WHEN THE ALTAR IS RIGHT, FIRE CAN FALL

Elijah repaired the altar, arranged the sacrifice and called upon God. Then the fire of the Lord fell. Divine fire represents God's supernatural response and manifestation.

a. Fire Represents God's Presence (Exodus 3:2) — God revealed Himself to Moses through fire.

b. Fire Represents Divine Approval (Leviticus 9:23-24) — God's fire consumed the offering when His glory appeared to the people.

c. Fire Demonstrates God's Power (1 Kings 18:38) — The fire on Carmel proved that the Lord alone is God.

d. Fire Brings Conviction (1 Kings 18:39) — When the people saw God's power, they fell on their faces and acknowledged Him.

Biblical Example: On Mount Carmel, God answered Elijah by fire, and the people declared, “The LORD, he is the God” (1 Kings 18:38-39).

6. GOD'S GLORY RISES UPON A CONSECRATED LIFE

Isaiah 60:1 calls God's people to arise and shine because His glory has risen upon them. Glory is not merely something we talk about; it is something that should be manifested through a life yielded to God.

a. Arise From Spiritual Slumber (Isaiah 60:1) — There is a time to rise from every condition that has kept us down.

b. Let God's Light Shine Through You (Matthew 5:16) — The believer should become a visible testimony of God's work.

c. God's Glory Is Greater Than Darkness (Isaiah 60:2) — Though darkness covers the earth, the Lord can cause His glory to rise upon His people.

d. Consecration Makes Us Useful To God (2 Timothy 2:21) — A sanctified vessel is prepared for the Master's use.

Biblical Example: Moses spent time in God's presence on Mount Sinai, and his face shone after encountering the glory of the Lord (Exodus 34:29-35).

7. MY ALTAR MUST PRODUCE MY GLORY

The glory God gives is not for selfish display. When God's fire burns in us, His glory should become visible through our character, service, testimony and influence.

a. Your Light Must Shine (Isaiah 60:1) — God desires His light to be manifested through His people.

b. Your Life Must Glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31) — Everything we do should be directed towards God's glory.

c. Your Testimony Must Point To God (Psalm 66:16) — What God does in our lives should become a testimony of His goodness.

d. Your Glory Must Serve God's Purpose (Philippians 2:15–16) — We are called to shine as lights in a dark generation.

Biblical Example: Joseph's life became a testimony of God's wisdom and favour in Egypt. Though he was elevated to a position of authority, he consistently acknowledged God's hand upon his life (Genesis 41:38-41).

8. RESTORE YOUR ALTAR AND EXPECT A NEW MANIFESTATION

God can restore what has become neglected. A renewed altar can become the beginning of a new season of prayer, power, purpose and divine manifestation.

a. Return To Your First Love (Revelation 2:4-5) — God calls His people back to their original devotion.

b. Repair What Has Been Broken (Isaiah 58:12) — God can make His people restorers of what has been damaged.

c. Seek God With Your Whole Heart (Jeremiah 29:13) — Genuine pursuit of God opens the way for deeper fellowship with Him.

d. Expect God To Manifest His Glory (Habakkuk 2:14) — God's ultimate purpose is that the earth should be filled with the knowledge of His glory.

Biblical Example: After Israel returned from captivity, Zerubbabel and the people rebuilt the altar before completing the rebuilding of the temple, restoring worship to the centre of their national life (Ezra 3:1-6).

CONCLUSION

The altar is not merely a physical structure; it represents the place of surrender, prayer, sacrifice, worship and encounter with God. When the altar becomes neglected, spiritual fire can diminish. But when the altar is repaired, sacrifice is offered and devotion is restored, we position ourselves for fresh encounters with God.

God is calling us to rebuild our altars. Let prayer burn again. Let worship burn again. Let consecration burn again. Let the Word of God burn again in our hearts. As the altar burns, may the fire of God fall, may darkness be broken and may His glory rise upon us. May our lives become living testimonies that declare that the Lord alone is God.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, restore the altar of prayer and worship in my life, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, forgive me for every way I have neglected my spiritual altar, in Jesus name.

3. Father, let the fire upon my altar never go out, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, give me grace to offer myself completely to You as a living sacrifice, in Jesus name.

5. Father, let every broken altar in my life be repaired by Your power, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, let fresh fire fall upon my prayer life, worship and service, in Jesus name.

7. Father, let every power of darkness resisting Your glory in my life be consumed by Your fire, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, cause Your glory to rise upon me and let Your light shine through my life, in Jesus name.

9. Father, let my life become a testimony that brings many people to acknowledge Your greatness, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, make my altar a place of continual encounter, power and divine manifestation, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. Your altar shall not die; the fire of God shall continually burn upon it.

2. Every broken altar in your life shall be restored by the power of God.

3. You shall receive fresh fire for prayer, worship and service.

4. The power of every strange altar speaking against your destiny shall be broken.

5. The fire of God shall consume every work of darkness assigned against your life.

6. You shall arise from every spiritual limitation, and the glory of the Lord shall rise upon you.

7. Your light shall shine, and darkness shall not overcome your testimony.

8. Your life shall become a living altar through which many people encounter God.

9. The glory of God shall be visible in your life, family, ministry and assignment.

10. You shall move into a new season of divine fire, supernatural encounters and greater glory.