I Will Raise An Altar To God

From: September 23 – 29, 2008

Pastor: Edith Cruz

Study: # 559 (# 297) TOPIC: “I Will Raise An Altar To God” Genesis 8:20

All men and all women need to bring their troubles before God. And if we don’t we will not be able to live in peace, because the world is complicated, and it will become more and more complicated each day. Our hope is not to expect that in the future months or years to come the condition in the world will improve, because it will not be this way. But the people of God know that they have a great God to whom they can bring all their burdens, and not only this, but to go and give Him thanks for all the good things that He has provided us, all that He has promised us and all the things that He will continue to do. Those who live a vain life don't have anything to conquer, nothing to fight for; all they do is to try to survive day by day, they wake up and go to bed, there is nothing to conquer, nothing to fight for. But for the believers there is a rule and this is to raise an altar for Jehovah, to request, to implore, to be thankful, for all our needs. In that moment when I go to my altar with God I don’t need anyone at my side, because I want to be alone with my God. Human beings have different needs, we work, we study, we eat, and we sleep, etc. and we make an effort to satisfy all those needs, to reach them. But there is a greater need in our lives which we take for granted and we are not so violent to defend it. What is it? To raise an altar for God: the hour of prayer, the hour to seek, that altar where all human being needs to go to be alone with God. Human beings tend to and desire to hear mortal voices, but they can never supply our needs as only God can. We must put our lives in order and respect the desire of our spirit when it wants to seek God. We should not allow the television, the telephone, girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, and children occupy so much of our time. Because the time for God belongs to God, and no one else, and we should be more demanding with the time that we dedicate to Him. We must not allow anyone to remove us from our altar, because if we learn how to separate and respect that time, for sure as the church we will grow more and we will be filled with power and authority. When we are not able to conquer or understand it is because we lack spending time at the altar before Jehovah. In Genesis 8:20 can see the first case of a man that raised an altar to Jehovah, Noah. Noah was spared from the misfortune of humanity for all were going to perish because the earth was filled with evilness, and God saw Noah’s heart and made a covenant with him. When the flood ended and all had perished Noah thanked God and raised an altar to Jehovah without consulting anyone, because when we decide to thank God we don't consult anyone. Noah believed God and he raised an altar to recognize His greatness. When we are able to recognize God’s greatness we can rise and worship the Creator. This is why Noah was delivered from the judgment that was brought upon the earth, because he knew how to come before God, because he had an altar, because he spoke with God and God responded him. Therefore, beloved, learn how to have an altar so that you can hear God’s voice and not receive His judgments. In Genesis 13:18 we can see Abraham as he moved from one place to another and built an altar to God; this man also knew how to recognize God because he was not a common man. He took the Word of God seriously and didn't measure his years. He believed God and everywhere he went he raised an altar to God. Abraham said: "God has promised me a descendant, He made a covenant with me, therefore, I will raise an altar for Him, to have communion, to understand each other, to be able to

listen to His voice, so that He will guide me, because my greatest need is to seek God above everything else”. Abraham had promises, for that reason he immediately raised an altar to God. What should we do when God speaks? Raise an altar to God, because if we don’t, the devil will come to steal your faith. Then, instead of growing stronger day by day, the devil will come to weaken you and steal from you. He who has lifted an altar to God, the Spirit is with him and fruits will follow him. When God makes promises is when we must fear the most and pray. The Spirit cries and the soul yearns to seek God. Our passions and the disorder of our flesh are dominated when we raise an altar to God. Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar and he called His name Jehovah-nisi (Jehovah my banner). Moses could see Jehovah-nisi, it was revealed to him as he prayed. When we are in a full battle, in a full struggle, we ask ourselves, who will deliver us from all this? Who will rescue me? Jehovah-nisi will deliver you, the same one that rescued Moses and his people. When the people have an altar they know how to speak, they are brave, and they know who they serve. Because when you believe God your knees will go before your Creator and you will go to Him, in times of peace and in times of war, because in each situation of our lives we have to thank God for His sovereignty, for His greatness of being our banner. Because He is the one who walks in front of us. When there is no altar one does not know where to go. Joshua 8:30 Joshua also learned how to depend on an altar, because a man’s strength is not in how aggressive he may be, or in his character, or in his personality, or ability or determination. A man's strength is there when he decides to raise an altar to God. Joshua could see that the altar would be necessary for him when he went to war, because it would not be his only war, so it was necessary to raise an altar to God. Judges 6:24 Gideon built an altar to Jehovah, and called it Jehovah-shalom (Jehovah my peace.) That nation was in great fear and defeat; they were living in caves and mounts because their enemies were taking away what God had given them and destroying them. Then Gideon rose and built an altar to God to bring peace to that nation. Who dares to raise an altar to God to bring peace to others? Well, the man that prays as Gideon did will provoke peace to a nation and will end the misfortune and the enemy's abuse. Gideon raised an altar and then his strength came. Because power is shown when an altar has been raised. Acts 17:23 Here we can see that these ignorant people raised an altar to a God who was unknown, but we know God and that is why we raise an altar to him. You must not let anyone take away your time with God. If no one takes away your time to eat, to sleep, to work, etc., neither should they take away your time to come before God. Beloved, give your life for the altar of God, because nothing will give us a greater victory. When you give the maximum for the things of this world at the end of the years they no longer exist, but when you raise an altar to God He has a lot to give to you. For this reason you have to have an altar where you can have an encounter with God. Jehovah is calling you, the church, to stop depending on your own strength and to raise an altar where you can take all your sorrows, your complaints and your happiness. Jesus ripped the veil, the Holy Spirit sealed us and today we can go to the Father through Jesus Christ. So we can go freely to raise an altar and to speak with God. Beloved, build an altar! Amen