Genesis 3:15, 22:13

 

There is a perfect sacrifice placed on an altar by a perfect priest.

Jesus is the perfect sacrifice

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. 

Jesus is the perfect priest

He was more than a priest. he was the great high priest.

Hebrews 4:14  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 

Jesus willing built the altar

1 John 10:17-18 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life–only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” 

Building a physical altar is not difficult but willing laying your life at the altar is. The main reason is that the sacrifice is a living one. The living one has a choice. So when given a choice, most people choose to come down from the altar. But Jesus’ attitude is ‘not my will but yours be done’.

Romans 12:1-2 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. 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. 

Fires of Revival

G                          C                           G

I came into the gathering of the people of the Lord

            C                        D                                G   D

And found my way among them to His Throne

      G                  C                          G

I needed to return unto the altar of my God

C                                   D                       G    G7

To renew again my covenant with Him

         C             D                Bm     Em

And there I built an altar to His Name

           C                                  A                  D

And realise that my life would never be the same

                         G                                 C

And then the fires of revival came sweeping

                       G

through my soul

          C                         D                          G

And I touch the Holy Presence of my God

                              C    D             G

Come build an altar unto the Lord

                  Em           A                         D

Return to worship and hear His Word

                         G                                C

And then the fires of revival will come sweeping

                         G

through your soul

 C                                         D                           G

And we’ll touch the Holy Presence of our God

G                             C                      G                   

I wanted to discover the first love we once had shared

C                          D                  G           D

Rekindling the fire deep within

G                                        C                            G

I found the lamp still flickering in the temple of my Lord

C                                 D                 G     G7

And pour a horn of oil unto the flame

Genesis 35, 27-28

35:1  Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”… Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. 

When he was fleeing from his brother, Esau, the Lord gave him the Abrahamic covenant.  

28:10-17  Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place…  There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”…  He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” 

Jacob set his heart to remember this place. This is an awesome place where God reveal His reality and His presence. 

28:18-22  Early the next morning Jacob:a.  took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar andb.  poured oil on top of it. c. called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.d.  made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” 

Jacob made a covenant with God that if what God promised him will come true, then truly will Jacob wholeheartedly follow his Lord. Reflection:

·        God indeed is faithful to Jacob.

·        Jacob remembered God’s faithfulness.

·        When Jacob built an altar at Bethel, sweet memories of God’s help and hope came bubbling in his mind.

·        Are there any Bethels you need to go back to and remember God’s faithfulness

·       Are you grateful for what has done for you?

·       Come, build an Altar of Grateful Memory!