“So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.”
“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be[b] great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”
“Then you will come and pray to me, and I will listen”
According to Genesis 26:25 (quoted above), an altar is a place where the name of the Lord is called. We call God’s name during our communication with him. The method of communication is through prayer, which represents one of the most effective ways that God has given to man to communicate with him.
The altar is the place of revelation, where God reveals himself, as such assisting us in our relationship with him. “He 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
As intercessors, we want to see the move of God in our lives, families, communities, churches, and nations. This comes with a price we must pay. What kind of aroma is produced from your altar? The aroma at Abraham’s altar moved God to make a declaration that we are benefiting from today. “The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.” Genesis 8:21
The altar is the place where you come in obedience and offer your Issac; giving your best to the Lord. Abraham was blessed by the Lord and the same God asked him for Isaac, and he offered him without questions. What has God asked you to let go at the altar? Your breakthrough may be on hold because you have not yet surrendered your Isacc. God blessed Abraham and multiplied the blessing.“ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.” Genesis 22:9
To rebuild any altar that will attract the presence of God and open his ears to our prayers, we must bring down the altars of Baal, whether from our families or ourselves. These Baal altars may include anything that does not align with the spirit of God that we have been living with for a while, yet we go before God every day, examples: unfaithfulness, gossip, chatting, worshiping things that do not bring God glory, etc. “Now on the same night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it” Judges 6:25
Also, in rebuilding the altar, we must let go of any unforgiveness; as this can hold us captive and prevent our communication with God: “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:23-24
According to Malachi 1:10-14 (Stated above), we cannot bring blemished sacrifices when we come to God in the place of prayer, as noted in Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship,” we must be alive through Christ(Colossians 2:13) and come in Holiness (1 Peter 1:16). “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 2 Chronicle:16: 9
To maintain the altar, we must know the source of our living and understand that without that we cannot survive. We must choose to stay connected to the source.“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
God is not a man and we do not see or feel him like we do human beings, therefore, our relationship with him has to be spiritual, so we come to the altar through the Holy Spirit and by faith. Therefore to rebuild the altar, we must renew our relationship with the Holy Spirit as well as our faith in God. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
God makes the provision available when an altar is built with the right materials and right attitude as stated above. In Genesis 22 Abraham and God are having communication about an altar and we see that in the end, both parties kept their promise, although Abraham was really blessed. Abraham had come to that place in his life where his faith was not shaken by anything. “ The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:15-18
Prayer Points
Pray that God will give you a pure heart so that you will be able to communicate to God in righteousness and a pure heart: “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22
Pray that your faith and belief in Him must grow and not be shaken by the circumstance around you: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Pray that the aroma at your altar will attract the presence of God: “The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.” Genesis 8:21
Pray for a total separation with anything that is competing with the Spirit of God in you and the church: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
Call on the fire of God to arise and demolish any altar of Baal competing with the Lord in your life, family, community, church, and nation: “Now on the same night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull and a second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it” Judges 6:25
Pray that the Lord reveals himself to you and the church at the altar: “He 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. God is
An altar can avert a plague. Pray against any plague in your life, family, community or nation. Covid-19 is a plague. Arise and call on the Lord to deliver us from this: “David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.” 2 Samuel 24:25
There is no time limit to call upon his name. We must talk to God as long as we are alive. Ask the Lord to help you. His ears are open to our prayers. So long as there is life, we must pray: “Because He has inclined His ear to me,Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:2
Pray that as we call upon his name, that he will come and fulfill this bible verse in our lives:“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
Is there any distress in your life? Call on the Lord and cry out to him. He is the only helper we have who understands our needs: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.” Psalm 18:6
Pray for the grace to abide in the One who calls you into fellowship with him: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
Join us each night on our prayer-line 9 PM EST (Monday, November 29th, 2021 through Sunday, December 19th, 2021)
Prayer line information: Dial-in using your phone:
United States: 339-209-4113
No access code needed for US callers
International Dial-In Numbers
Germany +49 221 98258738
UK +44 333 015 4197
Cameroon +237 2 42 24 10 42
Nigeria +234 1 227 9424
Kenya +254 205231012
Access code for international numbers:
5564526 #