An altar is usually raised structure or place on which sacrifices are offered, or incense is burned in worship. The word altar comes from the Latin “altārium”, meaning “high,” and to the Latin “adolere”, which means “to ritually burn or sacrifice.” We can see that the altar’s purpose is for sacrifices from these definitions. When altars were set up, the blood of animals was poured out on them.
“Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.” (Gen 22:9). God had earlier said this to Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Vv. 2; emp added). Sacrifices are always given to God in a “higher” place. Abraham went to Mt Moriah and tied Isaac, ready to sacrifice him to God. Jesus also died on a “higher area” called the cross. The cross became the altar of God.
Upper Room.
Throughout the Old Testament, the Jews made an “upper room”. Upper room was usually a room built on the roof of houses and was used as a place of prayer to entreat God’s power. It was also a place where they welcomed visitors, and even poor people had upper rooms for visitors. “Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” (Dan 6:10; emp added).
When Elijah prayed for drought for three and half years, God sent him to the widow of Zarephath. This woman’s son died. We continue the story from here. “And he said to her, ‘Give me your son.’ So he took him out of her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. (1 Kings 17:19). Elijah took the boy to the upper room before praying for him to be revived, and the boy came back to life.
A similar story happened in Elisha’s life. In the story of the Shunammite woman, this is what she said to her husband. “And she said to her husband, ‘Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.’” (2 Kings 4:9). Elisha had been passing this woman’s house severally. In verse 8, it says, “Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.” (Vv. 8; emp added). This woman had a miraculous child after making room for the man of God. Upper rooms have been an essential part of the Jews.
We also see these happen in the New Testament. The upper room is also known as the “Cenacle”. “And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” (Luke 22:12, Mt 26:26-29; John 13:1–38). Before the Holy Spirit came on the apostles, they had a meeting in the upper room where Mathias was chosen. They received the Spirit with one accord in the upper room.
Do you have an upper room in your house? Do you have an altar at home? The Bible has a great reference to altars which means they are crucial. The altar is where you host God. The altar is your “spiritual house.” Every house must have a spiritual room where decisions are made. If you have a spare room at home, I will encourage you to use that space as your upper room. Where possible, that room should be different from the visitor’s room. I know in developed countries, it is costly to keep a room just for prayers, but I will encourage you to have one if you can afford it. If not, you can create a space in your bedroom as your upper room.
You must spend time with God daily. Apart from work, it would help to plan your spiritual life. You should make space to pray, read and study the Bible. That same place should be the place to practise hearing from God. Do not be surprised to know that many unbelievers have altars used for sacrifice and protection at home. The average Christian does not have a prayer life and does not see the essence of having a prayer room. They think prayer rooms should be for pastors and not them. You need an altar at home if you want to be all that God made you be. The altar is the place that one has time for their God. Your altar is the place to hear God and download God’s plans for your life. This is also the place for your daily devotion to God. To hear God better, you need to dedicate a stipulated time to be with Him alone. God usually speaks in silence, and to listen to Him, you must spend quality time with Him. This can range from 30mins to 3hours a day. My advice for Christians is to try and spend 2 to 3 hours a day in the presence of God. You can split the time to accommodate your schedule.
To find, follow, and fulfil God’s plan for your life, you need to have an altar at home, and this is where you re-enforce God’s purposes for your life. It connects us to a deeper relationship with God. God wants to meet every believer on a one-on-one basis, and that place is the altar. Every genuine child of God must have a personal prayer altar, and every true Christian family must have a corporate altar as a lifestyle. What we do at the altar has the power to shape and alter our destinies. It is where curses are broken; people are set free, satanic works destroyed, lives saved, and so much more. Anything you want God to do in your life has its starting place at the altar. I want you to take the altar of your home very serious because you are in a spiritual battle already, and your commitment to prayer is what will make a difference in your life.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Ps 91:1). To dwell is to “abide”, “reside”, to “live”, and “stay”. If you want to see the power of God in your life, you must not go to the house of God occasionally; you must live there. Most of us want to see the dead rise, the cripple walk, cancer disappear and miracles all around us, but we don’t see these in our lives because we don’t spend time in God’s presence. Everyone has 24 hours a day, and what we do will determine the spiritual atmosphere walk. Making time for God when working for 8 hours a day is not easy, but I want you to try and devote more time to the things of God than to do unnecessary things. God wants to use each of His children to do mighty works. Greater works are not designed for pastors or remarkable people. Jesus said, “Whosoever shall say to this mountain to move”, it shall move if they don’t doubt it.” (Mk 11:23; emp added). We want “anointed” men and women of God to speak to our mountain when the power to do so has been already given to us. Do not play when you can pray.
Scriptures
1. But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves (Exo 34:13; emp added).
2. Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” (Num 23:1).
3. But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire (Deut 7:5; emp added).
4. And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? (Jug 2:2; emp added).
5. He removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, broke down the sacred pillars, and cut down the wooden images (2 Chr 14:3).
6. So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.” (1 kg 19:10).
7. For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshipped all the host of Heaven served them. He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem, I will put My name.” (2 kg 21:3-4).
8. And all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke its altars and images in pieces and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal before the altars (2 Chro 23:17).
9. So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. (2 Chr 28:24).
10. They arose and took away the altars in Jerusalem, and they took away all the incense altars and cast them into the Brook Kidron (2 Chr 30:14).
11.Now when all this was finished, all Israel who was present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars—from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh—until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned to their own cities, every man to his possession (2 Chr 31:1).
12. And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished (Ez 6:5-6).
13. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. (Hos 8:11).
14. And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They thoroughly broke its altars and images in pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal, before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord. (2 kg 11:18).
15. Other reference to altars: (2 Chronicles-2 32:12, 2Chr 33:3-4, 33:5, 15, 2 Chr 34, Psalms 84:3, Isaiah 17:8, Isaiah 36:7, Isaiah 65:3, Jeremiah 17: Jeremiah 17:2, Ezekiel 6:4, Hosea 10:1-2,8, 12:11; Amos 3:14, Ezekiel 6:13, Rom 11:3).
