By Pastor Matthew
Genesis 12:7 and Genesis 13:3-4
Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him… “And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Abraham, the man who became the friend of God as well as the father of the faithful, was an altar builder. When God would appear to him and bestow on him a blessing, a promise or a commission, he would build an altar. All of us need to be altar builders.
The Bible does not tell us very much about these altars that Abraham built because it is not important that we know everything about their construction. They do, however, symbolize a great truth and point out a basic need in our lives. Abraham built altars when he worshiped or when he moved from one place to another.
What is an altar? For Christians an altar can be a place, an attitude or a time when our thoughts and emotions are directed toward God. ”God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). We do not have to be in some specific place before we can worship, for God is a Spirit who cannot be restricted to a specific place. While man is limited to one place at one time, man also has a spirit and therefore can worship God at any time or at any place.
We need to build altars that will call us to the holy privilege of prayer and worship to the one true God, Jesus Christ. As we do so, we will find that those altars become places and opportunities to offer to Jesus the praise of our hearts. As we spend time in deep heart searching and consideration of the blessings of God upon us, we will be more dedicated to our time, talents, treasure and testimony to the purposes of God and His will in our lives.
Because Abraham was an altar builder, he found God’s loving relationship to be wonderful and reassuring. This strengthened his faith so that he was able to believe when others would have disbelieved. Great strength came to him through worship. His soul and inner self was made strong.
This is a great example for all of us reading this, that as we come before God in prayer and worship. Our faith and hope become visible when we Christians present ourselves before the alter of Jesus Christ. We must become altar builders!
Neglecting to build altars captures fear of the soul and will cause us to become neglectful in our worship. Abraham did not construct an altar of any kind while in Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20). This can possibly explain the reason for the fear that came over him at that time.
When fear captures the heart and the emotions, it is pinpointing the fact that faith is either absent or un- focused. Faith must increase, and it can grow and be developed and strengthened. This growth occurs only as we give ourselves to worship. Worship is something considerably more than just going to church and listening to the pastor’s sermon. It is the response of the human soul to God as He reveals Himself in many different manners.
Jesus spoke a parable to the end “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). The truth is that people will not truly experience the fullness of God if they do not pray. By the building of altars in our secret places as we journey through, Christians strengthen their faith, increase their joy, maintain their spiritual wellness and guarantee a continuing Christian witness. It presents an honorable and a reverent readiness for the Lord’s service.
We must build alters as Abraham did. Many altars have already been built or are ordained as places and times for worship. The church where we are to come together as God’s family for public worship is a divinely ordained altar. We all need to stay close to our local church. Love it sincerely and steadfastly. Remember that God’s family is a human family, and do not let the sins of church members or leaders cause you to stumble or to neglect your altar of worship. Pray for the unity of God’s people. Pray for and involve yourself in the work of your church as it carries on its mission for the Lord.
The word of God, our Bible is another altar that will provide communion. God will meet the deepest needs of our hearts as He did for Abraham if we will just listen to His authoritative Word. The Bible is not just a history of what happened in the long ago. It is also a revelation of what God will do and what we can become today if we will simply worship and work in cooperation with our Creator and Redeemer.
Every home should have an altar. The family should have a time each day for devotional study that allows us to spend time together in the presence of our Lord. If the entire family cannot come together that individual should prepare their own altar. This can be done at many different times during the day. For example, we can pray as we shave or dry our hair or drive to work. Take time for mindful and direct prayer. Where there is a will God will always make a way.
Have courage, Jesus Christ will meet with you and bless you as you build your altars.
By Pastor Matthew
The Obedience of the Prophet Jonah When God Said Speak to Nineveh! And the Stunning Results!
Nineveh was located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in northeastern Mesopotamia (Iraq). It flourished from about 800 to 610 B.C. as the capital of the Assyrian empire. It is first mentioned in the Bible back in Genesis as being founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:9-12).
During its time of power, the Assyrian empire conquered the northern Israelite kingdom of Israel, with their capital at Samaria, and transported them away into captivity. Unlike the southern Israelite kingdom of Judah, with their capital at Jerusalem, they never returned, and became known as the “Lost Ten Tribes” of Israel. The Assyrians themselves eventually were lost, although some identify their descendants as being in central Europe today.
Nineveh was the city that the reluctant prophet Jonah was sent to by God. Jonah did not want to go, so he ran away. However, after a famous adventure with a whale at sea he accepted what he was to do – get the people of Nineveh to repent of their evil. He went, and was successful. However, Jonah was still not happy because he did not like the Assyrians because of all of the harm that they had inflicted upon Israel. He had hoped that they would refuse to repent and in turn God would have to destroy them. He may well have been the only prophet in history that hoped that his ministry would fail!
Eventually, the Assyrian empire declined and fell. It was overtaken by the Persian and Babylonian empires that were just then beginning to grow. Today, Nineveh is just a vast stretch of ancient ruins. Giving this backdrop as a history lesson, there is a question that I would like you to think about: Does Jonah’s message to Nineveh regarding its being destroyed in 40 days and not taking place make Jonah a false prophet?
Some use Jonah as an example that prophets can be wrong. The word of God tells us if they speak and it does not come to pass, they are a false prophet (Deut.18). Why? Because a prophet speaks the word that God tells them to speak. God first told Jonah “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it.” It should be obvious that what Jonah spoke was a conditional proclamation to give them a chance to repent (Jonah 1:2). Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah was disobedient, going as far away in the opposite direction as he could. “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you“ (Jonah 3:1-2). When Jonah finally arrived in Nineveh, Scripture says he spoke what God told him to (3:2). He cried out and said: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” So the people of Nineveh believed God” (3:4-5).
Jonah really wanted to see Nineveh’s destruction; he was anticipating judgment not their repentance. God did not tell Jonah everyone would be saved, and he does not tell this to people today, despite their prophesying that cities and nations will come to Christ. His message was simple, “yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” The anticipation of Nineveh’s destruction delighted Jonah when he proclaimed the message God gave him. The people did not know if God would be merciful to them so they did the right thing anyway. In the book of Jonah Chapter 3, verse 5 it states, “And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them“. God honored their repentance! In Matthew 12:41, Jesus also tells us that they repented.
Before Jonah went to Nineveh He knew God was merciful, one who relents from doing harm (4:2), the Ninevites did not. Jonah knew that if he preached to the Ninevites they would have a chance to survive. This was why he was being disobedient in the first place, not because he was afraid. The Bible is clear that God told Jonah to speak a very clear and precise message that God revealed to him to speak. If one were to find fault in the message not coming to pass, it would have to be with God. So it is not Jonah who would be wrong, but God. The message, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown!” destroyed!
The fact is that their repentance was God’s desired result, He gave them 40 days. We already know God’s heart in these matters, through the prophet Jeremiah 18:7-10: ”At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” This principle is based on God’s character of mercy to the repentant. Judgment was sure to come unless Nineveh repented. God gave them a chance to repent by sending Jonah with a message of judgment a second time. It was God’s plan for Nineveh. We cannot turn to God from our evil way unless God first turns to us. He initiates and we are to respond. God had a purpose for saving the entire city of Nineveh. He did this to spare Israel and also give them time to repent as well. Isaiah and Amos prophesied that because of their disobedience they would be taken captive. Jonah knew it would have probably been through these people, if they survived.
This was a conditional prophecy. If they repent God will relent. This is a remarkable display of faith, as they had to immediately give up their idols to seek the Lord. The only ground which their faith rested on was the fact of God sending the prophet to warn them, instead of destroying them at once; this suggested the possibility of a pardon. Jonah 3:9-10 states, “Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.“
The fulfillment of the threat of judgment was contingent on the Ninevites response. Again we must remember- Scripture says Jonah spoke what God told him to (3:2). What this shows us is that God loves to give mercy instead of judgment. Repentance appeals to God’s mercy.
To those of you that this message speaks to I hope and pray that you too, will hear the voice of the prophet Jonah, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown”. However, more importantly, I hope you will see Jesus and his heart of mercy towards you, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.“ Jesus Christ loves Mercy and grace more than judgment. This is a very comforting thought when you really think about it!
Continue to be blessed this summer as you spend time with family and friends!
Pastor Matthew
By Joshua and Zechariah
Bless Those Who Curse You
We have decided to make a joint post because God has been working in both of our lives and focusing us on the importance of the spiritual truth behind blessing our enemies rather than harboring bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness. We hope that those of you who have been in similar situuations as us will find value in this spiritual principle of blessing the ones who have caused you pain.
As we continue to work through the hurt and anger our abusers have caused, we have come to a place where we no longer simply view our abusers as our abusers, but rather God has shown us that they are victims as well. Victims in a sense that they have believed the lie that power is obtained through various forms of control such as in the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of others. In their mindset, gaining control over another person means that they themselves are free from control– and staying in control will relieve them of their feelings of powerlessness. But this lie is actually causing and fueling their misery, holding them in slavery.
Slavery
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34 NKJV)
Slavery leading to death
Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. (Romans 6:16 NLT)
As hard as it may be to fathom, Jesus loves our abusers just as much as He loves us. Jesus desires to set them free from their slavery to sin and the bondage Satan has them in. Jesus has shown us that we should not let our emotions control our mindset, rather we need to take a more mature perspective by praying for our abusers and their deliverance from the web of lies that they live under and the misery that drives them to hurt others.
To imagine the depraved state of mind someone must be in to hurt innocent and helpless children in an effort to gain “power” gives us a better understanding of our abusers and helps us pray for them more effectively.
Bless those who curse you
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44, 45)
If this message has resonated with you, and you feel that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to pray for your “enemies” please join both of us in the following prayer:
Jesus,
We pray for the people that have hurt us so deeply. We ask that you would break through the lies that they believe about who You are and show them that even in the midst of their chaos, You love and care for them, and desire for them to experience the freedom and peace that they have never known. We know that they too have been abused and that as wrong as it is, they are only doing to others what has been done to them. Show them that they do not have to continue to find release by hurting others, as they have been hurt. We pray that you would break through the darkness and despair that they live in and touch them with your love in a way that they can understand. We ask that in your sovereignty, Jesus, you would open their eyes to Satan’s true intentions with their lives, and show them yours. In Jesus name, amen.
Zechariah and Joshua Manning
By Pastor Matthew
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Daniel 6:4-27
Daniel was a great man of faith and prayer. When he had to choose between praying to God or facing death for his beliefs, he was faithful to God. He was protected all night by an angel when he was thrown in a den of lions. We have his example to be faithful and stand up for God.
Have you ever been to the zoo? Did you ever see lions in a den? Did the zoo keepers let you go in with the lions and pet them? No Of course, not! The lions are fierce and might hurt you. In this blog, I want to tell you about a story in the Bible about a man named Daniel. One time he had to spend a whole night in the lion’s den!
Daniel was given a top job in the kingdom of Darius because he was a faithful hard worker. This made the other princes jealous of Daniel. The only way they could find him at fault was to make a law that was against his religious beliefs. The princes tricked the king and got him to pass a law that said no one could ask a petition of God or man, except to the king for thirty days.
Daniel was a man of prayer. He had a habit to pray to God three times a day. Daniel knew of the law, but he continued to pray each day as he always did. King Darius liked Daniel, but when the princes told him that Daniel had broken the law, the king had to punish Daniel. He realized too late that the princes had tricked him into passing such a law.
The king ordered that Daniel be cast into a den of lions. The king hoped that Daniel’s God would deliver him, saying, “Your God who you serve continually, He will deliver you.” A large stone was placed over the den of lions and was sealed. The king was so worried about Daniel that he couldn’t sleep that night. The first thing the next morning, the king went to see if Daniel had been killed. He cried out to see if Daniel was alive and Daniel answered him, “My God has sent His angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, that they could not hurt me.” The king was overjoyed and had Daniel pulled out of the lion’s den. He then brought the men who had accused Daniel and threw them in the den of lions, along with every member of their families. The lions tore them to pieces before they could even hit the ground.
Do you ever find yourselves in situations where you must stand up for what you believe in? Here in America, we are blessed to have great religious freedom. We are free to pray privately to Jesus at any time and any place without breaking a law. Many people in the world still do not have this basic freedom. We can thank Jesus that we have this privilege as well as many others. We can look to Daniel as an example to stand up for our religious freedom, and to be faithful to Jesus at all costs.
However, there is also another principal shown clearly in this story. When making right choices, no matter how hard they might be, going against the earthly king’s of this world, we can know that God will spare us from the mouths of the lions that would want to tear us into pieces. Scripture is clear that “Vengeance is mine says the Lord.” Those who do the plotting and planning, wanting to bring destruction to those who stand for righteousness, will one day in this life or the next face the justice of Jesus Christ. We as believers need to be encouraged in this biblical and spiritual truth, and walk forward in what God has for us no matter how unpopular or confrontational the battlefield that has been set before us is. Therefore, be encouraged all those who are heavy laden! Jesus Christ, the King of Kings is on the side of His children desiring that we have success in all that we do, bringing us rest and peace at the end of each day!
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