Building Our Altar
2Sam. 24:18-25
Introduction:
Jebus - (threshing-floor), one of the names of Jerusalem, the city of the Jebusites.
a. David is a type of every believer b. David’s greatest sin: He committed adultery – with Bathseba He murdered one of his valiant captains Uriah - Both offences means death by stoning He mishandled or misjudged the case of his sons, Amnon and Absalom. He married to several heathen women, and others sinful.
But the good thing about David is his repentant heart.
That is why God called David the man after God’s own heart.
He always yearns to have a close relationship of God.
Though he always fall he riseth up again – For the just man falleth seven times and riseth up again.
This time again he committed one of the greatest sin of his life – a sin of pride by numbering or counting Israel – The problem is not on counting but his motive on numbering Israel.
Maybe David thought in his heart that he is formidable, that he made a great kingdom by his own strength or that he thought no other kingdom can exceed or defeat his kingdom.
What we sometimes though as a small offence, may be a great sin in the eye of God, who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Pride is the greatest sin against God. It cost the life of about 70,000 Israelites in just one day. These number of death does not happen in the entire life of David as a soldier and king.
Why? Because of pride – the good thing is that God did not allow to end David’s life of destruction – God said build an altar for God rather than building your name. God said to David – Don’t build your name but rather build an altar for God.
I. The Place
In threshing floor of Jebus or present day Jerusalem
Treshing machine - farm machine for threshing plants: a static power-driven agricultural machine formerly used to beat or rub harvested plants in order to separate the seeds from the rest of the plant - a place or instrument to separate seed from the plant
a. Our altar represents our threshing floor – we need to be separated in order to be useful. Just like a wheat is not valuable not unless its seeds is separated from the sheaves.
We cannot also usable with God who is a just and holy if we don’t have this place of separation – our altar.
Our altar is the place wherein we are cleanse – wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed of the word of God. It is our place of our devotion to God by reading and meditating his word.
b. This altar is our present day church – Jebus is the present day Jerusalem – the place of the Solomon’s temple and the center of worship of the Jews.
It is our place to separation from the world and the system of this world.
The church of the living God – the pillar and ground of truth.
This world offered counterfeit truth through tv, church inside mall, other recreation area.
But Jebus or Jerusalem is very significant and important place. A place of Abel’s offering, Jacob dream , Abraham offered Isaac, David altar, Solomon’s temple.
c. It is our personal devotion with God
Our ultimate place of separation 2 types of separation of the child of God 1. Separation from the world to church 2. Separation from the brethren unto God Threshing floor is the place of sepation
Our quiet time with God alone – It is our time wherein we have an intimate relationship with God
II. The Cost
It cost David 50 shekels.
It will cost us our time, efforts and money to go to church and minister.
It will cost you to wake up early to spend an hour with God.
David said – neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
That include our time, treasure and talent.
III. The Sacrifice
Threshing floor is a place of labor and sacrifice.
You cannot separate the seeds from the sheaves without sacrifice.
This altar is an altar of sacrifice. In O.T. times the offered sacrifice in the altar.
Today we need to built an altar of sacrifice
Prayer is the greatest sacrifice we can offer to God.
Spurgeon’s success was done by his 70 or 700 praying men while he preached.
Allan Brainard reached American Indians not by eloquence or talent but by his prayer.
E.M. bounds spent his last days by praying 4-5 hours a day – What a shame for today’s Christian workers who cannot stay just one hour with God.
Jacob wrestled with God and blessed him from being a supplanter to Israel - who prevails with God, Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel got a blessing from God change his name from Jacob to Israel because "as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.
Jabez – bless by God change his name from sorrowful and become honorable because of his sacrifice of prayers.
God is worthy of our praise and worship.
Conclusion:
God said to David – Don’t build your name but rather build an altar for God.
We can’t build our Christian life without building our altar first – I’m talking about your faithfulness in our Chritian services and our personal devotion with God.
We can’t build a Christian home without building our altar first.
We cannot be usable if we are not cleansed - 2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
You cannot win any battle without a wrestling time with God.
The saddest thing about modern day Christianity is to see Christians working for God without power from God.
Our altar is our source of power.
