4. HEARTS APPROACHING THE ALTAR

4. HEARTS APPROACHING THE ALTAR

An Examination of the Altar (Exodus 27:1-8; 29:42-46)

The entire focus of this study is about God dwelling with man.

1. The term “offering” means to ascend, to exalt, to travel from a lower elevation to a higher one. When you set an offering on the altar, you are making something of earth ascend to heaven; it is when earth touches heaven.

2. The hand placed on the animal represented the transference of guilt (Exodus 29:10-11). We are saved by "substitutionary death." Christ was placed on the altar in our behalf, and we were pronounced “not guilty.”

3. The first person to build an altar of burnt offering was Noah. His example implies this vital truth: All salvation is based on sacrifice (Genesis 8:20). Noah was a righteous man, but he was not sinless and perfect like the Son of God.

4. God promised to meet with humans at that altar of burnt offering. The word “meet (ya’adh, Hebrew)” in Exodus 29:42 means “to appoint, to betroth, to give in marriage.” “You are to come before the LORD at the altar of burnt offering, and I am going to give you in marriage.” It is the marriage altar – Christ, His Son, and His bride. When you stand at the altar in marriage with me; that altar, is the altar of burnt sacrifice, because there will be no betrothal unless you stand at the place of sacrifice with me.

An Encounter at the Altar

1. We will never be free to fully experience God until our earthly kings crumble (Isaiah 6:1-8). The things that stand between us and our God, that draw our attention, is anything that we worship. There is no one that deserves that place besides God.

2. We have never experienced God unless we have seen Him high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1-4). God, let me never get casual with who you are. Never let me lose a reverent spirit toward you.

3. We almost never see God without also getting a sobering glimpse of ourselves (Isaiah 6:5). We are aware of where we are in our walk, how holy we are living our lives, or how unholy our thoughts have been. The word “woe” depicts “pain, crying out.”

4. Conviction is compulsory in God’s presence (Isaiah 6:5). When we are living outside of God’s will, or practicing sin; we do not want to jump out of bed and have prayer time in the morning. We cannot draw into the presence of God and not have conviction.

5. Conviction is often very specific (Isaiah 6:5). “I am a man of unclean lips.” God drew home in that instant with His Holy Spirit exactly what the problem was – and it was literal. It was Isaiah’s area of sin. It is a mouth that Isaiah knew talked in a way that was displeasing to God.

Isaiah had been drawn into something that we will find ourselves continually drawn into, and before long, what we were so aware of as displeasing; we become desensitized to it after awhile, and our lips become unclean. “Lord, set me apart.”

6. We are all cleansed by the same method: the blood of the acceptable sacrifice (Isaiah 6:6-7). The coal came from the altar of burnt offering (Sacrifice). It had soaked up the blood of the perfect sacrifice.

7. When God cleanses us from sin, we are completely clean (Isaiah 6:7). The word “guilt” in Hebrew is “awon” which means “depravity and perverseness.” God can take away from the most depraved and perverse of sins. There is nothing that you can do that cannot be cleansed at the altar of sacrifice.

“Taken away” is a Hebrew word that means to be “turned off, made to disappear.” We cannot bring Him anything that He cannot make disappear at the altar of sacrifice. The cross covered every single sin; every sinner that meets with Him at that altar.

“Atone” is a general term that means “missing the mark.” Whether it was something that was just in thought, but never even made it to deed; whether it was the least thought or way of which you missed the mark of God’s complete holiness and perfection; or whether it was the absolute, unabashed depravity – whatever the limit – God says “I can take it away and atone for it.” When Christ forgave you on Calvary he completely covered you with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, inside and out, where nothing else can penetrate – absolutely nothing!

8. The only way we can respond to God’s call is individually (Isaiah 6:8). God issued His call and Isaiah answered individually (Hebrews 8:12). If you did your part and repented, God will do His part and forgive it. There comes a time in our lives when we are going to have to answer the call of God all by ourselves – “Here I am” (Romans 8; Ephesians 2:10; Isaiah 6:8-12).