The altar is more than a physical place—it’s a spiritual foundation where we meet God, surrender ourselves, and experience His power. In today’s world, many of us have let our altars crumble, prioritizing distractions over prayer and sacrifice. This blog explores the importance of rebuilding the altar in our lives, becoming living sacrifices, and restoring our covenant relationship with God so that His fire can fall upon us once again.
Verse: 1 Kings 18:30-39
“Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come here to me.’ They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.“
1. The Broken Altar
The people of Israel were covenant people, yet their altar was broken. They wanted the blessings of Yahweh while indulging in the pleasures of Baal. This divided heart left their altar in ruins, and without a restored altar, the fire of God could not fall.
Key Thought: Are you praying alone or with your family?
The altar is a sign of the invisible foundation of God’s visible power. It’s not just a physical place but a spiritual one—your prayer room, your bedroom, or wherever you meet God. David said, “My bed is wet with tears.” Is your bedroom a place of prayer, or is it filled with distractions like your phone? Without rebuilding the altar, we may have religion and rituals, but we won’t have the fire of God.
2. What is the Altar?
In the Old Testament, the altar was a place of sacrifice where animals were offered to maintain the covenant relationship with God. Today, the altar is your prayer room, your heart, and your life. It’s where you come before God as a living sacrifice.
Key Thought: Romans 12:1 says, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.”
We are the sacrifice now. Many of us pray, but our hearts remain unchanged because we haven’t truly surrendered on the altar. Anger, bitterness, and sin remain because we haven’t allowed ourselves to die to these things. Without sacrifice, there is no fire.
3. Rebuilding the Altar
When Elijah rebuilt the altar, he sacrificed a bull, and God was pleased with the scent of the sacrifice. Today, Jesus is our ultimate sacrifice. The Lion became the Lamb and died for us on the altar of God. But God still calls us to be living sacrifices.
Key Thought: On the altar, something has to die.
Bring your anger, bitterness, addictions, and distractions to the altar. Kill them there. Forgive those who have wronged you, let go of lust, and obey God’s commands. When you come to the altar, God expects transformation. If you leave the altar unchanged, you allow demons, sickness, and poverty to take hold of your life.
4. The Altar in Your Home
Every home should have an altar—not a physical one, but a spiritual one. Your house, your floor, your prayer room can all be altars where you bow down before God. Make time to pray for at least an hour each day and read the Bible. God doesn’t listen to wrong prayers or bless those who refuse to change.
Key Thought: Forgive, love, and change—not for others, but for your own life.
When you rebuild the altar in your home, you invite God’s presence into your life. The God of Elijah will answer your prayers because you are His covenant people.
5. Be a Living Sacrifice
God wants to bless you, but He is waiting for you to come to the altar and surrender. Being a living sacrifice means dying to yourself—your pride, your anger, your addictions—and allowing God to transform you.
Key Thought: Without sacrifice, there is no fire.
When you come to the altar, let your heart be clean. Kill the addiction to speaking badly, watching wrong things, or getting easily offended. When you leave the altar, you should be changed—your heart renewed, your mind transformed, and your spirit aligned with God’s will.
Final Encouragement
Rebuilding the altar is not just about prayer; it’s about surrender. It’s about becoming a living sacrifice, letting go of the things that hold you back, and allowing God to work in your life. When you rebuild the altar, the fire of God will fall, and His blessings will flow. Remember, God is waiting for you to come to the altar and die to yourself so that He can give you new life.
God bless you abundantly.
