HOPE IS AT THE ALTAR

HOPE IS AT THE ALTAR

By Pastor Dorsey E. Marshall Jr.

"Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace." Judges 6:24

      As the Pastor was giving the benediction to close the Sunday morning service, a young lady walked to the front of the church and knelt at the altar weeping. Her name was Hope and she was the Pastor's daughter. Hope had been away from God for many years wandering aimlessly trying to find her way. As her Dad, the Pastor, was praying, he made a profound statement, "Hope is at the altar!" Yes, his daughter was at the altar, but hope is at the altar for all who are lost.

The altar is a place to be cherished and honored. Many of today's churches have removed the physical altar, but altars are more than pieces of furniture in the sanctuary. The altar is built in your heart. The altar is a place for confession, repentance, forgiveness, transformation, and restoration. Let your encounter with God lead you to an altar that produces peace and a life of victory.

Gideon, an ordinary farmer, was hiding -- in fear of the enemy. He was working, preparing wheat for use, by separating the wheat from the husk, behind the barn. Most sermons we hear about Gideon are about what a coward he was, but the truth is he was one of the few in his camp that had not lost hope for the future. Sure, things were bad, but it was necessary to press forward to provide for his family. Work had to be done in secret, but he couldn't throw in the towel and give up. Gideon was discouraged, but he was bent on survival.

Gideon was visited by an angel, and asked to go out and fight the enemy. Like us, he listed why he felt he was not qualified for God's call. He was from a poor family, not known for military strength, and was the least of all his family. However, in that place he made a life-changing altar and prepared an offering to the Lord. It is interesting to note that upon making an altar to the true God, that same night the Lord sent Gideon out to tear down the altars of the enemy. Sometimes, before God can bring us victory, we must destroy the places that have held us hostage. Gideon became known as a contender, fighter, and conqueror. What a difference an altar can make in one's life. Hope is at the altar.

LET US PRAY: "Father, I build an altar in my heart to Your glory and honor. It is a place of sacrifice and victory, In Jesus' Name, Amen!"

 

"Mighty men are born at the altar!" 

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