In Matthew 21: 12-13, “Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
Jesus made this declaration, “My house shall be called a house of prayer!” I believe that God is calling us back to the altar of prayer. For several weeks the Lord has dealt with me about rebuilding the broken altar of prayer in our personal and corporate lives. If we are going to see spiritual breakthrough in our churches and communities then we must rebuild and return to the altar of prayer.
Wayman Rogers writes, “The ministry of prayer is the most important of all ministries in the church. Prayer creates the atmosphere and binds the powers of darkness so the gospel of Jesus can go forward and the church can prosper. This is the area that the majority of our church talks about the most and practices the least.”[i]
An altar is a place of sacrifice. It is a meeting place with God. Catherine Brown defines the altar as “A meeting place between heaven and earth, where God creates covenant and where a priest offers either sacrifices or gifts.”[ii]
Today I want to challenge you to rebuild the broken altar of prayer. In the New Testament we are no longer commanded to build a physical altar, but we must establish a spiritual altar. John 4:24 reads, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” We will not be successful in our Christian life without establishing an effective prayer altar. There are two altars that I believe is calling for the Body of Christ to rebuild in these last days:
The Personal Altar of Prayer
Your personal altar of prayer is the place where you meet with God for your devotional and quiet time. It can be a particular place and time. It can be a particular room in your home such as your study, den, or bedroom. Where is it that you set aside time to pray and listen for the instructions of the Holy Spirit?
Your personal altar will be a place of personal visitation. Why not schedule out a time to meet with the Lord on a daily basis. I believe that He longs to spend time in fellowship and communion with His children. In Revelation 3:20 John writes the words of Jesus, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Nobody in the Scripture was called a friend, or a prophet of God who did not have a strong personal prayer life. God does not only want us to work for Him but also to walk with Him in relationship. Our Lord is looking to partner and work together with us to fulfill His kingdom plans.
Those who were successful in the work of the Lord understood the power of the personal prayer altar. To be successful in our walk and relationship with Christ we must develop a solid personal altar of prayer.
The Corporate Altar of Prayer
Secondly, we must rebuild the corporate prayer altar. It is time for the church to rebuild and return to the altar of prayer. God is calling His church to become a house of prayer for all people. We are called to pray until the purposes of God are released into our assigned territory.
In Matthew 21:12-15 Jesus went into the Temple and overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of those who were selling doves and profiting through the manipulation of God’s people. The Temple had ceased to be what God had called it to be. In Matthew 21:13 Jesus redefines God’s original purpose for His house, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”
When you read this passage of Scripture you learn that there are four things that get restored when the corporate altar is rebuilt and reestablished in the House of God:
1) Prayer gets restored to a place of priority – Matthew 21:13
2) Power is released for miracles – Matthew 21:14
3) Purity is released – Matthew 21:12
4) Praise is restored and becomes joyful and jubilant – Matthew 21:16
When we rebuild and repair the broken altars in our personal and corporate lives we will see the breakthrough and the revival that we have been longing and praying for. Will you join me in repenting of our prayerlessness and rebuilding the broken and neglected altars of prayer?
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