WE MUST NOT BYPASS THE ALTAR

PRAYER JOURNAL 1/12/19

Hebrews 8:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The Tabernacle of the Old Testament had 2 altars; the BRAZEN ALTAR OF SACRIFICE in the Outer Court and the GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE in the Holy Place. Leviticus tells us that the Altar of Sacrifice was AT THE DOOR of the Tabernacle of Meeting and the Altar of Incense was INSIDE the Tabernacle of Meeting.  The High Priest could not even enter the Tabernacle without passing by the ALTAR OF SACRIFICE. 

But it wasn’t enough to just “PASS” the Altar of Sacrifice; NO, he had to stop…A sacrifice must be offered…GOD DEMANDED BLOOD as atonement for sin.  It was only AFTER the sacrifice that the High Priest could continue into the Tabernacle of Meeting.

 Yes, the High Priest had to stop at both altars before he entered the Holy of Holies where the Shekinah Glory of God rested on the Mercy Seat. The Brazen Altar, an altar of death and sacrifice and the Golden Altar, an altar of praise.

God demanded that he enter the Holy of Holies bearing blood from the sacrifice and a censer of burning incense. It would have been much less messy to just grab the incense from the Golden Altar as he went behind the veil but that was NOT what God had prescribed for atonement and each step in the process must be followed exactly….the sacrifice, washing at the bronze laver, putting on the correct garments, bearing the blood of atonement and the burning incense…all necessary when entering into the Presence of God.

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

We sing “Jesus Paid It All.” We declare “We can come before the Throne of Grace boldly.”  We lift our hands and dance before the altar, our praise a “sweet smelling savor” to God; BUT IS IT? Does God accept our worship before the Altar of Incense if we have not first stopped at the Altar of Sacrifice?  Yes, “Jesus Paid it All;” shed His own precious blood once and for all,

BUT…

God still demands sacrifice…sacrifice of our desires, our will; we must die to self. God still demands that we be washed and allow Him to wrap us in robes of righteousness. God still demands praise. It would be much easier, less messy and more satisfying to rush past the Altar of Sacrifice, sing a few songs of praise as we go into the Holy of Holies…BUT IT DON’T WORK THAT WAY!

YOU CANNOT JUST PRAISE YOUR WAY INTO GOD’S GLORY….

It takes sacrifice and death on the Brazen Altar, if you desire God’s Glory in your life.

WE MUST NOT BYPASS THE ALTAR!