Day #251 - Altars over Thrones
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“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 Kings 18:30 NIV
What do think is the greatest rivalry of all time?
There are American rivalries like the Hatfields vs. the McCoys. There are sports rivalries like the Lakers vs. Celtics in basketball, the Yankees vs. the Red Sox in baseball or Alabama vs. Auburn in college football. The greatest Bible story rivalry is probably David vs. Goliath (besides the overarching battle between God’s kingdom and Satan, but that’s no contest). )ne of the other greatest rivalries in the Bible is Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal.
Elijah had prophesied against Israel and Ahab, the evil king of Israel who was married to the evil queen Jezebel. He prophesied that it would not rain in the country until Elijah says that it will rain again. This is a prophecy against the false god Baal who supposedly controls the weather. It doesn’t rain for three and a half years. God uses Elijah to expose the deception of His people’s allegiance to this weak idol.
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah challenges the 450 prophets of Baal to a challenge. They are both going to build altars and prepare a sacrifice. The God who answers by fire is the one true God. The prophets of Baal go first and after hours, nothing. Elijah mocks Baal and the prophets try harder by being louder and even cutting themselves, but still nothing. Elijah takes his turn but has a ditch dug around the sacrifice and covers the altar and sacrifice with 12 containers of water. Then he prays and the Lord, who is God, He answers by fire. The fire consumes the sacrifice and all of the water that had surrounded it. The people’s hearts are turned back to God.
After this Elijah prays and the rain returns to the land. Elijah is a man of “the Presence” whose prophetic words and prayers stopped and brought back the rain. Ahab was still the king on the throne in the land but Elijah rebuilt the altar of the Lord. He who spends time at the altar has a greater power than he who sits on the throne. The altar is connected to God’s throne in heaven. That means the most powerful person on earth is still subject to the most powerful One in heaven. There is a higher authority than government authority and those who come surrendered before “the Presence” have greater authority to shift the culture.
People of “the Presence” realize that true power, authority and greatness is available to those who surrender, sacrifice and yield to the ultimate authority, the Lord God Himself. There is more available to us in our relationship with God and in prayer than we realize. Stay impressed with the invisible and Almighty Ruler of the universe.
Lord God Almighty, You are the God who answers by fire. Your power exposes the emptiness and weakness of idols and Your enemies. There is no one like You. May I not be impressed with earthy rulers that serve false gods, but may I keep my eyes fixed upon You. In Jesus name, amen.
“He who spends time at the altar has a greater power than he who sits on the throne. The altar is connected to God’s throne in heaven.”
On Sunday mornings, as church begins, you will find me as close to the front of the altar as I can get. I feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to go forward and praise Him there. Proximity is not what it is about - it is about doing whatever He asks me to do. I love praising Him as if I were in His very presence, joining the heavenly host and all those who have gone on to their forever home with Him. That is more "real" to me than just about anything else.
I am praying God keeps calling me and others to join Him at the altar. May people eager to know Him more profoundly and vibrantly pack it to touch Everett and the surrounding areas with the vitality of life in Christ. Let it be catchy, in Jesus' name, amen!
Yes and Amen 🙏🙌🕊