SERIES: RAISING ALTARS
TEXT: GENESIS 8:20
PREACHER: PST. GEOFFREY MUNYAE.
INTRODUCTION
The dictionary defines an altar as a raised place on which sacrifices are offered. In the Old Testament there were 2 types of sacrifices on an altar:-
- A blood sacrifice for propitiation, for cleansing, for obtaining justification, forgiveness of sin.
- A sacrifice for worshiping God.
In the New Testament the first type of an altar was done by our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. We no longer give anything to God so as to obtain salvation or be cleansed from sin. We are cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ.
In church we also use the word altar in a general sense for example when members of a family are having devotion together we call it a “family altar,” when two people are marrying in church we say they make vows “at the altar.”
In church, there is giving of sacrifices/offerings not to be forgiven sin but to do it as part of worship. Worshiping is richer when accompanied by sacrifice. More about Noah’s sacrifice:-
IT WAS OUT OF HIS VOLUTION
- God did not ask Noah to build an altar. It came from Noah’s own decision to honor God and to appreciate the goodness of God in sparing his life and that of his family, in giving him favor.
- It was a sacrifice from clean animals-Genesis 8:20.
GOD SMELLED THE SWEET AROMA-Genesis 8:21.
- An aroma is a strong, pleasant smell. Noah organized it in such a way to please God by the type of animals offered and his attitude in presenting the sacrifice.
- The Bible says that there are our sacrifices in the New Testament church, that God is pleased with:-
- Romans 12:1-Our bodies kept holy, is a living sacrifice pleasing to God.
- Generosity-Sharing material things with God’s people who are in need.
- Praise-Through Jesus Christ therefore let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of our lips that confess His name, for with such sacrifice God is pleased-Hebrews 13:15-16.
- Giving to further the gospel-Phil. 4:18.
WITH THE SWEET AROMA GOD RELEASED BLESSINGS-Gen. 8:20.
After accepting Noah’s sacrifice, God pronounced blessings:-
- “I will never again curse the ground because of man.”
- “I will never again strike down every living creature as I have done.”
- “While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease.”
- God blessed Noah and his sons and said:-
- “The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth-Gen. 9:2.
- Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you-Gen. 9:3.
CONCLUSION
- Can God say of your sacrifice “Sweet-smelling aroma?”