Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the Word of God to be spread throughout the world.
so that all may know Christ. Join us now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church. Located in Kernersville, North Carolina. We love you. The altars of Abraham.
We talked about the first family altar. And then we talked about the first. Altern. in the Word of God. And you can't talk about altars without going into this subject.
of Abraham. And so today we're going to deal with this one and then our next installment. Um the last of Abraham's altars. But I want to give you the altars of Abraham today.
Now these aren't necessarily all the altars, but I've taken some and put them into a category.
so that you can understand the principle. about altars in the Bible. especially altars in the Old Testament. Altars represented a person's walk. and relationship With God.
Everybody understand that? Say amen. You and I do not have to build altars now. In fact, Excuse me, if we built an altar And we sacrificed an offering on an altar and killed a lamb and put it on an altar, that would be sacrilegious. It would literally be blasphemy to the Lord.
Now. But in the Old Testament, that wasn't the case. In the Old Testament, you have to understand that God came to man and God. Spoke with man at times and God impressed upon individuals' hearts, but Man really had no way to God. And so altars represented man's attempt to communicate.
With God. In other words, an altar would represent worship. An altar would represent forgiveness. We've gone through all this already. But obviously, in Abraham, you can watch the flow of his life.
And every step of his life, every major decision, every major milestone can be traced back. to an altar. And so today is going to be somewhat informative because If we're going to do a series on altars, I want you to kind of understand about this.
So we're going to pray in Genesis chapter 12. as you have found it. I want you to look at verse 6. The Bible says, and Abraham passed through the land. unto the place of Sikkim unto the plain.
Of Mora. And the Canaanite was then in the land, the Canaanite people. And the LORD appeared unto Abraham and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land. And there builded he an altar. Unto the Lord.
who appeared Unto him. Number one, this morning, before we pray, we're going to be talking about what I call. the relationship Alter. This was his first Alter. The relationship altered.
Because the story of Abraham really doesn't start in Genesis chapter 12. No, listen here. The story of Abraham really starts in Acts. Chapter 7. Abraham in the Old Testament His story really starts.
all the way over. in the New Testament. Let's pray. Excuse me, Lord, I love you. Lord, I thank you for all you've done.
And Lord, I know Satan's attempt to Um Make my throat so bad it's done well these last few days and Lord, I well expected it this morning. But give our people grace. May it not distract them too much. And Lord, I pray that you would touch my throat. Lord, how shall they hear without a preacher?
And so, Lord, we want people to hear clearly.
So, I pray that you would help it. Lord, as we preach your word, And we discuss the subject of altars. We are reminded now that you You Or our altar. Jesus, thank you for dying for us. Thank you for being.
The sacrifice. For us.
So, Lord, help us to glean and learn from this. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. The relationship Alter. This was an altar that Literally, Abraham set up by an oak tree.
in what they call the Mora area. The story of Abraham does not begin in Genesis 12. begins in Acts 7. In fact, according to Joshua, in the book of Joshua. Terror which was Abraham's father, was an idolater.
God Himself comes to Abraham. And Abraham was from and in a pagan Family.
Now, I want you to see these verses so that you can see how the Bible kind of gives us an account of things. In Acts chapter 7.
Now, these verses will be on the screen. You're welcome to turn there and follow if you will. But I want you to hang on with me just a little bit this morning because you're gonna learn some things this morning. on the subject of altars. Acts chapter 7 verse 2.
This is literally Stephen talking here, and he said, men, Brethren and fathers, Hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham. When he was in Mesopotamia, Before He dwelt In Quran. And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country. and from thy kindred, And come into the land which I shall share.
Show thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans. And dwelt in Quran, and from thence When his father was dead, He removed him into this land. Wherein he now dwells.
Now look at verse 5. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. Yet he promised. that he would give it to him for a possession. That means Abraham showed up and didn't have any inheritance there.
Abraham showed up. He didn't own one thing. But God had already said, I'm going to give this land to you. God had promised something.
So God comes to Abraham. When he is at home living with his father, his father was a pagan idolater. In fact, When they moved, when his father moved, they moved to Quran. It literally was the center of moon worship. worship.
So here's Abraham in a pagan environment. God shows up to Abraham and says, Listen, I want you to get out of this land. I want you to go to this land. I'm going to give you this land as an inheritance, and I'm going to use you greatly. God comes to Abraham.
But Abraham doesn't do anything.
Now look at Acts chapter 7. Verse 5 says he had no possession. He had no seed. He didn't have children. He didn't have a son.
Verse 6. And God spake on this wise. that his seed should sojourn in a strange land And that they should bring them into bondage and entreat them. evil 400 years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God.
And after that shall they come forth and serve me in this place. God is sharing all this, even about the children of Israel being in bondage in Egypt. And here's Abraham living in a pagan house with a pagan dad. For all we know, Abraham might have been an idolater at that time. We don't know.
We don't know exactly when this took place. But God said Abraham get out of this country Leave this country. And come to this land, I'm going to give it to you. And Abraham did not. Go.
So the Bible says years went by. And then Abraham's dad took it. Here uh Passed away. And when he passed away, Then Abraham Reminded himself of what God had said. God had appeared unto him.
And then he began this journey. and came to this land. One more set of verses before we get going. Look at Genesis chapter 12, verse 1. It's on the screen for you.
Now the Lord had said unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred and from thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee. And I will make a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee. And in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Notice this.
So Abraham puts up this altar in Genesis chapter 12. And this is what I call the relationship altered. Notice number one. It's a relationship that begins with a promise. The whole relationship between Abraham and God began with a promise.
Now you look up here at me. Your relationship with God. also began with a promise. Look at me. Abraham didn't show up to God.
God showed up to Abraham. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he made a promise. You know God's given you some promises. Do you know there would be no reason for salvation if we didn't know about some of God's promises?
What was the promise in Scripture? The promise was that Man didn't want God as their king. They wanted a man as a king.
So God gave them what they wanted and Now they had to institute a law and then we come through the law and they couldn't follow the law and they couldn't keep the law and that reminded us that man is not able to save himself. But all through the Old Testament It is prophesied. that a Messiah would come. that he will come. And then you get to the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
And we're told that the Messiah Cain. Yeah. That he kept himself clean. clean and sinless. That he willingly sacrificed himself on the cross.
It was promised. to us. that he would come. And he came. The only reason you and I have a relationship with God is because of Jesus Christ.
And the only reason we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. is because it all started. with a promise. Amen. That he loved us.
That he would come. That he would die for us. That he would be the sacrificial lamb for us. Look at me. And he kept his word.
is promise. Abraham's relationship started with a promise. A long time ago, God said, Hey, listen. I'm going to give you this land for an inheritance. I'm going to make your name great.
I'm going to pass this down to your generations. Abraham didn't do one thing. His dad died Do you know that in Genesis chapter 12, Abraham is already 75 years old? years old. Imagine what he could have done for God as a young man.
But time wasted. Because God gave a promise. But Abraham didn't respond. Look at me. God might give a promise.
But you have to respond. A relationship that begins with a promise, notice number two. A relationship that begins. with obedience. Obedience.
Can I tell you something? You don't have a relationship with God if you don't obey. God said, Go to this land. I have this land, got all these wonderful things, I'm going to give it to you as inheritance, I'm going to take care, I'm going to meet your need, I'm going to bless you, but that doesn't happen until you obey.
So, Genesis chapter 12, Abraham finally gets there. God had already promised, but he didn't do anything about it. Until dad died. I wonder what needs to die in your life.
So you will finally obey. I wonder what needs to be put to death in your life. God's asked and God's begged, but There's just some things in the way, and until they're gone, we're never going to obey. But dad died. And Abraham finally shows up in Genesis chapter 12.
And there he builds an altar. A relationship alter. A relationship that was birthed. with a promise, a relationship that begins with obedience. May I say something interesting here?
Most of the people in the Bible that God called were young people. young individuals. But Abraham was 75 years old now. Say, preacher, what does that tell me? It tells me God never stops calling.
No, I know this is odd, you don't hear this a lot. But you know that there could be individuals even right here in this church In your 30s. In your 40s. In your 50s. Possibly in your 60s.
Maybe in your seventies. That God has called. And you've never obeyed. Tuesday night of our revival, I had a young man here named Ben Wright. I've known Ben.
His dad was Pastor Wayne Wright, I'm actually doing revival. at their church a Sunday, Wednesday revival next week. I'm going to be preaching here on Sunday morning at 10 o'clock, and I've got to be done in enough time to drive and get the other side of Greensboro. to preach their 11 o'clock service.
So you want to be here next week. You were going to get out of church very fast.
Some of you got all excited. Forget that altar, right? Brother Ben's dad, Wainwright, pastored McConnell Road Baptist Church for years. Passed away and About a year after he passed away, if you remember, we were still in our other building and His widow came, misses Wright. Came Jin.
I don't know how many of you remember her. We support her monthly. She came over, and she was in her late 60s at this time. Husband has now gone on to be with the Lord and. I guess she's probably looking at possible retirement, but she said, you know, God's called me to Israel.
to work with Jewish people.
Now how do you tell a woman in her late sixties who served God her entire life as a husband's wife, but now she's willing to go to Israel. To uproot, leave family, grandkids, everything, and go serve the Jewish people in Israel. How do you tell a woman like that? No. We support her.
Amen? Has God called you? You know like preacher, that ship sailed? Are you sure? Are you sure about that?
God calls people. It doesn't matter what age they are. May I say this? Nothing about your pastor ever wants any one of you to leave our church. But even if God called you to do something?
I would do nothing but get behind you and support you. And thank God. that you answered his call. In a relationship that begins with a promise. A relationship that is built On obedience.
Notice thirdly. a relationship that is bonded. in fellowship. When Abraham finally reached Canaan, In Genesis chapter 12, verse 5 and 6, that we read If I can, I want to read it to you again in verse 6. Abraham passed through the land unto the place Of Sikkim under the plain of Morah.
He finally made it. And the Canaanite was then in the land, and the LORD appeared unto Abraham and said. Under thy seed. Once again, Abraham. Unto thy seed.
even though you don't have a seed. Unto thy seed. I will give this land. And there he builded an altar. Unto the Lord.
A relationship that is bonded. In fellowship.
Now you look at me, I want you to get this. Why did Abraham build that altar there? There's a number of reasons. It's a relationship alter to Abraham. This relationship began with the promise.
But it was never consummated. until he obeyed. Hello? God had given him the land, but that didn't help Abraham out until he went.
So now Abraham comes. the relationship. By obedience. And when he gets there, He builds an altar. Why did he build an altar?
Let me tell you why. As far as we can tell, before he built a house. Before he built a dwelling. Before he built anything. Years ago, God had come to Abraham.
gave him a promise. God waited. All this time goes. Abraham comes to the land. God comes to him again.
Abraham, I will give this land to your seed. But Abraham builds an altar here. Why? This is the first altar that Abraham ever erected. Why?
Because now Abraham God had come to him two times already.
Now Abraham wanted to go to God. Do you know what altars are? It's fellowship. You see in the Old Testament, now Abraham wanted to communicate with God. God had been communicating with Abraham.
I'm going to bless your seed. I'm going to give you this land. But Abraham never communicated Back. Can I ask you something? How much do you fellowship with God?
Now, here's what's interesting in 2023. If you've been saved by the grace of God, You don't have to go out and build you a big rock altar. You don't have to go find a lamb. You don't have to slay that lamb and sacrifice him on an altar just so that you can talk. Fellowship and get clean enough so that you can talk to God.
Are you looking up here at me? Because Jesus was the sacrifice, because Jesus was the sacrificial lamb, because Jesus was the last sacrifice ever needed, our sins have been covered. You and I now can just talk together. God. You see, an altar was a sign here that Abraham now wanted to fellowship.
This had all been God coming to him. But now Abraham Wanted to go to God. Look at me. You and God will never bond without fellowship. And I'm trying to streamline.
I'm trying to. You know, you can be saved. But not close. This altar that Abraham puts up, the first altar. He wants to establish A relationship.
Look at me. Up until now, it had all been one-sided. God making the effort. to get to Abraham.
Now Abraham wants to make the effort. to communicate with God. That's what an altar is. You and I don't have to build a physical to look at me. Jesus, the book of Hebrews says, is our altar.
You said with a preacher? Is it sacrilegious that we have an altar here? It's not sacrilegious. That we have an altar here. Because this is not an altar to sacrifice for your sins.
That's been done. Jesus did that. If you're here and you've never been saved today, you can come to know Jesus as your personal Savior. He loves you. He wants to forgive you of your sin.
He wants to save you. He's provided it for you. This is an altar. for fellowship. This is an altar for forgiveness.
To restore that fellowship. Lord, I'm sorry. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us. And to cleanse us. A relationship.
That was birthed. the promise. A relationship That was built By obedience. A relationship that is bonded. In fellowship, notice number four.
A relationship That is built on faith. You see, when Abraham put up that altar, why did he put up that altar? Say, well, preacher, you just said because he could communicate with God. Exactly. But why did he put the altar there?
Look at me. Altars. were not portable. Did you hear me? Altars were not portable.
You can get you a little portable grill. You can have a portable chair. You can even pour it. a portable house. Called a camper.
And it all sounds really good to me right now, to be honest with you. But when a man erected an altar He didn't just pack that up and take it with him when he left. That altar stayed. What was Abraham saying? God?
I don't own one thing here yet. I don't even have a seed. to pass this land too. that you say you're gonna give me, and I'm gonna pass it down to my seat.
So I don't have the land yet. And I don't have the seed yet. I don't have a son. But God. I'm going to put the altar up right here.
And this is going to be permanent. Why? Because I'm here because you told me. I'm here because you said you were giving it to me. I'm here because you said that I would possess this land and that I would pass this down to my seed.
This altar was built by Faith. It started with a promise.
Now Abraham is brave enough to believe it. What kind of faith do you have? Have you put down your roots? Spiritually. Do we kind of test to see which way religion is going?
Or do we build us an altar and say, God, you gave me a promise? Yes, sir. And I'm putting down my roots right here. I'm doing what you said. This was an altar built By faith.
It is God, I believe what you said. I trust it. By faith. Notice last. It is a relationship based on worship.
A relationship based on worship. Abraham put up this altar to begin a relationship. The greatest news that anyone can receive is the news of the free gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ. It is our desire for you to know him personally. Would you take a moment to hear this today?
Every man is born with the sin nature. Romans 3.23 says, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. No matter how hard we try, We're not good enough to obtain God's glory. or to get to heaven. Because of that, sin carries the penalty of death.
Romans 6.23 says, For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The wages of our sin, or the payment of our sin, only equals death and separation from God. But it's only through God's gift salvation through Jesus Christ that we can accept him as our Saviour. Jesus Christ paid for your sin debt.
The Bible says in Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. All you have to do is receive Christ. by faith as your Saviour. Romans ten nine says That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Verse 13 continues, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It's as simple as admitting that you're a sinner believing that Jesus is the only way. and calling upon his name. Bible says whosoever, that's any one. can call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Have you accepted Christ as your personal Savior?
There is no greater day than today to take care of this. Would you accept Christ as your Savior? If you have any questions, please give us a call at 336-993-5192 or visit our website at Curlin Baptist Church. Dot com. or visits that person at one of our three service times.
We hope you have a great rest of your day. God bless you. Mm-hmm.
