Build a Living Altar
THE POWER and VICTORY from the ALTAR – PART 2
1 Kings 18:28–39
Throughout Scripture, God never used a man or woman who didn’t have an altar.
Noah built an altar and God made a covenant with him. Abraham raised altars everywhere he went — and heaven responded. Jacob stumbled into a place of angelic activity — not realizing he was lying on the remnants of his grandfather’s altar. And Jesus Himself often withdrew to lonely places to build a personal altar of prayer.
So, let me ask you:
- Where is your altar?
- Is the fire still burning?
- Or has it become cold, neglected, and forgotten in the busyness of life?
1. You Are a Priest — Every Priest Needs an Altar
Revelation 1:6“He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father”.
1 Peter 2:9“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light”.
Elijah didn’t just confront the prophets of Baal; he stood in his priestly role before God and Israel.
1 Kings 18: 30-32a
“Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord”.
God is calling His people back to the ministry to Him, not just ministry for Him.
- You are a priest, not merely a participant in church and every priest needs an altar—a personal place where heaven and earth meet.
Your personal prayer altar is your spiritual headquarters.
2. The Purpose and Power of the Personal Altar
Why is the altar so critical?
An altar is more than a quiet time or a religious duty:
•A place of transaction
Genesis 8:20 — Noah built an altar, and God responded with a covenant.
•A place of communion
Exodus 30:6 — The altar of incense was before the veil, where God met with man.
•A place of sacrifice
Romans 12:1 — You are the sacrifice now. Your body, your will, your worship.
•A place of dominion and legislation
Elijah didn’t just pray, he legislated spiritually. He rebuilt what had been torn down and shifted a nation.
Elijah didn’t win by argument—he won by altar warfare.
3. The Fire Must Never Go Out
Leviticus 6:12-13—“Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must never go out. Each morning the priest will add fresh wood to the fire and arrange the burnt offering on it. He will then burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.”
A neglected altar becomes:
•Powerless
•Vulnerable
•Exposed to demonic retaliation
Too many believers are trying to cast out devils with cold altars.
No fire? No authority. No sacrifice? No visitation.
4. Characteristics of a Powerful Personal Altar
a.Consistency
— Daily communion
Matthew 6: 6 “But when you pray”
Your altar isn’t occasional; it’s a daily appointment with God.
b.Consecration
— The altar is sacred. It’s where you say,
Romans 12:1 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
c.Spiritual Sacrifice
— Offer worship, repentance, intercession, thanksgiving.
Hebrews 13:15 “Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name”.
You are the sacrifice.
d.Faith and Expectation
1 Kings 18: 37 “O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
— Elijah said, “Answer me, Lord, so these people will know…”
His altar was built in faith, expecting fire.
5. The Altar Is Your Spiritual Power Base
1 Kings 18: 38-39“Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
Every altar is a gateway — either to heaven or hell.
- Elijah’s altar opened heaven and brought fire.
Your altar affects your generation.
As believers, we offer spiritual sacrifices for God’s power and presence.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body”.
You are a mobile altar—where you go, the altar goes.
6. Your Personal Altar Reflects Your Spiritual Health
Philippians 4:6-7
Psalms 103:1-2 — 139:23-24
Ephesians 6:18“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere”.
Your prayer life is the thermometer of your spiritual condition.
•A dry altar = a sick soul.
•A thriving altar = a vibrant, Spirit-filled life.
If your altar is cold, your walk will be weak.
If your altar is burning, your faith will be strong.
“Prayer is the palace of the soul.”
Your altar reveals how hungry you are for God.
7. Caution in Spiritual Warfare
1 Kings 18:22-25
“Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it. Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed.
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”
- Elijah confronted the altars of Baal because he was assigned and prepared.
You must not confront what you’re not equipped to handle.
•There is ranking in the spirit.
•Power confronts power. Altar confronts altar.
•Without a strong personal altar, you are vulnerable in warfare.
Before you bind territorial spirits, make sure your altar has fire.
Don’t fight Baal with a broken altar.
Conclusion
1 Kings 18:38 NKJV“Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering…”
•A priest without a burning altar is powerless.
•A believer without a prayer life is spiritually bankrupt.
•The strength of your spiritual life = the strength of your personal altar.
Take your priesthood seriously. Rebuild the altar. Return to the fire.
The fire will fall — but the altar must be ready.