18/03/2016 - ANSWERED BY FIRE

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And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.    1 Chronicles 21.26

Following the divine order, David went to Ornan to buy a threshing floor and build an altar to God. David had sinned when he made the census of his people, but he knew that his people were paying the price for something that had nothing to do with their attitude. The moment the Angel of the Lord was going to destroy Jerusalem, it received an order from God to stop. Then, David heard the instructions about making an altar, and so he did it.

The importance of worshipping the Lord is enormous and always results in benefits for all. We can compare this act to a baby that feeds from motherly milk. When the anointing comes down, and we deliver the Most High the praise He deserves, our spirit extracts from His presence the spiritual nutrients that we need to be strengthened and fight against the enemy.

The altar to worship God must be built according to His instructions in the Scriptures. What was done in the past was symbolic. In our days, the true altar is built day by day on the hearts and lives of each one. Then, when the work of recreation is done, we will be ready to be the worshippers that the Father seeks, so that we may worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jo 4.23).

Nowadays, since the altar is not physical, God seems to be imperceptible to most people. However, those who live in the spirit notice that He is present in many ways, such as in how they react to the evil intents, in the sweetness of their speech, and in the firmness of decisions. The true child of God does not have his life on the altar; but the altar of the Most High is in his life. Therefore, this person has power against evil.

We offer to the Lord daily sacrifices. When we see someone that is oppressed by the enemy, we immediately pray for him. When we are harmed, we do not curse or fill ourselves with bitterness, because we know that the devil will use many to offend us. When we invoke the Most High, Your answer will come with fire, and we will have a feeling that will burn inside of our hearts.

To erect an altar is more than to build a fortress; it means to have direct access to the Lord. Those who were near David must have been surprised to see the way that God answered, and so they feared Him. This was never forgotten, and it became a lesson to many not to go against the will of the Father.

David built the altar, according to the divine direction, so that the killing would stop in Israel. It was a sign that they were entering in a Covenant with the Lord. Then, when he saw fire coming down, he knew that his prayer had been accepted, and thus, that his people would not be killed any longer. May this happen to you as well!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares