Prayer Altars: Embracing the Priestly Call to PrayerSample

Building a Legacy of Prayer

The first recorded altar in Scripture was built by Noah, a man who walked with God (Genesis 6:9) even when the earth was filled with wickedness. After the flood, his first act was to build an altar to offer burnt offerings.

Genesis 8:20-21 (NKJV):

“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took some of every kind of clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The LORD smelled the soothing aroma, and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done."

To build an altar is an intentional act, and Noah’s act of faith brought both Noah’s family and humanity into a covenant of life (Genesis 8:20-22; Genesis 9:1-17). To offer a burnt offering is to acknowledge one’s shortcomings, express a desire to please God, and demonstrate one’s need for God’s intervention (Leviticus 1:4; Leviticus 9:22-24).

While believers no longer need to build physical altars and offer animals as burnt offerings, we are expected to intentionally offer ourselves as living sacrifices through spiritual services of worship, such as praying to God (Acts 10:4; Luke 2:37), praising God (Hebrews 13:15), and giving monetary gifts (Philippians 4:18).

In this reading plan, our emphasis is on prayer. Hence, we’ll focus on a life of consistent prayer as an offering we provide as royal priests to God (1 Peter 2:9), bringing our families and humanity into covenant with God, as Noah did.

Like Noah, Father Abraham made a habit of building altars wherever he went. Notably, he built altars, whereas he only pitched tents. The tent symbolized the temporary nature of his dwelling, but the altar symbolized permanence in his relationship with God.

At his altars, Abraham did the following:

1. He called on the name of the Lord – Genesis 12:8
2. He used altars as spiritual landmarks – Genesis 13:4,17
3. He offered costly sacrifices – Genesis 22:9

Our father Abraham had a habit of building altars—with emphasis on “building.” What is built is not for temporary use, unlike pitching a tent. A building in the physical realm cannot be easily destroyed like a tent can. Through the altars Abraham built, he left a spiritual legacy. His relationship with God was so profound that generations after him continue to benefit from his covenant (Galatians 3:29).

Finally, in Genesis 32:24-29, we see Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, carrying on the legacy of persistent and consistent prayer:

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.”

As revealed in Hosea 12:2-4, I picture Jacob in the place of prayer wrestling or praying fervently until he was blessed. He stayed! He continued in prayer until he prevailed!

So, saints, we should learn to stay. We contend to bring the will of God to earth and to demolish the plans of the enemy over us, our children, our families, and our nation. We are called to build the same kind of altars—a posture of staying, wrestling, and prevailing in prayer. Some things will not shift in our lives, our children, our families, or our nation unless we learn to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Just as Jacob did not let go, we too must contend, not striving in the flesh but standing firm in the Spirit.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” – James 5:16 (NKJV)

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

Reflection:
What altars are you building today that your children will inherit tomorrow?

What promises are you contending for that require you to stay until you prevail or hit the note of victory?

“Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who uttered them.” -E.M. Bounds