Family altar is the assembly of the people who have a ‘common blood’ and a ‘common heart’ in the presence of the LORD. It is not about the construction of a tall table, or positioning a big stone at the corner of the bedroom.
I love this quote by Oswald Chambers: “You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire, willing to experience what the altar represent-burning, purification, and separation for only one purpose-the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed towards God. But you do not eliminate it, God does.”
Today’s message is not famous on the search engine, but I am happy to highlight the benefits of sustaining a family altar in your home.
How the Structure of Family Altar looks like?
The family altar for the New Testament has nothing to do with the designs mentioned in the Old Testament. The attendants at the family altar are strictly the family members (father, mother, children, and relatives). And the synchronization of the hearts of your family in the presence of the Lord forms the family altar.
Matthew chapter 5 verses 8 say: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
In the Old Testament, the LORD descends on the altar to communion with His children. But in the New Testament, the LORD dwells in our heart to fellowship with us. So, don’t joke with your sense of thought (the heart)!
Jesus says: “…If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14 verse 23)
How to Conduct the Family Altar
a. It must not be boring to the youngest child in the family.
b. Everyone must take part in an orderly form.
c. Consensus for the time and frequency for each day is essential.
d. Actions such as worship, singing praises, instrumentation, Bible studies/recitation and prayers are good features of family altar.
e. It is not the gathering for arguments, disorderliness or autocratic conducts.
6 Benefits of Family Altar
1. It chases evil spirits from your home
The spirit of confusion, deceit and sin cannot find it easy to dwell in your home if you maintain your family altar.
Jesus says: “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.
Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” (Luke chapter 11 verse 24 to 26)
2. Family devotion increases Spiritual Strength
The spirit man of every member of your family would acquire divine strength through reading and meditating on the word of God. The prayer at the family altar is also a spiritual exercise that’ll keep the spirit of your family strong and healthy.
3. Family altar is a great avenue to Hear God
My heart always leaps for joy when I receive directions and solutions from the LORD. If your family devotion is consistent, then your family won’t miss the right step to take for their successful livelihood. “A 40 days journey won’t turn to 40 years journey.”
4. Family Devotion Sustains Unity
There is no home on earth without ups and downs, but it takes the supernatural Power of God to unite the family during the ‘downtime’. For instance, the rate of divorce is at the increase, because our generation had failed to take the family altar seriously.
5. Family Altar Promotes Love
The heart of human is flexible. For instance, the love of someone to his spouse after 10 years ago might go cold overnight. And the love of children to their parents might go sour due to some issues or vice versa.
But, the family altar has the power to avoid such hatred. I boldly tell you today that if you are consistent with the family devotion, your love to your spouse and children will wax stronger every day. And the ship of your family can never be wrecked by the storm of hatred or bitterness.
6. Good Training for the Children
It is important to take the spiritual life of your children seriously, because the level of immorality in our society is increasing daily. And a good environment for training your children is at the family altar.
Proverbs chapter 22 verse 6 says: “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Bible Verses on Family Altar
The following Bible verses give a clear picture that God loves to receive close attention through altar (holy family gatherings) positioned in your home.
1. “Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.” (Genesis 13:18)
2. “Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God…”
And Jacob said to his household… “put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.”” (Genesis 35:1-2)
3. “So, he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.” (Genesis 26:25)
4. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
5. “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
If you want to achieve a regular family devotion then put up a calendar reminder. Tell your smart home device to remind you or write an inscription like this on your board: “No one must go to bed without attending the family altar“.
You and your family can hear, see and know more about God through the family altar. It goes a long way to unite the family. Regular family devotion defeats spiritual warfare, and uplifts the success of your family. Fix a time today for your family altar and you won’t regret sacrificing your time and energy.
