by Adventist Naija | Dec 7, 2022 | world Church
Back to the Altar — Early Will I Seek Thee
DAY 5 — JESUS, THE EARLY RISER
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him”(John 4:23).
The Altar Truth
There is an “altar truth” in the life of Jesus that no Christian should miss. During the past few days we have reflected much on altars in Scripture and on the lives of those who built them. The altar is a metaphor for a place and time of worship to the true and living God. One need not possess a physical altar in order to worship God. In fact, if a follower of Jesus lives in consistent, earnest, Biblebathed communion with God, he or she has already erected an altar as real as the one that Elijah rebuilt on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18).
We see such an “altar” in the life of Jesus. Amid a busy life of daily ministry, constant threats, and withering assaults from the devil,
Jesus made time for long seasons of prayer and worship. He who was equal with the Father (Philippians2:6) still thought it important
to “be still and know” that God is God (Psalm 46:10). Jesus understood from an early age that His calling required constant
connection with His Father. This was the only way to carry the sins of the world to the cross.
by Adventist Naija | Dec 7, 2022 | world Church
Back to the Altar — Rebuild It and He Will Come — Again!
Title: DAY 4 — WHAT BRINGS GOD BACK
“So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down”(1 Kings 18:30).
When the Rains Stopped
The atmosphere that fateful day was charged, though an eerie silence had engulfed Mount Carmel. In previous times this wooded mount was lush, green, and beautiful. It received plenty of rainfall and was considered a holy place, a place of blessing and fertility (Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 144). But all that had changed. What used to be green was now burnt and bare, the result of a painful, three-and-a-half-year drought (1 Kings 17:1; 18:1; James 5:17). Here’s how Ellen White describes Israel at this time:
The earth is parched as if with fire. The scorching heat of the sun destroys what little vegetation has survived. Streams dry up, and lowing herds and bleating flocks wander hither and thither in distress. Once-flourishing fields have become like burning desert sands, a desolate waste. . . . Once-prosperous cities and villages have become places of mourning.
Hunger and thirst are telling upon man and beast with fearful mortality. Famine, with all its horror, comes closer and still closer. (Prophets and Kings, pp. 124, 125
by Adventist Naija | Nov 18, 2022 | world Church
The Prayer Theme: Back to the Altar: Making a Place for God.
Claiming the Promises
It is our privilege to claim God’s promises in our prayers. All His commandments and counsels are also promises. He would never ask from us something that we could not do in His strength.
It is so easy to focus on our needs, our difficulties, our challenges—and to wail and whine about our situation when we pray.
This is not the purpose of prayer. Prayer is meant to strengthen our faith. That is why we encourage you to claim God’s promises in your prayer time. Take your eyes off yourself and your weaknesses and look to Jesus. By beholding Him, we become changed into His image.
Ellen White offers this encouragement: “Every promise in the Word of God is for us. In your prayers, present the pledged word of Jehovah and by faith claim His promises. His word is the assurance that if you ask in faith, you will receive all spiritual blessings. Continue to ask, and you will receive exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think” (In Heavenly Places, p. 71).
How can you claim His promises? For instance, when praying for peace, you can claim John 14:27 and say, “Lord, You have told us in Your Word, ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ Give me the peace that You promised to leave with us.” Thank the Lord that He is giving you peace, even though you may not feel it right then
2023 Ten Days of Prayer will start on the 11th of January to the 21st of January, 2022.
by Adventist Naija | Nov 18, 2022 | world Church
The Prayer Theme: Back to the Altar: Making a Place for God
Suggested Guidelines for Prayer Times
• Keep your prayers short—just a sentence or two on one topic. Then give others a turn. You can pray as many times as you’d
like, just as you talk in a conversation.
• Do not be afraid of silence, as it gives everyone time to listen to the Holy Spirit.
• Singing songs together as the Spirit leads is also a huge blessing. You do not need a piano for this; singing acapella is fine.
• Rather than using up valuable prayer time talking about your prayer requests, simply pray them. Then others can also pray
for your requests and claim promises for your need.
by Adventist Naija | Nov 18, 2022 | Uncategorized
The Prayer Theme: Back to the Altar: Making a Place for God
Hurried and worried. Angry and upset. Busy and broken.
These are some of the words that people around the globe are using to describe their lives in today’s fast-paced society. If you too are feeling the weight of our perishing world, we invite you on 10-day prayer journey to the very heart of God—the place where burdens are lifted, hurts are healed, and strength is renewed. You will be challenged to build anew your altar of personal worship to the true and living God, for He has promised, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you” (Jeremiah 29:12).
Let’s pray together for a revival of our personal and family worship altars, that the Holy Spirit might reform and empower us to proclaim God’s final message of hope to the world
2023 Ten Days of Prayer will start on the 11th of January to the 21st of January, 2022.
DAY 1 — WHERE ARE YOU?
