“Altar Call” is one of the most frequently used terms used in our churches. What do you understand by this term? Have you answered an altar call? What was your experience? I would love to hear your thoughts on this in the comment section.

We have been learning a lot about altars. During our last discussion, we talked about satanic altars and how they are powered by sin. If you missed this discussion, kindly check out this article on navigating worldly addictions. And now to my favorite part of this discussion; the altar of Calvary!

What is the altar of Calvary?

Hebrews 9:23 NIV

It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Whatever happens to a believer on the earth is a replication of what is in heaven. On the earth we have altars; in heaven there is an altar. Do you know what this means for you? It means that if you repent, Christ does not need to die again for your sins to be forgiven, since there is already an altar in heaven, making eternal salvation possible. Christ does not need to die again and again for our sins. The very throne that God sits on is an altar. This is the highest level of innovation!

While satanic altars are powered by sin, the believers are under a different kind of altar; the altar of Calvary. The altar of Calvary speaks for every believer. An altar can only be effective when there is a sacrifice on it. This is what makes the altar of Calvary quite effective since this is the altar that was established through the shedding of the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When a believer says, “I am victorious,” this is not some empty talk. Rather, such a statement is powered by the knowledge of what Christ accomplished for them on Calvary.

Romans 5:17 NIV

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

The gift of righteousness and abundance of grace are powered by the altar of Calvary. What man lost in the Garden of Eden is dominion. Through the sin of one man, man lost dominion. Christ came so that He could help restore this dominion to man. Thus, when you say that you are victorious, you are not just speaking positive thoughts but you are invoking the finished work of the cross. Saying you are victorious means that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. He became the perfect sacrifice. Remember we said that altars become effective through a sacrifice. This is why people in the Old Testament had to give animals as sacrifices, a sheep without blemish every year to take away their sins. Unfortunately, their sacrifices were not enough to restore man, which is why Jesus had to become a man for restoration process to become complete.

 

Since it took one man to introduce sin to the world, it needed one man (the last Adam) to introduce life.

John 10:10 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

It is ignorance of what Jesus achieved for us that makes us not to reap the benefits of this altar of Calvary. It, therefore, becomes quite essential for us to understand this altar for us to benefit from it.

What Powers the Altar of Calvary?

While the satanic altars are powered by sin, the altar of Calvary is powered by grace and mercy.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

God’s mercy protects us from what we deserve. When you are deserving of judgment, it is the mercy of God that speaks forgiveness for you. It is the mercy of God that allows us to approach God’s throne and not be punished. It is the grace of God that gives us the supernatural strength and wisdom to do things that we could not otherwise achieve in our own strength.

Why don’t some altars work?

Altar is unfortunately one of the most misused concepts in church today. You will hear people say that you need to give in order to receive from a particular altar. Some people have made it a condition that you cannot receive from a particular altar unless you give a seed or an offering. You will meet people who will demand that you give if you need healing or prophesy. An ignorant Christian will give to their last penny before realizing that they are just being duped. People have manipulated this altar, making it a personal bank. This is why you should never give because you have been coerced into it. Giving is one of the most crucial principles in a believer’s life. However, unless you have a conviction to give, do not be manipulated into it. Such manipulation has left most believers bitter towards the church and things of God. But lemme show you the most excellent way.

Hebrews 12:22-24 NIV

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Christ went into the most holy place (the altar). Christ became the perfect sacrifice for the imperfect people. This means that there is no other altar that can speak better things than this altar of Calvary. We have already established that it is a sacrifice that activates and empowers an altar. This is why Jesus said, “It is finished!” His perfect sacrifice makes this altar work for you.

You are the ultimate sacrifice

Before you can give your resources or even your time, you need to first of all give yourself as a living sacrifice. This is why Paul calls us to offer ourselves as the ultimate sacrifice.

Romans 12:1 NKJV

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.

Jesus became the burnt offering so that we can become the burning sacrifice. This is why the fire on that altar should never be put out, but it should be kept burning day and night. How do you fuel this altar? The following are just examples of what fuels that altar:

• Loving Jesus
• Righteous living
• Prayer
• Worship
• Helping God’s people
• Your resources

It is through Christ’s perfect sacrifice that we have now been ushered into a perfected life. As we spend time in prayer and reading the word of God, we now get to enjoy and walk in the knowledge of what Christ has won for us.

The altar of Calvary is freely available for you. The altar of Calvary is the most powerful altar you will ever come across. However, it is through the renewal of your mind that you get to benefit from it. This is why you need to become one with the word of God. Becoming one with the word of God means that your life, your words, and your beliefs agree with what God says about you. It means that you can boldly say you are victorious since that is what the word of God says you are. This oneness allows you to enjoy everything that has been availed for you by the reason of this altar. It is this oneness that allows you to get into the reality of the word. This oneness allows you to enjoy the reality of healing since you now have the understanding that “it is by His stripes that we are healed.” So, beloved, let the word of God come alive in you. Let it bring you to an understanding of what Christ wrought for you.

Make this prayer with me:

“Father, thank you for giving us your son. It is through His perfect sacrifice that we have been restored to you and to what you made us to become. And in this moment dear Lord, I choose to become one with your word. I receive the grace to spend time with your word. And as I read and understand your word, I am becoming indomitable; unstoppable. I choose to agree with your word. I am who you say I am. I am walking in the reality of what has been made available for me. In the name of Jesus do I pray.

Amen!”