ALTAR OF WHOLE STONES
(week 12/17)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Joshua 8:31-32 KJV: As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. (32) And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
Exodus 20:25 KJV: And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
Deuteronomy 27:5 KJV: And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. (6) Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:
Here, we see God telling His people through Moses to build altars for burnt offerings ONLY of WHOLE STONES, not hewn by human hands or tools.
What does this say to us today in the New Testament?
Altars are symbolic of our place of prayer; the stones (Matthew 16.16-18) are symbolic of the revelation knowledge of God’s Word on which we base our prayers and the burnt offerings are symbolic of our prayers.
So God is telling us that our prayers MUST be based on a foundation of WHOLE STONES: pure revelation knowledge of God’s Word NOT DISTORTED OR CORRUPTED BY NATURAL HUMAN THINKING OR PHILOSOPHY!
Colossians 2:8 NIV: See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
It is for this reason the Lord Jesus gave us the WHOLE STONES OF HOW TO PRAY IN:
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV: In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. (13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Here, the Lord Jesus gives us THE WHOLE ‘STONES’ UPON WHICH ALL CHRISTIAN PRAYER IS TO BE BASED:
- The ‘stone’ or revelation of WORSHIP, THANKSGIVING AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD’S HOLINESS, OMNIPOTENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY.
- The ‘stone’ of ENFORCING THE KINGDOM OR DOMINION OF GOD, SO HIS WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
- The ‘stone’ of MATERIAL AND FINANCIAL PROVISION.
- The ‘stone’ of FORGIVENESS.
- The ‘stone’ of DOMINION OVER SIN.
- The ‘stone’ of DIVINE PROTECTION.
- The ‘stone’ of SUBMISSION TO GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM OR DOMINION AND OMNIPOTENCE.
These are ‘whole stones’ because they came from God directly through the Lord Jesus Christ WITHOUT ANY HUMAN CONTAMINATION OR DISTORTION!
Any prayer we pray must be based on one or more of these stones!
These ‘stones’ are PRINCIPLES that contain a lot of detail, which the Lord at that time could not explain to the disciples; however, He gave them a starting point by teaching them to say these principles in prayer.
Later on, the Holy Spirit through Paul and others would give the church more details on how to pray these ‘stones’ with greater depth and power fulfilling:
John 16:12-13 NKJV: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. (13) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Furthermore, we MUST write upon all these stones (Joshua 8.32 quoted above) the law of life and love because love fulfills ALL of God’s law and so causes our faith and prayers to work:
Romans 13:10 NKJV: Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Galatians 5:6 KJV: For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
1John 3:22-33 NKJV: And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (33) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
John 20:31 KJV: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
In our article next week, we will look at how to pray on some of these ‘stones’ in more details.
