Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24.3-5

Why is it so common to see people ascend the hill of the Lord (Altar) during the Israel Challenge, sacrifice and then end up losing the blessing?

We know that it is more difficult to remain successful than it is to become successful. For example, harder than winning a national championship, is continuing to win every year that follows. More difficult than getting married is remaining married to the same person for the rest of your life, until death do you part.

This is also true when it comes to God. More difficult than ascending the hill of the Lord (Altar) to offer your life as a sacrifice, is to remain in His holy place, live on the Altar, sleep and wake up on the Altar, build your marriage, your family, your heritage on Altar, and have your desires and emotions controlled and submitted to the Lord of the Altar. This is only possible when you abide in sacrifice and maintain “clean hands and a pure heart”, resist giving in to lies and, much less, swear deceitfully – which means to be dishonest. Wasn’t this the main idea behind the campaign of Jacob? After all, remember that all his suffering was because he was dishonest with his father.

Assistants, evangelists, youths, members and all of us – regardless of what we offered as a sacrifice on the Altar of the Lord: we must abide on His mountain, renewing our alliance from one Israel Challenge to the next, from faith to faith, until the end of our life in this world. Remember: all the devil wants is for those who did not ascend the hill of the Lord (Altar) never ascend again, and those that have ascended not abide there. He knows what it means for a man to have his life on the hill of the Lord, because he lived there and was perfect in his ways – like someone, when they lived on the hill of the Lord, their life becomes perfect and untouchable by faith.

“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God. You walked back and forth in the midst of stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” Ezekiel 28.14-15

This is the only way that we will be victorious, like the psalmist David said:

“He shall receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalms 24.5

God bless you.