At The Altar

So you have made it to the altar. Hopefully by the time you are close enough to the individual to speak with them, you have already communicated with the Holy Spirit in your heart, having asked Him to lead you. What are your first steps?

It is important for you to understand that the Lord leads in multiple ways. He may lead you by speaking to your spirit; He might remind you of prior knowledge of situation; He might give you a spiritual revelation; or He might lead you through what the individual says to you. So do not feel pressured or inadequate if you did not necessarily hear anything from the Lord before you approached the individual. Know, however, that God has heard your prayer and is already leading you.

BE FRIENDLY

Be mindful that when you are a minister at the altar you are an example of Christ. So show forth the love of Christ. Be cordial and friendly. If the situation allows, do not be afraid to smile. However, keep physical contact to a minimum. Usually individuals do not have a problem with you laying your hands on their shoulder and praying. However, do not be presumptuous. There may be times that the Holy Spirit leads you to touch a specific area on the body. If He truly is leading you, it does you no harm to ask the individual permission to touch them in that area. However, at no point should you touch private areas! (Especially if you are praying with someone of the opposite sex).

SPEAK TO THE INDIVIDUAL

Sometimes when individuals approach the altar to pray for someone there, they simply start to pray in the person’s ear. This is not always the best thing to do. Do not be afraid to speak to the individual. Be sure to remember that the altar is a sacred place. It is not an area for lollygagging.

A safe question to begin conversation with is, “Why have you come to the altar?” I remember once, I was approaching the altar to pray for an individual after an awesome sermon on the Holy Spirit. I was prayerful in my heart, asking the Lord to save the individual, who I believe did not have the Holy Spirit. As I got to the altar, I felt prompted to ask the individual his purpose for being at the altar. His response was “I really want God to help me to pass my exams”. As you can tell, this was both a humorous and teachable moment for me. It caused me to never assume that I know why an individual has approached the altar. Without disregarding his request, I used his prayer request as an opportunity to teach him of the need for the Holy Spirit. At the end of my ministry to him, I was able to pray for God to help him to retain what he had studied, as well as pray that the Lord endow him with the Holy Spirit; neither prayers were off kilter.

Asking that individual their reason for being at the altar, will allow you to be guided in your ministry to them. Listen to their reason, and distinguish whether their reason stems from a spiritual need or non-spiritual need. Ask yourself, “Is this an issue that can only be solved by the power of the anointing or can this be dealt with by other means or knowledge? Have they approached the altar out of concern for the safety of their souls or for some other reason?”

If it is not an issue that only prayer can heal, then do not be disrespectful, angry or impatient with that individual. They are operating according to their understanding of the altar. In your response, do not take the approach as if you know better what they need than they do, even though that may be true. Instead, allow yourself to feel compassion for their issue, and as best as you can, help them. This may be to speak to them, and say a prayer re that situation or you may need to lead them from the altar and refer them to another individual. However, at the end of it all, they should have felt your love.

If the person expresses a non-spiritual issue this does not mean that you cannot insert spiritual ministry. Do not be insensitive to what matters to them; however, allow the Lord to lead you in showing them how their non-spiritual issue may relate to a spiritual issue. A tactic that I tend to use is to first acknowledge their request but then follow it up by asking them what do they think God wants from them? This usually gives me an open door to explain to them, how they can give God their hearts.

Note also, that sometimes an individual approaches the altar for healing in their bodies. Even in these cases one must be led by God, because sickness can be caused by spiritual reasons. Always be sure to point the individual to God and to encourage them in holiness. This will ensure that God has no ought with them, when they approach Him. Educate them that the purpose of healing is only for them to be alleviated of their deficiency, but so that they can believe God and serve Him. Pray for them to be healed according to the leading of the Spirit.

On the other hand, if after investigation you have discovered that this individual has approached the altar out of concern for their soul, this does not mean that it is necessarily time to pray. Consider some of the things that you have to consider, and probably further investigate before praying.

Does this individual have the Holy Spirit?

Whether or not the person has the Holy Spirit is the defining factor on how you will minister to them from henceforth. Therefore, investigate; and as you go along, keep discerning and listening to God. A good question to ask is, “Do you feel like you have the power to stop sinning if you truly wanted to?” If you discern that this question was answered honestly then you can proceed with ministry.

The Holy Ghost Filled

If someone has the Holy Ghost, they do not need deliverance as a captive does. However consider what the scripture says concerning sin and the saint.

2 Timothy 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

The scripture starts us off by warning us to stay away from frustrations and quarreling (strife), but instead we should be gentle, ready and able to teach, and patient. This is also true for altar work. Do not be frustrated because a saint is in sin. They have not fallen unto you but unto their God. If they are at the altar, they are seeking to rectify that. The scripture says that we should rather instruct them in meekness (though we have the power to rebuke we choose not to, but rather to show gentleness), because they oppose themselves. This is at the core of what we must understand regarding sin and the Saint – they oppose themselves.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not natural for a son of God to sin. Many have used scriptures outside of proper context, and have deemed the sons of God to have dual natures. This is far from the truth. The scripture states that God has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Pet 1:4). We have but one nature – divine. This divine nature has allowed us to escape the lusts and pride of this world. Therefore, when a son of God sins they are actually opposing their nature or as the scripture above put it, they are opposing themselves.

To add to this, a son of God only sins by choice. Consider the scripture below:

James 1:12-15

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Apostle James makes it very clear that God does not tempt any man to sin. Here, James makes a comparison to the operation of the spirit of iniquity in the flesh (body) and the operation of God in the flesh. While the spirit of iniquity tempts the unsaved to sin, God does not do that in His sons. He cannot sin, and cannot be tempted to, so He tempts (or encourages) no man to do evil. The point of it all, is the fact that if God is in you, you are a son of God and if you are a son of God, the devil cannot tempt you from within. However, verse 14 clarifies how evil is found in a saint. Evil is found when, having been tempted (encouraged by the devil, by some external means) they agree with the suggestion of the enemy and create their own lust in their heart.

Simply put, one must fight against their own nature and create lust in the heart. However, this does not have the power to change their nature. They will simply have to continue fighting what is natural to them (holiness), until they get to the point of searing their conscience or being given over to a reprobate mind. Therefore Paul lets us know that our ministry at the altar should be to teach them how to deliver their own souls from the snare of the enemy, to whom they have yielded themselves.

Note also that in the scripture in Timothy, it says the enemy takes them captive at his will. This does not mean that the enemy can control a saint. It simply means that when a saint has yielded himself to the devil, he has given the devil permission to do whatever he wants. The saint will allow himself to be led into what the devil desires. However, the only deliverance a saint needs is true repentance, which is an acted-out decision to turn from their sins.

Another important note is that a son of God cannot be possessed by a devil. If the individual at the altar begins to manifest spirits, then they do not have the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, as it relates to speaking, all you have to do if a son of God has come to the altar for prayer is encourage them in righteousness. Discern the issues that the individual is being faced with, and discern also their knowledge of the Word. Do they know that they can be holy. Do they know that they are not truly captive? Maybe they simply need to be reminded of who they are. Allow the Lord to lead you to give them the right response. However it is absolutely important that you never make them feel as if they are bound to their sin and unable to recover themselves.

Many have made themselves the standard, by stating that it is only if they lay their hands that a saint can be delivered. However, this is not the truth. The God that has anointed you is the same in the person you are praying for. He is able to loose that individual from within, the moment that their heart comes into agreement with His will for their life.

The saint being able to deliver themselves does not mean, however, that you cannot pray for them. Pray for them to show your love and mindfulness of them. Ask God to strengthen them, and to teach them His word. Ask God to help them to agree with His Spirit and to embrace/believe His word. Ask Him to create situations, circumstances and relationships that will cause them to comprehend Him, and obey Him. God will honor your prayer and will bless them.

The Unsaved

If upon questioning or discerning you have found out that the individual does not have the Holy Ghost and they have expressed a desire to receive the Holy Ghost, prepare to lead them to the Lord. You may have to minister to them the gospel of Jesus Christ, which speaks of Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of the world; this affords them the opportunity for their sins to be forgiven. However, He also rose from the dead, which allows them the opportunity to receive His life i.e. the Holy Spirit. The reception of His life will enable them to be freed completely of their sins and become a son of God. As you minister, it is important that they understand what they need to believe, because it is written, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Rom 10:14).

Note well that the unsaved are held captive by the devil – the spirit of iniquity. Therefore, they will need to be delivered from his spirit. It is therefore important to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit (see following chapters for more info.)

MISCELLANEOUS

Lies

There are times when people will tell you something that may not be true. The Holy Spirit will enable you to discern whether the words they are saying is a lie or not. There are times when it may not be expedient to let them know that what they are saying is not the truth, especially when it was not their intention to lie. You can however, pray for them in a way that covers the things they have said but simultaneously praying in your heart the truth of the issue.

Praying for Children

If a case arises where you have been asked by a parent to pray for a young child, do not feel the need to get the child to like you first. The reason the child was brought to you was a spiritual reason that is independent of the child’s affection toward you. Listen to what the parent has requested and discern, because the issue may be deeper than what the parent has stated. Remember spirits affect children too. If the child is old enough to speak, ask them questions. Minister the gospel to them in the simplest terms possible, and encourage them to believe on Jesus.

Do not feel the need to take the child from their parent. That is not necessary. Lay your hands, on the child’s forehead or shoulder and pray for them. If dealing with the child directly, get on their level if possible.

Demonic Possession

Always remember when casting out a spirit, that he will look for an empty house. By empty house, I mean an unsaved individual, whose mind is not on Jesus at that moment. Therefore, when casting out a spirit, encourage individuals around to keep their minds on Jesus. Do not forget the children too.