The Altar and the Porch

God said, "Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar" (Joel 2:17).

In Joel 2:17, God commands the priests to weep between the porch and the altar, symbolizing the importance of humility and vulnerability before Him. This poignant image speaks to the dual nature of ministry: public (the porch) and private (the altar). The porch, visible to all, represents the public aspects of ministry, such as preaching, teaching, and outreach efforts. The altar, on the other hand, is a place of private communion with God, characterized by prayer, worship, and personal sacrifice.

God's call for the priests to weep between the porch and the altar is a powerful reminder of the importance of both public and private ministry in the life of a Christian. This balance is essential for spiritual growth and the ability to minister effectively to others.

Matthew 6:1-6 highlights the importance of engaging in private acts of devotion. Lord Jesus warns against practising righteousness publicly merely to be seen and praised by others. Instead, He encourages us to give, pray, and fast in secret, with the assurance that our Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward us. This passage teaches that our private ministry must be genuine and focused on our relationship with God rather than the approval of others.

Public ministry is also essential, as it allows us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." This Great Commission emphasizes the importance of public ministry in spreading the Gospel and expanding the kingdom of God.

However, it is essential to maintain a crucial balance between public and private ministry, as demonstrated in Jesus' own life. In Mark 1:35, we see Lord Jesus waking up early in the morning to pray in solitude before carrying out His public ministry. Out of those times in private devotion, public demonstrations of God's power would be poured forth in healings, raising of the dead, abundance, and more.

This example shows us that even Jesus, the Son of God, prioritized private communion with the Father in order to be strengthened and equipped for His public ministry. I believe in the life of a Christian; there should always be more private than public ministry to God.

God's rewards are for all to see. Just look at the life of Job. He went through a devastating trial and lost everything. His wealth, his family, and his health were all stripped away. Yet he prayed, fasted, and remained faithful to private devotion.

Job said, "I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12, KJV). And God "restored Job's losses" and gave him "twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10). The Bible also says that He "blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning" (v. 42) and even gave him more sons and daughters. God's open rewards flooded Job's life.

May the Lord reward you openly because of your secret giving, prayers and fasting. People will look at you and say, "Look what the Lord has done."

Repeat every prayer missile till it comes from your heart. Only then move on to the next prayer missile.

(Repeat it, personalize it, do this with each prayer point for minimum 1 minute)

1.Every satanic barriers hindering my progress, hindering the progress of my family members be uprooted by fire in the name of Jesus.

2.Every satanic barriers hindering the progress of Karuna Sadan Ministry be uprooted by fire in the name of Jesus.

3.Every satanic barrier hindering my success and prosperity in life, be shattered to pieces in the name of Jesus.

4.Fire of God fall upon my life and family members in the name of Jesus.

5.Fire of God fall upon Karuna Sadan Ministry in the name of Jesus.

6.Thank you Lord for answering my prayers. In Jesus’ name Amen.

The Altar and the Porch

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