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  REVISITING OLD ALTARS
  by John Henry Jowett
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Summary: Revisiting old altars can help us reconnect with our faith and
recall lost experiences.

Topics: "Spiritual Renewal", "Divine Encounter"
Scripture References: Genesis 35:1, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 84:10, Philippians 4:8, Hebrews 13:16

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DESCRIPTION
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John Henry Jowett emphasizes the importance of revisiting our early
altars and sacred places that hold special significance in our spiritual
journey. He highlights how certain scents, locations, or memories can
serve as reminders of God's presence and lead us back to moments of
divine encounter. Jowett encourages the congregation to create
meaningful altars of communion and engage in acts of service that will
continue to inspire and uplift them throughout their lives.

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CONTENT
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"_I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me

in the day of my distress._"

--GENESIS xxxv. 1-7.

It is a blessed thing to revisit our early altars. It is good to return

to the haunts of early vision. Places and things have their sanctifying

influences, and can recall us to lost experiences. I know a man to whom

the scent of a white, wild rose is always a call to prayer. I know
another

to whom Grasmere is always the window of holy vision. Sometimes a

particular pew in a particular church can throw the heavens open, and we

see the Son of God. The old Sunday-school has sometimes taken an old man

back to his childhood and back to his God. So I do not wonder that God
led

Jacob back to Bethel, and that in the old place of blessing he

reconsecrated himself to the Lord.

It is a revelation of the loving-kindness of God that we have all these

helps to the recovery of past experiences. Let us use them with
reverence.

And in our early days let us make them. Let us build altars of communion

which in later life we shall love to revisit. Let us make our early home

"the house of God and the gate of heaven." Let us multiply deeds of

service which will make countless places fragrant for all our after

years.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/john-henry-jowett/revisiting-old-altars/
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