Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 02 January 2013
Hi all,
A week or so ago, I mentioned my connection with Exodus
20. We call them the 10 commandments. We should call them the 10 Freedoms. If
we live within the parameter of these freedoms, we would be free indeed. I’m
told that the Jewish people call them the 10 Living Words. I don’t know why,
but they certainly constitute a framework within which we should seek to live. Back
in those days, reading Exodus was odd. It was full of what I thought was just a
funny tent arrangement that God required. Then I started to read Leviticus. That
was as far as I got. For me it was all weird! What this had to do with God’s
Word was beyond me. Since I was only nine at the time I suppose my reactions
weren’t surprising. Sixty one years later, I find these books fascinating and
challenging. God was teaching His people how to worship. What I’ve learned in
the 61 years since then is they are an exposition on Jesus; exquisite beyond
imagination! He is revealed to us on every page and in every item included in
the tabernacle! No wonder God told Moses to make everything according the
pattern He had given. Today we look at one aspect of the tabernacle; the Altar
of Incense. Perhaps another name for it could be the Altar of Prayer.
Blessings,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 02 January 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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Resurrection Life
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The altar of Incense, within
the tabernacle stood immediately in front of the veil which separated the
Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. Exactly how much room there was between
the veil and the altar is not really defined. There must have been sufficient
room for the priests to attend it and keep it spotlessly clean. They would
not have wanted to come in contact with the veil. Only the High Priest was
permitted to enter the Holy of Holies. It happened once per year on the Day
of Atonement. This introduction is not the place to discuss the details of
the Tabernacle and its furniture. However these few words are sufficient to indicate
the sense of awe and deep reverence the Priests, ministering in the Holy
Place, regarded the veil and the Ark of the Covenant, which lay beyond the
veil. This was where the presence of God was manifest. You and I had no
access to the Holy of Holies. Actually, Gentiles would not be permitted anywhere
within the outer boundaries of the tabernacle. Only Priests and the High
Priest were permitted to go beyond the Altar of Burnt Offerings. The Israelites,
likewise, could go no further than the Altar of Burnt Offerings. It follows
that there was a deep sense of reverence by the Israelites for the presence
of God.
We understand that the very
special incense, made according to a specific “recipe” by God, was intended
to burn continuously. We are told that the fragrance from this incense
ascended to God continuously and He was pleased with this aroma.
Symbolically, the incense represents
the prayers of God’s people. What is especially beautiful, is we are informed
that Our Lord and Saviour intercedes for God’s people forever. (Heb. 7:25) Thus we have a picture of our prayers
and the prayers of Jesus ascending to the Father. It’s a lovely picture and
one for which I am profoundly grateful.
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my
lips!
Psalm
141:2-3 ESV
. 6 "Place the Altar in
front of the curtain that hides the Chest of The Testimony, in front of the
Atonement-Cover that is over The Testimony where I will meet you. 7
Aaron will burn fragrant incense on it every
morning when he polishes the lamps, 8 and again in the evening as he prepares the lamps for
lighting, so that there will always be incense burning before GOD, generation
after generation.
Exodus
30:6-8 MSG
25 Therefore He is able, once and forever,
to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with
God on their behalf.
Heb. 7:25
NLT
4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the
prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the
angel had poured them out.
Rev 8:4
NLT
5 You also are like living stones. As you
come to him you are being built into a house for worship. There you will be
holy priests. You will offer spiritual sacrifices. God will accept them
because of what Jesus Christ has done.
1 Peter
2:5 NIrV
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never
stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this
is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thess. 5:16-18 NLT
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Each time that you are praying, do
thoughts invade your mind?
Is prayer to you a burden, a deep
unwanted bind?
Is contacting the Saviour beyond all
you can see?
Then I have got good news for you; for
you are just like me.
I’ve never found it easy; in truth
it’s very hard.
I feel I’d like to go and play in
someone else’s yard.
So we rely on systems to keep our
spirits quiet.
When what we’re really needing is a
spiritual riot.
Something we can cling to, to help us
get it right,
And really serve the Master without
some inner fight.
Is this a bad confession? Should I
hide this away?
But all that I can murmur is, “Lord
teach me to pray.”
I know I’m not alone in this. I know
my friends complain,
That they would like to pray to You in
ways that don’t seem vain.
The problem is our senses. We think
that we should feel,
A sort of dynamism, which makes the
Saviour real!
We should be filled with power to set
the world alight.
Instead there’s empty nothingness for
we can’t get it right.
O Lord, I hate this struggle. It seems
I cannot win.
And since these words are faithless, I
know that they are sin.
But Lord I’m tired of trying; I cannot
bear the mask
That covers my hypocrisy, when prayer
is just a task.
So Lord as we go into the year which
lies ahead,
Father, work a miracle and raise me
from the dead.
Help me know your presence in spite of
how I feel.
Teach me that sensations are not what
make things real.
I know that You can do it. Please let
my prayers ascend,
Like fragrant clouds of incense, of
which there is no end.
You’ve said that we can do it. To pray
and never cease.
Perhaps all I am needing, is some form
of release.
The freedom to engage with You in
way’s I’ve never known.
The way the Bible indicates is what
You’ll surely own.
An inner transformation that causes us
to be,
The essence of what we should know in
Christianity.
Not some mumbo jumbo of raising up a
storm.
But where a right relationship is
constantly the norm.
For working the miraculous for You is
just routine,
And raising sinners from the dead is
where you’re always seen.
We desire to know You as we have never
done;
In fellowship with Father, the Spirit
and Your Son.
Jim Strickland
Written
2nd
January 2012
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