Exodus 30:1&3 “Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.”
The third article in the Holy Place was the altar of incense made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. The priests were commanded to burn fragrant incense in the morning and at twilight. The fragrance must be a blend of gum resin, onycha and galbanum and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts pounded together. This formula was to be used only for the incense burnt on the altar and not for personal use (vs 37-38). A very important instruction about burning incense was that the coal from the brazen altar must be used to ignite fire on the golden altar (Leviticus 16:12-13). Any other fire would be strange fire and incense in a different formula would be a stench to the Lord.
The altar of incense is the typology of the altar of intercession. As the coal from the brazen altar was covered by the blood from the sacrifice, our intercessory fire must be slathered with the blood dripping from the cross of Calvary. Intercession must be made with compassion and forgiveness and not with animosity or arrogance. Engaging in intercession with any hidden sin could expose the intercessor to spiritual attacks or sickness. Intercession with anger and bitterness is like incense from a strange fire. Nadab and Abihu died in God’s presence as they brought a strange fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10).
At this stop our intercession for the needy should smell like a sweet fragrance.
Prayer Station-6:
1. Fire: The coal that ignites the fire of intercession must be from the brazen altar. We must be clothed with love and forgiveness before we intercede for others.
2. Formula: The fourfold-fragrance-formula should be used only on the golden altar and not for personal use which means that glory belongs to God alone; self-promotion is detestable to the Lord.
3. Fragrance: Sincere intercessory prayers for others are sweet smelling aroma that rise up like incense to the throne room of God (Revelation 5:8).
For our intercession to rise up like incense our heart must be covered with the blood and burn with godly compassion.
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, May my prayer be like incense before you and my worship like the evening sacrifice. Amen.
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