And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. [8] And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
Exodus 30:7-8 KJV
In the old covenant, It was the responsibility of Aaron, the High priest to ensure that the lamp never went out in the temple. He was to dress the lamp, ensure there was oil in it and burn it. This was a type of the church in the new covenant, the true temple in the heavens, which has priests after the order of Melchizedek. We are the temple of God and God lives in us, 1 Corinthians 6:19. It is our responsibility to ensure that the incense burns perpetually in our temple.
What is incense in the new covenant? Incense is prayer and worship, Psalm 141:2, Revelations 8:4. This begins with the heart disposition of worship unto God. Incense always brings a sweet smell. Continuous prayers are one of the things God expects in His temple. Often times, when we think of prayer, for the large portion of christendom, we see it as a way to ask God for something, just like a child writing a wish list for Santa Claus. That ideology of prayer is paganistic. Prayer is not about you. It is not you that is in focus, it is God. Prayer is not burdensome when you know the One you are talking to and love Him. He is our Father. Prayer is about the will of the Father.
Key things to note about prayer by God’s standard are: The raw material for the prayer is from God. The fire used to burn the incense in the tabernacle was from God. The bible said, ‘is not my word like a fire’, Jeremiah 23:29. Hence real and effective prayer springs up from an understanding of the Word of God and praying it back to Him. We are also to follow God’s directives when we offer it, since it is chiefly for His benefit and pleasing. Prayer is pleasing to the one who offers it and the One who receives it. The aroma changes the environment. It makes it a gate to heaven, Judges 13:20. Another thing to note is that incense ascends up naturally. You don’t have to force God to hear you. Finally, Prayer changes you and burns off things that are not from God. The constant theme of Christian journey is changing into His image.
All the major changes and events that took place in Jesus’ life were in the place of prayer. He prayed while the Spirit descended upon him in baptism, Luke 3:22. He prayed in the mount of transfiguration while changing bodies to a celestial one, Luke 9:29. Even while preparing for his death, he prayed, Luke 22:39-46. Even his birth was heralded by the prayers of Anna and some other Israelites, Luke 2:36-38. Paul said “I die daily”, 1 Corinthians 15:31 and that he is always bearing the dying of Jesus that the life of Christ may be made manifest in his body, 2 Corinthians 4:10. This means daily we are being transformed into the image of Christ. This is done in the place of daily prayer. Paul also said we are to let psalms and hymns and Spiritual songs always rise up from us to the Father, Ephesians 5:19. As we read the Word daily and offer prayers based on understanding, as we submit to the Spirit in prayer, praying in the Holy Ghost, we offer incense unto the Lord. Here also, all that is contrary to God are burnt off and we are transformed into His image.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, You said Your house is a house of Prayer, which I am. Lord, let psalms and hymns and Spiritual songs always rise from within me to you. Send your fire upon my altar today, that incense may rise perpetually to you.
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