TIME TO BURN THE INCENSE

Time to Burn the Incense
By Alice Smith
 
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luke 1:8-9, KJV
 
You might remember from Luke 1 that Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist's parents, were "righteous before God." Both were descended from the priestly tribe of Aaron, advanced in years, yet barren! In the same way, the Church today is a kingdom of priests (see Rev. 1:5-6), advanced in
years--having had 2,000 years to learn the priestly skills--and yet essentially barren--powerless and fruitless.
 
Luke records that Zechariah's priestly division was assigned to temple duty when they drew the lot to burn the incense (see Luke 1:8-9). Imagine being chosen from a pool of approximately 22,000 active priests. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity! Verse 10 tells us that as he (the priest)
burned the incense, multitudes of people were praying outside the temple, for it was "the time of incense" (KJV).
 
As Zechariah burned the incense before the first coming of Jesus, I believe our generation has drawn the lot to burn the incense before Christ's second coming! Around the world, multitudes are praying! Those who burn the incense will become saturated with the fragrance of intercession that ascends pleasantly before Him. And as they do, they will experience life the way God intended it: so connected and satisfied by Him inside the Holy of Holies that when people who are living in the Outer Court and the world experience the fragrance of His lingering presence, they will be aroused and unsatisfied with strange fire and counterfeit incense. They will long for that place known as the Holy of Holies.
 
My husband, Eddie, has an anointing to lead people into the presence of God through worship like no other person I know. It is not unusual when we teach and Eddie is asked to sing a solo or lead congregational worship that the audience is crying by the end of the worship time.
 
When Eddie was the worship leader of our church in the 1980s, our praise and worship was so glorious that at times the congregation couldn't even stand on their feet. One particular night we had worshiped for 45 minutes in what seemed like the timeless presence of the Lord. When I opened my eyes, I could actually see a cloud hovering over the congregation. I could see in the midst of the thin white cloud, a few hands that were uplifted, and the legs of some people, but the glory cloud was over us. I don't know if anyone else experienced this amazing phenomenon, but that night there wasn't a dry eye in the building. No sermon could be preached. Our awareness of God's glory was so present that somehow we all knew that the worst thing we could do would be to speak. Some people sat in their chairs while others lay on the floor. Many people remained standing. We all sensed His divine visitation that evening.
 
There is a reason for this kind of visitation. The Father is drawing us into the Holy of Holies to restore the ministry of intercession today. Because of His prophetic end-time purposes--as well as for the desperate need of our generation--He is calling us into our prayer closets. No other
generation has lived so close to the brink of annihilation as ours.
 
God is looking for two kinds of people. He is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (see John 4:23); and He is looking for those who will stand in the gap to intercede for the land (see Ezek. 22:30). He longs for worshipers and intercessors who will give themselves away in intercessory prayer.
 
In heaven, there are 24 elders surrounding God's throne. Of them Scripture records: "Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8, NIV). When we get serious about prayer, then the tears, fasting and travail of our intercession will cause the golden bowls full of incense in heaven to overflow:
 
"Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand" (Rev. 8:3-4).
 
No doubt the cup of man's sin is full and the judgment of God is approaching. I encourage you to answer God's call to intercede--to boldly step into the Holy of Holies where His presence engulfs you. As you do this, the burden on the Father's heart will become the focus of your prayers. Open your heart to receive a God-sized view of our world and unite your heart with others to make a difference in prayer.
 
Only then will you taste the joys of heaven and see millions of people prayed into the kingdom of God. Can you sense the urgency of the hour? Your prayers count! The golden bowls at heaven's altar--collecting the prayers of God's people--are almost full.
 
Pray right now. "Father, I am your priest chosen to intercede for my generation. I am asking Lord that my prayers and my life will be as a sweet incense before your throne. I rededicate my life to you today. In Jesus' name, amen."