OUR ALTAR OF INCENSE - By PASTOR DAVID J. LEET

INTRODUCTION

Today I’d  like us to look at the Alter of Incense in the Tabernacle of Moses, and how it relates to us in God’s Presence.

In the first area of the Tabernacle is the Open Court of Our Body!  This is were sacrifice e is made for our sins to be washed away by God’s sacrifice.

Leviticus Ch1:1-7:

1 And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.

3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord.

4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

5 And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.

7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:

Leviticus Ch 17:11:

11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Remembering John 3 verse 16 & 17: Jesus our sacrifice and our life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Now this is established in our hearts and mins, let us turn to the Altar of Incense.

This alter was burning continually (forever) before the Holy of Holies and in the Holy Place, where on one side was the Priest’s Showbread.

1. 12 Loaves = 12 Tribes of Israel.

Leviticus 24:9:

9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the Lord made by fire by a perpetual statute.

1. God is Israel’s Church, Source of Life and Nourishment.

2. Israel’s act of Thanksgiving to God.

So it was to burn eternally before God. (Jesus for us to Heaven).

1. So what incenses and prayers are we sending to God, and burning before him eternally and in our minds and hearts?

2. Firstly, what is our Altar of Incense?

Proverbs 23:7:

As we think in our hearts, so are we! (Dwell On)

So then what is our heart or Heart of Hearts?

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Heart: Seat of Life and Strength/Mind/Soul/Spirit/Emotional Nature and Understanding.

Psalm 139 v 23-24 - Ask God to search your heart - As King David did.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

So here is where we need to renew our:

ALTARS - MINDS - EMOTIONS - SOULS - WILLS - SPIRITS - NATURE - UNDERSTANDING.

4 POINTS OF SPIRITUAL HEART CHECK:

2 Samuel 7 V 1-2:

1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

2 Samuel 12 V 1-13:

1 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

2 Samuel 15 V 23-26:

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

1 Samuel 18 V 6-7,14:

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.

EXAMPLES:

Glass - Water - Jug and for Excess Water

The way we continually keep on our mind and on our heart.

Just rebuking wrong thoughts and affections and reputations can kill = fruit of Gossip.

Deuteronomy 5:17:

17 Thou shalt not kill.

Notes For Further Study:

Isaiah 40:31 - Strength to the weary.

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

2 Corinthians 5 V 17 - New Creation in Christ.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Philippians 4:8:

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Colossians 3 V 2: Set your minds on higher things.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Romans 12 V 2: Renewal of your mind.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ephesians 5 V 24-26: Christ cleansing His bride.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

John 3 V 5: Born of Water = Scripture.

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Joshua 1 V 8:  Meditate Day and Night in the Word.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 4 V8: Delight To Do God’s Will.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

THE 4 POINTS:

2 Samuel  7 V 1-2:

1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

2 Samuel 12 V 1-13:

1 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

The Lord exposed secret sins in David, He repented.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any secret sins or vows you have committed, that you too can repent of to cleanse and renew your heart and mind.

2 Samuel 15 V 23-26: Asking for sympathy, then receiving favour, having confidence in God, and resigning to His will.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

1 Samuel 18 V 6-7 and V 16: Rejoicing in victory and having man’s favour also.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

SUMMARY AND PRAYER TIME:

Therefore in closing, I would like everyone to consider what these scriptures have shown us.

In order to walk as the Lord intends us to, we need to look deep within ourselves with the Holy Spirit’s help, so as to truly love and shine as Christians.

This will take Humility and Contrition (Teachableness) of heart before God and each other.  There is quite a lot to unpack in this as we study through God’s Word here today.

CALL FOR TESTIMONIES:

For now, I’m going to pray for us all, then finish off, we should pray for one another, in small pairs or groups.

CALL FOR PERSONAL PRAYER

CLOSE TEACHING