Sacred Incense

Sacred Incense
Words of Faith 3-1-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 30
[34] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take fragrant spices--gum resin, onycha and galbanum--and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, [35] and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. [36] Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. [37] Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD. [38] Whoever makes any like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from his people."

There was one more special mixture to be made for worship in the Tabernacle. Once again, a perfumer put together a recipe for fragrant spices. This incense was also pure and sacred. It was not to be used in everyday places. Trying to duplicate this fragrance would result in excommunication from the people.
This incense was to be used only during prayers in the Holy Place in front of the Ark of the Testimony. Moses directed this at the beginning of chapter 30.
The incense was made from sweet spices, including stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. Stacte was a resinous gum that oozed from trees on Mount Gilead. It was also called the "balm of Gilead." The onycha came from a species of shellfish that resembled a crab. The galbanum was taken from the leaves of a Syrian plant. These were blended with pure frankincense.
The incense was from a secret formula, long since lost. The mixture of these spices gave off a sweet scent that was not to be duplicated or used privately. The people would find comfort in this fragrance as they knew the priest was lifting their prayers before the Lord.
Salt was added to cause the mixture to give off a cloud of white smoke. Using this incense in the place of holy worship gave a visual image representing the spiritual act of lifting praise, thanksgiving, and prayers before the Lord. As this white smoke rose and slowly dissipated, there was a visual assurance that the Lord does hear the prayers of his people.
Today, incense is still used in some churches. It has a lot of common uses as well, often to bring a fragrance into a room or house. Some use incense in Eastern meditation, but this is all quite different.
The altar of incense speaks to us of authentic worship. Authentic worship happens according to a formula known only to God. It cannot be counterfeited. It cannot be duplicated. Worship is not made to be pleasing to a natural man's eye, ear, or heart. Authentic worship has nothing to do with special effects or even musical style. We are called to worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24).
Every great historic revival has been marked by the entry of God with His formula to meet His people in authentic worship. Each revival has been different, but His presence is powerfully the same. There are two altars of worship and revival.
The first is the burnt altar, where God hears our confessions and deals with our sins.
The second is the altar of incense which speaks of heaven and holiness. At this second altar, people may linger for hours as they commune with Christ and as God hears our prayers, praise, and thanksgiving.

Father God, we so desperately need revival in our world. Pour out Your Spirit as people gather hungry for You. Draw people to the altar of confession and salvation. Draw believers to the altar of incense so that they may be renewed, directed, and made holy. In the powerful and fragrant Name of Jesus.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.