When life goes on well, self-sufficient complacency toward the Lord is apt to creep in. There is failure to feel the need for consistency in prayer. But when a critical issue looms, impossible to solve humanly, it results in a hurry-up call to get serious in prayer.
There must be a deeper understanding of what dependence on the Lord means. God wants to work out our problem in a supernatural way so that others will learn to have confidence in Him.
A typical example of the importance of prayer is seen in the purposes of one of the tabernacle furnishings. While the burning of incense on the golden altar primarily pictures the Lord Jesus Christ as a perpetual sweet savor to God, there are other implications. Among these is the intercessory ministry of the priest. His responsibility was to intercede for the sinning Israelites. He stood in the gap between the sinner and God. This was symbolized in his approach to God by offering the prescribed sweet incense on the golden altar. The sweet ascending odors present a lovely picture of the prayers of the saints rising up to God from a heart on fire with the love of Christ (Rev. 8:3-4).
Every redeemed sinner has become a priest before God (Rev. 1:5-6) on the basis of his faith in the cleansing blood of Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. As such, each has the joyful confidence and assurance in Christ that he has an audience with God (Rom. 8:26-27, 34). Because of this, the believer-priest can come boldly before God with his prayers (Heb. 4:16).
In the tabernacle days, the priest’s special privilege of burning the incense on the golden altar had to be in accordance with certain specific conditions. The incense had to be offered up God’s way that the priest “die not,” or be “cut off from his people” (Ex. 30:20-21, 38). The ministry of the priest was serious business then. It is serious business for the believer priest now.
GUIDELINES
There were three things that the priest had to do to be prepared that he “die not.” First, he had to serve at the brazen altar. The blood of a sacrificial animal had to be shed every day to make an atonement for his sins (Lev. 4:3-7; 16:17).
Secondly, he had to wash at the laver. He had to be physically clean, free from the defilement of bloody hands and feet soiled while serving at the brazen altar (Ex. 30:18-20; Ps. 24:3-4).
Thirdly, he had to be in the right place “before the testimony” (Ex. 30:36). That is, he had to be in a right standing with God. Now on holy ground, he had a distinct privilege.
Only then could the priest offer and burn the sweet incense on the golden altar with the fire he had brought in his censer from off the brazen altar. This was the fire which was left after consuming the blood sacrifice. This fire represented the judged sin which God hates. Now the fire burns up the incense in a fragrance of ascending worship and prayer that God loves most.
THE PARALLEL
In all of this there can be seen a delightful parallel. The tabernacle priest’s preparation for his service illustrated what the believer priest must attend to in order to experience the joy of answered prayer.
Above all, it means the approach to our holy Lord is by virtue of the “redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).
It means that by virtue of “the washing of water by the Word” (Eph. 5:26) the believer is sanctified and cleansed from the defilement that may have crept in because of his walk in this life. By confession, he is cleansed to serve.
Now he is ready to assume an important spiritual obligation: to address the special needs of those around him.
The believer priest’s duty is fulfilled by “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18). Furthermore, Paul adds this: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” (1 Tim. 2:1).
INTERCEDING PRAYER
From some examples that are disclosed in Scripture, we can conclude that prayer is hopeful interaction with the Lord. A look at several “model” prayers shows that there are some vital common ingredients.
For example, there is Daniel’s prayer in chapter 9. The ingredients of confession, supplication, humility, and dependence are found.
There is David’s plea in Psalm 51. He cries out for forgiveness and cleansing. From the depths of his soul and with “a broken and a contrite heart” (17) he asks for deliverance from his sin.
There is Solomon’s response to God (1 Kings 3:5-14). He recognizes who God is in his prayer of choice. He asks for an understanding heart and discernment to know God’s will.
Other ingredients of praise, thanks, and joy come out in various prayers. (see Hannah’s, Nehemiah’s, Paul’s, and, of course, the Lord’s prayer in John 17.)
How then does a believer-priest properly face the responsibility of intercessory prayer for the saints to whom he has committed himself? How does a believer appropriately intercede?
It is fitting to pray for things that are for building up the heart and soul first. For example: that the Holy Spirit would have the freedom to cultivate His desired fruits (Gal. 5:22-23); that the Spirit would be able to develop needed skills that lead to fruit in the Gospel (Col. 1:5-6); that the Lord would be able to make His Word fresh to our hearts every day (Josh. 1:8); that recognition of sins and improper attitudes be revealed and confessed (1 John 1:9).
Why, then, is there unanswered and powerless prayer? Could it be that there is failure to understand that God expects the condition of the heart to be pure before Him. It may also be a failure to approach Him consistently, and not just when faced with a critical issue.
God is God. He cannot be appealed to lightly without regard for who He is and that He hates sin. There are consequences for sinful attitudes. He warns. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:2). There are other passages that warn about this (Prov. 1:24-30; Jer. 11:11, 14:10-12; Jas. 4:3).
This is not to say that unanswered prayer always indicates there is sin in the heart. Because a prayer is not answered according to our desire, could mean our request was not in line with God’s will.”No!” can be an answer. If so, then we must go in peace and confidence that our omniscient Lord knows best and is in control. He always answers, even though denials are often hardest to accept. The trouble comes when we refuse to take “no” for an answer.
This takes us back to the importance of “praying in the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit is the key to understanding what God’s will is. This is why He sifts our prayers by interceding for us “according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:27).
Prayer is a very serious business. These are very serious times. God is very serious about working with us through prayer. Are you serious too?