THE INCENSE OF OUR PRAYERS
“The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand” (Revelation 8:4).
As this COVID-19 pandemic continues, I’m reminded of the time in Numbers 16 when the Israelites rebelled against Aaron and Moses. God sent a plague and Aaron rushed into action!
"And Moses said to Aaron, ‘Quick, take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar. Lay incense on it and carry it out among the people to purify them and make them right with the Lord. The Lord's anger is blazing against them—the plague has already begun.’ Aaron did as Moses told him and ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down the people, but Aaron burned the incense and purified the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped." (Numbers 16:46-48).
The incense is a symbol of our prayers!
Even King David prayed in Psalm 141:1-2, “I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense.” There it is again, an incense of prayer. Also, Luke 1:10: “and the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.” The incense smoke (a sweet smell) drifted heavenward, symbolizing prayers ascending to God’s throne.
May we, like David, call to our Lord to quickly come and deliver us from the evil of this virus.
That our prayers would be a sweet smell of incense to Jesus; hearing and answering us to stop COVID-19. The Lord answered King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:13-5: “When I . . . send a plaque among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers (incense) offered in this place.”
May we as an individual, family, church, community, nation, and world; repent and pray for God’s will, healing power and blessing to be on us.
Take comfort God is still on the throne! I believe this is no accident that this virus is happening in the springtime and over Easter. God is at work and doing a new thing! Perhaps a spiritual revival! Church buildings may have been empty over Easter, but so was Jesus’ tomb!
Jesus is alive and well and so is the Church! So is our dear Luis and Andrew and all the Palau staff. So are our global network of evangelists. And how about you? Allow the incense power of our prayers to bless and be with LPA as well as those needing to know Jesus personally! Now is the time! God’s Word of hope, truth, love and salvation is going out over the Internet like never before!
Open the below reports, checkout the website hopewithgod.com, and join us April 21 as we pray together for our world!
In the Power and Incense of Prayer,
Gail Stockamp
“Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).
PRAYER REPORTS
Please enjoy opening the regional updates below and keeping them in your prayers:
Africa | Pray for health and safety during these uncertain times | Report
Asia | Pray for continued relationships and possible outreach at Christmas | Report
North America | The team’s most ambitious digital evangelism effort | Report
Europe | Postponed plans but a new spirit for the Gospel in Europe is steady | Report
Latin America | Planning future events in Central & South America | Report
Caribbean | Pray for open doors and peace after disaster | Report
SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 21
Please join us April 21st for our one-hour national quarterly conference prayer call: 1 p.m. Pacific, 2 p.m. Mountain, 3 p.m. Central, and 4 p.m. Eastern time. Luis, Andrew, and Kevin will join us! It will be by Zoom! Details to follow! It will be a pleasing aroma and a wonderful hour to seek God in prayer!