Intercession, Gifts, and Rest: A Divine Reflection

Devotional

Day 1: The Sweet Aroma of Intercession

The altar of incense in Exodus 30 is a profound symbol of the prayers of the saints, rising like sweet-smelling incense before God. Positioned before the veil leading to the Holy of Holies, it serves as a reminder of the continuous intercession that Jesus makes on our behalf. The incense, a blend of specific spices, was to be burned perpetually, symbolizing the ongoing prayers and intercessions of believers throughout generations. This imagery encourages us to persist in prayer, knowing that our prayers are precious to God and that Jesus is continually interceding for us. [05:22]

"And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel." (Revelation 8:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a specific prayer you have been hesitant to bring before God. How can you be encouraged today to persist in prayer, trusting that Jesus is interceding for you?

Day 2: Gifts for His Glory

God bestows unique gifts and talents upon each of us, intended for His glory. These gifts, whether in craftsmanship, music, or any other field, find their highest purpose when dedicated to the Lord. The story of Bezalel and Oholiab, who were filled with the Spirit of God to construct the Tabernacle, illustrates how God equips us for His work. When we dedicate our abilities to the Lord, they reach their highest potential, serving His purposes and blessing others. This dedication transforms our work into an act of worship. [31:18]

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." (Romans 12:6-8, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific talent or gift you possess. How can you intentionally dedicate this gift to God today, using it to serve others and glorify Him?

Day 3: Rest in the Fulfillment of the Sabbath

The Sabbath was a covenant sign between God and Israel, emphasizing rest and sanctification. For believers, Jesus fulfills the Sabbath, offering us rest from our labors and inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. This rest is not merely physical but spiritual, as we cease striving and find peace in His completed work. Embracing this rest allows us to experience the fullness of life in Christ, free from the burdens of self-reliance and performance. [40:39]

"So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you are striving in your own strength. How can you embrace the rest that Jesus offers, trusting in His completed work?

Day 4: The Power of Intercessory Prayer

Moses' intercession for Israel after their idolatry with the golden calf demonstrates the power of prayer and God's mercy. Despite their rebellion, God chose to spare them, highlighting His desire for redemption and His willingness to forgive when we turn to Him in prayer. This narrative encourages us to engage in intercessory prayer, trusting in God's mercy and His desire to redeem rather than judge. [50:15]

"And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people." (Exodus 32:14, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is in need of God's mercy. How can you commit to interceding for them today, trusting in God's desire for their redemption?

Day 5: Aligning Life with Faith

The warnings against idolatry and living after the flesh call us to examine our lives and ensure our actions reflect our faith. We are encouraged to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, living in a way that honors Him and aligns with His will. This involves a daily commitment to self-examination and a willingness to let go of anything that hinders our relationship with God. [06:41]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life that may not align with your faith. What steps can you take today to bring this area into alignment with your commitment to follow Jesus?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound symbolism and significance of the altar of incense as described in Exodus 30. This altar, placed before the veil leading to the Holy of Holies, represents the intercessory prayers of the saints, rising like sweet-smelling incense before God. It serves as a powerful reminder of the continuous intercession that Jesus makes on our behalf. The incense, a blend of specific spices, was to be burned perpetually, symbolizing the ongoing prayers and intercessions of believers throughout generations.

We also delved into the concept of divine gifts and talents. God, in His wisdom, bestows unique abilities upon individuals, not just for personal gain but for His glory. These gifts, whether in craftsmanship, music, or any other field, find their highest purpose when dedicated to the Lord. The story of Bezalel and Oholiab, who were filled with the Spirit of God to construct the Tabernacle, illustrates how God equips us for His work.

Furthermore, we examined the covenant of the Sabbath, a sign between God and Israel, emphasizing rest and sanctification. This covenant, while specific to Israel, points us to the ultimate rest found in Jesus Christ, who fulfills the Sabbath for believers. The narrative of Moses interceding for Israel after their idolatry with the golden calf highlights the power of intercessory prayer and God's mercy. Despite their rebellion, God, through Moses' prayer, chose to spare the people, demonstrating His desire for redemption over judgment.

Finally, we were reminded of the importance of living a life that reflects our commitment to God. The warnings against idolatry and living after the flesh serve as a call to examine our lives and ensure that our actions align with our faith. As we navigate our spiritual journey, may we continually seek to honor God with our gifts, rest in His promises, and remain steadfast in prayer and devotion.

Key Takeaways

1. The Altar of Incense and Intercession: The altar of incense symbolizes the prayers of the saints, rising as a sweet aroma before God. It reminds us of the continuous intercession of Jesus on our behalf, encouraging us to persist in prayer, knowing that our prayers are precious to God. [05:22]
2. Gifts Dedicated to God: God bestows unique gifts and talents upon each of us, intended for His glory. When we dedicate our abilities to the Lord, they reach their highest potential, serving His purposes and blessing others. This dedication transforms our work into an act of worship. [31:18]
3. The Sabbath and Rest in Christ: The Sabbath was a covenant sign between God and Israel, emphasizing rest and sanctification. For believers, Jesus fulfills the Sabbath, offering us rest from our labors and inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. [40:39]
4. Intercessory Prayer and God's Mercy: Moses' intercession for Israel after their idolatry demonstrates the power of prayer and God's mercy. Despite their rebellion, God chose to spare them, highlighting His desire for redemption and His willingness to forgive when we turn to Him in prayer. [50:15]
5. Living a Life Aligned with Faith: The warnings against idolatry and living after the flesh call us to examine our lives and ensure our actions reflect our faith. We are encouraged to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, living in a way that honors Him and aligns with His will. [06:41]
** [06:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - God's Creation and the Painted Desert
[01:17] - Hearing God's Voice Through Creation
[02:13] - Introduction to Exodus 30
[03:10] - The Altar of Incense Description
[05:22] - Intercession and the Prayers of the Saints
[06:38] - Heavenly Model of the Earthly Tabernacle
[08:22] - Thy Kingdom Come Prayer
[09:43] - The Golden Altar and Intercession
[13:32] - The Intercessory Work of Jesus
[16:18] - The Census and Atonement Money
[19:23] - The Brass Laver and Priestly Washings
[21:36] - Anointing Oil and Sacred Vessels
[27:25] - God-Given Gifts and Talents
[33:21] - The Sabbath Covenant
[41:01] - Jesus as Our Sabbath Rest
[45:13] - Moses' Intercession for Israel
[52:08] - The Nature of God's Immutability
[56:50] - Consecration and Blessing
[63:18] - The Book of Life and Assurance of Salvation
[65:18] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Exodus 30:1-10
Hebrews 7:25
Romans 8:34

Observation Questions:

What specific instructions were given for the construction and use of the altar of incense in Exodus 30? How does this relate to the intercessory role of Jesus? [03:10]
How did the sermon describe the role of Bezalel and Oholiab in the construction of the Tabernacle, and what does this illustrate about divine gifts? [27:25]
What was the significance of the Sabbath as a covenant sign between God and Israel, and how does this relate to the rest found in Jesus Christ? [33:21]
How did Moses' intercession for Israel after the golden calf incident demonstrate the power of prayer and God's mercy? [45:13]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the altar of incense as a symbol of intercessory prayer encourage believers to persist in prayer, knowing that their prayers are precious to God? [05:22]
In what ways can believers today dedicate their unique gifts and talents to God, and how does this transform their work into an act of worship? [31:18]
How does the concept of the Sabbath as a covenant sign point to the ultimate rest found in Jesus Christ, and what implications does this have for believers today? [40:39]
What can we learn from Moses' intercession about the nature of God's mercy and His desire for redemption over judgment? [50:15]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your prayer life. How can you be more intentional about intercessory prayer, knowing that it rises as a sweet aroma before God? [05:22]
Identify a specific gift or talent you possess. How can you dedicate this gift to God’s glory in your daily life or work? [31:18]
Consider your current lifestyle. Are there areas where you need to find rest in Christ rather than striving in your own strength? How can you practically embrace this rest? [40:39]
Think about a time when you experienced God's mercy. How can this experience shape your approach to prayer and intercession for others? [50:15]
Examine your life for any forms of idolatry or living after the flesh. What steps can you take to align your actions more closely with your faith? [06:41]
How can you ensure that your actions and decisions reflect your commitment to God, especially in challenging situations? [06:41]
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to live in a way that honors Him? [06:41]

Sermon Clips

Now this altar of incense represents the intercession before the Lord by the priest, and thus it is a representative of the intercession that Jesus makes for you and for me. The incense as it Rose and it was to be there continually, was as a sweet smelling odor before the Lord that represented the prayers of the Saints. [00:05:22]

For centuries, the church has been praying, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in Earth as it is in heaven. All of us have made that prayer, that prayer is not yet answered quite obviously you can look around the world and see that that prayer is not yet answered. [00:07:30]

A person will always find the highest value of a gift is when it is dedicated to the Lord, to take the gifts of God and use them for other purposes is actually prostituting God's gifts. I think of how many people who have been gifted say musically, but have dedicated that gift in a wrong way. [00:31:18]

God has promised that he is going to give the gifts of the Spirit to basilio and he would devise the cunning works to work in gold and in silver and in brass, in The Cutting of the stones to set them, the carving of the Timbers and to work in all manner of workmanship. [00:32:05]

Verily my Sabbath shall you keep, now there was the Sabbath of the seventh day of the week, the Sabbath, it was called the Sabbath the word Sabbath comes from the word Shabbat which is a which means to rest, and God rested on the seventh day the word there in Genesis 2 3 is Shabbat God rested. [00:33:21]

And so the Lord said speak to the children of Israel saying verily my sabbaths shall you keep it is a sign between me and you throughout your Generations that you may know that I am the Lord that does sanctify you. As we were sharing this morning, God when he made a covenant would then give to them a sign of that Covenant. [00:34:44]

And the Lord said unto Moses go get down for your people, God's denying them at this point, your people that you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They've turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them and they have made them a molten calf and have worshiped it. [00:45:13]

Moses besought the Lord his God and said Lord, why does your wrath Wax Hot against your people, which and notice Moses throws them back your people, which you have brought Lords of which to Moses which you brought on which you have brought out of the land with great power and a mighty hand. [00:46:00]

And so we have this situation where God wanted to spare the people, they had violated his law which demanded their debt, he's looking for an excuse not to destroy them, and so he inspires Moses to pray for them, in order that he might then honor Moses prayer and not destroy them which he really doesn't want to do. [00:52:08]

And it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people you have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up unto the Lord and pray Venture I shall make an an atonement or a covering for your sin. So Moses returned to the Lord and said oh this people have sinned a great sin they've made them gods of gold. [00:56:50]

I do not want to give anybody a false assurance that they're going to be in heaven when they have given themselves to living after the flesh, and by their life they are denying the lordship of Jesus. If Jesus was truly the Lord of their lives they could not be doing these things and by the things they're doing they're denying the lordship of Jesus in their life. [01:03:18]

May the Lord be with you and keep you in his love and cause you to grow in the things of the spirit, moving constantly toward God, toward a deeper richer fellowship and experience with him rather than drifting away from the things that you once knew. May the Lord speak to your heart and guide you in his path. [01:08:20]

Ask a question about this sermon

Pastor Chuck Smith This sermon · AI assistant

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?