Perpetual Intercession: Christ's Role in Our Spiritual Journey

 

Summary

In the sacred text of Exodus 30:7-8, we find a profound illustration of the daily rituals that were to be observed by the children of Israel, emphasizing the perpetual nature of their spiritual obligations. The altar of incense and the lighting of the lamps symbolize the constant need for atonement and divine illumination in our lives. As Aaron was instructed to burn incense every morning and evening, we are reminded of the perpetual intercession of Christ and the continuous work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. These daily observances serve as a powerful reminder that our access to God is only possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The golden altar of incense represents the sweet aroma of Christ's intercession, which is ever-present before the throne of God. It is through His merits that we are able to approach the throne of grace with confidence. The golden candlestick, with its seven branches, signifies the light of the Holy Spirit, which illuminates our path and guides us in truth. Together, these elements teach us the inseparable connection between Christ's intercession and the Spirit's illumination.

As we draw near to God, we must do so through the merits of Christ, never relying on our own strength or righteousness. Our prayers, praise, and service must be offered in the name of Jesus, for it is only through Him that we find acceptance before God. The incense of Christ's merit and the light of the Spirit are essential for our spiritual journey, providing us with the assurance of God's presence and guidance.

In our daily walk, we must remember the importance of prayer and knowledge. True prayer is informed by a deep understanding of God's character, promises, and our own needs. As we grow in knowledge, our prayers become more aligned with God's will, and we are better equipped to intercede for others. The Spirit of God enlightens our minds, enabling us to pray effectively and fervently.

Finally, as we engage in the work of the Lord, whether in teaching, preaching, or personal devotion, we must do so with a heart of prayer. The preparation of our minds and hearts through prayer ensures that our efforts are fruitful and pleasing to God. Let us be diligent in seeking the Lord's guidance and strength, knowing that our labor is not in vain when it is done in His name.

Key Takeaways:

- The altar of incense and the lighting of the lamps symbolize the perpetual need for Christ's intercession and the Holy Spirit's illumination in our lives. These daily observances remind us that our access to God is only possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. [03:24]

- Our prayers and spiritual endeavors must be offered in the name of Jesus, relying on His merits rather than our own strength or righteousness. The incense of Christ's merit and the light of the Spirit are essential for our spiritual journey. [05:19]

- True prayer is informed by a deep understanding of God's character, promises, and our own needs. As we grow in knowledge, our prayers become more aligned with God's will, enabling us to intercede effectively for others. [28:20]

- The Spirit of God enlightens our minds, enabling us to pray effectively and fervently. Our prayers, when guided by the Spirit, are assured of success because they align with God's eternal purposes. [16:21]

- In our work for the Lord, whether in teaching, preaching, or personal devotion, we must prepare our minds and hearts through prayer. This ensures that our efforts are fruitful and pleasing to God, as we rely on His guidance and strength. [41:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - The Altar of Incense
- [01:14] - Access Through Sacrifice
- [02:51] - The Golden Altar
- [03:24] - Approaching God
- [05:19] - The One Door
- [06:42] - The Golden Candlestick
- [08:21] - Intercession and Illumination
- [11:01] - Eternal Salvation
- [12:25] - Christ and the Spirit
- [16:21] - Assured Success in Prayer
- [19:32] - God's Glory Revealed
- [25:37] - The Light of the Spirit
- [28:20] - Prayer and Knowledge
- [41:23] - Preparing for Ministry

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Exodus 30:7-8

Observation Questions:
1. What daily rituals were the children of Israel instructed to observe according to Exodus 30:7-8? How do these rituals symbolize the perpetual nature of spiritual obligations? [00:11]
2. How does the altar of incense represent Christ's intercession, and what does the golden candlestick symbolize in the sermon? [06:42]
3. What is the significance of the incense and light being attended to both morning and evening in the context of the sermon? [07:49]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between Christ's intercession and the Holy Spirit's illumination? [08:53]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our access to God is only possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ? [02:19]
2. How does the sermon explain the importance of offering prayers and spiritual endeavors in the name of Jesus? [05:19]
3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in enlightening our minds and guiding our prayers according to the sermon? [16:21]
4. How does the sermon connect the preparation of our minds and hearts through prayer with the effectiveness of our work for the Lord? [41:23]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily spiritual practices. How can you incorporate the symbolism of the altar of incense and the lighting of the lamps into your routine to remind you of Christ's intercession and the Holy Spirit's guidance? [03:24]
2. When you pray, do you rely on your own strength or on the merits of Christ? How can you shift your focus to ensure your prayers are offered in Jesus' name? [05:19]
3. Consider your current understanding of God's character and promises. How can you deepen this knowledge to align your prayers more closely with God's will? [28:20]
4. Think about a time when you felt the Holy Spirit guiding your prayers. How did this experience affect the outcome of your prayers, and how can you seek the Spirit's guidance more intentionally in the future? [16:21]
5. In your work for the Lord, whether in teaching, preaching, or personal devotion, how do you prepare your mind and heart through prayer? What changes can you make to ensure your efforts are fruitful and pleasing to God? [41:23]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need divine illumination. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to shed light on this area and guide you in truth? [07:01]
7. As you engage in intercessory prayer for others, how can you ensure that your prayers are informed by a deep understanding of their needs and God's promises? [13:48]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Intercession and the Spirit's Illumination
The altar of incense and the lighting of the lamps in Exodus 30:7-8 symbolize the perpetual need for Christ's intercession and the Holy Spirit's illumination in our lives. These daily observances remind us that our access to God is only possible through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The incense represents the sweet aroma of Christ's intercession, which is ever-present before the throne of God. It is through His merits that we are able to approach the throne of grace with confidence. The golden candlestick, with its seven branches, signifies the light of the Holy Spirit, which illuminates our path and guides us in truth. Together, these elements teach us the inseparable connection between Christ's intercession and the Spirit's illumination. [03:24]

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV): "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: How can you incorporate a daily reminder of Christ's intercession and the Spirit's guidance into your routine today?


Day 2: Offering Prayers in Jesus' Name
Our prayers and spiritual endeavors must be offered in the name of Jesus, relying on His merits rather than our own strength or righteousness. The incense of Christ's merit and the light of the Spirit are essential for our spiritual journey. As we draw near to God, we must do so through the merits of Christ, never relying on our own strength or righteousness. Our prayers, praise, and service must be offered in the name of Jesus, for it is only through Him that we find acceptance before God. This understanding transforms our approach to prayer and service, ensuring that our efforts are grounded in the grace and power of Christ. [05:19]

John 14:13-14 (ESV): "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."

Reflection: What specific prayer or spiritual endeavor can you commit to offering in Jesus' name today, trusting in His merits alone?


Day 3: Aligning Prayer with God's Will
True prayer is informed by a deep understanding of God's character, promises, and our own needs. As we grow in knowledge, our prayers become more aligned with God's will, enabling us to intercede effectively for others. The Spirit of God enlightens our minds, enabling us to pray effectively and fervently. Our prayers, when guided by the Spirit, are assured of success because they align with God's eternal purposes. This alignment requires a commitment to studying God's Word and seeking His wisdom, allowing our prayers to be shaped by His truth and love. [28:20]

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of God's character and promises to better align your prayers with His will today?


Day 4: The Spirit's Enlightenment in Prayer
The Spirit of God enlightens our minds, enabling us to pray effectively and fervently. Our prayers, when guided by the Spirit, are assured of success because they align with God's eternal purposes. This enlightenment is a gift that transforms our prayer life, allowing us to intercede with confidence and clarity. As we rely on the Spirit's guidance, we are empowered to pray in ways that reflect God's heart and intentions, bringing about His will on earth as it is in heaven. [16:21]

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV): "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need the Spirit's enlightenment to pray more effectively today?


Day 5: Preparing for Ministry Through Prayer
In our work for the Lord, whether in teaching, preaching, or personal devotion, we must prepare our minds and hearts through prayer. This ensures that our efforts are fruitful and pleasing to God, as we rely on His guidance and strength. The preparation of our minds and hearts through prayer is essential for effective ministry, allowing us to serve with humility and dependence on God's power. As we engage in the work of the Lord, we are reminded that our labor is not in vain when it is done in His name, and that prayer is the foundation of all fruitful ministry. [41:23]

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Reflection: How can you intentionally prepare your heart and mind through prayer for the specific ministry or service you are involved in today?

Quotes

"These daily ordinances were to be regarded by the children of Israel as of standing obligation abiding time types of constant necessity never to be removed so long as the dispensation should last when the priest went into the Tabernacle he could not enter it without being warned of sin and of sacrifice for at the entrance of the Holy Place stood an altar of brass upon which there was offered every morning a lamb and every evening a lamb this taught that access to God was not possible except by experation." [00:00:54]

"Learn hence that to the door of the inner chamber of commun I with God we must approach by the perfect Merit of our redeeming Lord we come not in our own Merit but we are accepted in the Beloved if we have ever been favored with high and holy communion with God such as he reserves for favored Saints if we have been enabl to come boldly to the throne of the Heavenly Grace and have looked into the tempered brightness of that light which shines Above The Mercy Seat we have come only by virtue of the infinite Merit of our Lord Jesus." [00:03:25]

"Never try to draw near to God In Prayer or praise or meditation or scripture reading or holy service apart from Jesus Christ or your attempt must be a failure through the wall of fire which surrounds the throne you can only pass by way of the one door namely the body and blood of our great mediator sacrifice and substitute is not that door sufficient why should we climb up some other way if I am very heavy of heart do not let me try to raise my spirits and so come in the power of human courage but let me come just as I am made bold through him whose Comforts Delight my soul." [00:05:09]

"See how on the grandest scale the incense of intercession and the lamp of spiritual illumin ation are set side by side he whose Merit brings us life is in Divine alliance with him who brings us light indeed there is such Unity between them that Jesus himself is said to be a light to light and the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ brings with it the communion of the Holy Ghost for the father has joined them together." [00:08:56]

"Jesus is pleading and therefore our faith fails not when Satan sifts as as wheat the spirit is working and therefore the light of our faith is sustained by a secret Mystic oil which prevents the enemy from putting it out this also is our two-fold confidence when we go forth into the world to preach the gospel unto the Lord Jesus all power is given in heaven and in Earth and he is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." [00:11:24]

"True prayer is the offering to God of the Merit of the Lord Jesus and hence it must be accepted what can be refused to Merit such as his true prayer is presented ever by the Lord Jesus and hence again its certainty of efficacy how can the father deny anything to the wellbeloved it is written in the book of the Revelation and another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden sensor and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of All Saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne." [00:17:20]

"Prayer should be attended with knowledge it is ill when men worship they know not what God is light and he will not have his people worship him in in the dark when they burn the incense they must also light the lamp in the Rish Church the mass of the people repeat prayers in an unknown tongue having no idea of what their meaning may be and this is both a grievous wrong to the people and a mockery of God what can be the good of such prayers in the sight of him who seeketh those to worship Him who worship Him in spirit and in truth." [00:28:20]

"The more Divine knowledge you get all things being equal the more complete will your prayers become grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Light the lamp at the same time that you Kindle the incense for instance when you pray what prayer can there be without knowing God our Father how can you pray a right to an unknown God the more knowledge of God the more correct does prayer become he that cometh to God God must believe that he is and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him." [00:28:58]

"Preparation for preaching and teaching is most important God's work is not to be done carelessly as boys shoot arrows at random in their play we must prepare both by reading and pleading we must like the apostles give ourselves to the word of God and prayer we are told by ancient rabbis that when the priest who was appointed for office went into the holy place he took with him the golden snuffers and the golden snuff dishes and a vessel full of pure olive oil and by the help of these he attended to the trimming of the golden lamp." [00:41:23]

"Let us thank our Lord Jesus that he hath made us Kings and Priests unto our God and that he permits us both to let our light shine before men and our prayers ascend before God one thing more this burning of the incense was not only at the dressing of the lamps but also at the kindling of the lamps when they began to shine I want to plead dear friends very heartily with you that when it it is my privilege to come here this week and at all other times to light the lamps you who are my beloved helpers will take care to burn the incense at the same time." [00:43:09]

"Pray that the fish may come in shs around the boat when the congregation is gathered pray that the speaker may be guided of the Holy Spirit to a right theme the preacher has no manuscript so that there is room for the spirit's guidance and he may be led to say what he never thought of saying the right word may thus be spoken in the right way so as to reach the heart then pray that there may be given the Willing ear the receptive mind the retentive memory that Impressions may be made tonight and at all other times such as even Satan cannot remove." [00:47:58]

"Pray God to bless each word that has been spoken pray that some poor Sinner's soul may be perfumed by the merits of Jesus and illuminated with the light Divine and it shall be done for the Lord heareth his people we want more and more to be a Praying church and then we shall be a growing Church hither to we have had a great blessing but the windows of Heaven are wide enough for a greater one to come down through them the more we plead with God and the more we set forth the light of the Gospel the more will God be with us and build up in this place a temple for his praise." [00:49:14]

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Transcript
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