Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
— Psalm 141:2

The height of the Altar was two cubits or three feet. Just about the height of the mouth of the priest when he bowed on his knees to pray. Thus, when He prayed, the prayer came from his mouth to God as a vapor of smoke. The same is true for you. When you bow before God you humble yourself. You are declaring He is supreme and you are there to do His will. From your mouth to His - the vapor of prayer arises.

THE TEST
So now, let’s take another look at this amazing Altar of Incense. The Golden Altar was the smallest of the pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle and many treat the matter of prayer as if it were that small or insignificant. But, what if this altar was actually a test? A test that determines how much mystery you can handle, or whether or not you are personally ready to stand up under the power and presence you will encounter in the next Room of Mystery. What if prayer really is a test before you cross the Veil? In other words, if there is no prayer then you go no further than this Golden Altar. The reality is this - only the pure in heart can pray, and it is the pure in heart that shall see God (Matthew 5:8).

THE SMOKE
What is it that enters you here, as you kneel before the Golden Altar of Incense? Smoke. What is this smoke? It is the Cloud, the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is there to receive and carry your prayer to God. It can pass through the veil, between the woven threads while you are still on your knees. The Jewish Rabbis knew it as the Shekhinah or Glory of God.

It is the cloud that filled Solomon’s Temple and it is here with you – infilling you so you can better pray. Without Him in you, at best, your prayer will be selfish and self-centered.

The Holy Spirit knows what is happening to and in your family, your friends, and the home life of those you know at work. He even knows those you do not, and will touch you to pray, even when you do not know for whom, what, or why you are praying. But, all that matters is that He knows, and He will carry your prayer to the Throne where God will hear and God will act.

THE HEART
Amazingly enough, this Altar is so small it can fit into the heart. Jesus was this Altar of Prayer, and it was this Altar that was in the Heart of Jesus while He prayed in the Garden, just before His crucifixion. In fact, this Altar represents Jesus as He intercedes for you before the Father – so you can do greater things than He did. I know, this is difficult to believe. My taking you on this Tabernacle Journey is in the hope that you will see the beauty of God’s plan for you.

Blessings,
John Paul

As you stand in front of the Altar of Incense, the coals are glowing, smoke is rising, you have already found that sweet aroma in the air is unearthly, and you’re right. The balanced fragrance of what is not only entering your nasal passage but your lungs is far from a common whiff of perfume. This smoke is dense and it represents what your prayers to God mean to Him. As such it is the very way God receives your prayers, they are not only a sweet sound to His ear, they are a sweet fragrance as well.

THE PLEASURE
The pleasure you have in the profound sweetness entering your body is life changing. Isn’t it interesting that your prayers are received as a sweet smelling aroma to God. Think about that for a minute, God could have said make the spices of bitter aroma – but He did not. Prayer is a welcome aroma and He savors every molecule you utter to Him. This smoke was to arise new every day, God never tires of this fragrance, and you can never pray too much.

ADDITION OF the VAPOR OF PRAYER
Once again something is being added to you. Soon you will, with deep affection and gratitude, be offering this very fragrance back to God – only it will be mingled with a part of you. That makes it even more valuable to God. One of the ingredients that was mingled with the spices was salt and you are the salt of the Earth. I cover more on this later.

What is it that is entering you besides fragrance and sweetness of this smoke? To understand this you must know what comprises the smoke and what each mean. In these five elements lie the mystery of the Incense, and what will turn out to be the mystery of all true prayer. I’ll give you a hint of what to look for; all true prayer comes from God, it enters our spirit, and we breathe it back to Him. Understanding this, Paul wrote that all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36). Such is the basic components of all true prayer.

SORROW OF PRAYERLESSNESS
That being understood, the worst thing that could happen to you is not to be able to pray. It means God has quit talking to you at the most basic level. Failing to pray is the first indication that less from God will be coming your way. When we pray God gives more, when we do not pray, even the little ability we have will be taken away. That is the Law of Response and it is a primary Spiritual Law. Spiritual Laws are unchanging regardless of culture, ethnos, economic strata, or age. It is impossible for man to change a Spiritual Law.

Blessings,

John Paul