Aug 16
The Incense of Prayer (II)
“Let my prayer be set before You as incense …” Psa. 141:2
The sages say the swirling of the incense as it arises from the Golden Altar revolves around the thought that the smoke, as a representation of Spirit, is reviving, refining, extracting, and elevating sparks of Holiness and goodness deep within creation and ourselves. By the mere release of the fragrance, everything that it touches is changed. Like the Spirit of God, this Smokey incense, as it is breathed in, searches the deepest part of you and blows on the dimming sparks to present them to God as glowing embers. It is thought that God originally gave these sparks to us in an unrefined state so we would have a built-in need to find Him in order to complete ourselves.
As you breathe in this Smokey incense you are changed – and when you expel it, the world is changed. Further, as the fragrant smoke rises and God breathes it in, it is not only a sweet fragrance to His nostrils, but answers are released to your questions. In God’s inhale and exhale, His Kingdom comes closer to that which He made - you. Dust touching dust, spirit touching Spirit, all contained within one act of prayer. Prayer is far more important than we can imagine – at least at this present time.
5 TYPES OF PRAYER
The five types of prayer are covered in the Lord’s Prayer of Matthew 6. All prayer is to start with Adoration. I won’t belabor the Lord’s Prayer here, however, if you are interested you can learn more about some of its’ mysteries in my CD, “The Mysteries of the Lord’s Prayer.” Below are a few tips and reminders of what you more than likely already know. Yet, sometimes it is good to have the pen of another remind you of spiritual truths.
Adoration or Worship is a feeling of profound Awe, love and admiration and will always result in worship of that which is adored. Adoration caries the idea of recognizing the greatness of God in every way you can think of. It is the understanding that as you grow in that recognition, you will see so much more of Him to worship than you presently see. Thus, worship leads to the recognition of your finiteness in light of the infinite, supreme, grandeur found in His Names. It is the deepest revering or profound reverence for His names. It is the experience that there is no separation of His Name from His acts, nor any separation of His acts from His Glory. They are one, and mysteriously they are to be hallowed and revered.
Devotion is the profound dedication, consecration, and earnest attachment of you to God. Inherent in devotion is the unwavering belief that God will not fail. Thus, within devotion is also often found the declaration of the eventual victory of the cause. “Your Kingdom come,” is not a question, it is an imperative statement of victory. It is the supreme confidence that your life will be better because you follow the one who will win.
Intercession, which includes petition, is asking God to act on the behalf of another by removing something or adding something to them, or protecting them from something. It is the recognition of the pain or potential pain of another person or culture. It is the understanding that sin is an agent of deterioration and without prayer the whole of anything will decay. It is the knowledge that in praying the creator’s desire, He will recreate what has eroded through sin. It is the wisdom and insight that God restricts Himself to the will of man. Thus, without prayer, wills do not change, and the Kingdom advances slowly.
Supplication is a desperate pleading, or crying out to God. Supplication is found when your prayers turn into a cry. It is found when you can’t catch your breath because you are sobbing so hard. This level of weeping is often referred to as wailing. It carries the idea of bending down, bowing, or kneeling in absolute submission. Supplication is the deepest form of prayerful submission. It is the total conviction and dedication to “not my will, but Your will be done.” It is the knowing that there are forces greater than you, and without God’s help, you will succumb to temptation and evil will overpower all things.
Contemplation and its early form, meditation, is thoughtful observation, rumination, deep consideration, and concentration on spiritual matters. It is the growing awareness of the mystical eternality of God’s being. Contemplation begins with your efforts to meditate on His ways – its’ climax can only be achieved with God’s presence. God grants it as a gift; it cannot be earned, bought, formatted, or formulated to occur. But, when it does happen, time disappears and morning and night lose their place as signposts indicating time has passed. For a brief moment, space and time lose their relevance and you taste the Kingdom, the power, and the glory of the only wise God who has never “not existed.”
Keep praying!
Blessings,
John Paul
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Wow, I didn’t know that contemplation was a type of prayer…and it’s so wonderful! And it’s not the same without the climax of God’s presence…when He ties it all up and shows up, it’s so awesome!
This is an excellent description of types of prayer unlike anything that I have seen before. I have actually had a combination of supplication and intercession several times. Which, I was crying in desperation, but it was not for myself. Sometimes you want to see others touched by God so deeply that it brings you to tears. But, God knows the timing and I trust that he will bring his will to pass. I believe that prayer is speaking in agreement with God’s will. So, when we speak in agreement with God, coming into alignment with him, there is a releasing of Heaven to the Earth. Let his Kingdom come, His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven!!
Blessings
keep praying
John Paul:
On your FB page you entered into the status column the following statement/truth:
“Vision dies when the visionary begins to try to manage his vision”
Whoa,what a statement, the sun has finally come out between the status column subject in response to vision and the blog here regarding prayer. It seems that Father God has been preparing me all along in my personal life for such a time as this, as I diligently write my comments here on your blog in the heat of summer, here in New England at the beginning of a much needed vacation. Summer finally has arrived weatherwise
and it seems that in this new season of my life, the Lord is finally beginning to quicken the vision for my destiny in the second part of my life, as He is now beginning to move me through the ordinary circumstances of my life regarding preparation for the things that lie ahead in the not so distant future.
Lesson 1: My Vision:
As, the Lord was bringing me closer to the vision that He has dreamed within me for my life, I am finding a correlation between the spiritual and my physical vision. Up until this year, I have been enjoying perfect 20/20 vision. As I am rapidly approaching the age of 50, in about a year and a half from now, I am now finding that my vision is slightly different and off kilter, which has caused me to reflect on what and how I should be viewing my physical life. I should be seeing clearly things up close, things to the side and things far away like I always have in the past as far as physical vision is concerned. However, this hasn’t always been the case concerning things in the spirit over the years. It seems that when I enjoyed perfect vision physically when I was much younger, I was not enjoying perfect vision spiritually, it was always clouded by spiritual decay due to my uncrucified sin nature at the time. So now the ironic thing is as my physical vision has weakened due to age, my spiritual vision has increased in a good way due to my crucified sin nature and spiritual growth in my daily life. Much of this has to do with these blog entries. How ironic, whoa. It seemed that when I was enjoying perfect physical vision, I was only managing my spiritual life and not making much progress because I wasn’t placing my complete trust in God working things out in my inner life through the person of the Holy Spirit. When I was younger, my perspective regarding the things of the spirit was marred and had to be managed in order for me not to lose faith and hope in God. Now that I am moving closer to God, and literally smelling the smoke of His presence as I intercede on behalf of others without much effort, my spiritual perspective has shifted and is now being completely inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit. And each time His spirit within me is interceding through my spirit, I can smell the smoke of intercession going up to the Lord. Sometimes it begins before I have complete knowledge of the nature of the intercession. God is good. So, now tomorrow is the day that I pick up my new reading glasses for the rest of the physical journey that lies ahead of me, so I can see where I am going and keep the vision. The eye doctor told me, I had a slight stigmatism and that I came into his office just in time because it can get better in time, if I where the glasses enough times to strengthen the cornea. As far as my spiritual vision goes, the Lord is giving me a new perspective from heaven which are likened to spiritual glasses in order to keep the vision and much of this happens through prayer for me. So, thank you John Paul for being obedient to the things of God as He shows you His perspective from heaven regarding the content of this blog and who you are to mentor. Have a blessed day today.
Peace,
Shirley C.
When I was in the old city of Jerusalem in October, I discovered an awesome print. I don’t know who the artist was or the title of the painting.
It depicts the high priest bending before the ark of the covenant. The smoke is rising up and the priest is dropping the incense into the coals of fire…It really grabbed my attention!
I couldn’t justify spending the money to buy that print–but I did find it on an 8×10 puzzle that I bought and brought home. I have it set up in my living room (my prayer room). When I look at it—my spiritual nostrils breathe in that precious scent that is being sent to heaven.
John Paul, I love that paragraph you wrote above–”As you breath in this Smokey incense you are changed…at least at the present time. Selah!!!
Getting “high” sniffing God’s incense,
Linda
PS> Here is a verse that came to me about this Coffee Talk blog.
“I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” Hosea 12:10
It is a long dark night
and the silence is unnerving.
My undoing is nigh unto me
and I cannot utter a breath.
Clutching what is precious,
resolve and resignation do battle.
Will the light shine again
and what condition will it find me?
O I love it! This is exciting my heart!
Shirley C: Your comments were really thought provoking and it made me ask myself about my own “vision”…am I seeing deeper with clarity as I mature in Him? Wouldn’t it be neat to be able to put on glass lenses that you could view and step into eternity!?!
Lord give us “laser” light eyesight!
Linda
Dear Linda:
Just ask the Lord and He will give you the glasses from heaven. This time of transition is increasing with intensity for me and others that I know. With this new focus it seems that I have increased anticipation with eager expectation towards the next thing that the Lord has for me. Thanks to this blog and John Paul Jackson’s “The Art of Hearing God” correspondence course. There is definitely a call in my life and now a push to enter into hospital healing ministry namely chaplaincy. I am already doing the volunteer end of it, the next step is actually participating in a CPE program and change. This is work that I can do for the Lord and actually get paid for it. The salary is probably not going to be much, but the rewards of doing what God has called us to do far outweighs mans benefits. Keep me in your prayers and be blessed!
In His Love,
Shirley C.
One of the strongest yearnings that I have is to be anointed in all three areas: prophet/priest/king. I have said this out loud, and eyebrows have gone up. I am patted on the head and told to stick to the prayer closet.
Why would I desire this, if God had not put the seed inside me? I know it a quest that is very “costly”. It is a prayer that I have prayed “in secret” for years.
I release this prayer and desire out loud as I continue to press towards this high calling!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to be called and chosen!
Linda
Hello Everybody,
Pray, Pray, Pray!
I thank you Lord for the signs and symbols you give me each day as a reminder that you are with me. We are enjoying the beauty of creation, the birds, vapors of smoke in the sky, and seeing pure innocent babies to remind us that all that he made is good. Just dropping in to bless you all. Have a great Jesus day! Love, Holly
Good morning,
I am glad that the Holy Spirit has led me to this website for understanding through the eyes of JPJ and it has blessed me so and I also wanted to say John Paul you are like a spiritual Father to me if you don’t mind me saying and I know we have never met but when I see your picture I feel the Love of God on you and it’s like my Abba so I do acknowledge you as a Spiritual Father and thanks for blessing my life and helping me understand prayer and not just do prayer but understand it as well. Love you like a Father and I know he loves is on you and have a blessed day and to you all that come for this understanding and food for thought may it bless you as it has blessed me. Your sister in Christ, Yolanda C. Honolulu, HI
Thank you for the blog. I want to grow in my communion with God to be incense in throne room, but I feel as though I have a huge block…I know breakthrough is coming…
I loved “the man praying for everyone in line” dream… and how the green robes turned to brillance after they were prayed for by Jesus. And how he catches our tears.
There are so many layers of darkness on broken hearted people and the path to breakthrough can be confusing and difficult. Thank you for reaching out to us all.
John Paul,
May your conference this weekend in MA not be business as usual…I pray that you and the others who minister will boldly proclaim the Kingdom. May God in return release a demonstration of His kingdom.
May there be reports that “a whole lot of shakin’” took place as you were assembled together. Hallelujah!!!
Praying for you,
Linda
Blessings to all! I never really thought that I would send any of my thoughts. I have been reading this website for sometime and have been so blessed by the heart felt words of the people of God. When I read Yolanda’s email, it just stirred me so much. I feel the same way about John Paul. I can’t wait to read what the Lord says through him. JP, my son and I traveled from Ky. to florence, Al to hear you. My son is 21 and he learned so much.(I can’t express in words what those days at that church hearing and seeing you and experiencing God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit through you, I pray God just tells you JP where I fail to express it) I was buying a dreams CD set at the table and JP, you came beside me and got dreams to give out that evening. I wanted to talk and meet you, but I just couldn’t seem to say anything. I kept asking myself what dream do I pick to ask you to give interpretation. Well anyways, I could go on and on. I saw the presence of God on you. In All that we do may it be for His Honor and Glory!! s ann
Thank you so much for sharing, John Paul. You are motivating me in my prayer life, and help me to keep moving forward, becoming more open, and pushing onward and upward.
I too pray for John Paul’s conference this weekend. I had an interesting dream last night in which I was with a small group of people by a boat in a marina, in a place that reminded me of New England. John Paul Jackson was there. We were going to cook out, and someone started to prepare some grilled vegetables. As I have reflected on the dream, I sense in some way that some sort of virtual spiritual conference is taking place while the conference is happening in New England, and that those of us who are here may all be invited to participate in some way.
Blessings,
Betty
S ann, that was my church that you and your son came to hear John Paul in May. Let’s hope it won’t take another 4 years for him to return and minister. (hint! hint!) Many hungry lives were touched and ministered to that weekend.
Shirley C., I will be praying and believing with you that the chaplain’s position will open up for you! I know your life exhibits love and compassion from reading your comments. Your salary isn’t the only way God can bless you. He is Jehovah Jireh and He is able to provide exceedingly above any way you can think—in many areas. You can have a real testimony regarding His faithfulness to you as you lay down your life to serve Him!!! How are the “glasses”???
I am thankful daily that God has allowed me to join this blog. Some of our brothers, who usually take part, have been quiet lately. Join in again—everyone has something to bring.
Saturday my mother-in-law brought over one of those Cajun meals for lunch. She dumped shrimp, potatoes, corn, etc. onto the table and everyone just grabbed from the pile and ate. The fun comes in participating and not worrying about being formal with each other.
John Paul, rest—get refilled and refueled to overflowing so you can go back out in a few days.
Love to y’all,
Linda
Contemplative prayer was used by the desert fathers, monks and nuns in the early days!! And so, much of the church did not understand their mystical or supernatural experiences … Guess they have a thing or two to show us, do you not think JP?
Blessings
Susan M:
I have to agree with you on that one regarding the desert fathers. In my early days in my journey with the Lord, I would read St John of the Cross, the life of St Claire, St Dominic, St Francis and others and they were inspirations to me. They all came from adverse circumstances in life and yet God sanctified them with extraordinary graces within the spirit of their ordinary life. There sanctification was not all at once, but was a process most of the time and yet it all resulted in some of the mystical teachings of Christ that most we enjoy in our time and provide good examples of how contemplative prayer and dieing to self can lead us into a closer union with our bridegroom. I have been in some monasteries and retreat houses where the atmosphere of heaven is present in stillness and quietness and exuberates the presence of God, through the prayers of the cloistered and contemplatives. I believe that there are different styles and ways of prayer that allow us to come into the presence of the Lord. These spiritual disciplines that have been handed down to us since the time of King David even and up until now are all a contributing factor to how one can enter into the presence of God. I believe that the one thing, the one factor that unites those who have fallen asleep in the presence of the Lord and who have been positive role models of men and women of God is the fact that they all have layed down lives, and a contrite heart that the Lord did not overlook or spurn (Psalm 51)…
And so not to forget my sister, Linda Burns….I am still getting use to those wonderful inventions called spectacles. I have two left feet when it comes to the glasses. I have to take them off if I want to see far away and have to put them on if I want to see whats up close…its an awful lot like discerning, hmmmm, interesting (lol). Did anyone go to the conference in Beverly this past weekend? We went and the Lord did some amazing things in the spirit, much by way of revelation. Yes, and thank you for your prayer’s for the chaplaincy position, the first part is doing the required internship in a local area hospital, I am already on a pastoral care team that distributes communion and pray with the patients, counseling them comes after the 8 month internship in another hospital, which will take about 8 months. This is the red tape because I am spiritually ready and equipped from the Holy Spirits point of view, but from mans point of view, protocol has to be followed if I want to be working in a hospital setting. Again thanks for your love, support and prayers. There is a healing evangelism school that the Metrowest Bridge Fellowship is going to conduct. It would be pretty interesting, powerful and beneficial to attend this training for the market place. I had a dream about this before the conference where I saw worship teams in shopping centers, and people getting slain in the spirit and being touched by the worship from the throne room. The passer bys in this dream thought that these groups were professional musicians struggling to make it and they were so blessed by the sound of the music coming forth from heaven, that they received huge love offering, as the dream was coming to an end, the Lord put a white picket fence around the piano, and said that this is coming and then He left a new born baby inside of the fence on top of the piano keys and I was concerned because the baby needed to be changed, it had on green and white one piece pajama’s. I am getting a sense, that as the Body of Christ is faithful to the call of the Lord to prepare and to go out to the market places with their instruments, God is going to do some unsual things through this. It will be awesome..some in hospitals, shopping centers, prisons, parking lots, parks and recreation centers….Where are all of our friends these days, maybe they are all on vacation, or better yet attending Kingdom centered conferences(lol).
Peace & Blessings!
Shirley C.
PS:
It was nice to meet “One of Those” and Emily and dad at the conference. And it was a privilege to pray for Emily, God’s precious gift as well. Bless all,Ya’all..wink, wink!
Excellent site, keep up the good work
John Paul,
I enjoy your description of prayer as an insence before God. This is very encouraging for me in my prayer life. I have been faithful in praying almost daily over the past few years but have been struggling as of the last month or so. I’d have to say that I’m becoming weak in my faith as to his answering of my prayers. But I keep praying knowing that his strength is made perfect in my weakness. Not by mite, nor by strength, but by his Spirit.
Fabulously just posting this criticism to conduct that I seize your blog daily.