Welcome to 3ABN's
Spring Camp Meeting:
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Live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Good evening and welcome once
again to the Thompsonville SDA
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church/3ABN Worship
Center/Spring Camp Meeting
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2016. It is so
good to have you here
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in this house. And
those of you who are watching
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around the world we welcome
you to what has begun to be
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a truly God-filled,
God-blessed experience
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with the Lord. We have
had some powerful sermons
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from the Word of God, and
we expect no less than that
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this very very evening. So
again we say welcome to you all:
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to those of you who have
traveled from near and from far,
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from states near and
far, and some have even
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come from outside of the hemis-
phere, outside of the country,
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outside of this
part of the earth.
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We've got people here
all the way from Australia.
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So we praise the Lord that
God has given everyone thus far
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safe journey, and we are
so happy to have you here.
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Tonight is going to be a
very special night indeed.
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Our speaker is Dr. Carlton Byrd.
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Now what I say to you
now I say in all sincerity.
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We need to pray for that very
select group of individuals,
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that very small
fraternity of pastors,
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who have been called to pastor
our young people on the college
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and university
campuses across this earth.
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These pastors - Dr. Byrd being
one at the Oakwood University
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church - have been given
direct access to the minds
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and hearts of the young people
that we send to those colleges.
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And as such they do deserve
an interest in our prayers.
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And what I say now I say
advisedly, but pastors like
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Dr. Byrd have the ability
to directly inject into the
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spiritual veins of the young
people who sit in front of them
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each Sabbath whatever
they are infected with.
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Are you listening to me?
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Be it good or ill
they have direct access
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to our young people. So
we need to pray for them
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that their words
will be God's words,
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their thoughts
will be God's thoughts,
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and that the things that
they transport into the minds
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and hearts of the young
people are the things that God
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wants them to
have and nothing else.
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Now I've heard Pastor
Byrd speak a number of times.
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He's a godly man;
he's a spiritual man.
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He's a straight shooter
and a straight preacher of
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righteousness. But that doesn't
mean we can sleep on him.
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We've got to pray for him, too,
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as we pray for
all of these pastors
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because God has given them
a very special responsibility
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in training up our young
people to be solid citizens
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of this world as they prepare
for the higher citizenship
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which is in the world to come.
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Along with his portfolio as
pastor of the Oakwood University
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church he also is
the speaker/director
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of the Breath of Life telecast.
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So he has a double responsi-
bility to lift up the name
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of Jesus. And God has given
him the strength and the mind
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and the ability to do just that.
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He's going to be speaking to us
this night, and we are very very
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pleased to have Dr.
Carlton Byrd here with us.
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He is the husband of
one wife - Danielle -
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and the father of 3 children.
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So he is a busy
fellow on many many fronts.
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And we are so happy that he
has taken time... He's actually
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in an evangelistic
meeting even as we speak.
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And the one night he has
off which is Thursday night
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he traveled here to southern
Illinois to speak to us.
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So we want to
thank him for that...
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but he's got to get
back 'cause tomorrow night
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he's in the saddle again
preaching for Jesus Christ.
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Before Dr. Byrd
comes and speaks to us
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on the subject The
Golden Altar of Incense
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we're going to ask
Yvonne Lewis to come forward.
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She and Tim Parton
have joined together
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in just a little bit to sing
a song that I am not familiar
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with... but I'm
anxious to hear her sing.
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It's called The
Body and the Blood.
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I'm going to ask you
to bow your heads with me
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as we pray. And then Dr.
Yvonne Lewis and Tim Parton
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followed by Dr. Carlton Byrd.
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Shall we pray. Father
God, how we praise You,
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how we thank
You, how we love You,
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how we bless Your
name. We thank you for this
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Camp Meeting experience.
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We thank Thee that through
Your messenger You have said
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that there are special blessings
reserved for the Camp Meeting
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season. Dear Lord, be pleased
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to give us some of those
blessings this very night.
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Teach us those things
that You would have us to know
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and then embolden
and enable us to do them
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because it is in the doing that
we are make like Christ Jesus.
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Use Your manservant in
a marked way this night.
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And we will give You the honor,
the praise, and the glory.
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And we thank you, dear Father,
in Jesus' name. Amen and Amen.
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Fifty years ago today
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she gave her only child away
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to live a life easy to regret.
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Years went by...
how time has flown.
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Her days are mostly spent alone
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daring to remember...
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hoping to forget.
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This is My body
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broken for you
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For all you've been
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and all you've been through.
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This is My blood
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And when you've reached the end
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I offer you again
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the body and blood.
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He fought a war
against his will;
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Truth be known,
he's fighting still.
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He looks for hope
through narrow blood-shot eyes.
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He slips into a polished pew,
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lingers for an hour or two.
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Sometimes it feels better
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to sit and cry a while.
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This is My body
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broken for you.
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For all you've been
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and all you've been through.
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This is My blood
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And when you've reached
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the end
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I offer you again
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the body and blood.
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One by one we take
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communion's cup
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we remember
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and we lift it up.
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This is My body
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broken for you.
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For all you've been
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and all you've been through.
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This is My blood
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And when you've reached the end
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I offer you again
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the body and blood.
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This is My blood
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And when you've reached
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your end
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I'll offer you again
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the body and
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blood.
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Amen!
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I want to thank Sr.
Yvonne Lewis for that
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beautiful selection. Let's
give her another hearty amen.
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Amen! It's a joy
for me to be here
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with the 3ABN family
for 3ABN Camp Meeting.
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I was here a
couple of years ago.
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It's always good to know
you've been invited back because
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that means you must
have done well the first time
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you were here. So it's good
to be back with the 3ABN family.
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Our founder, Bro. Danny Shelton.
I thank Pastor C.A. Murray
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for the wonderful and the
kind introduction this evening.
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Our encampment this
year: Christ, Calvary,
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and the Sanctuary. My
assignment that I've been
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given this evening is on
the golden altar of incense.
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If your Bibles are with
you this evening, I invite you
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to take them and turn
to the book of Exodus.
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We're going to the
book of Exodus chapter 30
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and we're going to begin
reading with verse number one.
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Exodus chapter 30 and
we're going to begin reading
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with verse number one
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as we study tonight the
golden altar of incense.
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The Word of God says to
us in the book of Exodus
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chapter 30 verse
number one, and I'm reading:
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"Thou shalt make an
altar to burn incense upon.
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Of shittim wood
shalt thou make it. "
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Verse 2: "A cubit
shall be the length thereof
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and a cubit the breadth thereof.
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Foursquare shall it be
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and two cubits shall
be the height thereof.
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The horns thereof
shall be of the same.
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And thou shalt
overlay it with pure gold:
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the top thereof
and the sides thereof,
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round about and
the horns thereof.
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And thou shalt make unto it
a crown of gold round about.
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And two golden rings shalt thou
make to it under the crown of it
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by the two corners
thereof upon the two sides of it
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shalt thou make it.
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And they shall be
for places for the staves
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to bear it withal.
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And thou shalt make
the staves of shittim wood
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and overlay them with gold.
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Thou shalt put it before the
veil that is by the ark of the
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testimony before the mercy seat
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that is over the testimony
where I will meet with thee.
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And Aaron shall burn
thereon sweet incense
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every morning; when
he dresses the lamps
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he shall burn incense upon it.
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And when Aaron lighteth
the lamps in the evening
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he shall burn incense
upon it... a perpetual incense
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before the Lord
throughout your generations.
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Ye shall offer no
strange incense thereon
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nor burnt
sacrifice nor meat offering.
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Neither shall ye pour
drink offering thereon. "
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Verse number 10:
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"And Aaron shall make an
atonement upon the horns of it
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once in a year, with the
blood of the sin offering
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of atonements. Once in a year
shall he make atonement upon it
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throughout your generations
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because it is most
holy unto the Lord. "
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Can you say amen tonight? Amen!
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Before we share with
you let's talk with God.
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Our Father in heaven,
tonight on this most important
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subject we pray for the
power of Your Holy Spirit
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to dwell with us as Lord
we preach on the golden altar
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of incense.
00:14:04.11\00:14:05.44
God tonight we thank
you for Jesus Christ;
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we thank you for Calvary;
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and we thank you
for the sanctuary.
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Now forgive me of my sins
because, Lord, I'm not worthy
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to stand here tonight.
But because of Your grace
00:14:17.29\00:14:19.92
and because of Your mercy,
God, you allow this unworthy
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soul to stand in
this place tonight.
00:14:24.13\00:14:26.39
Forgive me of my sins;
hide me behind Your cross.
00:14:26.80\00:14:30.23
It's in Jesus' name we pray,
let everyone say Amen and Amen.
00:14:30.63\00:14:35.94
The golden altar of incense.
00:14:36.34\00:14:39.97
From the outset
let's be reminded tonight
00:14:40.18\00:14:42.91
of the purpose of the
Old Testament sanctuary.
00:14:43.11\00:14:46.41
The sanctuary was the
place where the sinner received
00:14:46.82\00:14:50.65
forgiveness from sin.
00:14:50.85\00:14:53.05
Now if we don't get anything
else, let's make sure we get
00:14:53.46\00:14:56.36
that. As a sinner
that's important to me.
00:14:56.56\00:15:00.13
As a sinner, that should
also be important to you:
00:15:00.53\00:15:04.40
that the sanctuary was
the place where the sinner
00:15:04.80\00:15:07.97
received forgiveness from sin.
00:15:08.17\00:15:10.81
But the sanctuary was just
a foreshadow of things to come
00:15:11.17\00:15:14.48
because the good
news is when Jesus came,
00:15:14.88\00:15:17.81
when the Lamb of God sacrificed
His life for our sins,
00:15:18.01\00:15:21.95
there was no more need for the
earthly sanctuary sacrifices.
00:15:22.15\00:15:26.62
Jesus came and
Jesus died for our sins.
00:15:27.06\00:15:30.73
Behold then the Lamb of God
00:15:30.93\00:15:33.09
which taketh away the
sins of the world. Amen!
00:15:33.29\00:15:36.63
Now remember,
the earthly sanctuary
00:15:36.83\00:15:39.17
had three sections. How
many sections everybody?
00:15:39.37\00:15:42.04
Three. Three sections:
00:15:42.24\00:15:43.87
the courtyard, the Holy
Place, and the Most Holy Place.
00:15:44.07\00:15:48.08
Each section
represented the different parts
00:15:48.48\00:15:52.05
of Jesus'
ministry. Now, the courtyard
00:15:52.25\00:15:55.55
pointed to the perfect death
of Jesus on Calvary's cross.
00:15:55.75\00:15:59.69
In His death Jesus
became the sinner's sacrifice.
00:16:00.19\00:16:05.09
Jesus became the Lamb of God.
00:16:05.49\00:16:08.33
No longer did people
need to offer a lamb to God
00:16:08.53\00:16:11.70
when they sinned because
Jesus, He died for our sins.
00:16:11.90\00:16:16.07
The Holy Place symbolized
Christ's work of perfect
00:16:16.27\00:16:21.41
righteousness. Christ then not
only bled for us on the cross
00:16:21.61\00:16:25.18
as the sacrifice for our sins
00:16:25.38\00:16:27.62
but Christ also
pleads and intercedes for us
00:16:27.82\00:16:31.92
before the heavenly throne.
00:16:32.12\00:16:33.86
Jesus the Christ is
our Advocate to the Father.
00:16:34.16\00:16:38.19
His perfect life is
added as precious incense
00:16:38.39\00:16:42.46
to the prayers of the saints
as these prayers ascend on up
00:16:42.66\00:16:46.74
to heaven. And then
the Most Holy Place,
00:16:46.94\00:16:50.21
the third section. It
represented the entire
00:16:50.41\00:16:54.24
cleansing of the same
sinner and the sanctuary.
00:16:54.44\00:16:57.41
It represented where
the sins of God's people
00:16:57.78\00:17:01.25
would be cleansed once per year.
00:17:01.45\00:17:04.22
Now I won't spend too much time
on the Most Holy Place tonight
00:17:04.59\00:17:08.89
because you have to
keep coming to Camp Meeting.
00:17:09.09\00:17:11.13
You have to keep watching
Camp Meeting to see and hear
00:17:11.53\00:17:13.86
what this
cleansing is all about.
00:17:14.03\00:17:15.43
So if I tell you about
the Most Holy Place tonight
00:17:15.63\00:17:18.50
you may not watch
or come back later.
00:17:18.70\00:17:21.00
So there must be a cliff hanger.
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:17:21.20\00:17:24.04
Now, in the first two
sections or compartments
00:17:24.87\00:17:29.31
of the sanctuary, the
courtyard or the Holy Place -
00:17:29.51\00:17:33.05
and the Holy Place - there
were five pieces of furniture.
00:17:33.25\00:17:37.65
Two pieces in the courtyard
00:17:38.05\00:17:40.79
and three pieces
in the Holy Place.
00:17:40.99\00:17:43.56
In the Holy Place the
two pieces of furniture
00:17:43.76\00:17:47.66
in the Holy Place were
the table of showbread,
00:17:47.86\00:17:51.30
the seven-branch
candlestick and the third piece:
00:17:51.50\00:17:54.20
the golden altar of incense.
00:17:54.37\00:17:56.57
So in the Holy Place
three pieces of furniture.
00:17:56.97\00:18:00.21
Again: the table of showbread,
the seven-branch candlestick,
00:18:00.41\00:18:04.08
and the golden altar of incense.
00:18:04.28\00:18:06.68
In the courtyard there
were two pieces of furniture.
00:18:06.88\00:18:10.12
The 2 pieces were the laver and
the altar of burnt offerings.
00:18:10.32\00:18:14.52
Now, in each of these
five pieces of furniture -
00:18:14.72\00:18:18.36
two in the courtyard,
three in the Holy Place -
00:18:18.56\00:18:22.13
we see Jesus as
recorded in the gospel of John.
00:18:22.33\00:18:25.90
In the altar of burnt
offering in the courtyard
00:18:26.30\00:18:28.70
we see Jesus, the Lamb
of God, in John chapter 1.
00:18:28.90\00:18:32.44
In the courtyard in
the laver we see Jesus
00:18:32.84\00:18:36.34
the Water of Life
in John chapter 4.
00:18:36.54\00:18:39.15
In the Holy Place in
the table of showbread
00:18:39.55\00:18:42.55
we see Jesus, the Bread
of Life, in John chapter 6.
00:18:42.75\00:18:46.65
Also in the Holy Place in
the seven-branch candlestick
00:18:47.06\00:18:50.53
we see Jesus, the Light of
the World, in John chapter 9.
00:18:50.73\00:18:55.06
And then finally
also in the Holy Place
00:18:55.26\00:18:57.97
in the golden altar
of incense we see Jesus -
00:18:58.17\00:19:01.74
the great High Priestly
prayer in John chapter 17.
00:19:01.94\00:19:06.27
Which means then for every
piece of furniture we see Jesus.
00:19:06.71\00:19:11.61
Notice also with these two
compartments we have two altars.
00:19:12.01\00:19:15.78
One is outdoors in the courtyard
00:19:16.18\00:19:19.19
and one is
indoors in the Holy Place.
00:19:19.39\00:19:22.76
One is brass...
the other is gold.
00:19:22.96\00:19:27.13
The outdoor one has no
crown but the indoor one does.
00:19:27.50\00:19:32.20
Outside we see
Christ in humiliation
00:19:32.60\00:19:36.10
but inside we see
Christ in exultation.
00:19:36.30\00:19:39.54
Outside we see what
Jesus did on this earth
00:19:39.74\00:19:43.28
but inside we see what Jesus
is doing right now in heaven:
00:19:43.48\00:19:46.95
living and making intercession
for each and every one of us.
00:19:47.15\00:19:50.69
But my assignment is
the golden altar of incense
00:19:51.52\00:19:55.39
which is in the Holy
Place - that's right -
00:19:55.79\00:19:58.83
which was different from
the altar of burnt offerings
00:19:59.03\00:20:02.13
in that there were no
sacrifices made on it.
00:20:02.33\00:20:05.50
But the golden altar of
incense symbolized prayer.
00:20:05.90\00:20:11.11
In fact, the main emphasis
of this piece of furniture
00:20:11.51\00:20:16.38
was prayer.
Everybody say prayer. Prayer.
00:20:16.71\00:20:20.08
Now, the prayer emphasis
was reflected in every aspect
00:20:20.28\00:20:26.09
of this altar. Now let's first
talk about the golden altar's
00:20:26.29\00:20:30.53
construction and
emphasis on prayer.
00:20:30.73\00:20:33.40
This altar was constructed
or made of acacia wood.
00:20:33.60\00:20:38.23
Acacia wood was incorruptible.
00:20:38.43\00:20:41.07
Solid... it was
without hollowness.
00:20:41.27\00:20:43.84
If it was submerged in water,
acacia wood would not rot.
00:20:44.04\00:20:49.04
Acacia wood was durable.
00:20:49.34\00:20:51.61
Symbolically then for
our prayers to be effective
00:20:52.01\00:20:55.28
they must come from the hearts
of those that are solid...
00:20:55.48\00:20:58.19
without hollowness. And
just like the acacia wood
00:20:58.39\00:21:01.89
was incorruptible
Jesus is incorruptible. Amen!
00:21:02.09\00:21:05.89
Jesus is perfect; Jesus
is the One who intercedes
00:21:06.09\00:21:10.23
for us who stands
between God and us
00:21:10.43\00:21:13.94
and makes us acceptable to God.
00:21:14.14\00:21:16.71
The intercession of Christ
is not corrupt in any way.
00:21:16.91\00:21:20.98
The intercession
of Christ is perfect.
00:21:21.18\00:21:24.41
Jesus died and then
Jesus rose from the dead
00:21:24.81\00:21:28.28
for us for this very purpose:
00:21:28.48\00:21:30.19
to stand before God as
the great Intercessor for us.
00:21:30.39\00:21:35.89
Jesus intercedes for sinners.
00:21:36.49\00:21:39.29
Jesus intercedes
for weak believers.
00:21:39.89\00:21:43.53
Jesus... He also
intercedes for strong believers.
00:21:43.93\00:21:47.40
Jesus... He also
intercedes for His enemies.
00:21:47.60\00:21:51.44
Jesus intercedes for the church.
00:21:51.84\00:21:54.84
Jesus intercedes
for God to accept us.
00:21:55.24\00:21:58.78
Jesus intercedes
for our salvation
00:21:59.18\00:22:02.32
and Jesus
intercedes for the Holy Spirit
00:22:02.62\00:22:05.82
to dwell and abide with us.
00:22:06.02\00:22:08.46
Secondly tonight, let's consider
the altar's measurements
00:22:09.39\00:22:14.20
and let's consider
their emphasis on prayer.
00:22:14.60\00:22:18.13
Like other altars
the golden altar measured
00:22:18.53\00:22:22.84
one cubit long, one cubit
broad, and two cubits high.
00:22:23.04\00:22:28.88
The altar of incense, then, was
the tallest piece of furniture
00:22:29.28\00:22:33.88
in the tabernacle tent.
Perhaps this was to let us know
00:22:34.08\00:22:38.09
of the tall and high
importance of prayer.
00:22:38.29\00:22:41.49
The golden altar of
incense was foursquare
00:22:41.89\00:22:46.03
which means it
was perfectly square
00:22:46.23\00:22:49.03
just as the brazen altar and
the room of the Most Holy Place.
00:22:49.43\00:22:52.73
Our God, we
realize, is a God of order.
00:22:53.13\00:22:56.87
Our God is a God of specifics.
00:22:57.27\00:22:59.64
Our God is a God of perfection.
00:22:59.84\00:23:02.18
Even the New Jerusalem as
recorded in Revelation 21:16
00:23:02.38\00:23:05.88
is described as being
"a city of foursquare. "
00:23:06.08\00:23:09.82
And the fact that the
altar of incense was foursquare
00:23:10.12\00:23:13.25
is a reminder to
each and every one of us
00:23:13.46\00:23:16.42
that we are to spread the
message of Jesus' intercession
00:23:16.62\00:23:21.26
to the four
corners of the globe:
00:23:21.46\00:23:23.33
to the north; to the south;
to the east; and to the west.
00:23:23.53\00:23:29.04
And prayer is the universal
language to spread the gospel.
00:23:29.24\00:23:33.01
But not only the construction,
00:23:33.44\00:23:35.44
not only the measurements
of the altar of incense,
00:23:35.64\00:23:37.88
but it should also be
noted that the altar of incense
00:23:38.08\00:23:41.32
was overlaid with
gold. That's right!
00:23:41.52\00:23:44.49
Throughout the Bible, gold
is used as a way to show that
00:23:44.69\00:23:48.19
there is something greater.
00:23:48.39\00:23:50.03
God has always
symbolized... gold rather,
00:23:50.23\00:23:52.86
has always symbolized
wealth and monetary gain.
00:23:53.06\00:23:57.00
In Biblical times
it was no different.
00:23:57.40\00:23:59.63
Wealth and monetary gain.
00:23:59.83\00:24:02.24
The most precious, then,
and most valuable of all metals
00:24:02.44\00:24:05.41
was God's choice for
the building of this altar
00:24:05.61\00:24:08.51
of intercession. Remember,
gold is a symbol of Deity...
00:24:08.71\00:24:13.45
a symbol of the
most precious possession.
00:24:13.65\00:24:16.48
Most precious
possession of God Himself.
00:24:16.69\00:24:19.65
So then the
golden altar of incense
00:24:19.85\00:24:22.86
points to the Lord Jesus Christ
00:24:23.06\00:24:25.73
who is the most precious
possession a person can have.
00:24:25.93\00:24:30.03
Jesus is the
perfect Intercessor:
00:24:30.43\00:24:33.60
the One who lives
forever to make intercession.
00:24:33.80\00:24:36.81
The One who passionately
prays for the people of God.
00:24:37.21\00:24:40.64
The One who prays for
you and He prays for me.
00:24:40.84\00:24:44.21
This alluding to Jesus
with gold, friends, is important
00:24:44.61\00:24:48.35
because while
gold is most valuable
00:24:48.55\00:24:52.39
nobody can buy their
way into heaven with gold.
00:24:52.59\00:24:56.73
The only way to heaven
00:24:57.13\00:24:59.83
according to the Word of God
00:25:00.13\00:25:02.43
is by accepting Jesus Christ as
your personal Savior and Lord.
00:25:02.63\00:25:08.24
My Bible says in
Acts 4 verse number 12
00:25:08.64\00:25:11.54
that there is no other name
under heaven given among men
00:25:11.74\00:25:14.68
whereby we can be
saved but the name of Jesus.
00:25:14.88\00:25:18.78
Gold speaks of purity.
00:25:19.18\00:25:21.65
Genuine prayer that
will touch the heart of God
00:25:22.05\00:25:25.22
must come from a
sinless, pure heart.
00:25:25.42\00:25:28.56
Now this altar could not
be made of any old material
00:25:28.96\00:25:33.19
laying around.
00:25:33.50\00:25:34.83
A piece of
driftwood was not good enough.
00:25:35.10\00:25:37.67
Some old rocks that had
been discarded from a field
00:25:37.87\00:25:40.50
was not good enough.
Neither can we come to God
00:25:40.70\00:25:43.91
in prayer with insincere hearts,
00:25:44.11\00:25:47.24
hearts full of sin, or
hearts full of unbelief.
00:25:47.44\00:25:51.05
But friends it wasn't
just the construction.
00:25:51.45\00:25:53.98
It wasn't just the measurements.
00:25:54.38\00:25:56.65
It wasn't just the gold
overlay that pointed to prayer.
00:25:56.85\00:26:00.72
But it was also the location
of the altar that pointed
00:26:00.92\00:26:04.49
to prayer. The altar was
placed in the Holy Place.
00:26:04.69\00:26:08.66
It was separated
by the Most Holy Place
00:26:09.06\00:26:12.47
by a great veil. Now
we don't know how close
00:26:12.67\00:26:16.54
to the veil the altar
was specifically placed.
00:26:16.74\00:26:19.14
We don't know...
but what we DO know is
00:26:19.54\00:26:22.18
that the altar was
just outside the curtain
00:26:22.38\00:26:26.15
which means it was very
close to the presence of God.
00:26:26.35\00:26:30.89
Hallelujah somebody. That
this is the great blessing
00:26:31.05\00:26:35.39
of intercessory prayer.
That intercessory prayer
00:26:35.59\00:26:39.53
is close to the veil.
00:26:39.73\00:26:41.96
Intercessory prayer is
close to the throne of God.
00:26:42.16\00:26:45.70
Intercessory prayer is
close to the glory of God.
00:26:46.10\00:26:49.97
It is close, my friends,
to the place where God's
00:26:50.17\00:26:53.27
eternal mercy and grace reside.
00:26:53.48\00:26:56.11
It is close to the
door of answered prayer
00:26:57.15\00:27:01.28
and it's close to the
most intimate fellowship
00:27:01.68\00:27:04.12
and communion
with God imaginable.
00:27:04.32\00:27:07.09
The one thing we are
to seek above all else
00:27:07.49\00:27:09.76
is to be near God. Amen!
00:27:09.96\00:27:12.36
To be near God. Just
to be close to the Lord...
00:27:12.76\00:27:16.43
that is my desire. Amen!
00:27:16.67\00:27:19.50
You can kind of think of
the golden altar of incense
00:27:19.70\00:27:21.54
as a piece of furniture
standing before the veil
00:27:21.74\00:27:25.27
like we use an
electric plug in a wall socket
00:27:25.47\00:27:29.11
to tap the electric
power behind the wall.
00:27:29.31\00:27:32.28
Behind the veil of the
tabernacle was the Shekinah
00:27:32.68\00:27:36.08
glory of the
presence of the Lord.
00:27:36.28\00:27:38.09
By putting in the plug of
prayer with the hand of faith
00:27:38.49\00:27:41.62
we are able to tap
those resources, and we find
00:27:41.82\00:27:45.43
that prayer changes
things. Glory hallelujah!
00:27:45.63\00:27:47.96
Prayer brings us
into fellowship with God.
00:27:48.13\00:27:51.17
Prayer brings us
into the presence of God.
00:27:51.37\00:27:54.77
Prayer... by
prayer we become partakers
00:27:55.17\00:27:58.17
of all God offers
and we can obtain grace
00:27:58.37\00:28:01.68
and mercy daily. Amen!
00:28:01.88\00:28:03.98
God: He answers prayer.
00:28:04.38\00:28:06.95
Let me say that one more time.
00:28:07.35\00:28:08.72
God answers prayer - Amen -
when we face severe problems.
00:28:09.12\00:28:14.42
When we face trials or
crisis God answers prayer.
00:28:14.82\00:28:19.03
When we face
temptation and trouble
00:28:19.43\00:28:22.13
God answers prayer.
When we face disease;
00:28:22.33\00:28:26.00
when we face sickness;
when we face accidents.
00:28:26.20\00:28:29.10
I'm a witness that
God answers prayer.
00:28:29.30\00:28:31.67
When we face pain and
suffering and terminal illness
00:28:31.87\00:28:35.11
or death God answers prayer.
00:28:35.31\00:28:37.81
When we face the most
difficult times in our lives;
00:28:38.01\00:28:41.35
when we pray; when we cry
out to God from the depths
00:28:41.55\00:28:44.85
of our hearts I'm
so glad tonight to say
00:28:45.05\00:28:47.99
that God hears us and
He answers our prayers.
00:28:48.19\00:28:51.33
The veil that had once
separated the altar of incense
00:28:52.29\00:28:56.40
and the ark of God's presence
00:28:56.63\00:28:59.17
was torn down.
Torn from top to bottom
00:28:59.37\00:29:03.94
by God Himself.
00:29:04.24\00:29:06.04
God ripped it open through the
death of His Son Jesus Christ.
00:29:06.44\00:29:10.91
So the way into
God's presence is now open.
00:29:11.31\00:29:15.02
We are now invited to boldly
come to God and worship God
00:29:15.42\00:29:20.39
at the throne of grace.
00:29:20.59\00:29:22.02
I like what the writer
of Hebrews says in Hebrews
00:29:22.22\00:29:23.99
chapter 4 verse number 16.
00:29:24.19\00:29:26.03
"Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace
00:29:26.23\00:29:29.83
that we may obtain mercy
00:29:30.07\00:29:33.03
and find grace in time of
need. " Hallelujah somebody.
00:29:33.23\00:29:36.94
But then the horns of the altar.
00:29:37.34\00:29:39.84
They remind us of
the power of prayer.
00:29:40.28\00:29:43.98
Horns are symbols of power,
00:29:44.38\00:29:47.35
and from the
altar of God comes power
00:29:47.85\00:29:50.72
to make us more
than a conqueror.
00:29:50.92\00:29:53.36
Power to help us in
times of temptation.
00:29:53.56\00:29:56.86
Power to deliver us
through all trials... no matter
00:29:57.26\00:30:00.70
how bad they are. Our prayers
are full tonight of power.
00:30:00.90\00:30:06.17
When we say: "Let us
pray" we must remember
00:30:06.37\00:30:10.01
when we pray with a pure heart
offering no strange incense
00:30:10.21\00:30:14.38
and resting upon the
atoning power of Christ
00:30:14.58\00:30:17.61
God will then show us His glory,
00:30:17.81\00:30:20.28
He will bless us with His gifts,
00:30:20.48\00:30:22.22
and He will fill us
with His power. Amen!
00:30:22.42\00:30:25.15
But then now finally: the
incense of the golden altar.
00:30:25.55\00:30:30.39
The sweet incense is suggestive
00:30:30.89\00:30:34.50
of the sweetness of prayer.
00:30:34.73\00:30:37.10
Not only is prayer sweet to God
00:30:37.60\00:30:40.50
but prayer is
sweet to us as well.
00:30:40.70\00:30:43.10
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:30:43.34\00:30:44.67
Our prayers become a fragrant
perfume to the golden censors.
00:30:45.07\00:30:49.51
The offering of incense
was accompanied by the lighting
00:30:49.71\00:30:54.42
of lamps. This suggests that
we get light from our prayers.
00:30:54.62\00:30:59.82
That has to be true
because the Bible says
00:31:00.29\00:31:02.22
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
00:31:02.42\00:31:04.59
and a light unto my path. "
00:31:04.79\00:31:07.00
But while the Word of God is
a lamp to guide our footsteps
00:31:07.20\00:31:10.97
we can only gain
that light when we pray!
00:31:11.17\00:31:14.80
Incense was made of very sweet
smelling and precious spices.
00:31:15.60\00:31:21.58
According to divine direction
as recorded in Exodus 30
00:31:21.78\00:31:25.21
verse number 34 a similar
compound for any other purpose
00:31:25.41\00:31:28.75
was not allowed to be made.
00:31:28.95\00:31:30.49
When the incense
was to be offered
00:31:30.79\00:31:33.32
a fire pan or a censor with
live coals from the brazen altar
00:31:33.52\00:31:38.83
was put upon the
golden altar for burning.
00:31:39.03\00:31:41.90
The clouds of smoke rising
from it were full of perfume
00:31:42.30\00:31:46.90
and they spread the fragrance
all around penetrating the veil
00:31:47.10\00:31:50.14
and reaching even to the throne.
00:31:50.34\00:31:51.77
The priest, while he
presented this offering,
00:31:51.97\00:31:55.18
was the people's
intercessor with God.
00:31:55.38\00:31:58.41
He was praying for them
and he was asking God to hear
00:31:58.81\00:32:02.65
and answer their petitions.
00:32:02.85\00:32:04.19
Not that incense has
some "bloody" significance
00:32:04.59\00:32:08.69
because only the
animal sacrifices had that.
00:32:08.89\00:32:12.06
Without sacrificial blood
there is no access to God.
00:32:12.26\00:32:17.03
But then the horns of the altar
00:32:18.03\00:32:20.30
were sprinkled
with atoning blood.
00:32:20.50\00:32:23.71
And so then it was
from a blood-sprinkled altar
00:32:23.91\00:32:27.54
that the sacred
odors, the sacred aroma arose
00:32:27.74\00:32:31.88
bearing on their
wings Israel's cry
00:32:32.28\00:32:35.72
for mercy and
much-needed blessings.
00:32:35.92\00:32:39.09
The incense burned continuously.
00:32:39.59\00:32:43.02
The incense didn't stop burning.
00:32:43.43\00:32:46.36
It burned incessantly.
00:32:46.56\00:32:48.86
Sweet incense was offered
up to the Lord every morning,
00:32:49.06\00:32:52.63
every evening.
According to Exodus chapter 30
00:32:53.03\00:32:56.34
the high priest burned incense
every morning when he tended
00:32:56.54\00:32:59.87
the lamps and every
evening when he lit them.
00:33:00.18\00:33:02.61
This symbolized the critical
importance of praying every
00:33:03.01\00:33:05.58
morning and
evening. The altar of incense
00:33:05.78\00:33:09.05
was to be the place where a
permanent incense ascended up
00:33:09.25\00:33:13.46
to the Lord. The
incense would burn perpetually
00:33:13.66\00:33:16.83
"before the Lord" verse 10 says
"throughout their generations. "
00:33:17.03\00:33:20.20
This continual burning
teaches us that day by day
00:33:21.16\00:33:26.03
we are to come to the Lord.
And we are coming to the Lord
00:33:26.53\00:33:30.77
in prayer. We are to
come to the Lord morning
00:33:30.97\00:33:35.38
and evening... which brings us
now to the practical application
00:33:35.58\00:33:41.38
that I want to
hammer home this evening.
00:33:41.78\00:33:44.15
After all of that teaching
now it's time to preach.
00:33:44.32\00:33:48.42
What have I been
trying to say all this time?
00:33:48.82\00:33:51.49
We have to pray and
keep on praying. Amen!
00:33:51.89\00:33:56.33
That's the meat of this message
tonight: The Golden Altar of
00:33:56.53\00:34:00.34
Incense. We can't stop praying!
00:34:00.54\00:34:04.24
We have to continually pray.
00:34:04.44\00:34:07.38
The golden incense
must continually go up.
00:34:07.58\00:34:11.35
I Thessalonians 5:17 says we
are to "pray without ceasing. "
00:34:11.75\00:34:16.35
The prophet
Daniel understood this.
00:34:16.79\00:34:18.32
Though faced with sure
death in the lion's den
00:34:18.52\00:34:20.39
he continued in
his prayer practice.
00:34:20.59\00:34:22.42
Daniel, you will remember, every
day entered still his house,
00:34:22.82\00:34:27.00
opens his windows, he continued
kneeling three times per day
00:34:27.20\00:34:32.47
praying and giving thanks before
God as he had always done.
00:34:32.67\00:34:36.67
And the Lord rewarded this
continual practice of prayer
00:34:37.07\00:34:39.71
ascending up because God
shut the mouths of the lions
00:34:39.91\00:34:43.01
in the lion's den. You've
got to pray without ceasing.
00:34:43.21\00:34:47.22
Somebody said
"You've got to push... "
00:34:47.42\00:34:49.35
which means you've got to
pray until something happens.
00:34:49.75\00:34:52.22
The incense must keep burning;
the prayers must keep ascending.
00:34:52.42\00:34:56.69
Ellen White says in
Patriarchs and Prophets
00:34:57.09\00:34:58.83
that God looks with great
pleasure upon those who love Him
00:34:59.03\00:35:02.30
bowing morning and evening
00:35:02.70\00:35:05.60
to seek pardon for sins
committed and to present their
00:35:05.80\00:35:08.17
requests for needed blessings.
00:35:08.37\00:35:10.31
Daniel... he knew
the power of prayer.
00:35:10.71\00:35:13.24
David... he also
knew the power of prayer
00:35:13.78\00:35:16.78
which is why he said in
Psalm 55 verses 16 and 17
00:35:16.98\00:35:19.88
"As for me, I will
call upon the Lord.
00:35:20.12\00:35:22.68
I will call upon God
and the Lord shall save me.
00:35:23.08\00:35:25.75
Evening and morning and
noon will I pray and cry aloud
00:35:25.95\00:35:29.49
and He shall hear my voice. "
00:35:29.69\00:35:31.03
That's why Paul said in
Ephesians 6:18: "We ought to
00:35:31.16\00:35:34.46
pray in the Spirit at all times
00:35:34.63\00:35:36.83
with every kind of
prayer and petition. "
00:35:37.03\00:35:39.17
That's why Paul also
said in Philippians chapter 4
00:35:39.57\00:35:42.07
"Be anxious for nothing
but in everything by prayer
00:35:42.27\00:35:46.27
and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests
00:35:46.47\00:35:50.21
be made known unto God
00:35:50.41\00:35:52.08
and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding,
00:35:52.28\00:35:55.65
will keep your heart
and mind in Christ Jesus. "
00:35:55.85\00:35:58.72
Well tonight there is nothing
wrong with Paul, and I'm glad
00:35:59.12\00:36:03.02
he said something
about continuous prayer.
00:36:03.22\00:36:05.26
There's nothing wrong with
Daniel. I'm glad he promoted
00:36:05.46\00:36:08.23
continuous prayer. There's
nothing wrong with David.
00:36:08.43\00:36:11.43
I'm glad we heard from
him about continuous prayer.
00:36:11.63\00:36:14.40
But tonight I want to hear
a specific word from the Lord.
00:36:14.80\00:36:17.94
What does Jesus say
about continual prayer?
00:36:18.34\00:36:21.31
He told us in Matthew
chapter 7 verse number 7
00:36:21.51\00:36:24.08
"Ask and it shall be given you;
00:36:24.28\00:36:26.58
seek and ye shall find;
00:36:27.02\00:36:29.22
knock and the door
shall be opened unto you. "
00:36:29.42\00:36:32.29
And it's in this
text when Jesus speaks
00:36:32.69\00:36:35.66
that we understand the call
to pray and keep on praying.
00:36:35.86\00:36:39.49
To keep the incense burning.
00:36:39.89\00:36:42.36
To keep the incense ascending.
What am I talking about?
00:36:42.56\00:36:45.63
In this text we have 3 verbs:
00:36:46.03\00:36:49.10
ask, seek, and knock.
00:36:49.40\00:36:52.81
These 3 verbs are what
we call imperative commands.
00:36:53.21\00:36:57.41
They are necessary directives...
00:36:57.61\00:37:00.45
which means Jesus wouldn't have
said it if He didn't mean it.
00:37:00.65\00:37:03.52
The Lord expects all of
us to be active in prayer.
00:37:03.72\00:37:07.86
He knows what we
need before we ask, but
00:37:08.26\00:37:11.03
we still have to ask. Are
you hearing what I'm saying?
00:37:11.23\00:37:13.29
But not only that,
when you study the Greek
00:37:13.73\00:37:16.20
in the New Testament
there are two basic kinds
00:37:16.40\00:37:20.24
of imperatives.
There's an aorist imperative
00:37:20.44\00:37:24.31
and there's a
present imperative.
00:37:24.47\00:37:27.64
Everybody say aorist imperative:
00:37:27.84\00:37:29.74
aorist imperative. And
now say present imperative.
00:37:29.94\00:37:33.15
present
imperative. Now understand
00:37:33.35\00:37:35.55
the aorist imperative is a
command to do a particular thing
00:37:35.75\00:37:40.56
at one specific time.
00:37:40.76\00:37:42.92
But the present imperative is a
command not only to do something
00:37:43.32\00:37:48.60
but to keep on
doing it indefinitely.
00:37:48.80\00:37:51.90
Present tense implies
continuous persistent action.
00:37:52.30\00:37:57.37
You're all looking at me like
I don't know what I'm talking
00:37:58.04\00:37:59.81
about... but you're
gonna get this in a minute.
00:38:00.11\00:38:01.48
What Jesus is saying
in this text is this:
00:38:02.38\00:38:06.21
not only that we must ask
but we've got to keep on asking.
00:38:06.61\00:38:12.35
Not only must we seek
00:38:12.75\00:38:14.99
but we've got
to keep on seeking.
00:38:15.19\00:38:17.16
Not only must we knock
but we must keep on knocking.
00:38:17.36\00:38:21.60
We've got to pray
and keep on praying.
00:38:22.00\00:38:25.57
The incense must
continually ascend
00:38:25.77\00:38:29.44
and it must continually
burn. But there's some more.
00:38:29.64\00:38:32.51
These present
tense imperative verbs -
00:38:32.91\00:38:35.71
ask, seek, and knock -
00:38:35.91\00:38:39.35
have a natural
progression of action
00:38:39.55\00:38:42.38
from the least aggressive
to the most aggressive.
00:38:42.58\00:38:45.92
In other words, there's a
reason Jesus put these words
00:38:46.32\00:38:49.79
in the order that they are in.
00:38:50.03\00:38:51.53
Jesus is saying
not only must we engage
00:38:51.93\00:38:54.83
in continuous persistent action
00:38:55.00\00:38:57.97
but He's also saying
that the very three words
00:38:58.17\00:39:00.77
ask, seek, and knock
00:39:01.04\00:39:03.84
suggest an
ever-increasing intensity
00:39:04.04\00:39:07.64
in your continuous prayer life.
00:39:07.84\00:39:09.61
You see, He said
step one is asking.
00:39:10.01\00:39:13.48
When you ask somebody something
00:39:13.68\00:39:16.18
you're making a request of them.
00:39:16.38\00:39:18.62
My children know this principle
because when I don't respond...
00:39:18.82\00:39:21.82
when they ask and
I don't respond...
00:39:22.02\00:39:23.56
they keep on asking.
00:39:23.76\00:39:25.19
When you ask somebody something
you're making a request of them.
00:39:25.39\00:39:30.27
Asking in prayer is
to make a request of God.
00:39:30.47\00:39:34.30
We ask something of
God when we have a need,
00:39:34.50\00:39:37.64
and we ask something of
God because we believe God can
00:39:37.84\00:39:40.71
provide for all of our needs.
00:39:40.91\00:39:42.64
If we want to
receive, we must ask!
00:39:42.84\00:39:45.58
But not only
asking... #2, we've got to seek.
00:39:45.98\00:39:49.08
Seeking then is
asking PLUS action.
00:39:49.28\00:39:53.05
When we seek something we
need something of value to us.
00:39:53.46\00:39:57.13
There are times when we
need to take an active role
00:39:57.33\00:40:00.20
in the prayer process. If
we want to find something,
00:40:00.40\00:40:03.53
we've gotta seek something.
00:40:03.73\00:40:05.20
You must pray as if
everything depended upon God
00:40:05.40\00:40:08.67
and work as if
everything depended on you.
00:40:08.87\00:40:11.57
You've got to ask,
but you also have to act.
00:40:11.77\00:40:14.78
But then step
#3... it's knocking.
00:40:15.18\00:40:18.78
Knocking is asking
plus acting plus attitude.
00:40:19.28\00:40:25.19
Let me say that
again. Knocking is asking
00:40:25.39\00:40:29.49
plus action plus attitude.
00:40:29.69\00:40:32.93
This implies our petition in
asking, our purpose in seeking,
00:40:33.13\00:40:37.20
and our persistence in knocking.
00:40:37.40\00:40:39.70
We knock when we are
shut out from what we need
00:40:39.90\00:40:42.60
and desire entrance. When
we're trying to get in a door
00:40:42.80\00:40:45.81
what do we do? We knock!
00:40:46.01\00:40:47.68
And we knock
until we gain entrance.
00:40:47.88\00:40:50.31
So then if we want
entrance we've got to knock.
00:40:50.51\00:40:53.58
"Ask and it shall be given you;
00:40:54.25\00:40:56.65
seek and ye shall find;
00:40:57.05\00:40:59.45
knock, and the door
shall be opened unto you. "
00:40:59.65\00:41:02.96
It's continuous action.
00:41:03.26\00:41:05.49
It's intensified aggressive ac-
tion until we get what we need.
00:41:05.69\00:41:10.43
So don't grow weary in
asking God for what you need.
00:41:10.83\00:41:14.77
Doesn't the Word of God
say: "Let us not be weary
00:41:15.17\00:41:18.31
in well doing, for in due season
we shall reap if we faint not. "
00:41:18.71\00:41:24.65
Which means we've got
to ask and keep on asking.
00:41:24.85\00:41:28.02
We've got to seek
and keep on seeking.
00:41:28.32\00:41:30.85
We must knock and keep on
knocking because the incense
00:41:31.02\00:41:34.79
must continually burn. But
then there's one more thing
00:41:34.99\00:41:39.23
that I must add.
00:41:39.63\00:41:41.10
When you finish asking,
when you finish seeking,
00:41:42.40\00:41:48.30
when you finish knocking
00:41:48.50\00:41:51.74
don't forget to say thank you.
00:41:52.14\00:41:56.48
If the only prayer you'll ever
pray in your life is thank you,
00:41:57.81\00:42:02.88
friends of mine
that will be enough.
00:42:03.18\00:42:06.32
The story is told of a
woman who showed up at church.
00:42:06.76\00:42:11.26
And when she showed up at church
she prayed the same simple
00:42:11.66\00:42:15.40
prayer every time: "Oh
Lord, thank you Jesus. "
00:42:15.70\00:42:21.64
Every time she prayed she said
00:42:21.94\00:42:24.27
"Oh, Lord... " and
"thank you Jesus. "
00:42:24.67\00:42:27.68
Week after week she
prayed the same exact prayer.
00:42:27.88\00:42:32.35
"Oh Lord, thank you Jesus. "
00:42:32.75\00:42:35.72
The children of the church
started laughing at this lady.
00:42:35.92\00:42:38.55
They started laughing
every time she opened her mouth
00:42:38.95\00:42:41.06
because they knew it
would be the same prayer.
00:42:41.26\00:42:43.59
They would say:
"Here she goes again:
00:42:43.79\00:42:45.13
Sister Oh Lord,
thank you Jesus. "
00:42:45.26\00:42:48.56
Finally somebody asked her
00:42:49.06\00:42:51.80
"Ma'am, why do you keep pray-
ing the same little prayer? "
00:42:52.20\00:42:57.14
"Why do you keep praying
'O Lord, thank you Jesus? ' "
00:42:57.57\00:43:03.11
She said: "Well I'm just
combining the two prayers
00:43:03.55\00:43:07.72
that I know. " She said:
"You see, I live in a bad
00:43:07.92\00:43:12.15
neighborhood and some
nights there are bullets flying
00:43:12.35\00:43:16.02
in my neighborhood and
I have to grab my daughter
00:43:16.22\00:43:19.53
and I have to
hide her on the floor.
00:43:19.73\00:43:21.03
And in that desperate state, all
I know how to do is to cry out
00:43:21.20\00:43:25.23
'Oh Lord. ' But when
I wake up in the morning
00:43:25.43\00:43:29.04
and see that we're OK I'm able
to say 'thank you Jesus. ' "
00:43:29.24\00:43:34.24
She said: "When I go take
my baby girl to the bus stop
00:43:34.44\00:43:37.91
and she gets on that bus,
and I don't know what's going to
00:43:38.11\00:43:41.72
happen to her all day at
school while she's away I cry
00:43:41.92\00:43:45.69
'Oh Lord. '
00:43:45.99\00:43:47.32
But then, when 3
o'clock rolls around
00:43:47.36\00:43:49.99
and that bus arrives at the
bus stop in front of my house
00:43:50.19\00:43:54.63
and my baby is safe and sound
00:43:54.83\00:43:57.80
all I then say is:
'thank you Jesus. ' "
00:43:58.00\00:44:00.67
She said: "So these are
the only two prayers I know.
00:44:01.07\00:44:04.61
So when I get to church, because
God has been so good to me
00:44:04.81\00:44:09.34
I just put these
two prayers together
00:44:09.54\00:44:12.11
and that's why I keep saying:
'Oh Lord, thank you Jesus. ' "
00:44:12.31\00:44:16.42
"Oh Lord, thank you Jesus. "
00:44:16.72\00:44:19.39
So friends of mine,
when you finish asking
00:44:19.59\00:44:22.49
don't forget to say thank you.
00:44:23.46\00:44:25.19
"Thank you,
Lord, for keeping me. "
00:44:25.39\00:44:27.96
"Thank you, Lord,
for protecting me. "
00:44:28.13\00:44:30.53
"Thank you,
Lord, for saving me. "
00:44:30.93\00:44:33.50
"Thank you, Lord,
for delivering me. "
00:44:33.90\00:44:36.40
"Thank you, Lord, for
waking me up this morning. "
00:44:36.81\00:44:39.41
"Thank you,
Lord, for feeding me. "
00:44:39.81\00:44:42.11
"Thank you, Lord,
for providing for me. "
00:44:42.51\00:44:45.21
"Thank you, Lord,
I found the answer. "
00:44:45.61\00:44:48.12
I will learn how to pray.
00:44:48.32\00:44:50.19
Jesus on the main
line... tell Him what you want.
00:44:50.59\00:44:54.42
You just call Him up
and tell Him what you want.
00:44:54.62\00:44:57.59
Friends of mine,
you've got to keep on praying.
00:44:57.99\00:45:00.43
Keep the incense burning;
keep the prayers going up.
00:45:00.83\00:45:04.73
Because when the praises
go up the blessings come down!
00:45:04.93\00:45:08.64
Prayer time is high time.
00:45:09.04\00:45:11.31
You see, I can fall on
my knees and I can pray
00:45:11.51\00:45:13.78
because I serve a
prayer-answering God.
00:45:13.98\00:45:16.24
I serve a problem-solving God.
00:45:16.44\00:45:18.81
I serve a pain-relieving God.
00:45:19.01\00:45:21.48
I serve a heart-fixing God.
00:45:21.68\00:45:24.19
I serve a way-making God.
00:45:24.39\00:45:26.32
I even serve a
tuition-paying God.
00:45:26.52\00:45:29.12
I serve a cancer-killing God.
00:45:29.32\00:45:31.73
I serve a child-finding God.
00:45:31.93\00:45:34.10
I serve a job-giving God.
00:45:34.30\00:45:36.53
I serve a marriage-saving God.
00:45:36.73\00:45:39.23
I serve a single-satisfying God.
00:45:39.43\00:45:42.00
The devil can't stand prayer...
00:45:42.40\00:45:44.77
but the devil can't
stop you from praying.
00:45:45.17\00:45:47.81
And the devil can't stop
God from answering prayer.
00:45:48.21\00:45:50.61
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:45:50.81\00:45:52.45
Just ask, and keep on asking.
00:45:52.85\00:45:55.62
Just seek, and keep on seeking.
00:45:56.02\00:45:58.39
Just knock, and
keep on knocking.
00:45:58.79\00:46:01.12
The Word says: "If My
people who are called by My name
00:46:01.32\00:46:04.69
would just humble
themselves and pray
00:46:05.09\00:46:07.36
seek My face and turn
from their wicked ways
00:46:07.56\00:46:09.93
then I will hear from
heaven and heal their land. "
00:46:10.17\00:46:12.97
"Seek ye the Lord
while He may be found;
00:46:13.17\00:46:15.54
call upon God
while He is near. "
00:46:15.74\00:46:18.34
"Confess your
faults to one another. "
00:46:18.54\00:46:20.91
"Pray for one another
that ye may be healed. "
00:46:21.11\00:46:23.55
Because "the effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous person
00:46:23.75\00:46:26.28
availeth much. " You've
got to pray without ceasing.
00:46:26.48\00:46:30.89
Prayer is the most important
conversation of your day.
00:46:32.89\00:46:38.29
You'd better take it
to the Lord in prayer
00:46:40.10\00:46:42.03
before you take
it to anybody else.
00:46:42.96\00:46:45.73
Today we no longer
need a literal altar
00:46:47.20\00:46:52.41
standing before us
where we must burn incense.
00:46:52.81\00:46:57.01
All of the functions of
the golden altar of incense
00:46:57.98\00:47:01.98
are fulfilled in Christ
00:47:02.18\00:47:04.02
and through the intercessory
ministry of the Holy Spirit
00:47:04.22\00:47:06.72
in the hearts of men.
00:47:06.92\00:47:08.29
The ministry of the Holy Spirit
is also witnessed through the
00:47:08.49\00:47:12.59
altar of incense. We
are told in the Word that
00:47:12.79\00:47:15.26
the Holy Spirit makes inter-
cession for us according to
00:47:15.46\00:47:18.17
the will of God.
Romans chapter 8 verse 26:
00:47:18.37\00:47:21.17
"Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth our infirmities
00:47:21.37\00:47:25.41
for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought.
00:47:25.61\00:47:29.91
But the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us
00:47:30.15\00:47:34.42
with groanings, with moanings
that cannot be uttered. "
00:47:34.62\00:47:39.09
So sometimes I'm
laying in the bed at night
00:47:39.49\00:47:41.39
and my wife is laying next
to me and I just start moaning
00:47:41.79\00:47:44.26
in the middle of the night. She
says: "Honey, what's wrong? "
00:47:44.46\00:47:46.73
I said: "I'm just having
a little talk with Jesus. "
00:47:46.93\00:47:48.80
And He makes it right.
We may not know what to pray
00:47:49.00\00:47:53.44
but the Holy
Spirit will help us pray.
00:47:53.64\00:47:56.17
Pray, and keep on praying.
00:47:56.57\00:47:59.61
Keep the incense going up.
00:48:00.21\00:48:03.38
And what we must remember
is we cannot get near to the
00:48:03.98\00:48:07.25
glory of God without prayer.
00:48:07.45\00:48:09.68
Prayer is the key
that unlocks the veil
00:48:10.22\00:48:12.92
to the very presence of God.
00:48:13.12\00:48:15.06
Tonight, do we want to see
the glory of God in the midst
00:48:15.99\00:48:20.33
of our church? Yes! Do we
want to see the glory of God
00:48:20.53\00:48:25.10
in the midst of our lives?
00:48:25.30\00:48:27.64
Do we want to see the
glory of God in the midst
00:48:28.00\00:48:31.04
of our children's lives? Yes!
00:48:31.24\00:48:33.61
Do we want to see
God pour out His Spirit
00:48:34.01\00:48:38.15
upon His people?
Friends, it will only come
00:48:38.35\00:48:42.55
when we have accomplished
our ministry of intercession
00:48:42.75\00:48:46.39
before the altar of incense.
00:48:46.59\00:48:49.62
So tonight, just
pray and keep on praying.
00:48:50.56\00:48:55.90
Seek, and keep on seeking.
00:48:57.27\00:49:00.67
Knock, and keep on knocking.
00:49:01.50\00:49:05.24
Keep the incense burning.
00:49:05.74\00:49:09.44
And friends of mine,
watch God move in the lives
00:49:09.64\00:49:15.52
of His people. Amen!
Because "The Lord is my light
00:49:15.72\00:49:19.62
and my salvation.
00:49:20.02\00:49:22.66
Whom then shall I fear?
00:49:23.06\00:49:25.56
The Lord is the strength of my
life; of whom shall I be afraid?
00:49:26.16\00:49:29.50
When the wicked, even
mine enemies and foes,
00:49:29.70\00:49:31.27
came to eat of my
flesh they stumbled and fell.
00:49:31.47\00:49:34.14
Though war should rise up
against me, in this will I be
00:49:34.34\00:49:36.94
confident. One thing that
I have desired of the Lord
00:49:37.14\00:49:41.41
and that which I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house
00:49:41.61\00:49:45.61
of the Lord all
the days of my life.
00:49:45.81\00:49:49.12
And God's house
shall be a house of prayer
00:49:49.32\00:49:54.66
for all people."
00:49:55.16\00:49:57.96
Ask, and keep asking.
00:49:58.76\00:50:01.63
Seek, and keep seeking.
00:50:02.03\00:50:05.37
Knock, and keep on knocking.
00:50:05.87\00:50:09.00
Keep the prayers ascending.
00:50:10.01\00:50:12.87
Keep the incense burning...
00:50:13.07\00:50:17.41
and God will give you
the desires of your heart.
00:50:18.75\00:50:23.55
Prayerfully
Pastor John will come now
00:50:25.32\00:50:27.92
and sing that melodious song
00:50:28.42\00:50:30.69
Seekers of Your Heart.
00:50:31.03\00:50:34.63
Until we give You first place
00:50:56.25\00:51:02.26
Until we let You begin
00:51:04.03\00:51:09.53
To fill us with Your Spirit
00:51:10.83\00:51:16.54
Renew us from within
00:51:17.67\00:51:23.65
Nothing matters
00:51:26.68\00:51:32.59
Nothing's gained
00:51:33.42\00:51:37.79
Without Your holy
00:51:38.39\00:51:41.93
presence
00:51:42.13\00:51:45.07
Our lives are lived
00:51:45.27\00:51:49.17
in vain
00:51:49.67\00:51:55.68
Lord, we want to
00:51:57.88\00:52:01.42
know You
00:52:01.62\00:52:04.62
Live our lives
00:52:05.02\00:52:08.16
to show You
00:52:08.52\00:52:11.89
All the love
00:52:12.09\00:52:15.00
we owe You
00:52:15.20\00:52:18.87
As seekers of
00:52:19.07\00:52:23.04
Your heart
00:52:23.24\00:52:27.34
Because Your heart was broken
00:52:32.05\00:52:37.59
Because You saw the need
00:52:38.72\00:52:44.66
Because You gave so freely
00:52:45.86\00:52:51.37
Because of Calvary
00:52:52.40\00:52:58.31
We can now be
00:53:00.81\00:53:06.38
Called Your own
00:53:07.35\00:53:11.32
Completed
00:53:12.12\00:53:15.52
creations
00:53:15.86\00:53:18.83
We are filled with You
00:53:19.03\00:53:22.36
alone
00:53:22.76\00:53:28.70
Lord we want to
00:53:31.37\00:53:34.94
know You
00:53:35.14\00:53:38.15
Live our lives
00:53:38.65\00:53:41.58
to show You
00:53:41.95\00:53:45.19
All the love
00:53:45.39\00:53:48.32
we owe to You
00:53:48.52\00:53:52.33
As seekers of
00:53:52.63\00:53:56.43
Your heart
00:53:56.63\00:54:00.14
Lord we want to
00:54:01.00\00:54:04.24
know You
00:54:04.44\00:54:08.21
Live our lives
00:54:08.51\00:54:11.58
to show You
00:54:11.78\00:54:16.08
All the love
00:54:16.79\00:54:19.75
that we owe to You
00:54:19.95\00:54:23.66
As seekers of
00:54:23.86\00:54:27.50
Your heart...
00:54:27.66\00:54:32.07
Seekers of
00:54:32.97\00:54:38.91
Your heart
00:54:39.91\00:54:45.91
We are seekers
00:54:50.15\00:54:54.02
of
00:54:54.22\00:54:56.09
Your heart
00:54:56.89\00:55:02.83
God wants our hearts.
00:55:12.34\00:55:13.91
And if you're like me, I
want to give Him my heart.
00:55:15.21\00:55:17.58
Tonight if that's your desire,
I invite you to stand with me
00:55:20.82\00:55:24.19
as we pray.
00:55:24.69\00:55:26.09
Tonight, oh Lord,
we've talked about prayer...
00:55:36.03\00:55:38.90
the golden altar of incense.
00:55:40.44\00:55:44.37
Not an altar of sacrifice per se
00:55:45.64\00:55:49.34
but an altar of intercession.
00:55:50.51\00:55:53.48
The priests interceded
00:55:54.92\00:55:57.35
and even right now our
High Priest Jesus Christ
00:55:58.59\00:56:01.96
intercedes for us. Amen!
00:56:02.16\00:56:04.16
For that we say:
"Oh God, thank you. "
00:56:05.43\00:56:09.00
Lord, You're omniscient
which means You're all knowing.
00:56:10.87\00:56:13.54
And that means You know
what we need before we even ask.
00:56:14.64\00:56:19.07
But God, it still is Your
desire to hear the prayers
00:56:20.01\00:56:23.85
of Your children.
00:56:24.05\00:56:26.11
So Lord, we're going
to ask and keep on asking.
00:56:27.12\00:56:30.42
We're going to seek
and keep on seeking.
00:56:31.69\00:56:35.26
We're going to knock and
we're going to keep on knocking
00:56:36.29\00:56:40.00
because we want the fresh aroma
of the incense of our prayers
00:56:41.03\00:56:45.53
to continue to ascend to heaven.
00:56:45.93\00:56:49.80
So be with everyone
under the sound of my voice:
00:56:50.81\00:56:54.04
those here and those
yet who are watching.
00:56:54.24\00:56:56.38
God, You didn't promise us
You would give us what we want
00:56:57.41\00:57:01.35
but You did say
You'd meet our needs.
00:57:02.42\00:57:04.69
Meet our needs we pray tonight.
00:57:05.95\00:57:08.09
Forgive us for our sins.
00:57:08.49\00:57:10.76
Save us, please, when You come.
00:57:11.33\00:57:13.53
In the name of
the Father, the Son,
00:57:14.50\00:57:17.80
and the Holy Spirit.
00:57:19.10\00:57:20.67
Let all those who
love Jesus say Amen:
00:57:20.87\00:57:23.74
Amen and Amen.
00:57:23.94\00:57:26.14
May God bless you.
00:57:26.34\00:57:27.91
You may be seated.
00:57:28.11\00:57:29.51