Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Moses said to Aaron, take your censer, put fire on it from the altar and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them. For wrath has gone out from the LORD, the plague has begun.” Numbers 16:46

“Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints have to carry on intercession for all men.” These words, from Oswald Chambers, challenge us to the overwhelming task of interceding for others. The role of intercessor calls us to run into the midst of situations we can’t even fathom. A role that pushes us into a spiritual battle that we are unable to wage solely through our own power.

Moses and Aaron have come face to face with a rebellion of the people – a spiritual battle of rebellion against God and themselves. Already Moses has had to intercede on behalf of the people to stem the anger of God. Aaron responds to Moses’ command, picks up his censer, “and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.” 16:47

It would have been easy for Aaron to turn the other way, abandoning the people to face the consequences of their sins. Instead “He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped.” 16:48

We carry the censers of intercessory prayer for those dying from the plague of sin. Seeking God’s mercy upon people who are so trapped in their sin that we become those standing “between the dead and the living.” We watch as the plagues of materialism, sexuality, greed, corruption, racism, abuse and violence destroy people’s lives. Standing between the living and dead was not a comfortable place for Aaron, nor will it be for us.

The fragrance of mercy from Aaron’s censer finally begins to cover the stench of death. What does the fragrance of mercy smell like? It is the aroma of freshly baked cookies left on the porch of someone isolated due to the pandemic. It is the fragrance of those working at Wellspring Living caring for and protecting a sexually abused girl. The fragrance of mercy is the aroma of food you donated for the hungry, drink provided for the thirsty, the feeling of welcome made to a stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and the imprisoned. The fragrances of mercy are those of hope, faith, peace and life.

“Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.” Revelation 8:3-4

“Reflect the glory of God with your life. God pours out love on us who are naturally unloving and unlovable. So, why would we refuse to offer it to others? Because we have the spirit of Christ, we, too, can reflect the glory of God by showing His love to our enemies. Show the world the grace God has bestowed upon you. We are to be like God, extending love aggressively in the face of hostility.”  (author unknown)

“So Moses prayed for the people.” Now is the time to pick up our censers and pray. Our prayers are offered up as a beautiful fragrance for those who are running from God. The prayers offered up for the politician we don’t like. The ideology that just seems so wrong. The neighbor, co-worker or person on the street who looks different from us. We offer up our prayers as a sweet aroma to God. It is through our prayers that we stand “between the dead and living.”

 

God is great,

Pastor Lynn