GOOD NEWSLETTER
Number 414 March 28, 2012
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PRAYING ALWAYS
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit being watchful to
this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints," Ephesians 6:18 NKJV.
In the TABERNACLE, just before the HOLY OF HOLIES and the curtain of separation, the ALTAR OF INCENSE was placed. In the Book of EXODUS, Chapter 30, God told Moses to "... make an ALTAR to burn incense on... ". Then, after detailing it's size and material, the LORD instructed where He wanted the ALTAR placed. "And you shall put it before the Ark of the Testimony, (in the Holy of Holies area) where I will meet with you. Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning..." (Ex. 30:6-7).
Now, when we go to the New Testament, our eyes are illuminated about this altar of incense. Hebrews 8:1 says, "Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle which the LORD erected, and not man."
That was in the Old Testament; which, we learned that the TABERNACLE and the ministers; including Moses, were only a "copy and shadow of the heavenly things ..."(Heb. 8:5). The Old Testament PICTURED the work; as well as, the Person of Jesus. The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is everything that the Tabernacle showed in it's types and shadows. We see that Jesus was the High Priest and, He was also the Offering that was presented before the Lord, God. So, today we go to God in the Person of Jesus, the Christ; not in types and shadows.
Today, we are blessed to approach God in the name of Jesus and ask the things that the New Covenant teaches. Like Paul, many requests are in the heart. As we study, we learn the Spiritual way to pray by hearing what the Apostle taught about prayer. Paul instructed the churches about asking for "...love to bound" (Phil.1:9); "...that God would
open doors for the word about the mystery of Christ;" (Col. 4:3); and, that "...the word ... may have free course and be glorified" 2nd Thess. 3:1.
In fact, Paul wrote to the saints of Thessalonica to "Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is THE WILL OF GOD in Christ Jesus for you" (1st Thess. 5:16). Praying to God has always been and shall always be God's will, Brethren. Oh, how we must learn to pray AND, pray often and always.
When we study the life of Jesus, we see that He was always praying. The LORD taught His disciples to pray in a secret place. But, whether in church or in some quiet place, we know that the Father hears us and will reward us, accordingly (See Matthew 6).
Perhaps the most famous prayer of Jesus was in the garden, just before He went before His accusers and was tried; ultimately, going to the cross. Luke 22:42 records Jesus praying, "Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done."
Jesus makes a very serious point about temptation in Matthew 26:41. He instructed His disciples about how weak man is. "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." His following words prove just how important it is to rely on God's help. "The spirit is indeed willing, but the FLESH is weak."
Approaching God through prayer is a New Testament blessing. While, we understand that our spirits go directly to the LORD, we still marvel at the prayers in the Old Testament. David's Psalms are considered prayers that glorify the LORD. And, the TABERNACLE, with the gathering of the High Priests on Holy Days, are visuals that help us to pray. ONLY, our approach to the LORD is direct in the New Covenant; all because we use the name of Jesus and pray according to the WILL OF GOD.