#1551. MAKE AN ALTAR OF INCENSE (22/7/26)
- Matt Beaney
- Jul 22
- 6 min read
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (currently posted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) as we continue our series: I Will Dwell Among Them.
Today, we reflect on the truth:
Our joy and devotion to prayer and worship both reflects and cultivates our spiritual health
To watch this devotional, please select the link below:
“Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. Make two gold rings for the altar below the moulding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you. “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.” (Exodus 30:1-10)
If you were to visit the doctor, there are certain tests that reveal your physical health: blood pressure, heart rate, lung function, and so on. In a similar way, our spiritual health is revealed by many things, one of which is our practice of prayer and worship. Lives that are saturated with dependent prayer and overflowing thankfulness to God display genuine spiritual vitality.
I'm sure we've all met Christians who know a great deal. They may have formal qualifications in theology or Christian counselling. They may have memorised large portions of Scripture. Yet they can be miserable and difficult! We all fall into wrong attitudes at times, and one of the greatest remedies is to establish the altar of worship and prayer at the centre of our lives.
Whilst there is certainly a place for mourning, fasting, repentance and grief, the overriding tone of the Christian life should be one of joy. As Paul writes:
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
Christians are to be continually offering joyful worship. After all, we have been chosen, adopted into God's family, forgiven, given eternal life, and welcomed into His presence. We know God Himself!
This is why Paul so often expresses his joyful thankfulness in prayer:
‘For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.’ (Ephesians 1:15–16)
True maturity and spiritual health are seen not only in what we know, but in lives marked by joyful prayer and heartfelt worship.
The altar of incense stood in the Holy Place, immediately before the curtain leading into the Most Holy Place. It symbolises the prayers and worship of God's people rising before Him. This imagery is beautifully fulfilled in Revelation:
‘…The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song…’ (Revelation 5:8–9)
Just as the altar stood before the curtain, we can be assured that our worship and prayers are heard in heaven and are precious to God. They rise before Him like fragrant incense.
We are also told that the altar was overlaid with pure gold (v.3). This reminds us that our worship is precious and belongs to God alone. Prayer and worship are joyful, but they are also holy. We approach God with reverence as well as delight.
The altar also had rings through which poles were inserted so it could be carried (v.4). This points us to the importance of walking with God wherever He leads us. Prayer and worship are not confined to one place or one moment; they are to accompany us as we follow His presence each day.
Finally, notice the regular rhythm that God established:
‘“Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.”’ (Exodus 30:7–8)
Morning and evening, day after day, the incense was offered before the Lord. This regular pattern points us to a life characterised by continual prayer and worship. Whilst the offering itself took place morning and evening, it symbolised hearts that are constantly turned towards God.
Response - Let’s Make The Altar Of Incense
The regularity of our prayer and worship both reflects and cultivates our spiritual health.
Are our lives—and our church gatherings—marked by the regular offering of the incense of prayer and worship?
Do we truly believe that our prayers and praise are precious to God?
Let's finish with these wonderful words from Revelation:
‘Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand.’ (Revelation 8:3–4)
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of CCP; to watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:
Community Group Study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
On Sunday, we continued our I WILL DWELL AMONG YOU series, reflecting on God’s design for the Tabernacle and how this speaks to us of how we are to seek to build the church.
Please read Exodus 27:1–8; 30:1–10; 30:34–38 and discuss:
Personal Reflection – What particularly encouraged or challenged you from Sunday's message? How did God speak to you through it?
How do the altar of sacrifice, the bronze basin, and the altar of incense each point us to Jesus and His ministry on our behalf? (See Hebrews 9:11-14)
There is a deliberate order to these elements: first the altar of sacrifice, then the basin for washing, and finally the altar of incense. What does this sequence teach us about:
The way of salvation? (See Hebrews 10:19)
The pattern of our worship and prayer? (See Hebrews 13:15)
The altar of incense symbolises our continual worship and prayer before God. What does this teach us about cultivating a life of prayer and wholehearted worship personally and together? (See, again Hebrew 13:15)
SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)
Bringing people to the altar: Picture the journey of a worshipper entering the Tabernacle. Passing through the entrance (Christ), they first came to the altar of sacrifice (Christ's atoning death), then the bronze basin (our cleansing in Christ), before entering the Holy Place where the altar of incense represented continual worship and prayer. In many ways, this is the journey of bringing people to Jesus. How are we helping others take these steps? Where are we doing well, and where could we grow?
Share Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.
Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Are there any ‘people of peace’ (*see note) in your life—those who are receptive to you and spiritual conversation?
Let’s pray together:
Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.
Pray specifically for the “people of peace” in our lives—asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.
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