Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service–God called the Levites to serve with order, faithfulness, and reverence, setting them apart for sacred duties to safeguard His presence and objects of worship. Service required obedience, purity, and readiness—following God’s instructions and maintaining a heart dedicated to Him. The Levites cared for the golden candlestick, symbolizing God’s precious light, and tended the altar of incense, representing prayers rising continually to the Lord.
Like them, preparing your heart means embracing God’s call, seeking His strength, and ensuring your service flows from humility, holiness, and a willingness to be used for His purpose.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
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Book Of Numbers 3:30-31 4:11-12 Teaching Scriptures
Revelation 1:12-20, Numbers 3:30-31, Numbers 4:9-10, 1 Peter 19:9-10, Psalms 119:105, Luke 3:16, Matthew 3:11, Revelation 4:5, Hebrews 12:29, Romans 12:1, Hebrews 1:7, 1 Samuel 3:3, Numbers 4:11-12, 2 Chronicles 2:4, Revelation 8:3-4, Revelation 5:8, Hebrews 9:2-6, Psalms 69:30-31, 1 Samuel 2:1, Revelation 20:8, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10,
The Vision of the Golden Lampstands – Revelation 1
Revelation 1:12, 20
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
20 “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
In the first chapter of Revelation, John has a vision of the glorified Son of man. He describes seeing Jesus with hair as white as wool. When Jesus speaks, John turns and sees seven golden lampstands. John observes these seven golden lampstands, each one shining brightly. In the middle of the lampstands, he sees Jesus. This shows that Jesus is present among his churches, symbolized by the lampstands.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Verse 20 in the chapter explains the meaning of these images. The seven stars in Jesus’ right hand represent the angels of the seven churches. The seven lampstands represent the churches themselves. In the New Testament, lampstands are used as symbols for the churches. This is an essential idea in the passage.
The Lampstand in the Old Testament – Levitical Duties
Numbers 3:30-31
30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31 And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
Numbers 4:9-10
9 And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:
10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Gold as a Symbol of Value and Purity
We begin on page 83 of our notes, which describes the solid golden lampstand. This lampstand is entirely made of gold and is very beautiful. Gold is discussed as a symbol with deep meaning. It stands for purity and preciousness. Gold also represents something desirable and valuable.
Some of us like to wear gold, while others enjoy buying or selling it. I acknowledged that gold is recognized as a precious commodity. As we talked about its current price, I noted that gold is always valuable, no matter how its price changes.
1 Peter 1:7
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
In 1 Peter 1:7, the focus is on the trial or testing of our faith. Peter describes this testing as something precious. The idea is that the process of having our faith tested is valuable, even more than gold. I asked if people really believe this, questioning if faith being tested is better than even gold jewelry. Most people hesitate, but the point remains that, from God’s perspective, the trial of faith is precious.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Peter explains that putting my faith through fire is even more precious than pure gold. From God’s perspective, my refined faith is of highest value. The image of the golden lampstand with flames everywhere connects to this truth. That glowing, burning lampstand shows how precious and alive tested faith is. God sees this as truly precious.
Psalms 19:9-10
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
In Psalm 19:10, it says that the judgments of God are more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold. What is truly desirable here is not gold itself but God’s judgments. This can be hard to accept, since I naturally prefer God’s mercy over His judgments. Still, in the Scriptures, gold always stands for something precious and desirable, never for deity. Whenever gold is mentioned, it points to something of great value.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Lampstand as the Word, Anointing, Spirit, and Church
Moving to page 84, the golden lampstand is described as very elaborate and intricate. Its construction was complex, with detailed instructions given by God. When looking at the lampstand, it wasn’t clear how it worked, because the oil and wicks were hidden inside. Aaron, the priest, would trim the wicks and check the oil every day, even though these parts were not visible. To understand how the lampstand worked, one would have to look deeply inside or take it apart.
The lampstand also represents the Word of God. Just like with the lampstand, I can look at the Word from the outside, but I won’t understand it until I get into it. I can’t grasp its meaning just by looking; I need to study and explore it to understand how it works and what it truly offers.
Psalms 119:105
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Another message of the lampstand is that it represents the Word of God. This is seen in Psalm 119:105, which says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The lampstand helps me to remember that God’s Word guides and illuminates my life.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
The lampstand also speaks of the anointing oil. The anointing is not something I can understand just by looking at someone. I can only know the anointing by experiencing it myself. I have to find out what God has anointed my life to do and begin to do it. The anointing becomes clear as I walk in it, not just by observing it from a distance.
The lampstand also represents the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Spirit, and fire. The Bible says that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire, which connects the Holy Spirit to fire. I realize that I will never fully understand the Holy Spirit. The only way to know how He works is to experience Him personally and allow myself to be filled by Him.
The lampstand also stands for the church. I have spent many years trying to understand the church truly, and I still have much to learn. I can recognize some parts of how it functions, but there are still mysteries. The lesson is that to understand the church, I have to be part of it and involved in its life. Many people comment or criticize, but they are not engaged in the church.
Looking from the outside, I cannot understand all the beauty and details of the lampstand, just as I cannot fully grasp the beauty of the Word of God, the anointing, the Holy Spirit, or the church without being involved. I ask myself if I truly believe these things are beautiful and if my actions reflect that belief. Many say they value God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, or the church, but their involvement might show otherwise. The lampstand, with all its parts and meaning, is beautiful and represents all these precious things. To see its beauty, I must take part in what it stands for.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Oil and the Lampstand: Anointing and Illumination
The lampstand in the tabernacle was not a candlestick that used wax and candles, as some translations suggest. Instead, it used olive oil and wicks to provide its light. The primary spiritual implications of oil in scripture are for anointing and for producing light. The lampstand’s light was not created by ordinary means, but by oil, which stood for something different—a spiritual meaning.
When we read about oil in the Bible, we should think about the anointing. The first use of oil for anointing can be found in Genesis 28:18. Oil also brings light, just like the lampstand did. This was not a natural light but an anointed, holy light. The candlesticks represent this special, spiritual illumination.
This distinction is vital because the lampstand did not simply make the area brighter with a regular light. The rest of the tabernacle and the outside had natural sunlight, but inside, the lampstand gave off a unique kind of light. When Paul prays in Ephesians, asking God to enlighten our eyes, he is talking about a spiritual light beyond what is natural.
Luke 3:16
16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Matthew 3:11
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
What I truly need is not just natural understanding, but a more profound enlightenment that comes from the Holy Spirit. Coming into the Holy Place in God’s presence means receiving a different kind of light, a Holy Spirit “light.” This is what the lampstand’s oil symbolizes—an anointed and holy illumination that only comes from God.
In biblical times, light always came from fire, not from electricity or bulbs like we use today. Fire and light went together, so when Jesus said he would baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire, he was speaking of a consuming, enlightening presence. This fire gives both light for understanding and a burning passion in our hearts.
Jesus is described as the anointed one. He is the source of the anointing and the true light of the world. His spirit lives within us, and as his followers, we are also called the body of Christ and the church. The candlestick, or lampstand, is a picture of both Jesus and those who belong to him. He walks among the candlesticks, just as he walks in the hearts and lives of his people, bringing light to every corner.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
We, too, are called to be anointed. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives gives us anointing, allowing us to break chains and set people free from bondage. Our lives are meant to be living epistles, open for all to read. We are also part of the candlestick, sharing the light of Christ in the world. Jesus walks in the midst of the candlestick, and he also walks within us, shining his light into every part of our lives.
Wherever I go, I need to remember that I am meant to bring light. Jesus said that we are the light of the world. I shouldn’t hide this light or keep it to myself. In the tabernacle, the lampstand was the only source of light. Jesus is that light, but I am also called to be a light.
All these symbols apply to Jesus Christ, but they also apply to me. Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. As he is, so I am called to be in the world. Everything about the lampstand points to Jesus, but it also points to what I am supposed to be—carrying his light and presence wherever I go.
The Lampstand’s Seven Flames: The Spirit of God
On page 86, the focus shifts to the seven flames of fire on the lampstand. Many people connect these flames to Isaiah 11:2, which lists qualities of the Spirit, but that passage seems to describe only six. However, the lampstand has seven flames.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Revelation 4:5
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
In Revelation 4:5, it says that before God’s throne there are seven lamps of fire burning, which are called the seven spirits of God. This matches the seven lights on the lampstand.
The lampstand is set before the throne, which represents the Ark of the Covenant behind the veil—though the veil is now torn. The vision shows the lampstand with seven blazing flames, symbolizing the seven spirits of God. In Scripture, light and fire are closely linked. Where there is light, there is fire, and where there is fire, there is light. When the Bible talks about the Spirit, it uses the image of flames of fire to describe His presence and power.
So, before God’s throne, the lampstand burns with seven flames, showing the fire of God’s Spirit. This picture helps us understand a profound truth about God and Jesus Christ.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Hebrews 12:29
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:29 tells us clearly that “our God is a consuming fire.” The lampstand and its flames are a powerful symbol of God’s burning, purifying presence.
Fire changes things. If you put something in a fire, it will not stay the same. Jesus said he would baptize us in the Holy Ghost and fire. This means his presence will change us, again and again. When God’s fire touches our lives, we cannot remain unchanged. As long as we are burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit, we are being changed. If we stop changing, it means we have stopped burning. Change is a clear sign that the Holy Spirit is working in us.
When someone truly meets Jesus and is baptized with the Holy Spirit, their life is different. It is impossible to encounter Jesus and remain the same. Walking with Christ means we keep changing as his presence burns within us. The fire of God will change us, because God himself is a consuming fire.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
The central truth about fire in the Bible is that it represents the presence of God. There are other uses of fire, such as false gods who use fire, or strange fire offered by Nadab and Abihu, or simple natural fire like Peter used to keep warm. But the most essential meaning of fire is God’s presence and judgment. He judges with fire, as he did in Sodom and Gomorrah. God requires sacrifices to be offered by fire. The fire of God is not just a symbol—it’s the sign of his living, changing presence among his people.
Living Sacrifice and Baptism of Fire
Romans 12:1
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Being baptized in the Holy Ghost, or in fire, is very important to God. Romans 12:1 urges us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him. When Jesus baptizes us in fire, He completely immerses us in it—just as someone is fully submerged in water during baptism. This means we are surrounded and changed by the fire of God.
Jesus’ baptism is different from John’s, which was with water. Jesus promises to baptize us in the Holy Ghost and fire. Sometimes, going through this process can feel very difficult, almost like going through hell. But even in those trials, God is at work. The testing of our faith by fire is more precious than gold because it transforms us.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Nothing brings change like fire does. The things in our lives that are not valuable will be burned away, leaving behind only what is pure and precious. In the end, only gold, silver, and precious stones remain. God’s goal is to make us purer and more valuable by His refining fire.
When you take an old piece of gold out of the ground, it just looks like a dirty, unattractive rock. I remember once going to South Carolina with Judy for a timeshare event where we hoped to win a big piece of gold. When we saw it, it was just a rough, ugly rock on a chain. Even though they said it was natural gold, it didn’t look appealing at all.
If you want to make that gold valuable, you have to put it through fire. The fire melts the gold, and when it cools, it becomes solid again. But even then, the process isn’t finished. After heating, the gold must be beaten and shaped. It is refined, hammered, and worked on until it becomes something beautiful and valuable.
This is a picture of what happens to us. To become a light to the world, I must also go through fire. The process of being refined and shaped by God can be difficult and painful. Just like with gold, I have to endure fire and pressure to become pure and valuable, shining as a true light in the world. This is what I am called to be, even though the process can be challenging.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
If I say I am anointed, a living epistle, the word of God, the body of Christ, and the light of the world, then I must also recognize that I will go through the fire. This fire represents trials, testing, and transformation. God uses fire to burn away any false gods in my life. False gods are always destroyed by fire in Scripture, which is a symbol of God’s power and cleansing.
God fulfills his word through fire, as seen in the Bible. He uses fire to cleanse and purify me. Jesus promises to baptize his followers with fire, so being a faithful Christian means I should expect to experience this refining fire. It is not always comfortable, but it is necessary for proper growth and purity.
Hebrews 1:7
7 And of the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.”
One of the most essential scriptures on this topic is Hebrews 1:7, which says that God makes his ministers a flame of fire. When I minister, I am meant to burn with God’s presence. The fire of God comes upon believers, just as it did in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit filled the early church. Through fire, I am purified and become the fire of God. In the Bible, there is no real spiritual light without fire, so to be a light for God, I must be willing to be set ablaze by His Spirit.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
The lampstand is built with balance. There are three flames on each side, and Jesus is at the center, making seven flames in total. The number seven stands for fullness, completion, and totality. The word of God is balanced, and Jesus is the living Word. The Holy Spirit is also balanced, as are the anointing and the church. Even with seven separate lights, they come together as one. When all the lamps are lit, their light joins to make one strong light. This teaches about unity: though there are many, there is oneness. Jesus is the light of the world, and as his people, we also shine together as one light.
The lampstand is described as beautiful, made of pure gold, and richly ornamented. The word of God is precious and valuable. The lampstand gives an anointed light, not just a natural light. However, there is an important warning—do not let the lamp go out.
1 Samuel 3:3
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
In First Samuel 3:3, it says that the lamp of God went out in the temple just before Samuel heard the Lord. This shows that it is possible for the light to go out if not cared for. Eli, the priest, allowed the lamp to go out. It is a reminder that we must guard and tend our spiritual light so it does not burn out.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
My warning to all of us is that it is possible to let our lamp go out. Our witness can fade if we stop caring for it. We can let our light die by neglecting prayer, not staying full of the Holy Spirit, or failing to move in our anointing. If we stop ministering or fail to live as God’s message to the world, we can lose our purpose and even disconnect ourselves from the church.
Eli was the high priest, yet he allowed the lamp to go out. This shows that even those with spiritual authority are not immune to losing their light. We must be vigilant so the same does not happen to us.
If the Word is kept filled with the Spirit, it will continue burning. We must trim the wicks by cutting away the dead or burned parts. The lampstand is more than a symbol; it is the true light—shining in our bodies, in our church, and throughout our city. Without the body of Christ, there is no spiritual light in the world. We must stay balanced, with both the Word and the Spirit, so that we live as balanced, shining people.
When I wrote this, I was thinking about the temple and how everything in the tabernacle is made of pure, beaten gold. The Christ who lives in us is like that gold—pure and valuable. He walks in the midst of his lampstands, which are people who are on fire for him. If we are not passionate about God, then he will not be found walking with us. Instead, he will stand outside and knock, waiting for us to let him in. I do not want that; I want him to dwell in our midst and be present in his church.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Coverings of the Lampstand During Transport
Numbers 4:11-12
11 And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:
12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a bar:
When the lampstand was moved from place to place, it was covered with a blue cloth. Blue represents the heavenly things. On top of the blue covering, there was a layer made of badger skins, which stands for the flesh. This means that the true spiritual things are hidden from natural sight—only the Spirit can discern what is there.
The word of God, the anointing, and the church must all be understood by the Spirit. In the same way, praying in the Holy Spirit, especially in tongues, might look strange or foolish from the outside. But beneath the outward appearance, there is something precious—the oil of God’s Spirit. There is always something deeper and holy, hidden under the surface.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
The badger skin was placed over the lampstand when it was being carried to a new location. This covering represents how we must take our light to different places, not just keep it hidden or safe. God does not want us to keep the light to ourselves or hide it under a bushel. Instead, we are called to take it out into the darkness of the world. This is the true purpose of the lampstand—to bring light wherever it is needed.
The Golden Altar of Incense
Let me spend the last 15 minutes talking about the golden altar of incense. If you look at the picture on page 90, you will see the altar as it is described. Initially, I had drawn some extra decorations and patterns in the center of the altar, but I removed them because the Bible does not mention any such designs. The altar was designed as a square box, about three feet high, with four horns at its corners. It was placed directly in front of the veil in the tabernacle.
2 Chronicles 2:4
4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
About 500 years after this altar was first built, Solomon constructed the temple. In 2 Chronicles 2:4, Solomon gave four reasons for building the temple. The first reason was to dedicate the temple to the Lord. This shows a desire for the house and for our own lives to be devoted to God. The second reason was to burn incense before the Lord. Burning incense represents offering something sweet and pleasing to God. Our lives, like the temple, should always be giving off the fragrance of incense in worship and prayer.
The third reason Solomon mentioned was to maintain the continual showbread. Showbread stands for communion—remaining in constant fellowship with God. The fourth reason was to offer burnt offerings every morning and evening, as well as on Sabbaths, new moons, and all the special feasts. Solomon said that these ordinances were to last forever—a continuous act of dedication, worship, communion, and offering to God.
The principle found in the use of incense is that it represents something lasting forever. Burning incense was an essential act in biblical times, continued throughout Scripture, and still holds meaning today. The idea is that incense is a symbol of prayer rising to God, and this should be a constant, ongoing practice.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
The Spiritual Meaning of Incense
It is essential to understand the role of incense in the Bible. Burning incense is not just a ritual—it is a powerful image that God uses to explain a spiritual truth. Just as incense fills the air and is inescapable, our prayers should be unceasing and always present before God. We want our prayers to reach God so completely that He cannot ignore them. David prayed, “Let my prayers be as incense before you,” asking that his prayers surround and please God.
Personally, I had never burned incense growing up or even in college. It was only a few years ago, while teaching at a youth camp in Florida, that I first tried it. God led me to teach about the meaning of incense, so I looked up the recipe given in the Scriptures and researched the ingredients that would be available today, and made my own incense. I tried it for myself. I was curious to see what happens when incense is burned. This experience helped me gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual meaning behind burning incense and its connection to prayer.
For the meeting that night, we handed out small cups of incense to everyone. Then I taught about incense, got the fires and coals ready, and prepared to burn it together.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
When it was time, we all poured our incense onto the fire and began to lift our prayers to God, trying to understand the spiritual significance of incense. Honestly, I did not know exactly what I was doing. The room quickly filled with such thick smoke that you could barely see or breathe. By the next day, everything smelled like incense—from my clothes to my hair—and everyone else was the same. It was as if we all became “walking prayers,” completely saturated by the fragrance. The scent lingered so much that we had to air out the building, worried the smell would last into breakfast the next day.
Through this experience, I learned something unforgettable about incense. The principle stayed with me: the fragrance of incense, like our prayers, should be so strong and persistent that it remains with us and leaves a mark wherever we go.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
When we pray the kind of prayers that are like incense, they become impossible for God to ignore. These prayers surround Him completely. They are before His eyes, fill His nose, enter into His lungs, and even cling to His clothes and hair. God cannot escape the presence of prayers like this. This is the level of prayer I want to reach—a prayer that is always in God’s presence and cannot be dismissed.
Angels, Incense, and the Prayers of the Saints
This kind of prayer is like what happens at the altar of incense. In the New Testament, everywhere that incense is mentioned, angels are usually present as well. This connection should encourage us.
Revelation 8:3-4
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
For example, in Revelation 8:3, an angel is seen standing at the altar with a golden censer. He is given a large amount of incense to offer. This incense is offered along with the prayers of the saints.
Prayers like incense are powerful and fill the space before God, just as incense fills a room. This image helps me understand the importance of persistent and heartfelt prayer. When I pray like this, my prayers work together with God’s messengers and are always present before Him.
In heaven, at the throne of God, there is an angel burning incense. God loves incense, and this act symbolizes prayers rising to Him. The angel offers incense together with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before God’s throne. This golden altar is the same one described earlier, and John uses it as a picture for us in Revelation. The altar and incense are not just historical; they represent a spiritual reality that we are meant to understand and experience.
For incense to make smoke, it must touch fire. Incense by itself only has a pleasant smell, but without fire, it never produces smoke. The smoke is crucial because it represents prayers that are lifted up to God. In Revelation 8:4, the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rises up before God from the angel’s hand. This is where prayers are meant to go—up before God as a sweet-smelling offering.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Incense as the Prayers of the Saints
Revelation 5:8
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
In Revelation 5:8, when the Lamb takes the book, the four living creatures and the elders fall down before Him. Each of them has a harp and golden bowls filled with “odors.” The word “odors” is the exact same Greek word as “incense” in Revelation 8:3. Some Bible translations even write it as “incense.” These bowls full of incense are described as the prayers of the saints. This shows that prayers, like incense, are treasured in heaven and are always before God, carried to Him through both fire and worship.
In Revelation 5:8, I see that the prayers are described as incense held in golden bowls. These bowls are not narrow vials but broad vessels, filled with a sweet aroma that represents the prayers of God’s people. The elders in this vision are the ones who hold these bowls full of incense, which means they hold the prayers of the saints.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
This shows me that elders have an important role in our prayer life. Their part is not just symbolic; it highlights their responsibility in carrying our prayers before God. I believe it matters that elders are truly seeking God and praying with sincerity and diligence. When prayers are presented to God this way, they are valued and cherished, just as gold is reserved for precious things.
The scene teaches me that every earnest prayer is kept, even if not answered immediately or in the way I expect. God treasures these prayers, and one day, all unanswered petitions will be fulfilled according to His will. The elders’ act of holding the bowls encourages me to respect their position and trust them to intercede for me and the church. I understand now that having faithful elders is essential in my spiritual life and prayers.
The Altar of Incense in the New Testament
In the New Testament, incense is always connected to the heavenlies. I see it at the throne of God, with elders, and with angels. The incense is linked to the Golden Altar of Incense. I have to remember that it is an altar, but it is a prayer altar. It is not for blood sacrifices like the brazen altar. This altar is where prayers are offered up to God.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Sometimes people confuse this altar with the brazen altar. To tell them apart, I can look at their location in scripture. The Golden Altar is before the veil. The brazen altar is out in the courts at the entrance. Their descriptions and positions in the Bible help me identify which altar is being discussed.
When I pray, I am at the Golden Altar. In the Old Testament, it was placed before the veil. In the New Testament, it is now behind the veil because the veil has been torn. This means I am closer to the throne of God than ever before. It was the nearest place to Him in the Old Testament, and it still is in the New Testament.
Hebrews 9:2-6
2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the
sacred bread; this is called the holy place.
3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which
was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot
now speak in detail.
6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle
performing the divine worship,
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
In the heavenlies, there is no closer place to God than in prayer. But this is not just any prayer. This is the prayer offered at the altar of incense. This type of prayer has special principles connected to it. In the New Testament, we stand directly before the Lord when we pray this way.
The Four Horns of the Altar – Meanings and Symbolism
The altar of incense was one cubit long, one cubit wide, and one cubit high. That is about thirty‑six inches tall. It was made from Shittim wood, which is a type of wilderness wood. Shittim was a region in the wilderness, and all items made from this wood carried that wilderness connection. In the temple, Shittim wood was not used. This detail shows a difference between what was in the wilderness and what was in the temple.
Psalms 69:30-31
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
The altar had four horns, one at each corner. In scripture, horns often represent maturity. An animal with horns had reached full growth, and larger horns meant greater maturity. David even spoke in Psalms about praise being better than an ox or a bull with horns. Horns can also be seen in other scriptures, such as Revelation 13, where beasts are described. In this context, the horns on the altar point to spiritual maturity.
In scripture, horns also symbolize war. Many animals use their horns to fight. Deer, rams, elk, and others lock horns in battle. Zedekiah even made horns of iron to ram and break city gates. Horns also represent boasting. An animal will lift its head high and display its horns with pride. Deer will mark territory and show dominance by raking trees and foliage, making their presence known.
1 Samuel 2:1
1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
In 1 Samuel 2:1, Hannah says, “My horn is exalted in the Lord.” This is not a musical horn but an animal’s horn, representing confidence and triumph. Hannah was expressing joy, pride, and victory in God. She had been provoked by Penina, her husband Elkanah’s other wife, for a long time. Penina treated her harshly, but Hannah prayed to God. When her prayer was answered, she lifted her “horn” in the Lord, boasting not in herself but in His salvation.
The fourth meaning of horns is dominion. Just as an animal with horns exerts power over others, spiritually, lifting one’s horn signifies taking authority. Hannah’s prayer and God’s answer gave her victory and a new position of strength.
I understand that in the animal world, the one with the most enormous horns often rules. A bull in a field with strong horns takes dominion. A deer with large antlers becomes the boss of the woods. Horns symbolize authority and dominance. In Hannah’s case, when she said her “horn is exalted,” she was declaring victory. She took dominion in her situation and was blessed with many children afterward.
The Story of Jericho and the Power of Incense Prayer
This idea also connects to the story of Jericho. When Israel marched around the city, they blew rams’ horns. It was a bold declaration — a boast that Jericho already belonged to them. And it did. In the same way, incense prayer — the altar of incense type of prayer — involves the concepts tied to horns. It calls for maturity, spiritual warfare, and a boasting rooted in God’s will. It is a prayer that claims dominion and victory over the enemy.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Praying through the horns shows power, maturity, and confidence in God. This is not a weak or defeated prayer. It is not like the prayer of the old preacher who thanked God for “one more weary day on this sorry earth.” Incense prayer is strong. Incense prayer declares God’s promises and stands boldly in faith. It is the prayer of a warrior, not a beggar.
Incense prayer is a bold kind of prayer where I boast in the Lord and lift my horn high in Him. This prayer is marked by four horns: dominion, power, boasting, maturity, and warfare. Through these horns, I see the strength and confidence that belong in prayer. Prayer declares the Word of God over a situation. When I pray according to His will, I can boast in faith, knowing God has heard me and that I will receive what I ask. Praying prophetically is not hard; it is simply speaking the outcome based on God’s Word.
Maturity in prayer comes when I separate my own wants from God’s will. Immature believers pray mainly for their own desires. Jesus taught us not to pray that way. He already knows what we need, so He told us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” This is the difference between weak, man‑pleasing prayer and strong altar of incense prayer. A mature believer presses in for God’s will, not personal gain.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Like a bull or a buck deer, I need to know what God wants and pursue it with determination, driving away distractions and opposition. This is staking a claim in faith. Just as animals lift their horns in confidence, I lift mine in the Lord, standing in dominion. I also know the enemy has horns — strength and authority — and that means I must be just as determined and ready for spiritual battle.
Mature believers press in with labor because prayer is not always easy. It can be the most challenging part of ministry. Many people avoid corporate prayer because it is not fun. The reason is that prayer is often warfare, and war is never enjoyable. Yet, in this battle, we can lift our voice and declare that the earth belongs to the Lord. We claim dominion in prayer, just as Israel brought down Jericho through obedience and persistence. Jesus told us to pray, “Thy kingdom come,” and that comes through prayer.
The four horns speak of the four quarters of the earth. Several sacred objects in scripture had four horns, including the altar of incense, the brazen altar, and the table of showbread. These horns symbolize the reach of God’s work into every part of the world. The Bible speaks of the four winds being held back in Revelation and the river in Eden dividing into four heads. This shows that prayer, the message of the cross, and the bread of God’s presence should go to all nations and all places.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
In scripture, there are three types of horns — man’s horns, God’s horns, and the devil’s horns. The enemy also has horns, as seen in Revelation.
Revelation 20:8
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
The dragon in chapter 12, the beast in chapter 13, and the false prophet all have horns. This means there is a conflict of authority and power in the spiritual realm, and prayer is where this battle is fought.
The enemy, whether it is man’s horn or the devil’s horn, all seek authority. They all want dominion. They all try to push us around and wage war against us. But I believe our horn is greater because we have the authority of God. In spiritual terms, incense represents prayer, but there is no real effect until it touches fire. In our lives, nothing powerful happens until we encounter the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. When God’s fire touches our lives, then we begin to rise in power and effectiveness.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Spirit‑Empowered Prayer and Aaron’s Daily Service
At the altar of incense, prayer becomes powerful when the Holy Spirit fuels it. Incense was burned twice every day in the Old Testament. Aaron would enter, put incense on hot coals, trim the lamps, fill the oil, and then go to the table of showbread to commune with God and pour the drink offering. This process was a daily act of worship. In the same way, if we lifted up prayers twice a day, empowered by the Holy Spirit, our intercession would carry maturity, power, and authority. It would take dominion over the enemy and advance God’s will on earth. This is the kind of consistent, Spirit‑filled prayer life we are called to live.
Aaron’s daily service began with the sacrifice of a lamb in the morning and another in the evening. He would take two handfuls of incense and hot coals, enter the altar area, and place them on the fire. Then he would tend the lampstand — trimming the wicks, filling it with oil, and making sure the light appropriately burned. After that, he would go to the table of showbread, kneel, eat the bread, and pour out the drink offering before the Lord.
In the spiritual picture, this points to our own daily discipline in prayer and worship. We are called to pray every day — not only for our own needs but for others, our leaders, and the world. These prayers should be mature, filled with dominion and warfare, claiming God’s promises and standing against the enemy as Israel did against Jericho. We are to “lift our horn” in boldness and faith, declaring God’s will over situations.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
It also means keeping our spiritual lamps burning — trimming the wicks, filling the oil, and keeping the fire of God alive in our hearts. This involves prayer, the Word of God, praying in the Spirit, ministering in His power, and walking in His anointing. Like Aaron, we should also spend daily time in deep communion with the Lord. Ideally, the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, we would pray, lift our incense, tend our spiritual lamps, and draw close to God. This would keep us spiritually on fire and ready for His work.
The Aroma, Depth, and Persistence of Prayer
When I think about how we did this in Florida, the room was so thick with incense that it made a powerful impression. That is how I want my prayers, and yours, to be before God — rich, full, and aromatic in His presence. God told Aaron and Moses exactly what kind of incense to use, and likewise, He has told us how and what to pray. I want our prayers to be so intense and persistent that they are inescapable to God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
When the altar was moved, it was covered with a blue cloth signifying heavenly prayer, and over that with badger skins, hiding what was inside. To people without spiritual insight, it just looked like an ordinary covering. But as 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, eye has not seen and ear has not heard the things God has prepared for those who love Him, and the Holy Spirit is the one who reveals these things. That is why we must pray by the Spirit, letting Him uncover the more profound truths hidden from natural sight.
Sometimes people avoid prayer because they feel condemned by their own failures. They think of reasons not to pray — guilt, distraction, or lack of desire. But the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God, and He helps us press past the condemnation. Aaron burned incense twice a day, and he took time in that small room before God. In the same way, we should linger in prayer, allowing it to rise like incense, full of the Spirit’s power and presence.
Becoming the Altar and Living in God’s Fire
I pray that our prayers will rise before God like incense, filling His presence so thoroughly that they cannot be ignored. I want them to be mature, complete in spiritual warfare, boasting in the Lord, taking dominion, and declaring His kingdom and will. These prayers should touch every part of God’s senses, bringing Him joy and satisfaction.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
As we reflect on these thoughts, I want us to examine our lives and see if we are truly spiritual lights, lifting prayer like incense to Him. I desire to be like the altar of incense, with the hot coals of the Holy Spirit resting on me. When His Word and prayer touch those coals, my worship and intercession will rise to Him. Scripture shows that little is done outside of prayer, and God commands us to pray.
I also pray that we remove the coverings — the “badger skins” — so we can see the heavenly side of prayer. More than anything, I want us to become the altar ourselves: a place where the fire of God burns constantly. Our lives should be consumed by that fire so that we continually lift incense to the Lord. Let us bless His name and invite His holy presence as we lift our hands and pray in His fire.
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Numbers 3:30-4:12: How to Prepare Your Heart for Service
Other Related Sermons:
Prayer – Altar Of Incense Audio
The Book Of Numbers 3:1-4 audio
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