“The Prayers Of The Saints!”

“The Prayers Of The Saints!”(Rev.8:1-4).
Where I grew up incense was associated with mysticism and magic. Some of our senior brothers in the quarter were noted for dabbling in the mystical from India. We grew up then with stories that gave us the impression that Indians were kind of supernatural people.
One of the things that these our brothers used in the temples of their gods was the burning of incense.
From a biblical point of view, incense is offered to the LORD with the belief that its fragrance pleases him. Incense was sprinkled around the alter of sacrifice so that its sweet fragrance and the fats of sacrifice should rise up to please the LORD.
The psalmist prays: “May my prayer be set before you like incense; May the lifting up of my hands be like an evening sacrifice”(Ps.141:2). Here, we see that incense and sacrifice are combined in the same way that prayer with lifted hands should rise up to God at once, like incense and sacrifice.
The third gift of the Maggi was Frankincense to show how the Wisemen recognised Jesus as the incarnation of the Sovereign LORD.
In John’s apocalypse, an angel “was given incense to offer, with the prayers of God’s people, on the goldrn alter 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.”
In the Old Testament, angels served as mediators, but angels do not play that role in the New Testament. It does not necessarily mean that God accepts the prayers of the saints because it is presented by the angel.
*The prayers of the saints are carried by the Holy Spirit and reach the Father through the Son. Secondly, we are not compelled to burn incense as part of prayer to God. It is a matter of choice to burn incense in your private or public place of worship.
*The LORD Almighty does not reduce himself to smelling the fragrance of incense. He is interested in the prayers we make to him as saints of the Church Militant. Pray without ceasing! Also, note that a time of silence is needed before God’s response to prayers can be heard and known!*
Prayer: Heavenly Father, accept the prayers we make to you through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
28/05/2025.