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The prayer at the incense altar issued in the numbering of the children of Israel for the formation of an army to fight for God's interest on the earth—Exo. 30:11-16; Num. 1:45-46:
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As a result of the prayer at the incense altar, the Lord conducts a”military census” of the saints in the churches; those who are numbered are qualified to go to war for God's move on the earth—2:32; 4:23; 2 Tim. 2:3.
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The intercession offered at the incense altar is for the growth and maturity of the believers so that an army can be formed—Eph. 4:13; 6:10-12:
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The more we pray at the incense altar, the more we will realize that the need for maturity is desperate, and the greater will be the urgency to pray for the growth in life unto maturity—1 Cor. 2:6; 3:1-2; 14:20; 16:13; Heb. 5:14—6:1; Eph. 3:16.
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Only when such an army is formed will God be able to move on earth for His purpose; apart from an army formed of mature ones, there is no way for God to move—4:13; 6:10-12.
Morning Nourishment
Eph. 4:13 Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.6:11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil.
2 Tim. 2:3 Suffer evil with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
First, there is the need of the tabernacle as God's embodiment. Then God's chosen people must experience all the aspects of the tabernacle until they arrive at the incense altar to intercede for God's interests and His move. In particular, God's people need to pray for the formation of the army of the Lord, an army to fight for God's move on earth. This is the reason the census and the propitiation silver are mentioned [in Exodus 30] immediately after the description of the incense altar. Actually, in verses 11 through 16 there is more emphasis on the census than on the ransom silver, the propitiation silver. In verse 12 the Lord told Moses to take a sum, a census, of the sons of Israel according to those who were numbered of them. This numbering of the people is for the formation of an army. (Life-study of Exodus, p. 1649)
Today's Reading
If we would be in the army to fight for God's move, we need to mature. We need to grow until we come to the spiritual age of twenty. The intercession offered at the incense altar is for this growth and maturity so that the army can be formed. The more intercession there is at the incense altar, the greater will be the urgency for God's people to grow. More and more we shall realize that the need for maturity is desperate. There is the urgent need for more of us to grow, reach maturity, and thereby become qualified to be formed into an army. Only when such an army has been formed will God be able to move on earth for His purpose. Apart from an army formed of mature ones, there is no way for God to move. Oh, God's chosen people need to grow!If the Lord's recovery is to move on, a number of saints need to experience all the aspects of the outer court and the tabernacle. They must go to the altar and then enjoy Christ as their life supply at the table in the Holy Place. Then they need to receive Christ as their light and experience the breaking of their natural being in order to have the Ark, Christ as the testimony of God. Eventually, they will reach the incense altar and intercede for God's move.
Some of the saints in the recovery have had this experience…. These saints long to stay at the incense altar to pray,…“Lord, we call on You for Your recovery. O Lord, move on. But look at today's situation—there are enemies everywhere. Lord, where is Your testimony? We pray that Your testimony will go on.” This is the intercessory prayer offered at the incense altar.
After we arrive at the incense altar and stay there for a period of time, we shall not have the appetite to pray for material things, such as a house or a car. Our only desire will be to pray for the Lord's move. We shall be burdened for His testimony throughout the earth. We shall pray,”Lord, may Your recovery move on. O Lord, what about Your testimony on earth? Lord, move on in Europe and in South America.” We may be so burdened to pray for the Lord's move that we shall not have the heart to pray for personal matters. We shall leave all these matters, including concern for our health, in the hand of the Lord. But even if we outwardly have some prayer for personal matters or for our health, inwardly those things are not our real concern. Our concern deep within is for the Lord's recovery, move, and testimony.
The intercessory prayer at the incense altar makes it urgent for God to have a census among His people so that an army can be formed to fight for His move. This means that it is the prayer at the incense altar that leads to the formation of the army….As a result of the prayer at the incense altar, the Lord conducts a military census of the saints in the churches. Here and there, He numbers His people. Those who are numbered are the ones qualified to go to war. (Life-study of Exodus, pp. 1653-1654, 1656-1657)
Further Reading: Life-study of Exodus, msg. 154