Your Prayers, a Sweet Savor to the Lord

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Several times in the Old testament, the incense offered by the high priest is referred to as a sweet savor to the Lord. That is, a sensory enjoyment.

Recall that beautiful smell when you pass a bakery, or the bouquet of a floral shop. I like to stop and savor the luscious smells that make my brain happy...steaks on the grill, the forest in the fall, a really good perfume on a beautiful lady, etc.

The Bible likens the prayers of the saints to a savory incense wafting up to God's throne. Picture Him waving the prayers toward His nostrils with the palm of His hand, His eyes closed as He savors those sweet utterances of praise and petition from His kids.

It makes me want to approach His holy throne even now. I pray He savors that holy time as much as I do!

12 Sure Ways for New Believers (and Older Ones Too) to Fail in the Christian Life

Heb 6:1-3
Listen, all my friends who are new believers in the Lord, There is an old country song which says, “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.” God has promised you hundreds of things, eternal life, sins forgiven, His constant presence, every need supplied, the Holy Spirit, and many, many other things. But one thing he has not promised, that things down here would be easy. In fact, when you got saved, you made the devil mad. He can’t take your salvation away, but he will do all he can to keep you from being a good testimony and from enjoying your new life in Christ. Know your enemy!!!

I am going to briefly give you the 12 most common things that happen to believers to keep them from being successes in the Christian life.
Sure ways to fail in your Christian life…
1. Stay in the Pig Pen
I Cor 5:17 “If any man be in Christ…”
Know this, God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to let you stay that way! You have been saved FROM something and TO something.
*From hell to heaven,
*from your sins to sanctification,
*from the pig pen to right living
Once you have been redeemed, it is time to leave the old life behind and seek to please Him. Otherwise, eventually, the lure of the old life will pull you back and will destroy you. Get out of the pigpen.

2. Ignore the Instruction Manual
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
In this Book, God has given you all the answers for every question of life.
Immerse yourself in the Word of God and prayer. Develop a deep relationship with Him. You cannot grow in grace if you are not daily in the Word!

"This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.
The more you know God, the more you’ll love Him – and here is where you will meet Him every day.

3. Forsake the Family of God
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
You NEED the church. It exists to instruct you, to provide fellowship and encouragement for you. You need your new spiritual family to lean on. This is your support group. When you aren’t around, they can’t help you.
By the way, it needs you too! Time to step up and get to work for God through the ministry of your church. God has given you spiritual gifts to use for His service. The ONLY way for you to be content is to do what God MADE you to do.

4. Duck Discipleship
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
It is your responsibility to learn all you can about the faith. There are people and tools out there that can help you, but you have to take the initiative. Hang out with mature believers who will take you under their wing and bring you along in the faith. Attend Sunday school, attend Wed. night Bible study. Sunday is the Lord’s day, all day. Why not be where you can be growing in the Lord! Win souls, Invest in eternity with your tithes and offerings, be filled everyday with the Holy Spirit and rightly divide the Word of truth.
A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing. M. Luther.

5. Use God as a Spare Tire
Many newbies try to live life on their own, but when trouble comes, they pull Him out of the trunk slap Him on the vehicle of life until they limp into the service station. When the flat is fixed, back He goes into the trunk until the next time He is needed.

6. Expect that God will be Your Personal Genie.
God does not exist to serve us. We were created (and recreated) to serve and honor Him. He did for us all He was compelled to do by giving His Son to die for us. He owes us nothing, we owe Him our everything.

7. Simply “ADD” Jesus to the Mix that is Your Life – John 14:6
Jesus is not a way, He is the way. He is not a fire escape from hell, He is your ticket to heaven and your Provider for an abundant life (Jn 10:10) He needs to be your all in all, your life, your breath, your everything. Not just a small part of your life.


8. Expect that Your New Life will now be Beautiful and Problem Free
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 3 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If anything, life is going to get harder now that you are saved. When you trusted Christ, you made the devil your worst enemy. He will never let up. The great thing is, now you will never walk alone. Jesus has equipped you with the Word, the church, but most of all, His presence and power by the Holy Spirit. Get filled with the Spirit of God every day for everything life and the devil are going to throw at you.


9. Figure that a “Little-Dab-Will-Do-Ya”
Deut 6:4-8
Nope, when it comes to Christianity, don’t do it in moderation. Go “all in” for the Lord. Don’t wade in the kiddie pool, get out and swim with the big boys. The more the better.

10. Trying to Be a Double Agent
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Don’t be living 2 lives, one on Sunday, another during the week, one at church, another at home or work. You are to be a Christian everywhere you go, whatever you do. Slay the flesh, say no to the devil, flee from sin and serve God with your whole heart.

11. Keep Your Eyes on Other Christians, Not on Jesus!
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him…
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Christians are going to offend you. Sometimes inadvertently, sometimes on purpose! They are made of the same stuff you are, flesh. The flesh will fail every time. Preachers are not exempt from failure either. The devil knows that if he can get a preacher to fall, others will fall because they were looking to him.
Look to Christ as your leader and your example. Jesus will never fail you! Keep your eyes on Him and on Him only and you won’t be disappointed.

12. Finally, if a new believer is going to fail, When (not if) You Fall, Stay Down, Don’t Get Back Up! I Jn 1:9

Don’t think that you are any different than any other believer who ever got saved. These things are true for every child of God who ever entered the family. There are no shortcuts when it comes to these issues.

Silence is Golden

Rev 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

We really don't experience much of silence anymore. Our world is filled with constant activity accompanied by noise. For me, when all else is silent, I have ringing in my ear that is accentuated by the quiet. Nearby rail yards make for constant noise for us, which we learn to ignore.

In our society, there is usually a TV on simply for background noise. Perhaps music plays on a radio or other device.

Can you imagine, in a place where constant praise is offered to the Lord, silence? The angels fold their wings, the elders cease their worship, the assembly of saints wait with baited breath. This all in anticipation of the results of the opening of the seventh seal. This silence is 30 minutes in duration!

Talk about suspense! Look what transpires next, seven angels are handed seven trumpets. An angel then comes to stand at the altar. There, he offers incense with the prayers of the saints from his hand to God. We will literally see the prayers of God's people ascend to God. No wonder all else is silent. What a holy moment! People are praying and heaven witnesses the holiness of the moment.

Let me tell you something, your prayers are special to God. He must be the ultimate multi-tasker. Yet, when we pray, it's as if all He has to do is attend to your praise, supplications and intercessions.

Imagine, you have the opportunity right now to bring heaven to a halt while your prayers come to God's attention.

Farewell to Tears

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

How many tears have been shed over the past six millennium because of grief, pain and sorrow? Only God knows!

Most are convinced that tears are not shed in heaven. That is a partial truth. Here, saints saved in the tribulation and martyred for the name of Jesus, stand before the throne of God worshiping the Lamb on His throne. At some point, the heavenly Kleenex box is passed around, the tears are dried and God banishes those salty drops from the cheeks of the saints. We find this happening again in Revelation 21 once the Great White Throne judgment is completed.

To recap, the martyred saints cry during the tribulation until the Lord wipes away their tears. The sainted millions cry after the Millennium when death and hell are banished to the lake of fire. Again, the Lord ministers to His children by drying their tears.

In a sense, I am glad that a good range of emotions will be operable in heaven. Joy is desirable, but it is enhanced by the capacity for sorrow. Confidence can be appreciated when trepidation has been experienced. For instance, there is going to be one more coup attempt by the devil, followed by his final ouster from the heavenly realm. We might experience some fear and anxiety for a time before we exult in the total victory of the overcoming Lamb of God. The apostle weeps much because no one is found to open the 7 sealed book. But his weeping quickly turns to rejoicing when the Lamb prevails to open the book. The 4 great "Hallelujahs!" of heaven come on the heels of God's absolute annihilation of evil on the earth.

It will not be until, at the least, 1007 years from now that time shall be no more, a new heaven and earth will be formed, Satan is made a crispy critter in the Lake of Fire, the former things will be passed away, all things will be made new, and THEN the last salty drop will have stained the last cheek and eternity can proceed without another tear.

But Nobody Doesn't Like Sara Lee

Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

The third seal, opened in heaven during the tribulation by the prevailing Lamb, shows a black horse whose rider holds a pair of balances in his hand. Alas, the world economy has crumbled. There will no longer be a stock market, it will have totally collapsed. People will forage for food. If a loaf of bread could be had, it would cost a day's wages.

And we think things are hard now! Unemployment is high, inflation threatens our earning power, the prices at the pump cause much grief and consternation, folks are struggling, but all that is nothing compared to the resulting economy under the king of the world, the man of sin.

A while back, I noticed in our local grocery store, a loaf of Sara Lee bread was almost $5 a loaf! I had recently visited a Central American country where the daily wage for a man is about $5. Yet, prices for things there weren't too different than our prices. It got me thinking how close we really are to the end, a loaf of bread for a day’s wages.

I am thankful that believers will be evacuated before the real tribulation begins. Are you ready?

An Angel Strong and Loud

Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

Jesus is the central figure of heaven, of this, there is no doubt. But I find it interesting that others will have a role in His glorification.

Here is an angel, maybe Archangel Michael, asking the rhetorical question, "Who is worthy?" He is described as strong. Would Michael be considered strong because of his appearance? Does he have rippling muscles? Or is it because of his reputation? Michael made quite a name for himself in the book of Daniel because of the spiritual battles he wages. Or is it the deference given him by the other angels? "Archangel" indicates that he is a prince among angels. Or maybe all of these cause this angel to appear as a strong angel.

He then proclaims with a loud voice. There are millions upon millions of redeemed souls present along with heavenly beasts and creatures and an innumerable company of angels. The voice of the strong angel had to carry over the entire audience. I get chills realizing that I am going to see this first hand. Won't that be a grand occasion?

It strikes me to think that such creatures, designed by God, are watching over us at this moment, keeping us from hurt, harm or danger. (Psalm 91:10-13)

Thank you Lord, for your mighty angels and for your watch care over us.

Bowing Before the King

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are going to love this! Remember when old king Nebby built the grand statue 90' tall and 9' wide? He had it gold plated and got a worship band together. The decree was that whenever they struck up the band, everyone within earshot was to bow down and worship the image. Well, these 3 Jewish boys refused to bow to the great idol. Nebby, in his rage, gave them one more chance. The music played and the Hebrews stood firm. So into the fire they went, where they were met by the Son of God. "Way to go boys!" He could have encouraged them, "One day you will get to bow and it will be a lot more appropriate."

Heaven is the location. On the throne sits the King of Kings in all of His regal splendor. Eyes of fire, feet of brass, robed in white, ensconced in His royal throne. An emerald rainbow encompasses His shoulders, the same shoulders that carry His helpless lambs. Lightning and thunder proceed from the throne. Flashes of blinding light dazzle the millions of saints, rumbles of seismic thunder shake the heavens. A glassy sea reflects these unearthly images. The apostles and patriarchs sit on surrounding thrones.

Heavenly beasts full of eyes, front and back, rise to make the eternal proclamation, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come!"

At that saying, the elders and all of heaven in attendance fall before the emerald throne, before its immutable Occupant, He Who sat in regal majesty for eternity past, Who spoke the worlds into existence, Who humbled Himself to inhabit human flesh, Who redeemed us with His own blood shed on the cross, Who rose victorious over sin, death and the grave, Who called all His followers to this heavenly scene.

And when “Holy, holy, holy” is proclaimed, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will fall in obeisance to their true king, the One Who kept them safe in the fire.