Strange Incense

This message is related to my message last week – The Last Move of God.

There were three feast periods mentioned in Leviticus 23. These Feasts were Feast of the Passover, Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of the Tabernacles. These feast periods are still being observed by many Orthodox Jews today. Within these feast periods of one week each there were seven observations. There were three observations in the first feast period – feast of the Passover, the Unleavened Bread and the Firstfruits. There was only one observation in the Feast of Pentecost – new grain offering. The three observations in Feast of the Tabernacles were the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of booths.

Our discussion this week concerns the Feast of the Tabernacles. Since the Church is a type of Israel there are parallel truths concerning the Church and Israel. In other words, the Jewish Feasts give us a picture of the Church in different periods of time. We are looking at the move of God concerning His Church in seasonal aspect. Each feast has its fulfillment in the life of each individual believer and the Church. The First Feast Period speaks of the Martin Luther’s ministry and John Wesley’s ministry of “Justification by faith”. Unleavened bread speaks of holiness – walking in the newness of life. The Second Feast Period speaks of the Pentecostal renewal. The Third Feast Period is the Church today – the “end-time” Church, the Church that will usher in the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are now moving into the time of trumpets, atonement and the Altar of Incense.

The Altar of Incense

This Golden Altar was for the burning of Incense unto the Lord (Exodus 30:1 – 10). As mentioned last week incense always speaks to us of the prayers and intercession of the saints which ascend unto God (Psalms 141:1, 2; Rev. 8:2 – 6). Incense begins on the altar with man, and as it burns, it ascends upward to God. Likewise, our prayers begin in the heart of man and ascend heavenward unto God.

The Altar of Incense was at the very heart of the Tabernacle. It speaks to us that the ministry of intercession, prayer and praise are at the very heart of God. These are the nearest things to the Glory of God. It was positioned at the end of the Holy Place and just next to the Holy of Holies. This is symbolic of the fact that the Church at the end of this age is experiencing the Altar of Incense. The spirit of prayer, supplications, intercession and praise will and must deepen in all believers (Rev. 8:2 – 4).

Strange Fire or Strange Incense

There was to be no strange fire or strange incense on the Altar Incense. The first fire was divinely lit. On the day of the dedication of the Tabernacle divine fire was brought from the Brazen Altar to light the Candlestick and the Altar of Incense. Hence, the fire was a divine fire. Any other fire was “strange fire”. Any incense other than the prescribed incense (Exodus 30:34 – 38) was “strange incense”. Anyone who attempted to offer such an offering on the Altar would be punished by being cut off from the Presence of God.

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, offered fire and incense and were smitten by the Lord (Lev. 10:1 – 3). Korah and his company offered strange incense and were plagued (Num. 16).

The strange fire and incense is typical of all false worship. God is not interested in worship that is excited by mere religious ritual. God only accepts that Fire which originates with Himself on the basis of Blood Atonement (Lev. 16:12). God lit the fire in the Church on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). It is the fire of the Holy Spirit which causes the fragrance to arise and ascend within the veil (Hebrews 12:29).

The Strange Incense of Uzziah

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king of Judah (2 Chronicles 26:3).

“He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper” (2 Chron. 26:5, NKJV).

But later on, because of His pride, he acted corruptly, and became unfaithful to the Lord:

“But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense” (Verse 16, emphasis added).

I believe strange incense speaks to us of ministries in the Church and in the life of individual believers not appointed by God.

The job to burn incense on the altar was the priests (Verses 17, 18) and not the job of the king.

Because of envy or jealousy many men or women in the Church covet ministry gifts which have not been raised up by God.

Azariah and other priests withstood Uzziah and said,

“It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priest, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God” (Verse 18, emphasis added).

Pastors of the Local Church should speak out against any Church member who trespasses another person’s ministry!

“Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priest, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar” (Verse 19, emphasis added).

Leprosy was a judgment of God. Leprosy broke out on Uzziah’s forehead because in those days the priest wore a gold plate engraved with the words “Holiness to the Lord” on his turban (Exodus 28:36, 37). Uzziah was coveting another’s ministry and had no respect to the ministry of the priests. He moved into false incense.

Similarly, when a Church member moves into “false incense” and the Pastor speaks to him, “No, this is not your ministry and I have appointed someone else”. This person is likely to react by saying, “If you don’t want me I’ll go somewhere else!”

Rebellion and all Church politics arise because of “false incense”. Many full-time workers left the ministry because of Church politics – Criticism, backbiting and not being able to cope with the rejection they get.

Church politics will bring judgment not only to the person who moves into false incense but to the Local Church as well.

I believe the move of holiness is coming back into the Church. It points us to the Feast of Atonement, few days before the Feast of the Tabernacles. The Feast of Atonement speaks of repentance and holiness of the Church. The Church is going into a time of tremendous cleansing and tremendous holiness. God would not allow “leprosy” in the Church. He is going to put His fingers to the Church to take out all Church politics and “false incense”!

What happened when king Uzziah died?

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:1 – 3, NKJV, emphasis added).

Isaiah, the prophet ministered in the days of Uzziah. The Lord spoke to him and he heard the voice of the Lord. But, he saw the Lord only after king Uzziah died! Strange or false incense and leprosy died with Uzziah.

The Church will not see the Lord unless the sin of false incense is exposed and taken out of the way. God will visit the Church and there will be angelic visitations when the Church is healed of leprosy. Then we will see the Lord, lifted up high – Holy, holy; the whole earth is full of His Glory!