In order to have a well-rounded, symmetrical experience of holiness, it is well that we consider it in its three-fold aspect; doctrinal, experimental, and practical.
I. There must be a clear, definite doctrine of holiness. We mean by doctrine, the supreme Deity of Jesus Christ, the divine personality of the Holy Ghost, the fallen nature of man, etc.
II. There is a clear experience of holiness taught in the word of God, such as a sense of purity, rest, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
III. There is the practical form of holiness, the outward manifestation of the inward work of the Holy Ghost. But there is a great danger of stressing the doctrine and practical part, after the melting spirit of love has leaked out of the experience.
Our purpose in sending forth this little volume is to help to deepen the devotional life of God's people. May this little book prove food to the hungry soul.
J. M. Hames
Greer, South Carolina
SWEET INCENSE OF PRAYER
The eighth chapter of the book of Revelation opens with silence in heaven. Think of it; every harp and sweet note of praise have been stilled. The thunder of the heavenly choir has been hushed! As to when this took place or will take place it seems the Bible scholars do not agree. Some place the "silence" in connection with the "crucifixion" when the mighty God bowed His head on a pulseless breast and gave up the Ghost. The very heavens were in mourning. Angels must have veiled their faces while the sun refused to shine.
Still another great scholar seems to Chink the "silence" is in connection with the final Judgment, where eternal destinies are fixed; but there is not the least hint in the opening of these seals to justify these claims.
I believe that the godly sainted Dr. A. B. Simpson has the key to this chapter when this Scripture has its fulfillment. "This half hour of silence marks the closing of one prophetic fulfillment and the beginning of another." The Christian Dispensation is closing. The eventful hour has come, but there is a deeper, sweeter meaning of the silence in heaven. It seems connected with the picture that immediately follows, the picture of the prayers of all saints.
Prayer has precedence over everything in heaven or earth. The first picture is silence. The second is prayer. What a striking and suggestive figure is prayer. It is under the symbol of incense. Incense was composed of different costly spices, ground or beaten very small, then burned in a glowing censer. The sweet perfume ascended upward from early morn 'till the twilight of the evening hour. All day the priest breathed the fragrance of those sweet spices, as he ministered before the Lord. This is a true picture of prayer. The Psalmist cried out and said, "Let my prayers be set before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice." Psalm 141:2.
"The first thing we notice about the prescription for the holy incense is that some of the elements in them were familiar and well-known spices. This implies in the spirit of prayer that there are certain human elements known to us as Christians."
Perhaps the fundamental element of prayer is desire. "Whatsoever things ye desire when you pray." The secret of Daniel's life was that he was a man of "desire." Without a strong burning desire, no prayer can ascend to God. There must be a deep sense of need until it bursts forth in the form of fervor and earnestness, like Jacob of old, that laid hold of God's power and would not let go until the angel blessed him.
Love is another element of prayer. I am safe in saying that no prayer moves the arm that moves the world without the love element in it. There is so much praying that is purely selfish! The Apostle James rebukes certain persons who "ask amiss" that they may "consume it upon their own desire." Jesus said, "When ye pray, forgive." Praying with an unkind feeling toward a brother is almost the unpardonable sin.
The spirit of love is one of the highest forms of holy desires. This kind of spirit will open the gates of heaven and touch the very heart of God. The very nature and character of God is love; and when we humbly pray in the spirit of love it is like the sweet incense ascending upward to heaven. God cannot deny himself, so when God inspires our heart's desires the prayer cannot be denied.
Another element which is essential to prayer is faith. Faith connects the praying soul with omnipotent forces. Real, vital, inspired faith brings the believer into the supernatural realm. I know we are touching upon a subject upon which very few saints have dared to tread. This is holy ground. The very act of believing God for things, which He has promised in His revealed word, is an actual force and starts heavenly forces to working which affect two worlds. "Have the faith of God," says Jesus. This is not your little human faith straining and struggling to believe, but an omnipotent God believing His own word through us.
Another essential element in prayer is thanksgiving. Prayer is more than mere words. It is more than calling upon God. Much of our so-called praying is nothing more than the cry of the animal. Some people pray because they are in pain. An animal will cry out when it is hurt. Real praying is offering to God our incense mingled with thanksgiving and praise.
We read that some of this incense was "beaten very small." This means that there is nothing too small or trifling in our lives to bring to Him in intercessory prayer. There is not a care, heartache, or burden of any kind, but what He sees and knows and cares.
Another element in the incense was fragrance. It was "a sweet smelling savor." It filled the whole sanctuary with a heavenly breath. "Fragrance is the most refined and subtle of all material things. The soul of the blossom of the vegetable world, it has been called. It finally represents the out-breathing of a fervent and loving heart; reaching up to God deserving His blessings and His glory."
Again the incense was set on fire. Our prayers must have the fire element in them in order to ascend to God. Cold, formal praying is the "letter that killeth." It was the burning of these spices that brought out the fragrance and sweetness. It is when the Holy Ghost melts our whole being that our love goes up to God as a sweet heavenly incense.
Finally, true prayer, that is breathed into the heart by the Holy Ghost, is immortal. It does not pass away with Che things of time. It does not originate in this world; it belongs to the heavenly world. Prayer inspired by the Holy Ghost never dies, but lives on long after the heart and lips that offered it have been stilled in death.
This truth is brought in a forceful manner in Che following words. "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given him much incense; that he should offer it with the prayer of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne."
I want you to notice that this golden censer contained the prayer of All Saints. Yes, of all ages. Just think what this means. This includes the prophets, the apostles, the saintly Wesleys, the lonely missionaries, and the saints of all ages, whose cries and tears have ascended to God.
Snow continues to fall in the high Alps, year after year, until finally it becomes so heavy that when the warm spring comes and the ground begins to thaw, the earth becomes loose and begins to slide until it reaches great momentum, sweeping everything before it; just so, prayer that has gone up to heaven for years finally produces a spiritual landslide. These prayers have been rising to heaven until the heavens could contain no more and the volume of prayer must be emptied back unto the earth from whence they came.
All the forces of nature are affected: Prayer not only affects heaven, but starts forces to working on earth that change the history of nations. Prayer is not just a mere subjective state of mind. It is a power. It is a real force. It does things, it brings about results. It writes its record in the events of providence, in the commonplace things of life, in the whole history of human existence. And doubtless, it will some day be found that nothing happens which is not in some way brought about by the direct intercession either of the Lord's people or the Lord Himself. Then, tempted, tried, child of God, hold on, believe on, trust on, wait; don't give up; the answer to your prayers may be on the way right now.
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