Gold bowls of incense
Posted on July 18th, 2026 by RedeemedAnd when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
- Revelation 5:8
In my discussion with people, I have been very disturbed when people say if God is so powerful, how come He allows so much suffering, and seems as if their prayers are not answered.
This has made me go on to research the prayers of God’s people and after praying over this I realised that every prayer of God's people are heard.
They are precious to God and are specially treated so.
Mind you I said they are heard, and how God choose to answer is entirely His.
As God's people, we bring our request to Him trusting in His Word, that He will do what we ask according to His will and purpose, not according to what we want but according to His purpose.
Remember that the life we live is no longer ours but His, for we are dead but now alive in Him.
He became who we were when he took our sins on, died a shameful death on the cross, and resurrected the third day. We died with Him and rose with Him and so now live for Him.
We have assurance through His word that He hears when we pray to Him for no father deny their child any good thing.
Many a times we pray with the wrong motives.
James puts it this way as he wrote to the Church;
And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure.
James 4:3 NLT
Our prayers are collected in bowls made of gold, signifying the importance God place on them.
Precious materials are kept in Precious vessels. The fact that God ensures our prayers are offered to Him in vessels of gold speaks volume to the importance He placed on them, and this should encourage us to keep praying.
We recollect that vessels of worship in God's house are made of precious metals such as silver and gold.
Gold being one of the most expensive metal, it's therefore encouraging to us that God appropriate such importance to our prayers that they are kept in bowls of gold and brought to His Presence mixed with incense offered in worship to Him as pleasing odours. Our prayers therefore are part of the ecosystem of worship in heaven.
When they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; from it were made utensils for the Lord's house, vessels for ministering and for offerings, and cups and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.
- 2 Chronicles 24:14 AMPC
When we pray, heaven listen in ways we can never imagine.
The Church of Christ on earth, united as one body is the most powerful force on earth.
Jesus came, paid the debt that man owe and purchase through His blood a holy people, His Church, His bride, washed and made white with His own blood.
In the opening verse, we are told that our prayers are offered as incense before God. He smells them and they are pleasing to Him as holy and pleasing odour. And if God is pleased with them how then do we think our prayers are not heard and answered?
Lets not imagine the answer will come in a certain way but lets believe we have what we asked for as we pray.
Once I had a great need. I was in great destress and need, and as I called on God and asked Him to send me the help I needed then, the answer was instant but yet I couldn't recognise it for I feared if the man standing before us then was a human or not.
I was afraid even of the answer to my prayers!
Our prayers works in ways we never imagine. Those who say God allows suffering and does nothing, hear what Scriptures says concerning how evil is judged.
An eighth messenger came and stood before the altar carrying a golden censer. He received a large portion of incense to complement the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that sits in front of the throne. [4] From the hand of the eighth messenger, the smoke of the incense mixed with the prayers of God's people and billowed up before God. [5] The messenger filled the censer with fiery coals from the altar and cast it upon the earth, causing a great commotion of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
- Revelation 8:3-5 VOICE
Every soul is precious to God, and He wish that men will rethink their ways of life and have a change of heart.
He is not interested in the death of any but rather that they change and live. This is why He suffers long before judgement falls, for when mercy runs out then its the end for such a one.
No amount of resources then would save the one whom God’s judgement falls on.
Its not too late to rethink and have a change of heart and live for God.
Many that were gone pleaded for just a minute to come back and make things right. They were willing to give everything for a second chance to comeback to earth and change their ways, but that opportunity was gone forever.
Their fate was sealed. All their labour couldn't meet the standard, for if the standard could be met, the Son of God wouldn't have come.
Jesus paid the price man could not pay, and gave the gift of righteousness to man so that man can stand right before God.
No one is able to meet the standard, and no one will ever meet it except for the grace of God.
I gladly accepted that I am not able to meet it and have also accepted the grace offered me and everyone who is willing the opportunity to be made righteous only in Him.
Now, these things are plainly written for everyone to see. Search them out and see if this is so or not.
Don't leave your eternity to hearsay, chance, and carelessness, so you won't have to say, if only I had known.
Search and find out the truth and make that decision now.
God bless.
Peace!
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Eternity in mind - Part 2