Daddy's Singing Again

 

At the end of the day I made my daily walk to the post office, just two doors down from my office. As I walked, I heard a song. An old song, by Keith Green, a Christian recording artist from the 70’s who was killed in a plane crash. “When I hear the praises start…” And I knew Daddy was singing over me again.

This is what I feel like when you look to me and praise me in the middle of everything, he said. I just want to rain blessings upon you, not condemnation, blessings that will fill you up. I do care about you. Stop believing that lie. When I look at you I see my daughter – I don’t see any stains, just my sanctified child, my chosen Bride. To me you’re only holy – nothing that you’ve done remains, only what you do for me.

“When I Hear the Praises Start”, by Keith and Melody Green

My son, My son, why are you striving
You can't add one thing to what's been done for you
I did it all while I was dying
Rest in your faith, my peace will come to you

For when I hear the praises start
I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are my child and you know me
To Me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do for Me

My child, My child, why are you weeping
You will not have to wait forever
That day and that hour is in My keeping
The day I'll bring you into Heaven

For when I hear the praises start
My child, I want to rain upon you
Blessing that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child and you know me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do in Me

My precious bride, the day is nearing
When I'll take you in My arms and hold you
I know there are so many things that you've been hearing
But you just hold on to what I have told you

For when I hear the praises start
My bride, I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child, and you know Me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done will remain
Only what you do for me.

So I sang along with Daddy as I walked. 

Inside the post office, the young lady ahead of me was interacting with the clerk and then spoke to him as she walked away, “have a blessed weekend”.

Ooh, a sister! I thought, and I hurried after her. She held the door for me and I told her, now you have a blessed weekend! You are loved by the Father. She smiled and said yes, I know. You are highly favored, I added. You are, too, she said. Then we walked side by side out of the post office. Outside I touched her shoulder gently and said, how wonderful to meet a sister. Then I told her about the Keith Green song God was singing over me earlier, and I sang a few lines over her. She was too young to have heard of Keith Green, but she loved the words of the song. Then this young lady I'd never met before turned to me, hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek before she headed to her car, and I headed back to the office to wrap up my day.

Such a lovely way to end the work day, my work week. Thank you, Daddy for family that I haven’t even met, all around me. Bless her extra special this weekend.

And please let Keith Green know that you’re still singing his song over your kids. That will bless his heart for sure.

Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIgVU_5FsqA

Between the Living and the Dead

 

“He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.” Numbers 16:48

Numbers can be a difficult book of the Bible to read through. It's filled with lists of, what else, numbers. Counting the members of the 12 tribes of Israel, and their children, the numbers of the fighting men of each tribe, and so on. Numbers and more numbers.

But Numbers 16 pauses from the counting to describe some devastating events that Israel experienced on their journey to the promised land. In that chapter, a group of people following a man named Korah challenge Moses and Aaron’s leadership. God defends the calling on Moses and Aaron by causing the earth to open up and swallow the Korah rebels and then close back up over them. Right after that, Korah’s group of 250 Levite priests were offering incense at the Lord’s altar, something that they were not authorized to do according to God’s laws. Suddenly, “fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.” (Numbers 16:35)

The Israelites were devastated and terrified, wondering who would be next on the chopping block. And rightfully so, since the next day God sent a plague that began on the outskirts of the community and people began to drop dead.

That’s when Moses called out God’s instructions to his brother, the high priest, Aaron. “Quickly!”, he urged. “Run! Take your censor and fill it with incense and burning coals from the Lord’s altar and make atonement for the people before they are all destroyed.”

Aaron may have hesitated for a second. Run? He was not a young man, probably at least 100 years old. But he was asked to run to the aid of the very people who had challenged him and called for his removal as their priest. Was his life in danger to even approach them? But Moses said “Run!” and Aaron took off sprinting to the altar where he filled his censor with the incense and coals. Then, fully equipped with the incense from the altar, 100 year old Aaron ran with all his might into the assembly where people were dropping to the sand, one by one, overtaken by the plague God had sent. Immediately the sweet smell of the warm incense permeated the camp, and the plague stopped in its tracks. But not before nearly 15,000 people had died.

Aaron fulfilled his role as priest that day. But what is the role of a priest? Doesn’t God now call his children a kingdom of kings and priests?

Revelation 5:9-10: “...with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God…”

So on this week where I learned of the deaths of two saints of God, one a dear friend and believer for over 50 years, and the other newly washed in the blood of the Lamb, only hours before his death, I listened to the Daily Audio Bible reading of Numbers 16.

Verse 48 caused my heart to quicken as I knew Holy Spirit had more to teach me on my role as a priest. The role of a priest is to stand between the living and the dead. To run to the people who may disagree with me, to the ones standing in protest of the truth of God’s word.

And my weapon to halt death in its tracks? 

Incense.

You see, also in Revelation, God describes the incense that burns constantly in the Throne Room of heaven: “Then the eighth angel with a golden incense burner came and took his place at the incense altar. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer up, consisting of the prayers of God’s holy people, upon the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the holy ones billowed up before God from the hand of the angel.” Revelation 8:3-4

Incense as my weapon... The time that I spend in intimacy before the Lord, praying the prayers on my heart, and praying the prayers on the Father’s heart, those prayers ascend to the very Throne Room of God. But not only are my intimate prayers a sweet smelling incense to Father God, but they are also a formidable weapon to be used to stand between the living and the dead, to stop the plague of hell that is capturing and swallowing up people all around me. Will I stand back afraid, or will I bare my heart and rescue the ones dying for lack of a Savior “and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death”. (Hebrews 2:15 )

Bill Johnson tells his church, “We owe people an encounter with Jesus”.

So what does it look like to stand between the living and the dead and let the incense of my intimate relationship with Father God rescue people around me?

Sharing the love of God with a stranger.

Teaching a “good news club” at a local school.

Praying for random people in need that I encounter at work and in the marketplace.

Hugging one of God’s kids or pre-kids as I whisper prayers on their behalf.

Telling the stories of my encounters with God, so other can smell his fragrance, like sweet incense, and taste and see that he is good.

2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.”

His presence changes everything.

So, fellow priest, come with me to the Throne Room and let’s worship the Lamb and store up the incense that will stop death in its tracks.