In his Presence-Spiritual Perception

Carried Like Hot Coals of Fire

Leviticus 16:12 tells us that after the sacrifice had been presented on the Brazen Altar, the priests took a censor (a fancy, silver shovel) full of burning hot coals from that altar, and carried them into the Holy Place where they laid them on the Incense Altar.

The ritual of carrying the hot coals from the Brazen Altar to the Incense Altar connected the two altars. The hot coals of fire that fed the Brazen Altar were the same coals of fire that burned the incense on the Golden Altar. As we mentioned previously, the wholly burnt offering on the Brazen Altar testified of the acceptance of the offerer, just like the live coal on the Incense Altar demonstrated that all sin (and self) had been purged. The resulting incense cloud and aroma that then arose was pleasing to God.

The service of sanctification for the priests began by presenting a sacrifice on the Brazen Altar in the Inner Court and ended by the cloud of perfume rising towards God from the Incense Altar.

And the same analogy can be applied to us. Our sanctification begins with the offering of ourselves as a wholly burnt sacrifice on the Brazen Altar and ends with the cloud of incense and fragrance rising up before God’s presence at the Incense Altar.

God wants us to know Him, not just in our souls (where we experience His abundant Life through us), but also in our spirits (where we experience His presence and His fulness).

He wants us to be like those priests who didn’t stop at the Brazen Altar, but carried those hot embers of a wholly burnt sacrifice right into the Holy Place and presented them there before God’s presence as a sweet smelling aroma. He wants us to willingly allow God to burn up all that He that He knows is necessary in our souls, so that we can boldly make our approach to Him in the Holy Place of our hearts.

The writer of Hebrews tells us: "Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus… Let us draw near [to God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19, 22)

Because of Jesus and what He has done for us, the way to the Holy Place has already been permanently opened and we are already clothed in His righteousness. But, in order for us to enter the Holy Place, we must be just like that sacrifice, wholly and completely burnt. 

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity…” (Psalm 24:3-4)

The Journey Inward

If you have ever done a study of the Tabernacle, you will remember the floor plan of Solomon’s Temple and how God dwelt in the Holy of Holies, behind the veil.

Now, however, Scripture tells us God, the Holy Spirit, dwells in the Holy Place of our hearts. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection on our behalf, the veil has been rent and the way to God opened. This means that believers now have free access to God at any time and may commune with Him as long as they like. This is not only our desire, but God’s desire also. The Old Testament tells us that He came precisely to dwell with us, to fellowship with us and to commune with us. This intimacy with God is said to take place at the deepest level of our being where God now dwells.
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Some would call this inward journey towards experiential oneness with God in our spirit “Christian mysticism.” Mysticism simply means a soul in contact with or in union with God. Mysticism has had a very controversial history, although it did play a vital role in the early church. Listen to how theEncyclopedia Britannica expresses it, “The mystical aspect of early Christianity finds its fullest expression in the letters of Paul and the Apostle John. For Paul and John, the mystical experience always meant union with Christ. It was Paul’s supreme desire to know Christ and to be united with Him. Thus, the recurring phrase, ‘in Christ,’ [throughout Scripture] implies personal union, and a participation in Christ’s death and resurrection.”[1]

True Biblical mysticism is simply contacting God in the deepest part of our being where He now dwells. Christian mysticism, however, does not mean experientialism. It does not mean visions or voices or dreams, but simply an all-pervasive awareness of God’s presence. It means experiencing His nearness, His guidance, His revelations, His anointing, His Love, His Power, His peace and His joy. The only way to experience these things is not though techniques, introspection or experience, but humility, endurance and love for God.

The question that needs to be addressed then is: “Why are so many Christians running to and fro across the land trying to experience the presence of God if, all the time, He dwells within? Why don’t we simply turn our attention inward, not self-ward, but inward to where God permanently resides?”

As Fenelon said (400 years ago):

“All of us were made for God. But when people are told to seek God within, it’s like telling them to go to another planet! What is farther away and more unknown than the bottom of our own heart!”[2]I know how difficult it is in our busy, bustling and hustling lives, to abandon ourselves to God and seek to experience His presence. All the noise and clamor of our everyday lives try to constantly turn our attention elsewhere, and it becomes almost impossible to squeeze out time to spend with Him.

Jesus told us that we are “not of this world” and that our kingdom is still coming. Now this does notmean that we are to turn our back on life and take flight from the world by secluding and sequestering ourselves and seeking only Him. There are times that we must do so but, in general, He wants us to “occupy” by living the reality of this life. To occupy means “to dwell in or to reside in.” Jesus wants us to dwell in and reside in this world, but at the same time, always have an inner attitude of abandonment to His will. This is the “inward” love-relationship that God desires and the only thing that will bring us the “fulness of Christ” that we are searching for.

William Law expresses it so beautifully in his book The Spirit of Love: “The one true way of dying to self wants no monasteries or pilgrimages. It is the way of patience, humility and (total) resignation to God.” God’s primary purpose for each of us is to experience intimacy with Him, and then to share that Love with all those we come in contact with.

Is it possible in our modern times and our busy lives to live in constant communion and fellowship with God? Will He really teach, guide and commune with each of us personally? Can we actually meet with Him and dwell in His presence?

The Bible says we can, and we must. “Surely… the upright [the just, the righteous and the straight] shall dwell in Thy presence” (Psalm 140:13).

How Do We Get There?

The Psalms tell us that the only ones who are able to abide in His temple are those who have “clean hands, and a pure heart” and “that walketh uprightly, and… speaketh the truth” (Psalm 24:3-4; 15:1-2). In other words, the only ones who will abide in God’s presence are the ones who are faithful, upright, just, holy and straight.

Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, That he may dwell in the courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple. (Psalm 65:4)Once we accept Christ’s death on the cross on our behalf, Scripture says we are made “positionally” righteous, holy, just and upright. “Experientially,” however, it’s another story! (Naturally, we are far from being any of these things.) Therefore, since God is holy and cannot fellowship or commune with anything that is not holy, He must first make us holy through the sanctification process. “Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Something important to keep in mind is that the faithfulness, the uprightness and the holiness that are spoken of in these Scriptures are Christ’s, not our own. If our outer man (our soul) has been broken and our spirit purified and strengthened, then these attributes of God can also become ours. However, if the soulish things in our lives have not been cut away, separated and dis-united from the spiritual, then we won’t experience these things either.

Our journey inward towards “experiential” union with God is what the dark night is all about. This is the time that God burns up and melts away all our egotism and self-orientation and prepares us totally for Himself. All our own self-made strengths, self-oriented energies and self-centered activities must be consumed by His Love.

Again, the first thing we must remember is that only God can bring this union about. We are holy and pure only to the degree of “self” that we have allowed God to cut away. After “self” (for the most part) has been severed, no separation will remain between God and ourselves, and for the moment, we can experience “oneness” with Him.

Remember, our greatest failure is not recognizing who God is. He is Holy! Therefore, the only way we can approach Him is to become sanctified and holy. Anything short of His holiness will not be able to stand in His presence.

Notes

1. ↑ Encyclopaedia Britannica, Christianity: History of Christian Mysticism, Vol. 16, page 372.
2. ↑ Francois Fenelon, The Seeking Heart, p. 180

There is no other access or pathway to God. His death is the only thing that opens the door for us; however, in order to enter the inner sanctuary where God is and experience His presence, we must personally pass the place of sacrifice. Only the fire and hot coals were carried to the Incense Altar.

No self-interests or self-centeredness are allowed within the veil. Only as we surrender our own goals, our own careers, our own future successes and our own desires, does the crucifixion of self become complete. Only as we bring the coals of our wholly burnt lives into the Holy Place and place them upon the Incense Altar, can a sweet fragrance arise towards God. Our soul has finally been melted by the fire of God’s Love and we’re able to experience His presence and His fullness.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)Our intercourse or experiential union with God can only come through the two altars! The holy fire on the Incense Altar, which causes the perfume to ascend, is the same fire which consumed the sacrifice at the Brazen Altar. There is no other pathway to intimacy with God. God makes us one with Himself only through the fire.

“Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for His work.…” (Isaiah 54:16)

Entering God’s Presence at the Incense Altar

The Golden Altar of Incense was at the heart of the temple and was considered to be the most holy piece of furniture (next to the Ark of the Covenant with its Mercy Seat covering in the Holy of Holies). The inscription on the Incense Altar said, “He ever liveth to make intercession for us.” The Golden Altar sat in the Holy Place just before the veil and, as we said, was called “the Altar before the Lord.” Thus, it was considered to be a part of, or belonging to, the Holy of Holies.

Listen: “And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony….” (Leviticus 16:12-13)

This Golden Altar was a place of worship, communion and fellowship and opened the way to the Holy of Holies where God’s glory dwelt. There were no sacrifices on this altar, only the offering of incense.Incense was the result of a sacrifice already given. “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, My Name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto My Name, and a pure offering; for My Name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 1:11)

It was necessary to keep the fire on this altar continually burning to symbolize uninterrupted communion and worship of God. Thus, because they needed ready and easy access to this altar, they placed it in the Holy Place, as close as they could to the Holy of Holies. The priests had to offer incense three times a day as a fragrant memorial of the presence of God (in the morning, when they trimmed the lamps and at evening). Another reason this altar sat in the Holy Place and not in the Holy of Holies is because the High Priest was only allowed to go into the Holy of Holies once a year, on Yom Kippur [the Day of Atonement].

Incense is an aromatic compound that gives forth perfume or a sweet aroma by burning. The essence of the offering was dissolved into vapor and, thus, ascended as a cloud unto God. The perfume cloud symbolized the acceptance of the saint, his high standing and his potential communion with God.

Entering God’s presence at the Incense Altar of our hearts is contingent upon the sanctification of our outward man and the purification of our spirit. Jesus’ blood is what gives us the boldness to enter, butour sanctification is what allows us to experience His presence. The veil has already been rent, and so there is no more barrier hindering our approach to Him. However, again the basis of our fellowship is dependent upon the cutting away of the soulish things in our lives. As Hebrews 10:19 and 22 says, "Let us draw near with a true heart [a cleansed and purified heart] in full assurance of faith… [with] boldness to enter into the holiest…."

“And He shall sit like a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them like gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:3 emphasis added)Jesus has always been before the Lord on our behalf. Romans 8:34 validates this. But now that we have been allowed into the Holy Place, we will be able to experience His presence going before us and giving us peace and rest.

The Place God Meets with Us

The Old Testament precept "Thou shall put it [the incense] before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony… where I will meet with You,” was fulfilled by putting the incense on the Golden Altar. (Exodus 30:6, 36) And, we are enabled to “meet with God” when we bring the hot coals of our wholly burnt lives to the incense altar of our hearts.

One of the reasons why God has us in the sanctification process in the first place is so that He might bring us near to Him. Numbers 16:9 validates this: “Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you [consecrated you] from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself…”

Scripture tells us that “God will bring us near to Him” and “meet with us” at three different places: at the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:22); at the Incense Altar (Exodus 30:6, 36); and at the Brazen Altar (Exodus 29:42).

Therefore, even though we might “feel” abandoned and alone when we are going through our own night seasons, we must remember that God is always in the midst of the fire with us, just like He was with Moses, Jonah, Joseph, and Elijah. And just as He promised never to leave them, so He promises never to forsake us.