The second prerequisite for coming to the altar of incense is in Ex. 30:18-20, where God said,
Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass,
to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of
the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet
thereat: when they go into the tabernacle of the congregation,
they shall wash with water, that they die not.
The priests had to wash their hands and feet before entering the holy place to worship, to offer incense to the Lord. This was so essential that God said they had to do it. "lest they die." We saw that the laver is the place of confession of sin for the believer before he can come into God's presence to worship or serve Him. He must be cleansed from the daily defilement of sin" (Ps. 66:18). This is another reason why some believers never get their prayers answered.
We should be washed before we can pray to God, for He will not hear us with unconfessed sin in our lives, and our prayers will go unanswered.
Some today who have grudges, envy, jealousy and animosity in their hearts are cheating themselves from seeing victory in their lives and from seeing God answer their prayers. "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry.
The face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (Ps. 34:15-16). God says we should pray (Lk. 18:1) and that He is a God who hears prayer (Ps. 65:2), but the prayer must come from those who have been washed--who are saved and have confessed their sins--before they come into his presence. Not just the unregenerate have "the face of the Lord...against them," but so do His own children who are walking in disobedience with unconfessed sin. To have our prayers answered, we must go to the laver and confess and forsake every sin.
This is almost unbelievable, but so true today "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not ashamed at all, NEITHER COULD THEY BLUSH" Jer. 6:15. Here is the way to react to our sins. Read Ps 51 and see how David confessed his sin. Christians need this kind of confession to get prayers answered and to become "a man after God's own heart".
Could this be why you have not had your prayers answered? Is there some inward, secret sin, known to no one but you and God, that is hindering your prayers? Confess it to God and forsake it; then come boldly to the throne of grace and you will find "help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16). Some have prayed for divine healing of their bodies, others have asked for power to witness, while still others have asked for better jobs, better health and finances, but all has been in vain simply because there is still unconfessed sin in their lives.
"Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early (earnestly) but they shall not find me" Pro 1:27.
"You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how your going to live now"
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