God is re-establishing His priesthood.  He is awakening His church and preparing a purified and holy remnant who will live separated from the world and set apart to God for His special purpose of joining the Lord in His High Priestly role of intercession before the throne.  "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).

Joshua, who is "symbolic of things to come," was the representative of the church, in his high priest role.  He stood before the Lord in the place of service, but instead of his priestly garments being beautiful and glorifying the Lord, they were filthy rags.  Though the enemy flung his accusations, the Lord in His grace forgave Joshua and dressed Him in garments of righteousness and restored him to service.  "No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you" (Isaiah 54:17a).  His shame was removed, and his nakedness was covered.  "I will delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels" (Isaiah 61:10).  The crown of the priesthood was placed upon Joshua's head, and on the front was the inscription: "HOLY TO THE LORD."  "Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as a seal:  HOLY TO THE LORD.  Fasten a blue cord on it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban.  It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be.  It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD" (Exodus 28:36-38).

Zechariah interceded for Joshua and the turban was placed upon his head.  God's intercessors are His chosen instruments for getting His work done in the land.  When He is about to do His restoring work, God stirs up His people to pray, and responds in accordance to their prayers.  How necessary is the work of prayer to God's work being accomplished in the world.  Let us pray for an awakening of the hearts of God's people to the importance of intercessory prayer.  God sent His church out to conquer the world, but first they had to wait in united and unceasing prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit.  Their obedience to remain in one accord and prayer, bound together by the love and Spirit of Christ, is what gave them power in heaven with God and on earth with men.  God has given His royal priesthood the golden key to the door of heaven to receive and dispense His blessings on the earth.  We have been separated from the world, and it is vital that we do not fall under its influence or we will lose necessary power.  God has set us apart to Himself, and we are to dwell in His presence and be saturated with Holy influences, so we can be equipped to do His work and lay hold of the blessing of heaven that He desires to give to the earth.  "If you will walk in My ways and keep My requirements, then you will govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here" (Zechariah 3:7).  If we will humble ourselves and pray and turn away from wickedness, like the inscription says, we will fulfill the requirements of Second Chronicles chapter seven, verse fourteen, and God will heal our land.

The Lord showed Zechariah the stone with His inscription on it - Jesus, our chief cornerstone and the foundation of the church, Who knows who are His (2 Timothy 2:19);  and the seven eyes of His Spirit searching over the whole earth for hearts that are fully yielded to His so He can show Himself strong on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9).  May we remain faithful to this call from God to unite in prayer for these next ten days.  We have been given the extraordinary privilege of waiting on God - it is the highest form of worship we can give Him.  Let us pray that God would restore His people to His heart and revive the holy work of supplication and intercession in His church.  The power and blessing of the Holy Spirit is waiting for our united and unceasing prayer.  Our unity in prayer will restore lost power to the church - the power of heaven is at our disposal.  The door of heaven is open and the ears of Omnipotence are ready to receive and hear our prayers.  May God prepare our hearts, and bind us together in the love of Christ, and make us a channel through which His heavenly blessings can flow to the earth.  And may we see many perishing souls be won to Christ when Christ visits His church and breathes new life upon us and looses His wind into our sail! "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live" (Ezekiel 37:9b).