Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

The burning of incense is emblematic of prayer.

While Zechariah was ministering inside the temple, God’s people were praying outside – and something happened! I’m not saying it will always be an extraordinary or spectacular thing that will occur, but we Christians need to understand that our prayers can make a material difference to what happens in the services, and in the ministries of those who lead. When Charles Spurgeon, often dubbed ‘the prince of preachers’ was asked the secret of his great success, he replied, ‘My people pray for me.’

I understand that someone was asked about the most important lessons he had ever learned. He replied, ‘Number one, pray! Number two, pray! Number three, pray!’