What is a House of Prayer
Where is the concept of the house of prayer found in the Bible?
The phrase “house of prayer” is drawn from Isaiah 56:7, where it is used twice, “Even those (foreigners) I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
Jesus refers to this verse when casting the money changers from the temple, as recorded in Mark 11:17, “And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers.'” (Transcribed also in Matthew 21:13 and Luke 19:46)The heart of the house of prayer is perhaps best captured by David's heart cry in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I ask of the Lord this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in His temple.”King David actually established one example of a house of prayer, called the “Tabernacle of David”.
While referred to in many parts of the Bible, the best description of this biblical house of prayer is found in I Chronicles 16:
(1) And they brought in the ark of God and set inside the tent which David had pitched for it... (4) Moreover, David appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel... (37) So David left Asaph and his brethren there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister continually before the ark as each day required...
We believe God is restoring the spirit and type of this expression of worship and prayer in a physical location. The best picture of what the house of prayer strives for can be found in the book of Revelation, in the many descriptions of the redeemed gathered before the throne of God, such as:
...The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seal, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation...” (Revelation 5:8–9)Read more about the Tabernacle of David.
Wouldn't a house of prayer essentially be a local church?
No. We in no way want to take the place of the local church or try to be like one. We are seeking to be a service arm to the local churches of our city and to be a partnership of churches committed to prayer, worship and fasting.Local churches seek to meet the spiritual and community needs of those who attend, while the house of prayer is set up to primarily call to minister unto the LORD through worship and intercession.Is a certain prayer format important?It's important for the house of prayer to be organized, so there is no confusion for leaders and participants. We believe God works through anointed leadership and this allows "freedom in the Spirit". While He is the Head, He looks to partner with us while we are here on the Earth.Every house of prayer in every city functions somewhat differently from the others and usually takes on the “flavor” of the region for which they are contending. The format at IHOP–KC is 24/7 prayer and worship or what we call "The fire on the altar" has been session since September 19, 1999 and we look to continue in this until the return of Christ Jesus.
Why are the concepts of “Beauty” and “Enjoyable Prayer” important for the house of prayer?The highest expressions of beauty are the beauty of God (Psalm 27:4) and the beauty He imparts to the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:27; Psalm 149:4).
These two realms of beauty provide a solid foundation and fuel to practice night and day prayer.
Fascination: The heart of man was designed to be fascinated with who God is and what He looks like, never to be dull and lifeless. Part of our journey is rediscovering how amazingly beautiful and fascinating He is.
Confidence: As we begin to understand how amazingly beautiful He is, we also begin to understand that He has passed on to us His own beauty. We stand confident in His love and grace, sustained in affection, not shame or fleshly motivations.
Pleasure and joy are indispensable to the house of prayer. He assured us through the prophet Isaiah that He would give us joy in the place of prayer (Isaiah 56:7). The psalmist said, “At His right hand are pleasures forevermore”.In the house of prayer, we are operating under a paradigm of a God who is beautiful, fascinating and full of delightful pleasures. These qualities are inexhaustible on this side of eternity and are a worthy and wise pursuit for the human heart.
How does music and singing fit into a house of prayer?
We are in the midst of a global worship movement. This movement has everything to do with prayer and intimacy. It is vital that prayer become enjoyable for every believer. This releases a spirit of devotion filling the heart with worship. Many who have begun houses of prayer will attest to the “rock-pile” prayer meetings, where one feels as though he or she is simply chipping away little by little at the resistance around them with very little anointing and power.
Fortunately, through God's sovereign design, when worship is amalgamated with intercession, a spiritual stirring occurs through the corporate body of believers. It is music that awakens the heart to beauty, and since God is a musical Being and we have been created in His very image, we have been made with a musical spirit. Almost every person finds solace, comfort or expression in music. Again, this is God's design. In Heaven, music and verbal expression (prayer) are never separated from one another. We base most of our prayer meetings in the house of prayer upon this concept and value.King David upon instituting the Tabernacle knew that worship and devotion were major components of day and night intercession. Deep revelation must have come to him of how Heaven hosts a prayer meeting. We are seeking this heavenly model, found in Revelation 5:8. We call this particular model: Harp and Bowl.
Brief History of 24/7 Prayer
King David was a man of “one thing” (Psalm 27:4). Around 1000 BC, as an outflow of his heart, he commanded that the Ark of the Covenant be brought up on the shoulders of the Levites amidst the sound of songs and musical instruments to his new capital, Jerusalem. There he had it placed in a tent and appointed two-hundred and eighty-eight prophetic singers and four thousand musicians to minister before the Lord, “to make petition, to give thanks and to praise the Lord” day and night (1 Chronicles 15–17). This was unlike anything that had been done in Israel’s history, but it was God’s plan for Israel.
Key Facts and Scriptures Regarding the Tabernacle of David
Tent set up by David to house the Ark of God in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13, 15, 16:1)
Levites to minister day and night before the Ark (1 Chronicles 15:2)
Ministry of music before the Ark directed by David, Gad and Nathan (1 Chronicles 6:31–32; 2 Chronicles 29:25)
Head musicians set in place to minister before the Ark: Heman, Asaph and Ethan, also called Jeduthan (1 Chronicles 6:33–47; 15:17)
Head singer before the Ark was Kenaniah (1 Chronicles 15:22)
The Tabernacle of Moses at Gibeon was still in operation (with empty Holy of Holies) during this period, under Zadok. There was also music ministry at Gibeon under Heman and Jeduthun (1 Chronicles 6:49; 16:39–42)
Musicians were exempted from other Levitical functions (1 Chronicles 9:33)
Musical instruments mentioned in 1 Chronicles were cymbals (15:19), lyres (15:20), harps (15:21), singing (15:22), trumpets (15:22), rams horns (15:28)
Ministering Levites appointed to three primary functions: make petition give thanks and praise the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:4)
Military victory came as a result of the Tabernacle of David (1 Chronicles 18)
Out of 38,000 total Levites, 4000 were appointed by David to praise the Lord and were given provision specifically for that purpose (1 Chronicles 23:4–6)
David and the army commanders chose the 288 prophetic musicians, 12 per one hour watch; this provided the connection between ministry and military victory (1 Chronicles 25)
The period of the Tabernacle of David was a preparation time for the Temple (in resources and organization)
Worship Formats
Devotional - is a prayer format designed to provide an anointed atmosphere for meditation on Scripture and for lingering in the presence of God. Prophetic - is a prayer format designed to facilitate united group participation in worship, so that we might receive the ministry the ministry of the Holy Spirit in specific ways.
Worship with the Word - is a prayer format in which we agree with God's heart as we sing the biblical truths of who God is and what He promises to do.
Intercession
Intercession is intimate partnership and agreement with God—it is intimacy. Prayer is an exchange of romance. God speaks to us and it moves our hearts. When we speak back to God, His heart is moved. God desires to establish or deepen this romantic relationship with us. He desires intimacy with us. He wants us to know His heart and more so, to feel the very emotions of His heart, and then He wants to hear us cry out for the longings of His heart to come to pass. His longings become our longings. It’s partnership at the most intimate level possible.
The phrase “house of prayer” is drawn from Isaiah 56:7, where it is used twice, “Even those (foreigners) I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
Jesus refers to this verse when casting the money changers from the temple, as recorded in Mark 11:17, “And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers.'” (Transcribed also in Matthew 21:13 and Luke 19:46)The heart of the house of prayer is perhaps best captured by David's heart cry in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I ask of the Lord this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in His temple.”King David actually established one example of a house of prayer, called the “Tabernacle of David”.
While referred to in many parts of the Bible, the best description of this biblical house of prayer is found in I Chronicles 16:
(1) And they brought in the ark of God and set inside the tent which David had pitched for it... (4) Moreover, David appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel... (37) So David left Asaph and his brethren there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister continually before the ark as each day required...
We believe God is restoring the spirit and type of this expression of worship and prayer in a physical location. The best picture of what the house of prayer strives for can be found in the book of Revelation, in the many descriptions of the redeemed gathered before the throne of God, such as:
...The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seal, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation...” (Revelation 5:8–9)Read more about the Tabernacle of David.
Wouldn't a house of prayer essentially be a local church?
No. We in no way want to take the place of the local church or try to be like one. We are seeking to be a service arm to the local churches of our city and to be a partnership of churches committed to prayer, worship and fasting.Local churches seek to meet the spiritual and community needs of those who attend, while the house of prayer is set up to primarily call to minister unto the LORD through worship and intercession.Is a certain prayer format important?It's important for the house of prayer to be organized, so there is no confusion for leaders and participants. We believe God works through anointed leadership and this allows "freedom in the Spirit". While He is the Head, He looks to partner with us while we are here on the Earth.Every house of prayer in every city functions somewhat differently from the others and usually takes on the “flavor” of the region for which they are contending. The format at IHOP–KC is 24/7 prayer and worship or what we call "The fire on the altar" has been session since September 19, 1999 and we look to continue in this until the return of Christ Jesus.
Why are the concepts of “Beauty” and “Enjoyable Prayer” important for the house of prayer?The highest expressions of beauty are the beauty of God (Psalm 27:4) and the beauty He imparts to the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:27; Psalm 149:4).
These two realms of beauty provide a solid foundation and fuel to practice night and day prayer.
Fascination: The heart of man was designed to be fascinated with who God is and what He looks like, never to be dull and lifeless. Part of our journey is rediscovering how amazingly beautiful and fascinating He is.
Confidence: As we begin to understand how amazingly beautiful He is, we also begin to understand that He has passed on to us His own beauty. We stand confident in His love and grace, sustained in affection, not shame or fleshly motivations.
Pleasure and joy are indispensable to the house of prayer. He assured us through the prophet Isaiah that He would give us joy in the place of prayer (Isaiah 56:7). The psalmist said, “At His right hand are pleasures forevermore”.In the house of prayer, we are operating under a paradigm of a God who is beautiful, fascinating and full of delightful pleasures. These qualities are inexhaustible on this side of eternity and are a worthy and wise pursuit for the human heart.
How does music and singing fit into a house of prayer?
We are in the midst of a global worship movement. This movement has everything to do with prayer and intimacy. It is vital that prayer become enjoyable for every believer. This releases a spirit of devotion filling the heart with worship. Many who have begun houses of prayer will attest to the “rock-pile” prayer meetings, where one feels as though he or she is simply chipping away little by little at the resistance around them with very little anointing and power.
Fortunately, through God's sovereign design, when worship is amalgamated with intercession, a spiritual stirring occurs through the corporate body of believers. It is music that awakens the heart to beauty, and since God is a musical Being and we have been created in His very image, we have been made with a musical spirit. Almost every person finds solace, comfort or expression in music. Again, this is God's design. In Heaven, music and verbal expression (prayer) are never separated from one another. We base most of our prayer meetings in the house of prayer upon this concept and value.King David upon instituting the Tabernacle knew that worship and devotion were major components of day and night intercession. Deep revelation must have come to him of how Heaven hosts a prayer meeting. We are seeking this heavenly model, found in Revelation 5:8. We call this particular model: Harp and Bowl.
Brief History of 24/7 Prayer
King David was a man of “one thing” (Psalm 27:4). Around 1000 BC, as an outflow of his heart, he commanded that the Ark of the Covenant be brought up on the shoulders of the Levites amidst the sound of songs and musical instruments to his new capital, Jerusalem. There he had it placed in a tent and appointed two-hundred and eighty-eight prophetic singers and four thousand musicians to minister before the Lord, “to make petition, to give thanks and to praise the Lord” day and night (1 Chronicles 15–17). This was unlike anything that had been done in Israel’s history, but it was God’s plan for Israel.
Key Facts and Scriptures Regarding the Tabernacle of David
Tent set up by David to house the Ark of God in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13, 15, 16:1)
Levites to minister day and night before the Ark (1 Chronicles 15:2)
Ministry of music before the Ark directed by David, Gad and Nathan (1 Chronicles 6:31–32; 2 Chronicles 29:25)
Head musicians set in place to minister before the Ark: Heman, Asaph and Ethan, also called Jeduthan (1 Chronicles 6:33–47; 15:17)
Head singer before the Ark was Kenaniah (1 Chronicles 15:22)
The Tabernacle of Moses at Gibeon was still in operation (with empty Holy of Holies) during this period, under Zadok. There was also music ministry at Gibeon under Heman and Jeduthun (1 Chronicles 6:49; 16:39–42)
Musicians were exempted from other Levitical functions (1 Chronicles 9:33)
Musical instruments mentioned in 1 Chronicles were cymbals (15:19), lyres (15:20), harps (15:21), singing (15:22), trumpets (15:22), rams horns (15:28)
Ministering Levites appointed to three primary functions: make petition give thanks and praise the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:4)
Military victory came as a result of the Tabernacle of David (1 Chronicles 18)
Out of 38,000 total Levites, 4000 were appointed by David to praise the Lord and were given provision specifically for that purpose (1 Chronicles 23:4–6)
David and the army commanders chose the 288 prophetic musicians, 12 per one hour watch; this provided the connection between ministry and military victory (1 Chronicles 25)
The period of the Tabernacle of David was a preparation time for the Temple (in resources and organization)
Worship Formats
Devotional - is a prayer format designed to provide an anointed atmosphere for meditation on Scripture and for lingering in the presence of God. Prophetic - is a prayer format designed to facilitate united group participation in worship, so that we might receive the ministry the ministry of the Holy Spirit in specific ways.
Worship with the Word - is a prayer format in which we agree with God's heart as we sing the biblical truths of who God is and what He promises to do.
Intercession
Intercession is intimate partnership and agreement with God—it is intimacy. Prayer is an exchange of romance. God speaks to us and it moves our hearts. When we speak back to God, His heart is moved. God desires to establish or deepen this romantic relationship with us. He desires intimacy with us. He wants us to know His heart and more so, to feel the very emotions of His heart, and then He wants to hear us cry out for the longings of His heart to come to pass. His longings become our longings. It’s partnership at the most intimate level possible.
24/7 Prayer in the 20th Century
In 1973 David Yonggi Cho, Pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, established a Prayer Mountain in night and day prayer. The Prayer Mountain was soon attracting over a million visitors per year, as people would spend retreats in the prayer cells provided on the mountain. Cho had a commitment to continuous prayer, to faith and to establishing small discipleship cells in his church. Perhaps as a result, Cho’s church rapidly expanded to become the largest church congregation on the globe, with membership now over 780,000.
In 1973 David Yonggi Cho, Pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, established a Prayer Mountain in night and day prayer. The Prayer Mountain was soon attracting over a million visitors per year, as people would spend retreats in the prayer cells provided on the mountain. Cho had a commitment to continuous prayer, to faith and to establishing small discipleship cells in his church. Perhaps as a result, Cho’s church rapidly expanded to become the largest church congregation on the globe, with membership now over 780,000.
On September 19, 1999, the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri, started a prayer and worship meeting that has continued for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week ever since. With a similar vision to Zinzendorf, that the fire on the altar should never go out, there has never been a time when worship and prayer has not ascended to Heaven since that date.
No comments:
Post a Comment