Intercessory Worship ME216 Prayer & Missions

3,000-Year-Old Brand-new Cutting-edge Music Concept: Intercessory Worship  Worship integrated into prayer used in sustaining long periods of continuous ministry before the Lord.  Used for thousands of years in hundreds of different settings throughout Judaism and Christianity.

God’s “house” is the place where worship and prayer are offered.  “Even them I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer…for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isa. 56:7)  “Tephillah” [prayer] can translate “Prayers set to music and sung in formal worship.”  Intercessory worship then means to worship in the gap between God and a person or situation, in order to bring about God’s intervention in the circumstances.

David’s Tabernacle Model for “Intercessory Worship”  1 Chronicles Worshiper/warrior King David came up with radical notion to combine prayer and worship  Built special tabernacle to house Ark of the Covenant (Shiloh) with musicians and intercessors around it combining forces & ministering to the Lord

Foretaste of Worship and Prayer Shown in Heaven  Sometimes referred to as “harp and bowl”, a term coming from Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken it, 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.”

What is the biblical significance of “harp & bowl”?  1 Chron. 23:13; Ex. 30:1-10 Prayers of the saints are pictured as incense burning in the golden bowls before the Throne of God. Levitical priests under the Old Covenant were to burn incense day and night on a special golden altar in the Holy Place.  Rev. 8:3-5 shows an angel in heaven emptying the prayers of the saints onto a golden altar, filling his censor with the burning incense, and throwing some onto the earth, releasing judgment purging the evil and bringing God’s righteous order to earth

What is “Harp and Bowl” or Intercessory Worship?  Prayer that is sung or spoken while music continues to play  Worship that includes prayer but does not interrupt the flow of the music  Music brings a prophetic anointing to the prayer  Prayer connects us to the heart of God during worship

Enter God’s presence with high praises. Worship brings God’s awesome holiness and authority to bear over circumstances, principalities, and powers. –God is enthroned in the praises of Israel (Psalm 22:1-3 NIV) The word translates “to inhabit” –When we enter His courts with praise, we are positioned with the Lord and participate in His purposes on Earth (Psalm 100:4)

Biblical Power of Praise  Position of authority and do warfare from the throne room of God (Eph. 1:19-23; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; Eph. 2:6)  Praise is part of the battle and often associated with victory. (Psalm 149:56)  Biblical example of battle fought with praise not with army (2 Chron. 20:1-4)  Music creates atmosphere in which God dwells and prophetic words can flow (2 Kings 3:15-16)  Kenaniah the musician carried the presence of God amidst his people (1 Chron. 15:22)  Over 200 Israelites prophesied through music (1 Chr. 25:1- 7) Voice of God is released in formal, corporate worship.

Relationship Between Worship and Warfare  Worship: –Gives entrance to the Kingdom of God –Expresses Christ’s redemptive authority (Rev. 8:9) –Praise expresses His authority (Psa. 22:3) –Seated with Christ, we war from position of authority (Eph. 2:5-6) –Brings us to a spiritual worldview where rationalism dethroned (1 Cor. 2:6-16) –Biblical balance restored & positive approach to intercession & warfare maintained—focus on God

Worship Binds Satan  Worship silences the enemy (Psa. 8:2)  Worship confuses the enemy (2 Chron. 20:1-29)  Worship delivers from Satan’s bondage (Acts 16:25-26, Ps. 18:3, Ps. 9:1-3)

Praise and worship and the declaration of God provides context for evangelism.  Harvest comes in the context of public declaration of God’s greatness. (Acts 2:42-47)  Joshua was on his face worshipping when God gave him the strategy to go in and possess the land. (Joshua 5:13-14, 6:1-5)

Music propagates the blessings of God throughout the earth.  Music: –Gives praise a powerful expression (Psalms 150) –Connected with creation  Material (Job 38:7; Psa. 65:13)  Supernatural (Isa. 54:1)  Spiritual (Luke 2:13-14) –Renews the mind, quiets the soul, delivers from evil (1 Sam. 16:16,23) –Releases a prophetic revelation (2 Kings 3:15-16)

Seven Biblical Expressions of Praise  Halal – to celebrate, to shine forth, to be clamorously foolish (Psalm 148, 150)  Shaback – to praise the Lord by shouting (Psalm 63:3)  Yadah – To extend the hand, to gesture (Psa. 145:10; 134:2; 141:2; 2 Chron. 20:21; 1 Tim. 2:8)  Towdah – to offer the sacrifice of praise, the processing of a choir (Psa. 42:4; 50:23; Jere. 33:11)  Zammar – to praise with the playing of an instrument (Psa. 21:13; 33:2; 109:1)  Tehillah – To sing the song in your spirit (Psa. 22:3;33:3; 40:3; 1 Chr. 16:4; Deu. 10:21)  Barak – to kneel, to bless, to congratulate (Psa. 95:6; 103:1; 2 Chr. 29:29)

Moving prophetically in praise and worship.  To move prophetically in worship intercession is to move in the intercessory burden of the Holy Spirit; He will lead us to declare or demonstrate God’s word and purposes in song and prayer. –Prophetic ministry began after Elisha called for a musician and the harp was played (2 Kings 3:15-16) –Prophetic gestures in worship:  Treading (Luke 10:19)  Clapping (Psa. 47:1)  Shouting (Psalms 95:1)  Singing (Isa. 30:29-30)  Dancing (Jer. 31:10-14, Ex. 15:20-21

Hebrew Definitions of “Intercession” New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance  “Pah-gah” – to reach or meet someone. To pressure or urge someone strongly, to meet up with a person. To encounter, entreat or assail with urgent requests. The verb occurs 44 times in the Bible. In some contexts, it refers to the extent to which a tribal boundary is reached. It also translates to “make” intercession, the idea that the supplicant catches up with a superior and reaches him with an urgent request. Reaching God – Meeting God – Entreating Him for His favor

Hebrew Definitions of “Intercession” New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance  “en-Toong-khan-o” – to fall in with, to meet with in order to converse. The word implies pleading with a person on behalf of another.

Example from Acts 16:16-40  Paul and Silas thrown into prison  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God  Suddenly a violent earthquake, prison doors opened, everybody’s chains came loose  Jailer and his household believed and were baptised  Officials released them, they met with brothers and encouraged them

Contemporary Applications of Intercessory Worship  Craig Smith, Senior Pastor/Worship Leader City Christian Fellowship, Ft. Smith, Arkansas  Mike Bickle, Former Senior Pastor Metro Christian Fellowship, Kansas City, Missouri  International House of Prayer model for 24/7 continuous worship and prayer services which began September 1999 and have gone on around-the-clock ever since –Trained teams-singers, musicians, and intercessors from 20 churches throughout Kansas City-minister in 2 or 3-hour segments before handing the baton to the next team.

Marriage of Worship & Intercession Essential to Breakthroughs “Worship is agreement with who God is. Intercession is agreement with what He’s going to do. In both, you are telling God what is true about Himself. Worship gives faith and longevity to intercession. There’s an interactive relationship that takes place between the singers, musicians, and intercessors,” he adds. “One intercessor might pray for a few moments, for example, then a singer might paraphrase the same prayer in a spontaneous song. An intercessor might add to the prayer, then pause and allow the singers to pick up the prayer again. [This] is part of God’s answer to Satan who accuses the church night and day [according to] Revelation 12:10.” –Mike Bickle

Example of Intercessory Worship Your Kingdom Come Your Kingdom Come was recorded live at the Metro Christian Fellowship in Kansas City and features worship leader Craig Smith with all new praise and worship songs inspired by the Lord's prayer. This special album combines worship with intercession and reflects a new move of God's Spirit around the world. Songs include Father, Draw Me Closer, Let Your Kingdom Come, and Fill The Earth. Your Kingdom Come Integrity’s Hosanna! Music Label