‘Harp and Bowl’ style worship and intercession
You may have heard of IHOP, not the International House of Pancakes but, the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, USA, where, for over seven years, the worship and intercession has not stopped night and day, seven days per week. (See www.fotb.com)
IHOP is spawning other houses of prayer all over the world and some would see these ‘Houses of Prayer’ as a fulfilment of Acts 15:16 and the rebuilding of David’s Tabernacle.
In IHOP they have developed a unique and enjoyable model of worship and intercession called ‘Harp and Bowl’ (Rev 5:8) whereby worship and intercession flow back and forth and scripture is used as a basis for spontaneous singing and prayer. There is a blending of worship, intercession and the prophetic.
A number of churches and groups in the UK are now using this ‘Harp and Bowl’ style worship and interest is growing in many parts of the world. At Pentecost weekend this year, churches in Switzerland came together in Geneva for 72 continuous hours of worship and intercession to lift up the name of Jesus over Switzerland. In July young people in Rugby proclaimed the praises of God continuously for 48 hours non-stop. In November, churches in Gibraltar and Spain are looking for like-minded hearts to join them for a whole month of 24/7 worship and intercession to pray for Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco.
The ‘Harp and Bowl’ style of worship is not new but a restoration of what once existed here on earth and is now going on around the throne of God now. In 1 Chron. 15 –16, King David established praise and worship mixed with music and prayers in the Tabernacle of David. During his reign, there was constant praise and worship going on twenty-four hours, seven days a week before the Ark of the Covenant for over thirty years. In Revelation 4 and 5, this style of worship is going on around the throne of God where the twenty-four elders fall before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and bowl, which represent the worship and prayers of the saints.
Also in Revelation 12:10 we read how the accuser of the brethren, accuses the brethren before God night and day, so in response we want to proclaim before the throne night and day that salvation and strength and power belong to Christ: Isaiah 62:6-7.
God promised in Isaiah 56:7 to give His worshippers joy in His House of Prayer. ‘Harp and Bowl’ can make intercession such a joyful experience and joy is the serious business of heaven.
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