Action Plan for Your Prayer Time

11139998_964568030272971_8826704910637753389_nIt’s good to have an action plan in the prayer room during the quieter times when there is no active verbal intercession. This will help you stay focused and engaged. A prayer action plan will keep your mind from wandering. Realize that you are speaking to a real person who loves you. Be attentive, and focus your mind on the Father who sits on His throne (Revelation 4). When there is verbal intercession in the prayer room, listen and pray with them.

Let’s look at some ways we can develop a dynamic prayer life in the prayer room (See mikebickle.org):

  • Have a personal Bible plan – Daily read several chapters in the Bible or whole books of the Bible. There are several Bible plans. Find one that is helpful for you.
  • Pray the Bible – Pray the apostolic prayers and other Biblical prayers. Pray phrases of what others are praying from the Bible in the prayer room.
  • Have a prayer list for others – Include specific places (cities, nations) and people (friends, ministries, unsaved, governmental authorities, etc.).
  • Pray for strategic social issues – Pray about current disasters and social crises. Pray regarding the issues of abortion and homosexuality, etc.
  • Have a personal prayer list – Pray for your personal circumstances such as your physical, financial, and relational situations.
    – Pray for your own heart (intimacy, fear of God, purity,
    speech, a spirit of prayer).
    – Pray for your mind (your understanding of God’s purposes, a spirit of revelation of God’s emotions, will for your life, and end-time purposes).
    – Pray for your ministry (anointed hands and words, contending  for God’s purposes, authority and conviction in your words, insight into the secrets of God’s heart, fruitfulness).
  • Pray for wisdom. Mike Bickle encourages us to pray for the following:
    – Revelation of God’s personality and His Word with wisdom to walk out the practicality of love and humility (Ephesians 1:17).
    –  Knowledge of God’s personal love for me (Ephesians 3:17-19;
    1 John 3:1).
    –  Revelation of God’s will for my life (Colossians 1:9).
    –  Revelation of God’s end-time purposes (Daniel 11:35; 12:10).
    –  Personal revelation of eternity (Psalm 39:4-6; 90:12), the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21), the Judgment Seat (1 Cor. 3:11-15), the resurrected body (1 Corinthians 15) and hell (Rev. 20:11-15).

Houses of Prayer will help us develop dynamic prayer lives.

The prayer room strengthens our personal and corporate prayer life. When we draw near to God in the House of Prayer, he will draw near to us (James 4:8). In the prayer room we get to know God’s love for us in a deeper way. We grow in confidence that God loves us. We discover His heart for us. God’s light drives out darkness and energizes our spirits (Luke 11:36). Our spiritual capacity is enlarged in the prayer room. We experience the supernatural impact of God’s light in our lives. We then turn away from sin, and we come to the realization of Song of Solomon 7:10:

“I belong to my beloved, and His desire is for me.”

In the prayer room we delight in God and His Words, and He delivers us (Romans 7:22-25). He washes us with His Word. The devil can’t get us with his accusations and condemnations (Revelation 12:10) as we spend time in the prayer room.

The prayer room seems to be the place where we can learn to live in victory and wisdom. Let’s pray and ask God for His light to enter our hearts (Psalm 43:3). Let’s pray for His Word to grip our minds (Psalm 119:18, 105, 130; Colossians 3:1-3) and help us to make quality decisions to walk in righteousness daily (Psalm 24:3-6; 119:11, 32). May His Word empower us to obey His commands and daily set our hearts on wholehearted obedience.

God’s end-time strategy is day and night prayer. He is calling us to believe and develop a radical prayer life. It will be costly and sacrificial, but it will be well worth the effort (Romans 12:1-2;
2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 1 John 3:16-18). We are celebrating the life of Jesus in prayer. We are standing for justice and freedom for mankind. This end-time prayer movement will be full of the Spirit and the Word of God. Our prayers will not be lifeless, but they will have power to change nations and cities. As you come to Him in prayer:

  • Picture what God wants to do in and through your life.
  • Picture with the eyes of faith what He wants to do in your city.
  • Picture the answer in your mind, and pray towards that vision.

Your prayers will influence those around you in a powerful way. Developing a dynamic prayer life is the wisest thing we can do with our life. Nothing will happen without it.

“They may start from different points, and travel by different roads, but they converge to one point: they are one in prayer. To them, God is the center of attraction, and prayer is the path that leads to God. These men do not pray occasionally—not a little or at odd times. But they pray in such a way that their prayers enter into and shape their very characters. They pray so as to affect their own lives and the lives of others, and to cause the history of the church to influence the current of the times. They spend much time in prayer, not because they watch the shadow of the dial or the hands on the clock, but because it is to them so momentous and engaging a business that they can scarcely quit.”
E. M. Bounds

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Biblical Prayers for Wisdom in Your City

Our Prayers for Wisdom in Developing a House of PrayerDid you know that praying Biblical prayers for wisdom will have a dramatic effect in your city? God wants to enlighten the eyes of our heart with a spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17). To tap into the revelatory power of God, we need to experience the wisdom of the Holy Spirit on the inside. He lives within us and is always with us. He is the one who will open our spiritual eyes. When we pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation, the Holy Spirit will give it to us. Divine information is released in our heart, and this changes us. He imparts His power to us.

With this in mind—having the very presence, wisdom, and power of the Holy Spirit living in you—permeate your area with prayers for the treasures of God to be released in wisdom and understanding. The following Scriptures will help you. They are so powerful. Begin to pray them over your city and over the body of Christ:

  • Pray that the wisdom of the treasures and mystery of Christ will be released in your city.
    “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3).
  • Pray that the wisdom of the Spirit is released in your life.
    “Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God” (Psalm 43:3-4).
  • Pray that the wisdom of God’s purposes will be released in the corporate Church.“Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles, the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:8-11).
  • Pray that the wisdom of God will be released in ministries and churches in your city.
    “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10).
  • Pray that the wisdom needed for a House of Prayer will be released in your life and others in your city.
    “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).

Realize that when Houses of Prayer are started in your city, God will release His Spirit of wisdom in increasing measure. Pray these Biblical prayers for wisdom individually, in your church prayer meetings, in your citywide prayer meetings, and in any Houses of Prayer in your city and nation.

Begin where you are presently. If you do not have a House of Prayer in your city, pray these prayers over your region so that God can prepare the area for what He wants to do. Maybe you feel that your own church really needs to grow in prayer. Pray these prayers for your church.

When you pray for wisdom, you are coming into agreement with God’s Spirit and His Word. This releases God’s favor on your circumstances. God begins to give you greater hope, and hope brings stability and a greater ability to focus on His purposes for your life and city. Hope gives you certainty of God’s way. Your faith will increase, bringing confidence (Hebrews 3:6; 10:23; 11:1). But you need to ask the Holy Spirit what He wants in every single decision you make. Ask for His will regardless of the cost. All throughout the process of starting a House of Prayer ask the Holy Spirit:

  • What are you saying and doing?
  • What do you want us to do?
  • Give us Your wisdom in building Your House of Prayer.

Don’t let the devil discourage you along the way, but KNOW that God is more interested in a House of Prayer than you are. It’s His plan and desire. He initiates it. He will bring it about in His timing—so do not grow weary. Pray that the Spirit of prayer would fall on the Church regionally and worldwide. We read in Zechariah 12:10a:

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.”

Know that God’s treasures of wisdom and knowledge are available to the Church in your city as well as to you personally. Think about that long and hard. Don’t focus on the immensity of the task or look at the outward appearance. Houses of Prayer start slowly. Instead focus on the wisdom and power of God.

“When Jesus dwells in your life, everything available to Christ dwells within you (Ephesians 3:19). Don’t focus on outward appearances and physical strength, for these deteriorate. Rather, allow the Holy Spirit to convince you of the infinite treasure that is within you because of God’s presence.” Henry and Richard Blackaby

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Practical Wisdom in the Prayer Room

10407494_964089923654115_5859114877055829784_n-2The wonderful thing about God’s presence in the prayer room is that He seems to ambush you, and you don’t want to leave. I have seen the prayer room change people in prayer dramatically over a short period of time. What happens is quite supernatural. God changes our hearts.

One key as we start praying in the prayer room is simplicity. The prayer room is for beginners as well as the experienced. Everyone can do it. Encourage people to try different ways of prayer—reading a Psalm, praying the Scriptures, writing a song or letter to God, standing, kneeling, lying down, reading a devotional on prayer, singing, praying out loud, silent prayer, soaking prayer, etc.

Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind:

  • Pray the promises of Scripture – Claim God’s promises in the Bible over your city, church, and family. God’s Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). When you pray God’s promises over your family, neighborhood, or nation, you are planting seeds of God’s Word that will eventually grow and produce a harvest.
  • Pray for revival in your church, city, and nation – It is wise to bathe your area in prayer for revival. This releases God’s Spirit in the city. Spiritual breakthroughs usually come after Houses of Prayer are established.
  • Pray for things that are familiar with others in your geographical area – Pray for the needs in your area that are common to those in the prayer meeting. People can best agree in prayer over common concerns in the city.
  • Don’t pray long prayers – Realize that three to five minute prayers are long enough. In a corporate prayer meeting, you want many to be involved. When one person dominates the prayer room, others who desire to pray can feel frustrated. Here at the International House of Prayer we often pray ten to fifteen second prayers called “rapid fire” prayers.
  • Don’t inform God or others of the details of specific circumstances – God knows the circumstances, and others do not need to be informed. Too much time is often taken in sharing a prayer request rather than praying it.
  • Don’t teach or preach to others in your prayers – Always remember that you are praying to God and not others. Concentrate on Him, and pray to Him directly.

Realize that God uses all kinds of prayers. Variety is the key. Let people pray the way they want. There will be times of silence and times of music, times of intercession and times of thanksgiving, times of meditation and times of reading and praying the Scriptures. Some people are loud and some are quiet. Some kneel and some pace the floor. Some like to be alone in the prayer room and some like to pray in groups. The diversity of prayers and people is amazing. It’s different from hour to hour, and that’s what makes it so fresh and alive.

“Knowing God and having Him reside within you is a treasure of infinite value. Jesus likened this value to that of a perfect pearl. The collector would readily sell everything he had in order to possess this one matchless pearl (Matthew 13:45-46). Your relationship with God places an immeasurable value on your life. The treasure of God’s wisdom and knowledge are available to you through Christ (Colossians 2:2-3). His love now fills you. His incomprehensible peace surrounds your heart and mind (Philippians 4:7).” Henry and Richard Blackaby

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Treasures of Wisdom Released

11329842_966469080082866_4753253200916526631_n“It’s very valid to pray for spiritual passion, for consuming zeal, for a release of insatiable hunger in your heart, for holy thoughts and godly desires. It’s valid to pray that you might see and feel what the Father sees and feels when He beholds His dear Son. It’s valid to cry out for intimacy with the person who feeds you from His own hand, the person who guards your soul, the person who gives you wisdom and revelation, the person from whose mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” Mike Bickle

As we near the end of the age, there is the increasing necessity to know God’s wisdom in our personal lives and in the corporate body of Christ. We cannot afford to live undisciplined, prayerless lives. It’s time to pray for a spiritual passion and zeal to consume the people of God. We need to cry out to God for a new level of His wisdom.

Day and night prayer and worship releases the wisdom and the purposes of God. He will give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation when we pray for it (Ephesians 1:17-19). This will enable us to live out God’s will in a practical way. He will direct us to do the most important things at the right time. This will bring a greater increase of fruitfulness and effectiveness as we move out of the prayer room armed with the wisdom and authority of God.

I believe that every time I enter the prayer room to seek God, I receive new revelation for the day. My burdens and thoughts seem to transfer into God’s way of thinking. What seems perplexing or confusing in life turns into a new dimension of understanding when in God’s presence. God’s wisdom is worth more than gold. It’s something you have to dig for, but every time you enter His presence, you discover new nuggets of truth that seem to change everything around you. And God’s wisdom is so desperately needed in today’s world. Even the secular environment puts a high value on wisdom.

Henry Ford, who specialized in the auto industry, asked electrical
genius Charlie Steinmetz to build the generators for his factory. One day all the generators suddenly stopped working without explanation, and the repairmen could not discover the problem. Henry Ford called Steinmetz to come and fix the problem. Steinmetz tinkered with the machines for a few hours, threw on the switch, and the generators immediately came to life! Later Ford got a bill for $10,000. In those days that was really a lot of money. He was extremely upset and asked Steinmetz why he got such a high bill. Steinmetz’s reply was, “For tinkering with the generator’s – $10. For knowing where to tinker – $9,990.” Ford paid the bill.

When we spend time in the House of Prayer, God shows us His wisdom that can radically impact our society. When the world around us stops working, we will know where to tinker to find the power of God. Through prayer, we will see His wisdom.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOP-KC

Our Prayer for the Church

11390094_968828946513546_3817218908514737680_n-2Lord, we pray for the Church in our city and around the world [Name your city.] Help us to seek You and dwell in Your House. Teach us to gaze upon Your beauty (Psalm 27:4). Prepare us for revival. We know that prayer and worship prepares the way. May the praise of God be in our mouth and a double-edged sword in our hands (Psalm 149:6). Teach our church to worship and pray. Bring the Church in our city into enjoyable and anointed prayer. Unlock the hearts of Your people into the beauty of prayer. Teach us perseverance, and give us greater faith in prayer. Cause us to arise in prayer and passionately pursue You. Help us to know our identity and give You our devotion and praise. Unite our churches in prayer, and break down every barrier. We want to focus on the lost and see Your Kingdom come on earth.

Help Your Church to transition into the end times. Bring Your Church worldwide into the reality of heaven. Raise up forerunners in prayer, and strengthen the foundation of prayer in Your Church. Help us all to be obedient step-by-step, and listen to Your strategy and direction in every detail. Help us to pray Your purposes and plans in our city. We ask You to fill the atmosphere of our city with praise and worship. Invade our city with the atmosphere of Your presence. Thank You that Your Church will become a grace-empowered praying Church. You are forming Her into a beautiful Bride. We give You glory and praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verses to Memorize

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOP-KC

Our Prayer for the Church

11709564_989926214403819_5343331049890529465_nLord, we pray for the Church in our city and around the world [Name your city.] Help us to seek You and dwell in Your House. Teach us to gaze upon Your beauty (Psalm 27:4). Prepare us for revival. We know that prayer and worship prepares the way. May the praise of God be in our mouth and a double-edged sword in our hands (Psalm 149:6). Teach our church to worship and pray. Bring the Church in our city into enjoyable and anointed prayer. Unlock the hearts of Your people into the beauty of prayer. Teach us perseverance, and give us greater faith in prayer. Cause us to arise in prayer and passionately pursue You. Help us to know our identity and give You our devotion and praise. Unite our churches in prayer, and break down every barrier. We want to focus on the lost and see Your Kingdom come on earth.

Help Your Church to transition into the end times. Bring Your Church worldwide into the reality of heaven. Raise up forerunners in prayer, and strengthen the foundation of prayer in Your Church. Help us all to be obedient step-by-step, and listen to Your strategy and direction in every detail. Help us to pray Your purposes and plans in our city. We ask You to fill the atmosphere of our city with praise and worship. Invade our city with the atmosphere of Your presence. Thank You that Your Church will become a grace-empowered praying Church. You are forming Her into a beautiful Bride. We give You glory and praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verses to Memorize

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Church Arise – Taking it into the Prayer Room

11709522_990326201030487_2695539852316010783_n

Taking it into the Prayer Room

Get together with a group, and go through the exercise (How to Help the Church Arise) by carefully answering each question. Especially spend time discussing Psalm 73. You may want to read it together. Close in prayer by asking God to lead you in a time of prayer for the Church in your city as well as worldwide.

Then with singers, instruments, and intercessors, take it into the prayer room. With Bible in hand, pray for the Church in your city, nation, and world for at least an hour using these prayer requests. Use Scripture in your prayers and singing.

After finishing, leave the prayer room and discuss the first question together. With worship and prayer combined, how did you experience an unlocking of your heart with greater enjoyment in prayer, an increase in faith and perseverance, and greater anointing and freedom to pray? Close in prayer.

How to Help the Church Arise in Prayer

11264013_963028303760277_6266662734616935759_nPraying Church Life Application

The Church will arise in power through Houses of Prayer. Think about your own church and the Church worldwide. Answer the following questions thoughtfully:

  • In what ways have you experienced the combination of prayer together with worship? – Think about the prayer meetings you have been involved in. Have you experienced any of the following? Explain.- The ability to pray longer and with greater ease.- An unlocking of your heart to a greater reality of heaven.
    – An increase in faith and perseverance.
    – An increase in enjoyable prayer.
    – A greater anointing in prayer, especially in spiritual warfare
    praying.
  • Study Psalm 73 – Asaph felt as if it was useless to live a good life (Isaiah 73:1-16). In the sanctuary of God (House of Prayer) he gained a refreshed vision of the reality of God’s love and justice (Psalm 73:17-28). In what way can you relate to how he felt both before and after verse 17?
  • Study the benefits of Houses of Prayer for the Church  – Which ones are particularly meaningful as you look at the needs and characteristics of the churches in your city and your own church? In what way does prayer and worship prepare the way for revival?
  • Do you see an awareness of the need for a House of Prayer in your city? – In what ways is the Church in your city in transition? Explain your answers, and then pray the following prayer requests for the Church to arise in your city and all throughout the world:- Locations – Because the enemy fights unity in prayer so strongly, there are sometimes difficulties in getting a neutral location and the right facilities for Houses of Prayer. Pray for God’s perfect locations in your city and worldwide.- Countries – Pray for Houses of Prayer in every city in every country. Praise God for the many countries that now have Houses of Prayer. See www.24-7prayer.com for encouragement.
    – Signs, wonders, and healings – Many will come to know the Lord in the last days because of signs, wonders, and miraculous healings. Pray for physical and emotional healings inside and outside the Church through Houses of Prayer.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Why Prayer and Worship is Key to Revival

11403171_990321821030925_1910952849621166331_n“The release of a heavenly model of worship and intercession, with music and prayers woven together in a tapestry of ministry to the Lord, is key to the release of revival upon the earth. The Lord in His grace has revealed to us in the Word how He enjoys receiving ministry from us, and we neglect this revelation to our own loss… What we are beginning to understand is that worship is the essential warfare of the saints, for it releases the presence and power of God. From Psalm 22:3 we know that the praises of the people of God make up the throne on which He establishes His rule and authority, and so as we minister to Him we are confident that His power is released in the earth.” Gary Wiens

The combination of prayer and worship in extended times of prayer are key for revival. Never has there been a revival without extended times of intensive prayer, nor will we ever see the final world revival ushering in the second coming of Christ without it. Here are some exciting reasons:

  • It brings us into the reality of heaven – We must realize that worship and prayer are combined together in heaven around the throne of God. We are in the process of bringing heaven to earth in our cities and nations. We are copying what heaven is doing by combining the interaction of the harp (worship) with the bowls of incense (prayers). See Revelation 5:8.
  • It unlocks our hearts –  The atmosphere of worship and praise opens our hearts in a greater dimension to fervent intercession, and a greater passion for Christ and His ways. It also unlocks our hearts to a greater gratitude for all God has done. I cannot help but move to a higher level in my intercession when praise and worship are combined. I find this true when I’m praying alone as well as in prayer meetings.
  • It increases our faith – I have seen and experienced how the singers fuel the intercessors, and the intercessors fuel the singers, until all seem to move into a higher realm of faith. The Word of God is prayed with greater certainty, with deeper passion, and with an unquenchable faith.
  • It attracts us to enjoyable prayer – There is no doubt about it. God wants us to enjoy prayer. There is no way we can move into day and night prayer without an enjoyment of it. It is much too hard and strenuous a work. We need our hearts to say, “Yes, I want to do this! Yes, our city can get into this because God is making it enjoyable.”
  • It increases our perseverance in prayer – Many times I have heard people say that the time goes by so quickly. There seems to be an ability and grace to pray for longer periods of time when prayer and worship are combined. Many who find it hard to pray for any length of time suddenly are able to spend hours in the prayer room.
  • It brings forth an anointing for spiritual warfare – It breaks the hold of the enemy in cities. It opens the way for a freedom to proclaim the Gospel. The Kingdom of God invades the territory. The combination of prayer and worship releases God’s justice. Praise, worship, and prayer is a powerful combination and a mighty force against the kingdom of darkness. We come into agreement with God’s heart and things change.

God is preparing His Church around the world for revival. He is preparing us individually as well as corporately.

“There is an irrefutable law in history that revival (justice) is released in a measure whenever night and day worship and intercession are offered. Wherever night and day prayer has emerged in history there is always a Divine breakout of speedy justice. It cannot be stopped.” Mike Bickle

Let’s pray that the Church worldwide would grow in prayer and worship. Psalm 132 is a psalm crying out for revival. The psalmist reminds God of King David’s devotion and dedication in pursuing righteousness. David had vowed to God that he would find a place for God, a dwelling place. His heart was set in seeking Him. He would not let go until God had a dwelling place on earth.

Revival is finding God that resting place. It will be geographic places where God’s Spirit is released in power. It will be a resting place where people can live in agreement with and in obedience to the Holy Spirit. When the Church is obediently following God, praying fervently, and living holy and righteous lives, then God’s reviving power will be manifested in that city. The power of God will be experienced in His people both individually and corporately.

God is giving a special grace and an increase in prayer at this time in preparation for this end-time revival.

Some of us are just beginning to get started. Don’t be overwhelmed. A momentum is building and a spirit of prayer and worship is being released across the earth. My suggestion to you is to start small. Music CDs that demonstrate prayer with worship can be found in many Christian bookstores. Purchase a few of these music CDs for members of your prayer and worship teams in your church, and begin to listen to them over and over again. You can purchase excellent worship with intercession music CDs through the IHOPKC online bookstore as well as watch the live IHOPKC webstream.

We did this in our church. Everyone was listening to the music CD called Apostolic Prayers. They’re a great example of “harp and bowl” worship and prayer sessions and a powerful way to pray. I use worship CDs regularly in the nations where I go to minister. We use them in the atmosphere of our own home. Houses of Prayer around the world like to play the live web stream of 24/7 prayer on large screens in their prayer rooms whenever they can’t have live worship.

This will bring you into the atmosphere of what prayer combined with worship is like. It will create a hunger in your soul and an excitement in your heart for praying the Word of God. Worship together with prayer will begin to touch your church with the atmosphere of heaven, and will prepare you and your city for a mighty revival.

“Intercession is agreement with what God promises to do. Intercession is expressed by declaring what He will do. In heaven the worship and intercession flow as one river. When we tell God who He is then our faith expands with the revelation of the transcendent God of power and beauty. Then when we agree with what He will do in intercession, we do it in great faith.” Mike Bickle

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Preparing the Church for Revival

11390094_968828946513546_3817218908514737680_n-2“It was praying that rent the heavens; praying that received direct answers there and then. The spirit of intercession was so mightily poured out that the whole congregation would pray simultaneously for hours! Strangers were startled to hear the young and unlettered pray with such unction and intelligence as they were swept up to the Throne of Grace by the Spirit of God. Worship and adoration was unbounded. Praise began to mingle with the petitions as answered prayer was demonstrated before their very eyes.” James Stewart

Fervent prayer prepares the way for revival. Day and night intercession and worship is a big key to revival. The combination of intercession and worship was a major part of the past revivals in history. Why are extended times of prayer so important? There are so many wonderful reasons. Let me name a few:

  • Prayer changes us.
  • It sets us free from worldly pursuits.
  • It opens the way for uninterrupted time with God.
  • It gives us a burden for what is on God’s heart.
  • It brings us into deeper humility and repentance.
  • It draws us closer to God and brings revelation.
  • It builds unity.
  • It teaches us the Word.
  • It brings extraordinary answers to prayer.

The benefits are so vast. In all my studies about revival, I have seen that day and night, intense and earnest prayer was one of the major keys found in all revivals. And it was prayer and worship together that brought the power of God to earth in a mighty outpouring of His Spirit.

I remember a time when we were living in Virginia Beach, and bad weather was rapidly approaching our area in the middle of the night. Not liking heavy storms, I quickly got up and anxiously turned on the television to see what they were reporting. The weather report was bleak. With brand new weather instruments, they were able to see the movements of the wind high up in the atmosphere. The winds were circling around; I could see little circles all over our area on the weather map.

Unfortunately there was a tornado watch. I don’t like tornadoes. Being born in Minnesota, I had my fair share of tornado-like weather; I know what damage they can cause. And now we live in Kansas City—and you know the movie called “The Wizard of Oz” and how Dorothy’s house was taken up by a tornado in Kansas and dropped in the Land of Oz. Well, these clouds were all circular tornadoes high up in the sky. If they touched down, there would be a lot of destruction on the ground. To make matters worse, this same storm had produced destruction along its path throughout the south of the country. And now it was coming in our direction.

Thankfully these circling tornado clouds didn’t touch down that night. We had experienced God’s mercy and grace. But the weather reporter said that if they had swept through our area the previous afternoon when the weather was warmer, they would have caused a lot of damage in Virginia Beach. But because the evening hours had lowered the temperature, the clouds stayed high.

This reminds me of the preparation of the church for revival. When the church prays, God begins to form something in the atmosphere. His presence is like those circling tornado clouds forming as we pray. When the atmosphere of prayer and worship permeate a region, God begins to work. He is welcomed into a city. The heat and fire of prayer bring His presence and power into the atmosphere of the city.

Unlike the destruction that tornadoes bring, God is able to bring in His glory, His righteousness, and His light. But just as tornadoes destroy as they descend onto the ground, God sweeps in like the wind and is able to destroy wickedness, defeat ungodliness, and bring His salvation to those who desperately need it. He is able to purify His Church with His holiness.

When we praise God and use His double-edged sword (the Word of God) in intercession, vengeance is inflicted on the nations. We read in Psalm 149:6-9:

“May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them. This is the glory of all his saints. Praise the LORD.”

Vengeance is God’s just retribution on those who have attacked his Kingdom. We are at war every day, and God’s Kingdom is under attack. The combination of worship and prayer releases God’s judgment against sin and rebellion on earth. It opens the way for revival in the nations.

You and I prepare the way for revival in the Church when we enter into day and night prayer and worship.

Just as tornado clouds formulate and circle around a center, unity is created through the Spirit of God by the combination of prayer and worship. This unity creates power, and the Church becomes a mighty vessel that releases God’s presence into the city. This prepares the church for revival.        

God brings forth beautiful, spontaneous worship and when blended with prayer, it becomes a powerful weapon of His glory. I find this to be true as God’s people become familiar with the “harp and bowl” model of prayer (combining worship and singing together with Biblical prayer). The Biblical prayers bring forth the antiphonal singing. Singer adds to singer, and a beautiful unity comes forth as the very Word and will of God are prayed through the Holy Spirit. It’s like those circular tornado clouds descending to earth, reviving the people of God and bringing His presence into the city.

I have been in numerous prayer and worship meetings. Each one is unique and powerful, testifying to the creativity of God’s Spirit. Read this exciting testimony taken from the Welsh revival of 1904. Notice how powerfully harmonious worship and praise is with the Spirit of God leading.

“The fact is, unless heard, it is unimaginable and when heard indescribable. There was no hymnbook. No one gave out a hymn. Just anyone would start the singing, and very rarely did it happen that the hymn started was out of harmony with the mood at the moment. Once started, as if moved by a simultaneous impulse, the hymn was caught up by the whole congregation almost as if what was about to be sung had been announced and all were responding to the baton of an invisible human leader. I have seen nothing like it. Such was the perfect blending of the mood and purpose that it bore eloquent testimony to a unity created only by the Spirit of God. Another witness testified: “The praying and singing were both wonderful. There was no need for an organ. The assembly was its own organ as a thousand sorrowing or rejoicing hearts found expression in the Psalmody of their native hills.”

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC