Antiphonal Singing

God loves it when we make music in our hearts to the Lord. He wants us to speak and sing His Word. It’s a safeguard for our hearts because when we sing God’s Word, we are singing about who He is and who we are in Him.

When we corporately pray and sing the Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit, He reveals His will and heart to us. This renews and transforms our minds. It touches our spirit and impacts our emotions. We begin to align our hearts and thoughts with God’s. Instead of talking about all the negative things in life (which is so easy to do), he teaches us to speak to one another in psalms and spiritual songs with a thankful heart. How easy it is to look on the dark side of life, but this is a much better way to live. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:19-20:

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is a powerful way to do this where singers interact back and forth with singing and the Word. This type of responsive singing is excellent for the prayer room. It’s called antiphonal singing. The singers interact with the intercessors and musicians in singing the Word. Day and night prayer is team ministry where the team works together. Nobody gets the spotlight except God Himself.

This is the beautiful thing that God is doing with his end-time Church. He is beginning to get all the glory. Everyone takes part in the House of Prayer, and nobody takes the spotlight. Everyone gives way to one another because there is the understanding that all of us in harmony are better than one of us alone.

This is a learning experience for some of us who like to be up front because we are good musicians or strong intercessors. We need to realize that we must give way to others. But if we do, in the end God brings a beautiful harmony that we couldn’t have done on our own. There is no more room for lengthy ten-minute prayers or a personal concert where we show off our musical talents. No! It is all for God and Him alone—an audience of one—and we all work together to bring about His will in the prayer room for His glory.

It is time that we join in unison as with one voice. In 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 we see how the musicians and singers were so united in song that they were as with one voice:

“The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’ Then the temple was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.”

God wants to invade your prayer environment with His presence and power. This will eventually spill over into your city and nation. This team ministry is God’s end-time way. He uses musicians, antiphonal singers, spoken intercession, and proclamation to bring about this unity in prayer.

Worship and prayer becomes dynamic.
Worship and prayer becomes enjoyable and not boring.
Worship and prayer becomes intense but without exhaustion.

And revelation takes place right in the midst of it all. Instead of a labored, grueling experience, every meeting becomes a joyous occasion. I say this because I see it happening and personally experience it myself. I have seen worshippers and intercessors come in with the burdens of the week and leave with the joy of the Lord. Some find it hard to wait until the next prayer meeting. This also enhances our own prayer times during the week.

“Harp and bowl” prayer is not a burden. It is a gift of God for the end-time Church.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC