Harp & Bowl
This is a watercolor I did in the Prayer Room during my Night Watch. God has been really emphasizing the theme of “oil” to me for a while now, most notably in the parable of the 10 virgins, and in Song of Songs 1:3: “Your name is like oil poured out.” I know the photo is not very clear, but it’s a glass flask of oil being poured on a flame, with smoke coming from the flame. I leave the rest of the interpretation up to you. Leave your comments below, as well as any comments or questions on “Harp & Bowl”. Thanks!
When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
–Revelation 5:8
In case you’re wondering why Ben and I are down here (on a practical level), we’re attending a training program called “IHOP-KC Commission”. This is a program that can either be taken in 10-day chunks (like we’re doing) or in a one or three-month track. The three-month Commission covers several topics, including Intimacy (with God, that is), Eschatology (the study of the “end-times”–very big here at IHOP), and Harp & Bowl.
Harp & Bowl is the nuts and bolts of what happens here at IHOP. Basically, it’s the model for intercessory prayer and worship that enables them to sustain their mandate, or calling, of 24/7 prayer. It’s based on the above scripture from revelation, which talks about those surrounding the throne of God in heaven each having a harp (music) and a bowl (of prayers). So “Harp & Bowl” is essentially “singing prayer”. Ben and I are in love with it.
Mike Bickle, bless his heart, said that he led prayer meetings for years that were a total drag–until they added music. Then all of a sudden he realized he could sustain hours upon hours of prayer. And judging by the fact that Ben and I have already done overnights in the prayer room and don’t want to leave even after 11 hours (!), I’d say they’ve been given something from the Lord that works. And yes, it’s prayer–not just an extended worship service. It seems like just “worship” because they’re singing, but they are extremely organized about this whole thing, making sure it’s actually prayer, and not just personal expression. Yes, it encompasses personal expression–but it is singing prayer all the way.
When I say they are organized, trust me on that. They have thought through every aspect of this. Their goal here at IHOP was to find a model that would enable anyone to participate, fully, whether they were a new believer, in a bad mood, tired or spiritually dull. They feel that the key to sustainable prayer is enjoyable prayer, and it really is so addictive. Not the worship leaders, not the songs themselves, not any kind of hype whatsoever (they really guard against that!), but the real-deal-communion with Jesus through singing and praying through his word. WOW.
I encourage you to go to ihop.org and subscribe to their webstream. I just cancelled my Netflix membership and signed up for it instead. It’s a live stream (hey, maybe you’ll see us!), and you get the first week free. After that it’s like $10 a month. Take a look, and be blown away by the fact that the webstream and GODTV (their direct tv channel) are reaching 50 MILLION people in 140 nations. Add to that the fact that until now, there have been only a handful of 24/7 prayer houses in history (6 years ago IHOP was one of THREE worldwide). Now there are HUNDREDS globally, with more being added all the time (is West Orange next???). WOW. Nothing like this has ever happened before. God is really, really showing up. When this many people are finding their joy in prayer and fasting, you know something’s around the corner. I have never been more sure that revival is not just coming, but is coming in like a hurricane. PEOPLE, GET READY.
JESUS IS COMING.
March 12th, 2008 at 12:48 am
I am so excited for you and Ben to have this chance to witness the IHOP movement. I suggest bring home this ideas and YES let’s adopt it in West Orange. I’ll sign up for the 1st overnite shift since sleep eludes me these days.
Can’t wait to hear more on this blog.
Miss you guys and the kids too.
Vicki Russo
March 12th, 2008 at 10:04 am
as in the Chronicles of Narnia ….ASLAN IS ON THE MOVE!!!and you can tell he is coming because the cold ice of winter is melting and the trees are beginning to bud ..everywhere you look , you see the hand of God moving !! and stirring up all of creation to shout out …HE IS ALIVE , HE IS COMING , GET READY ….ASLAN IS ON THE MOVE …THE WHITE WITCH’S DOMINION IS QUICKLY COMING TO AN END!!!!!HALELUJAH ….
March 14th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Oh what joy to hear you guys, so excited. So I think we at home will be getting more than a t-shirt when you return.