WORSHIPING INTERCESSORS

by Jim & Marcella Wies

“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song … And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ ” (Revelation 5:8–13 NKJV)

This Scripture from Revelation 5 gives us a peek into the scene in heaven where extravagant worship is continuously going on before the throne of God. There we see worship mingled with intercession as a powerful pattern straight from heaven.

We see this pattern and its power exemplified in the life of Jesus when He walked the earth. We find it when Jesus came into the temple surrounded by pure and true worship on Palm Sunday. There was a very loud procession as Jesus traveled the distance between Jericho and Jerusalem that day, and many people felt the prophetic significance of the moment. “As He came close to the city, riding on a donkey, the multitudes began to cry out: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ ” (Matthew 21:9)

As Jesus entered the city, exalted through praise and worship, it is as if there was a new level of apostolic authority released into the situation, with signs, wonders and miracles. And immediately, His concern for His “house” caused Him to declare: “My house shall be a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:1–14). True worship will always release fresh levels of authority in the spirit of prayer and intercession.

Prayer is essential for the release of heaven’s rule on the earth. The fact is, things happen when we pray that don’t happen when we don’t! God’s will comes about through prayer, or is thwarted by our lack of it. That is why Jesus exhorts us to pray, “Father... Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth...” (Matthew 6:9-11 KJV).

Prayer fuels the fire of God’s manifested glory in the church. John Wesley stated: “God will do nothing but in answer to prayer.” Charles Finney’s famous statement about revival was that revival in the church was no more a mystery than that of a farmer planting a cornfield. When the farmer planted corn, he knew that he would reap a harvest of corn. When we sow sincere prayer, revival is sure to follow.

It is through prayer that we experience divine intervention into human affairs. It is by believing prayer that mountains are moved, sinners are saved, the sick are healed, and revival fires are rekindled. It is also by prayer that the human heart is transformed. Prayer is a must if we want to move beyond the realm of human strength and initiative into the realm of the supernatural power and blessing of God.

When we are releasing the ministry of the harp (worship and praise to the King of the Kingdom) and the ministry of the bowls (prayers from the saints for His kingdom to come and His will to be done), we then see the Lord arouse Himself as a man of war on behalf of His people.

The Lord will show Himself as a Man of War.

“The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry, (KJV - roar). He will prevail against His enemies” (Isaiah 42:13).

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war” (Revelation 19:11).

The prophet Joel, whose prophetic words apply directly to the end times, shows a “last days” Jesus roaring as a Lion who calls His saints to war as well.

“The LORD also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the LORD will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel. ‘So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain’ (Joel 3:16–17).

Joel 3 is a very significant Scripture for us as we come to the end of the age. It describes the happenings that will be going on at the end of the age, and says, “…in those days and at that time” (Joel 3:1). We see that this will be a significant time of battle, as the Lord comes forth as our Lion, our mighty Warrior. And here we see Him calling us to the battle as well.

“Proclaim this among the nations: ‘Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am strong.” ’ Assemble and come, all you nations, and gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD. ‘Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe’ ” (Joel 3:9–13).

The valley of Jehoshaphat is significant because it is where the enemy of Israel was defeated through praises to God (2 Chronicles 20). Praise is a weapon of war because praise arouses the Lord to a place of zeal. Praise releases judgment against our enemies. It is as we praise Him that He becomes full of zeal for His house. The Lord’s triumphal entry to Jerusalem, as the crowd praised Him saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” awakened in Him a readiness to judge and cleanse His temple (Matthew 21:7–16).

Psalm 149 also connects the function of praise with the function of warfare and tells us this is the responsibility of all His saints. “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment – this honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 149:6–9)

When we lift up Jesus, we participate in the battle through our praise of the Lord. When He is lifted up, our enemies flee. He has called us to battle, but our battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Our weapons are not natural, but powerful through God to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3,4). Praises to Jesus are a weapon of war. Worship mingled with intercession releases new levels of authority from heaven to the earth. When we give Him the praise He is worthy of, He goes to war on our behalf. When we acknowledge Him as our Mighty Warrior He will fight for us. He is the Lord, mighty in battle.

“Lord Jesus Christ … ‘He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords … To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen’ ” (1 Timothy 6:14–16).

PRAYER FOCUS

National:

USA Elections. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2).

Rulers and leaders. Pray that God will raise up the righteous and put down the wicked (note Daniel 2:21).

Economy:

Pray for the “Goshen Principle” for the people of God, that even in the midst of the disciplines and judgments of God, the people of God will be protected (Exodus 8 & 9).

Pray for the “Isaac Principle” for the people of God, that the people of God will sow during times of leanness and reap 100-fold upon their investment (Genesis 26).

Church:

Pray that unity will prevail and that division, strife and the spirit of carnal judgment will be broken.

Pray that a revival of righteousness will break forth in the church, and that the people of God will humble themselves and pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, that God might heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Decree the WORD over the body of Christ:

Health (3 John 2; James 1:5)
Provision (Philippians 4:19; Deuteronomy 8:18; 2 Chronicles 1:12; Proverbs 18)
Anointing and Glory (Acts 10:38; Ephesians 1:17–19; Exodus 33; 2 Chronicles 5:17; Matthew 17:1–8)
Favor and Blessing (Deuteronomy 28:1–12; Ephesians 1:3; Psalm 5:12; Exodus 33:19; Proverbs 22:1; Luke 2:52)
Protection (Psalm 91; 24; 27; 121; Isaiah 54:17; Zechariah 2:5; Matthew 6:13; Luke 10:19)