Recent Blogs

 We are living in a day where we are experiencing a mighty restoration of praise and worship in the Church. In recent years, there has been an explosion of worship and praise songs, often birthed by the Spirit of God, as believers long after Him. Along with the restoration of worship, God is bringing the Body of Christ into new depths of intercession. As we examine the Word of God, we find indeed a great link between worship and intercession. In Revelation 5:8-14, we get a glimpse of heavenly worship and intercession side by side. There we see the Four Living Creatures and the 24 Elders, each having a harp and holding golden bowls of incense. The harp symbolizes prophetic praise and the bowl symbolizes incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

King David has much to teach us regarding a relationship between worship and intercession. In the midst of all those that were satisfied with the status quo, David had a passion for God. He demonstrated his desire for God’s presence by bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. There he set up a tabernacle (tent) and put the Ark of the Covenant inside. The Tabernacle of David became the center of a new order of worship. Sacrifices of praise, joy, and thanksgiving replaced the sacrifices of animals. Glimpses into this new order of worship are seen throughout the Psalms. Ps 95:1-2 “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” Ps 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Ps 141:2 “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”

Twice in Scripture (Amos 9:11 -12 & Acts 15:16 -17), God said He would restore the Tabernacle of David “in order that mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles that are called by His name.” God had found His resting place in the praises of His people. Psalm 132:13-14 “For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: This is my resting place forever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.” (NIV) It is in the atmosphere of worship that hearts are drawn by God’s Spirit into fervent intercession. Worship brings us into the place of communion with God where He will meet with us and speak to us. In Exodus 25:22, we see that one of the purposes of the Ark of the Covenant was to meet with the Lord and commune with Him. "And there I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.” (NAS)

In ancient Israel, only the High Priest could go before the Presence of God. Now, because of the blood of Jesus, our High Priest, we too are made kings and priests unto God, offering spiritual sacrifices. As we enter God’s presence, He communes with us from above the mercy seat. Hebrews 10:19- 22 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (NIV) Hebrews 13:15 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-- the fruit of lips that confess his name.” (NIV)

Worship acts as a catalyst for the prophetic. In the atmosphere of worship, God is at work accomplishing His divine purposes through the Body of Christ. Often a spirit of prophecy will be released during times of worship. Such was the case when Samuel anointed Saul as king over Israel. Samuel told Saul, “As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes, and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be changed into a different person.” I Samuel 10:5-6 (NIV)

Worship also releases intercession. In the book of Revelation, the smoke of incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. (Rev. 8:1-4) From this passage, as well as other passages in Revelation, we can draw a conclusion that worship is a necessary part in the releasing of our prayers in the heavenlies. When intercession flows from worship, a mighty work of God is accomplished in the heavenlies, that bring forth the purposes of God on earth.

Printed from the Spring 2004 Issue of IPMI News

About the Author

Rev. Rosemarie Brown is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. She has served the body of Christ for over 30 years as a Bible teacher, evangelist, conference and seminar speaker. She has become distinguished as an anointed Bible teacher with keen insight into biblical principles, bringing to her audiences a message of hope and restoration. Rosemarie Brown is the Assistant Pastor at Van Nest Assembly of God in the Bronx. Van Nest Assembly is a thriving multi-cultural church, whose Senior Pastor is Rev. David H. Hernquist. Due to the growing number of worshippers, Van Nest Assembly has five services on Sunday, three of which are consecutive morning Services. Rosemarie is the Director and an Instructor at the Berean Bible Institute, Bronx Campus, which is hosted by Van Nest Assembly. Rosemarie received her Bible training at Northeast Bible College (now Valley Forge Christian College). She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York and a master’s degree from Lehman College in New York City. Rev. Rosemarie Brown is the author of the book, The Cry God Answers that deals with the subject of restoration through intercession