Posted July 20th, 2013 at 4:58 pmNo Comments Yet
FORERUNNER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY – MIKE BICKLE
Worship on Earth Like It Is in Heaven: David’s Revelation of Worship
I. DAVID’S SACRED VOW: TO EXTRAVAGANTLY PURSUE GOD UNTIL…
As a young man, David made a vow to dedicate his life to find a resting place or dwelling place for God. This refers to a place where an unusual measure of God’s presence is manifest on earth. David’s life work was to establish a dwelling place for God in Jerusalem in his generation.
1 LORD, remember David and all his afflictions; 2 How he swore to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One: 3 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed; 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes…5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob”…8 Arise, O, Lord, to Your resting place. (Ps. 132:1-8)
David vowed to live in extravagant devotion to seek the Lord with all his resources (time, talents, treasures). His vow included spending time in God’s House (Ps. 27:4), fasting (Ps. 69:7-12), extravagant giving of his money (1 Chr. 22:14) and embracing God’s order in worship.
This vow changed history and continues today in those who embrace it. It is at the heart of the End-Time worship movement. Lord, raise up a million believers who fully walk out this vow.
David’s vow positioned his heart to receive insight into the worship that God seeks.
23 True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (Jn. 4:23)
David received revelation of worship in God’s heavenly sanctuary (1 Chr. 28:11-19).
96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection (God’s Throne of Glory)… (Ps. 119:96)
11 David gave his son Solomon the plans…12 for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD…13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD…19 All this,” said David, “the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.” (1 Chr. 28:11-19)
Rev. 4-5 describes the worship order around God’s Throne. Those nearest God’s Throne agree with Him in 24/7 worship and intercession as the most exalted occupation in the New Jerusalem.
8 The 4 living creatures…do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy…” 10 the twenty- four elders fall down…and worship Him who lives forever and ever… (Rev. 4:8-9)
2 I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and…loud thunder. I heard the sound of harpists…3 They sang…a new song before the Throne… (Rev. 14:2-3)
13 Every creature which is in heaven and on the earth…saying: “Blessing and honor…be to Him who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 The twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. (Rev. 5:13-14)
The KJV says that God “inhabits (lives in or manifests His life) in the praise of His people. David taught that when we sing praise that God inhabits (manifests His power) in that context.
3 You are…enthroned (manifest the power of Your Throne) in the praises of Israel. (Ps. 22:3)
David’s revelation of heavenly worship (as seen in Psalms) is foundational to David’s throne which is “political government in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David” or government based on 24/7 worship and intercession. David’s government flowed forth from prophetic worship (1 Chr. 23-25). David had revelation of the spiritual impact of prophetic intercessory worship (Ps. 22:3).
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth… 7 to execute vengeance (justice) on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 8 to bind their kings with chains…9 to execute on them the written judgment– this honor have all His saints. (Ps. 149:6-9)
After David became king, the first thing he did was to capture Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:3-10). Then he gave expression to his sacred vow by setting up a worship tabernacle in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6). David received revelation from God about establishing God’s order of worship first in Jerusalem. One of the first things that Jesus will do when He rules Jerusalem is to establish worship there.
1 David…prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it…16 David spoke to the…Levites to appoint…singers accompanied by instruments of music… (1 Chr. 15:1-16)
David put Levites before the Ark (which spoke of God’s Throne and presence) to worship God.
1 They brought the ark…and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David erected for it. 4 He appointed Levites (singers) to minister before the ark…to praise the Lord…37 to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required… (1 Chr. 16:1, 4, 37)
David established 4,000 full-time paid musicians, 288 singers (12 x 24 = 288) and 4,000 gatekeepers. Thus, he financed about 10,000 full-time staff to facilitate worship. It would cost $200 million a year to provide $3,000 a month for 5,000 full-time people (plus buildings costs). It would cost $3 billion a year to finance 12 Prayer Missions Bases (if each had 5,000 people making $3,000 a month, etc.). There will be a transfer of wealth in the End-Times (Hag. 2:6-8).
7 The number…instructed in the songs of the Lord…who were skillful, was 288. (1 Chr. 25:7)
5 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 praised the Lord with musical instruments… (1 Chr. 23:5)
David commanded God’s people to honor the heavenly order of worship that he received by revelation because it was God’s command (2 Chr. 29:25; 35:4, 15; Ezra 3:10; Neh. 12:45). These worship principles are timeless and valid today, such as establishing singers and musicians in God’s House. The application of these principles would differ in each generation and culture.
25 Hezekiah…stationed Levites in the house of the Lord with stringed instruments… according to the commandment of David…for thus was the commandment of the Lord. (2 Chr. 29:25)
25 The commandment of David…was the commandment of the LORD… (2 Chr. 29:25)
David provided financial support so that singers could sing as a full-time occupation.
33 These are the singers…who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night. (1 Chr. 9:33)
God’s order for supporting the singers and gatekeepers was revealed to David. The storehouse was the central place to receive tithes that was under the spiritual leadership of the Lord’s House. Asaph and his brothers were included in the 288 singers (12 x 24 = 288).
37 So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required… (1 Chr. 16:37)
David gave over $100 billion (according to today’s prices) to God’s House from his personal finances. One talent equals about 75 lbs or 1200 ounces (16 ounces in a pound). 100,000 talents weighed about 7.5 million pounds (almost 4,000 tons). At $700 an ounce, a talent of gold would be worth about $850,000. Thus, 100,000 talents of gold would be worth about $85 billion. A talent of silver at $12 an ounce is worth nearly $15,000, thus one million talents of silver (75 million pounds or almost 40,000 tons) is worth about $15 billion.
14 Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the House of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold ($85 billion) and 1,000,000 talents of silver ($15 billion)… (1 Chr. 22:14)
II. EMBRACING DAVID’S REVELATION OF WORSHIP IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Solomon established the singers according to the direction that God gave his father David.
14 According to the order of David his father, he (Solomon) appointed…Levites for their duties to praise…as the duty of each day required…for so David…commanded. (2 Chr. 8:14)
Amos (about 750 BC) prophesied of the restoration of David’s Tabernacle and thus to reverse the damage of Israel’s apostasy. The fullness of the Tabernacle of David speaks of Jesus’ Millennial government over all nations that is based on 24/7 Davidic worship and intercession.
11 On that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old… (Amos 9:11)
When Israel went astray, God raised up spiritual reformers with a vision to restore worship as David commanded it. All of the 7 “revivals” in OT times restored Davidic worship.
Hezekiah’s revival (about 725 BC) included restoring singers/musicians as David commanded.
25 He stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with…stringed instruments…according to the commandment of David…27 The song of the LORD began… (2 Chr. 29:25-27)
Josiah’s revival (about 625 BC) restored full-time singers and musicians as David commanded.
3 He said to the Levites…4 “Prepare yourselves…following the instruction of David…” 15 The singers…were in their places, according to the command of David… (2 Chr. 35:3-15)
Zerubbabel (about 536 BC) established full-time singers and musicians as commanded by David.
10 …The Levites…to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David. (Ezra 3:10)
47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. (Neh. 12:47)
Ezra and Nehemiah (445 BC) established full-time singers and musicians as David commanded.
24 The Levites…give thanks…according to the command of David…45 The singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of God…according to the command of David… (Neh. 12:24, 45)
Jehoiada the high-priest restored temple worship in the order of David (about 835 B.C) with singers and musicians and enthroned King Jehoash (Joash) when he was only 7 years old.
16 Jehoiada (high priest) made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the LORD’s people…18 Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to…the Levites…with singing, as it was established by David. (2 Chr. 23:16-18)
Jehoshaphat’s reform (about 870 BC) included establishing singers and musicians.
19 The Levites…stood up to praise the Lord…21 He appointed those who should sing to the Lord…28 They came…with stringed instruments…to the house of the Lord. (2 Chr. 20:19-28)
Jehoshaphat goes into battle and puts the singers in front of the army.
2 Some told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you…3 Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah…21 He (Jehoshaphat) appointed those who should sing to the LORD…as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever.” 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated… (2 Chron. 20:2-22)
God’s desire to be worshipped on earth as He is in heaven has not changed. The Spirit has not emphasized this through history but will in the generation Jesus returns. The worship reality that God commanded David to embrace is timeless and valid today, such as establishing singers and musicians in God’s House. The application of this has differed in each generation and culture.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Mt. 6:10)
III. THE GOVERNMENTAL CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE IS IN THE “PRAYER MINISTRY”
A. The governmental center of the universe is in the “Prayer Ministry”, which includes all the Spirit inspired prayers on earth and in heaven that converge before God. God’s government flows from prophetic worship based on the beauty of holiness. God is restoring the spiritual weapons of worship with intercession in prophetic worship. The End of the Age government and power is linked to singers and musicians. The Davidic Church is one that functions as a house of prayer. It is remarkable how central singers are to the End of the Age drama.
Corporate intercessory worship is the primary means God has chosen to release His government (power). It is the highest expression of His government in time and eternity and is the most powerful weapon that exists. It is the front line of defense in our war against darkness.
May 1983: “I will release 24-hour-a-day prayer in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David.”
APPLICATION IN CHURCH HISTORY
The NT Church sowed the seed of God’s order of worship as first established on earth in David’s Tabernacle using psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph 5:18-19; Col. 3:16; Jas. 5:13).
14 Simon (Peter) declared how God…visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 With this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written: 16 “After this I will return and will rebuild the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; 17 so that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD…” (Acts 15:14-17)
Church history parallels Israel’s history. Whenever God released a season of revival to restore what was lost, we see the aspects of David’s order of worship released in that generation. Every revival in history has received an aspect of God’s “new song and music” for that generation.
DAVID’S VOW WILL BE EXPRESSED IN THE END-TIME WORSHIP MOVEMENT
When we add one billion believers (currently on earth) to one billion new converts there will be more of God’s people on earth than in heaven. In light of this, there may be more prayer for the release of the Kingdom on earth in the final years of natural history than all history combined.
The Holy Spirit’s End-Time movement (Rev. 22:17; 5:8; 8:4; Lk. 18:7-8; Mt. 25:1-13; Isa. 62:6- 7; 24:14-16; 25:9; 26:8-9; 27:2-5, 13; 30:18-19; 42:10-13; 43:26; 51:11; 52:8; Joel 2:12-17, 32; Jer. 31:7; Mic. 5:3-4; Zeph. 2:1-3; Ps. 102:17-20; 122:6; Zech. 12:10, etc.).
The Millennium is a 1,000-year period in which Jesus will rule the whole world from Jerusalem in righteousness and peace. At this time the Kingdom of God will be openly manifest worldwide affecting every sphere of life (political, social, agricultural, economic, spiritual, educational, law enforcement, media, arts, technology, environment, social institutions, etc.). Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-9; 11:1-16; 60-62; 65:17-25; Ps. 2; 110; Mt. 5:5; 6:10; 17:11; 19:28; 28:19; Acts 1:6; 3:21).
4 I saw thrones, and they (saints) sat on them…They lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years…6 They shall reign with Him 1000 years. (Rev. 20:4-6)
The kings of the earth will be saved and worship Jesus (Ps. 72:11; 102:15; 138:4; 148:11; Isa. 62:2; Rev. 21:24) and base their national governments on God’s Word.
11 All kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him. (Ps. 72:11)
The End-Time worship movement will call Jesus to the earth at the time of the Second Coming. The Millennial worship movement will call the Father to the earth (Rev. 21:3).
For the first time, the Spirit will universally emphasize our spiritual identity as Jesus’ Bride. The Holy Spirit’s worship movement will reach a great crescendo just prior to Jesus’ Second Coming as the Spirit and the Bride cry out for Jesus to come to establish His Kingdom.
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”…20 He (Jesus) who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:17, 20)
1). “Jesus, Come near us (intimacy)”
2). “Jesus, Come to us (revival)”
3). “Jesus, Come for us (Second Coming)”
The End-Time prayer and worship movement will be mature and operate in great authority with a bridal identity (Rev. 5:8; 6:9-11; 8:3-5). The “bowls of prayer” will be full in heaven before Jesus releases the seven seals of judgment on the earth.
8 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. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood… (Rev. 5:8-9)
The new song originates at God’s Throne and is dynamically related to Jesus’ Coming to earth (Ps. 33:3-14; 40:3-10; 96:1; 98:1; 149:1-9; Rev. 5:8-4; 14:2-3).
God promised to establish intercessors who will never be silent until He restores Jerusalem.
6 I have set watchmen on your walls…they shall never hold their peace (be silent, NAS) day or night…7 give Him no rest till He establishes…Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isa. 62:6-7)
Isa. 42:10-13 with Rev. 22:17 gives us the clearest picture of the End-Time Church “praying in conjunction with prophetic singing” to invite the Second Coming of Jesus. The prophetic “new song” will be released in all nations leading to Jesus’ Second Coming. The End-Time worship movement will be led by prophetic music and songs.
10 Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you coastlands and you inhabitants of them! 11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare His praise in the coastlands. 13 The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man (Jesus’ Second Coming); He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies. 14 “I have held My peace…I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once. 15 I will lay waste the mountains and hill (End-Time judgments)…” (Isa. 42:10-15)
16 The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout…and with the trumpet of God…17 We who are alive…shall be caught up together with them in the clouds… (1 Thes. 4:16-17)
At the end-of-the-age there will be 144,000 prophetic singers from the 5-6 million Jewish intercessors who are described as those who call on God’s name in worship and intercession. The 144,000 will stand with Jesus in His government as they sing the new song of the Lord.
1 Behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000…2 I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang …a new song before the Throne…and no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. (Rev. 14:1-3)
The End-Time Church will not be raptured before the Great Tribulation. Rather, the praying Church releases the judgments of the Great Tribulation. God’s End-Time judgments will be released by the songs of the redeemed. David prophesied that prophetic worship that will release God’s End-Time judgments.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth…7 to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 8 to bind their kings with chains…9 to execute on them the written judgment– This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD! (Ps. 149:6-9)
The Church at the end of the age will see a great worship movement.
14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing; for the majesty of the LORD they shall cry aloud from the sea. 15 Therefore glorify the LORD in the dawning light, the name of the LORD God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea. 16 From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: “Glory to the righteous!” (Isa. 24:14-16)
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. (Isa. 26:1-2)
VI. THE GREAT END-TIME CONFLICT: TWO GLOBAL WORSHIP MOVEMENTS
The great conflict at the end-of-the-age will be between two Houses of Prayer or between two global worship movements. The Holy Spirit is raising up the most powerful prayer and worship movement in history. It will be the Church’s “first line of defense” against the Antichrist’s worship movement and his persecutions.
The Antichrist will raise up a state-financed false worship worldwide movement to hinder the Holy Spirit’s worship movement (Rev. 13:4, 8, 12, 15). This worship movement will cause the people in the kingdom of darkness to have a deep heart connect with Satan. The music in this movement will move people emotionally and will be backed up by signs and wonders.
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him (Antichrist), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13:8)
Satan will use “false prophetic” preaching that will be confirmed with false signs and wonders to raise up his “prophetic” worship and prayer movement.
9 The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception… (2 Thes. 2:9-10)
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mt. 24:24)
The music and the lyrics will cause the multitudes to weep and be deeply moved so that they will follow the Antichrist even unto death.
Angels of light will appear in the massive worship festivals attended by millions. Lucifer was the chief musician in the courts of God before he fell. He knows how to use music powerfully.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God…the workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 You were the anointed cherub…I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you…16 Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. 17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground…18 You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities. (Ezek. 28:13-18)
The Antichrist, the False Prophet and their followers will be fully committed to this false worship movement. Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the End-Time Church will be even more committed to the true worship movement. It is the wisdom of God to give ourselves to this.
The False Prophet will perform great signs (plural) that will be great in power as well as great in significance and deception (Rev. 16:14; 19:20; 13:14; Mt. 24:11, 24; Mk. 13:22; 2 Thes. 2:9). The great miracles will probably often occur in the large Antichrist worship events.
12 And he (False Prophet) exercises all the authority of the first beast (Antichrist), and causes the earth… to worship the first beast (Antichrist)…13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. (Rev. 13:12-13)
The False Prophet’s primary goal is to raise up a worldwide worship movement in which Satan and the Antichrist are worshipped (Rev. 13:4, 8, 12, 15).
15 He (False Prophet) was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast…to cause as many as would not worship the image…to be killed. 16 He causes all…rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark… (Rev. 13:15-17)
The False Prophet will call down fire as a counterfeit Elijah who called fire down from heaven in his “clash of power” with the prophets of Baal (1 Kg. 18:38; 2 Kgs. 1:10-12). The False Prophet will have a clash of power with the Two Witnesses who will call fire from heaven (Rev. 11:5).
The image of the Beast and the mark of the Beast will be two components that will mobilize and finance the Antichrist’s global worship movement. The image of the Beast will mobilize Antichrist’s worshippers and penalize those who resist. The mark of the Beast will provide economic support for the Antichrist’s worship movement and will penalize those who resist.
The image of the Beast will be an idol of the Antichrist that will combine cutting edge technology and supernatural demonic elements causing this image to breathe and speak. The image may be like a high-tech hologram that looks and sounds like the Antichrist.
I believe that local leaders will have a duplicate image of the Antichrist that will be demonically and technologically connected to the “primary” image in Jerusalem. The result will be a global network of local “Antichrist worship sanctuaries” that may include a hologram of the Antichrist.
These demonic local outposts will be the focal points of spiritual warfare as the true houses of prayer fill the earth.
The worship that Satan wanted from Jesus is what he demands from the whole earth. Satan offered Jesus the political authority over all the kingdoms of the earth if He would worship him.
8 The devil…showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” (Matt. 4:8-9)
The Antichrist will demand to be worshipped before an idol as Nebuchadnezzar did (Dan. 3:1-6).
1 Nebuchadnezzar…made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits (90 feet) and its width six cubits (9 feet)…4 Then a herald cried aloud, “…You shall… worship the gold image …6 whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into…fiery furnace.” (Dan. 3:1-6)
There will be a great war in the spirit realm over who will be worshipped or who will possess the passion of the human heart. It is a war for our hearts. Michael the Archangel wars with Satan in context to the End-Time worship movement.
7 War broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon…9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil…he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Rev. 12:7-9)
VII. FINANCIAL APPLICATION OF EMBRACING DAVID’S REVELATION OF WORSHIP
The people were to provide finances for the Levites.
4 He commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the…the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. (2 Chr. 31:4)
The singers were to receive enough finances to meet their daily needs.
22 The overseer of the Levites…was Uzzi…of the sons of Asaph, the singers in charge of the service of the house of God. 23 For it was the king’s command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day. (Neh. 11:22-23)
God commanded that Israel financially support the singers and gatekeepers.
44 The tithes…the portions specified by the Law for the…Levites; Judah rejoiced over the… Levites who ministered….47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. (Neh. 12:44-47)
The singers were not given finances therefore, they returned to their jobs in the fields.
5 The tithes…were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers…10 I realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. 11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe…to the storehouse…14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this…my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God… (Neh. 13:5-14)
The money that Israel gave to the Temple was for the Levites and the gatekeepers.
14 According to the order of David his father, he (Solomon) appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, the Levites for their duties (to praise and serve before the priests) as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate; for so David the man of God had commanded. (2 Chr. 8:14)
King Hezekiah commanded tithes to support the Levites.
4 Moreover he (Hezekiah) commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. 5 As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of…all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6 The children of Israel and Judah…brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the LORD their God they laid in heaps…9 Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest…said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the LORD has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.” 11 Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the LORD, and they prepared them. 12 Then they faithfully brought in the…the tithes… 14 Kore…was over the freewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the LORD…15 And under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, his faithful assistants in the cities of the priests, to distribute allotments to their brethren…to the great as well as the small…16 They distributed to everyone who entered the house of the LORD his daily portion for the work of his service… (2 Chr. 31:4-16)
9 When they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites who kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and which they had brought back to Jerusalem. 10 Then they put it in the hand of the foremen who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they gave it to the workmen who worked in the house of the LORD, to repair and restore the house. 11 They gave it to the craftsmen and builders…12 and the men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites…Others of the Levites, all of whom were skillful with instruments of music, 13 were over the burden bearers and were overseers of all who did work in any kind of service. Some of the Levites were scribes, officers, and gatekeepers. (2 Chr. 34:9-13)
3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 5 And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the LORD; let them give it to those who are in the house of the LORD doing the work, to repair the damages of the house…7 However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.” (2 Kings 22:3-7)
GREAT DAY OF THE LORD: THE CHURCH’S GREATEST HOUR
11 For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it? (Joel 2:11)
5 I will send you Elijah…before…the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (Mal. 4:5)
The great Day of the Lord refers to the unusual events (positive and negative) that suddenly escalate in the final years before Jesus returns. It is “His Day” because it is a unique time frame in which Jesus acts in the earthly arena in great power for His people and against His enemies.
The greatest outpouring of the Spirit in history will be released just before Jesus’ Coming. In this great revival, the Spirit will release the miracles seen in the book of Acts and the book of Exodus combined and multiplied on a global scale and will result in the following positive trends.
The Church will be victorious and full of God’s glory (Mt. 16:18; Jn. 17:21-26; Rev. 19:7-8).
27 That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish (compromise). (Eph. 5:27)
The Church will be effective in the Great Ingathering of souls from all nations with over 1 billion new souls (Rom. 11:12-15, 26; Mt. 24:14; Rev. 5:9; 7:9; 14:6; 15:4; Ps. 66:4; Zeph. 2:11; 3:8-10).
9 A multitude…no one could number of all nations…out of the Tribulation… (Rev. 7:9, 14)
ISAIAH’S PROPHECY ABOUT 24/7 PRAYER MINISTRIES IN THE END-TIMES
6 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves; 7 and give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isa 62:6-7, NAS)
The Holy Spirit is now building a global spiritual wall of intercession for Jerusalem’s protection. Jerusalem will become a “praise in the earth” at the time of Jesus’ Coming. At that time, all nations will praise or magnify the qualities of Jerusalem resulting from Jesus’ leadership there.
At present, Jerusalem is not praised in the earth but rather is a city of controversy and strife.
3 I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zech. 12:3)
C. Isaiah’s prophecy is specifically about prayer ministries that continue 24/7 until the Second Coming. Most of these prayer ministries will be started in the generation Jesus returns.
Watchman are those who “remind the Lord” of His promises in His Word. In other words, they are intercessors. They will never keep silent “all day and all night” as they continue in 24/7 intercession and worship.
Isaiah was not prophesying of building a “physical wall” around Jerusalem or at the Temple Mount (which will be under the control of the Antichrist in the End-Times; Rev. 11:1-2) but rather a “spiritual wall of intercession”. God will release a wall of His fire around her.
5 For I…will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst. (Zech. 2:5)
God promised to set (NKJ) or appoint (NAS) intercessors to build a global spiritual wall for Jerusalem. He will do this by stirring them and making provision for this calling.
The IHOP-KC mandate (as well as other ministries) is solidly founded in Isa. 62:6-7.
X. MAKING A SPIRITUAL WALL OF INTERCESSION FOR ISRAEL’S PROTECTION
The Lord sought for those who would make up (build up, NAS) a wall. The Lord was seeking for intercessors to build a “spiritual wall of intercession” to provide protection for His purposes in the land of Israel, not carpenters to build a physical wall around Jerusalem.
30 I sought for a man among them who would make a wall (build up, NAS), and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it… (Ezek. 22:30)
Intercessors stand in the gap between what a nation is in their sin, Satan’s rage against them and God’s offer to give them mercy and send revival and protection, if they repent and cry out for it.
True prophets go up into the gaps to build a “wall of intercession”.
3 Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. 5 You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD. (Ezek. 13:3-5)
A significant dimension of a true prophet is the calling to stand in the gap in intercession. God has dynamically joined together the prophetic and intercessory ministries.
18 If they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, do not go to Babylon.’ (Jer. 27:18)
23 Far be it from me (the prophet Samuel) that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. (1 Sam. 12:23)
18 Their heart cried out to the Lord, “O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night; give yourself no relief; give your eyes no rest. (Lam. 2:18)
XI. WE MUST STAND ON THE WALL OF INTERCESSION FOR JERUSALEM
The Battle for Jerusalem is a spiritual, political and military battle for the control of Jerusalem. This is one of the most significant battlefronts in the spirit today ended only by Jesus’ Coming.
1 The day of the LORD is coming…2 I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem…3 Then the LORD will go forth (Second Coming) and fight… (Zech. 14:1-3)
The battle for Jerusalem is primarily a war between two houses of prayer (Jesus Vs. Antichrist).
11 The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place…all the shores of the nations. (Zeph. 2:11)
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him (Antichrist)…12 and he (False Prophet)…causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the beast (Antichrist)… (Rev. 13:8, 12)
Jesus prophesied that He would not come back to Jerusalem until the governmental leaders of Israel voluntarily ask Him to reign over them as their Messianic King (Mt. 23:39).
39 You shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. (Mt. 23:39)
God promises prosperity for all who pray for the peace of Jesus to be released in Jerusalem.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. (Ps. 122:6)
The conflict at the end-of-the-age will be between two Houses of Prayer (two global worship movements). The Holy Spirit is raising up the most powerful worship movement in history (Rev. 22:17; 5:8; 8:4; Lk. 18:7-8; Mt. 25:1-13; Isa. 62:6-7; 24:14-16; 25:9; 26:8-9; 27:2-5, 13; 30:18- 19; 42:10-13; 43:26; 51:11; 52:8; Jer. 31:7; etc.). He will supernaturally finance it.
The Antichrist will raise up a state-financed false worship worldwide movement to hinder the Holy Spirit’s worship movement (Rev. 13:4, 8, 12, 15). This worship movement will cause the people in the kingdom of darkness to have a deep heart connect with Satan. The music in this movement will move people emotionally and will be backed up by signs and wonders. This will be the most power, passionate and dangerous time in world history.
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him (Antichrist), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13:8)
IHOP-KC Missions Base www.IHOP.org
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