Sacred Song of Intercession

I finally found a spare moment to sit down and share with you my fourth installment of what God has revealed to me on the age old subject of worship. I have already strived to show you the precious power that is behind the unique song that God set in your heart, this unique song that you must allow to part your lips and lift up your heart. Secondly I tried to take you to the scriptures and show you how much of a treasure worship is with the fact that is ushers the very presence of God into a place. Thirdly I ran with you into the throes of a battle where one of our most powerful weapons is a heart and life in a posture of worship before the King of Kings. Now however, I want to take you to a place that is often uncomfortable. God is always stretching and growing us, so why wouldn't an aspect of using worship as a tool be uncomfortable? Here is a place where we feel the pain of others and we weep bitter tears on behalf of others, here is a place where we take worship to the place of intercession.

Four things I know to be true about worship.

1) God has placed unique and powerful songs within each of his precious children that are just waiting to pour out.

2) God dwells within the praises of his people.

3) Worship is a powerful tool against Satan's devices.

4) We can tap into a depth of intercession as we identify with the heart of those around us in song.

+Psalm 149:1, 3, 6 "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful…Praise his name with dancing…Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands…"

"The Unhindered Interceding Heart"

Intercession by definition is an entreaty or pleading in favor on behalf of another, a prayer to God on behalf of another person. In this simple form, prayers on behalf of another, intercession is an amazingly powerful tool. One of the most well known examples in the Old Testament is found in Genesis 18 when Abraham nearly argues with God on behalf of the wicked city of Sodom. He stands on behalf of the few righteous in the city and God relents on the standard he is asking to find therein. Another well known instance is found in Exodus 32 when God's anger is stirred toward the Hebrew people and Moses intercedes on their behalf. God relents from the judgment he was going to pour out because Moses pleaded with him and asked for his mercies to once more be showered on them. In the instances we see the power behind pleading to God on behalf of another person.

Now I want to build my case as to why we too can see powerful prayers answered when we step into intercession. We may not ever have the opportunity to see our intercession on behalf of a nation answered (even though God knows we need to see the US turn back to God in a big way) I want to address personal intercession for specific people. You may not realize you are already interceding for your friend who was once so strong in their faith and has now wandered away. Perhaps you have cried out to God and told him "God, they've been so wounded, their heart is hard, please shower your love on them and make yourself real to them once more!" Have you prayed a prayer like that? Have you had a family member who isn't saved make one more seemingly catastrophic choice and you find yourself on the floor during your devotional times with tear streaked cheeks asking God to make himself known to them in a big way? Dear friend each time you've prayed anything on behalf of another-you are interceding.

Will you let me show you how this can be so powerful in the place of worship? There are songs that at times we may not be able to relate to. Maybe you feel secure in your place with God and in this season of your walk with God the Desperation Song that declares:

"I need you Jesus to come to my rescue! Where else could I go? There's no other name for which I am saved! Capture me with grace!"

You don't need a valiant rescue at this point in time. While you can acknowledge that God has rescued you and his name has saving power, but this season, this moment you don't identify with that. Well may I ask you-how long is the list of people in your life that you believe DO need to be rescued by Jesus and captured by grace? Whether they see it or not-you can be their voice when they have none. Imagine the multitudes that are so weary and tired and lost that they have no strength to life their voice up to God to ask for a miracle, you can be their voice. When you encounter a song that may not be one you identify with at the moment-flip it around into a prayer on behalf of the people in your life. Instead of numbly reciting the words in worship as a little ditty that is fun to sing along to, let your heart be ripped to pieces on behalf of your prodigal friends. Cry out for God to rescue them.

There is a weekly prayer meeting I get to be a part of on Wednesdays before youth at my church, one specific evening a few weeks ago God laid it heavy on my heart to dedicate the night to interceding on behalf of the people in our lives that need a God encounter. We had songs that were al geared toward our need for God in our lives, our need to have him show up, a need to be saved-and we opened up the white board to write the names of the people God was laying on our hearts. It was one of the most powerful prayer times I've ever had. We all positioned our prayers in a way that it wasn't about us. We realized the desperate need of so many in our lives and we allowed our hearts to be torn on behalf of them. There are times when we don't have the words to pray for our loved ones. We begin to feel desperate for them just as they are desperate for a touch from God and we have no words to pray. In those times the Spirit will often give us words from a source deep inside that bubbles out. But another way God can give us words is through the hearts of others. We can turn to songs and specifically allow the heart within the song to pour forth from our lips on behalf of the ones so dear to us. In this prayer time exactly that happened. We all wept at the sheer amount of names on the board, it was covered with names all over. There are so many people in need of God. We just cried out

"Save me! Lord save me! I have nowhere else to go! Lord I trust in You alone to save me! My Savior I call on your name, Jesus save me!" (Save Me, by Gateway Worship)

"One tear in the dropping rain! One voice in the sea of pain! Could the maker of the stars hear the sound of my broken heart? One light, that's all I am! Right now I can barely stand! If you're everything you say you are, won't you come close and hold my heart!?" (Hold My Heart by Tenth Avenue North)

"There are tears from the saints, for the lost and unsaved. We're crying for them come back home! Come back home…" (Tears From the Saints by Leeland)

There are so many hearts that need us to intercede on their behalf. When we cry out on behalf of the hurting God shows up. You see, we are acting and identifying with Christ in this act. Christ is interceding on our behalf continually. We ourselves have a intercessor at the Throne of Heaven pleading on our behalf.

+ Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through Him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf.

I challenge you to devout a set amount of time in your prayers to singing out in intercession on behalf of the people you love. God will see your heart, and he will hear your prayers, and the words will come to you as you lift up the lost friend our prodigal son to the Kingly intercessor. Do not underestimate the power of simply praying in intercession, but I want you to see worship as the tool it is in the realm of intercession. Pray for those who have no voice. There are hearts that are too hard to ask God to act-be their voice. Be the voice for the prodigal whose pride won't allow him to turn back. Be the interceding voice on behalf of a generation who has lost all hope.

Do not overlook the power of worship,
allow the unique song to pour forth and usher in the presence of God in order to battle the attack of the enemy and call upon God's grace to save the lost people in your life.

+Psalm 149:1, 3, 6 "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful…Praise his name with dancing…Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands…"

Savior to Servant

God has really been dealing with me on the subject of having a savior mentality. This comes in two scenarios, first- when you have a friend who knows God, knows the Word and gets disillusioned and wanders away from God. Secondly this can happen when you find yourself in some form getting attached to a non-believer and wish they knew what you know about God. If you aren't careful you begin to think that it's your responsibility to help, fix, and get them to God. But in short, God has shown me that that is not my job at all. We are not to try and take Christ's place in someone's life. We are to reflect God to the people around us and point them to HIM. Because you see, friend- when we take the weight of someone's soul on our shoulders we are bound to fall under the pressure. We will fail them and we will be left wounded on the ground with the false feeling of failure. Please don't take this the wrong way. We are supposed to help each other and lead each other back to God when we get distracted, but it's not our job to get someone to Heaven, we in our own flesh and strength can only do so much. Then we have to leave room for God to take the reins. Yes we are to encourage each other along our walk. Yes we are to bear with each other and love in all things. Yes we are at times called to exhort each other on certain actions. But no dear one- you do not have to hold them up as they trip. God has other plans for you. All these thoughts came together in poem that I decided to write last night after a conversation with some good friends about what we are to do with these situations…what I learned above all else-is God calls us to be servants to the wounded and weary person, not savior. I hope this speaks to you in some way. I really feel that this is directed those of you who know exactly how heavy the burden is to carry another on your shoulders…

+ Hebrews 3:12-15 Be careful then, dear brothers. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. But never forget the warning: 'Today you must listen to his voice. Don't harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled.'

Savior to Servant

Equally yoked are we

Such great friends you and me

We build each other up in this place

As we walk along, side by side

Encouragement flows face to face

Nothing from you I feel I have to hide

As days go by we make our way

I never noticed the edges start to fray

Just like a sunset in its last glimmer

Or a lightning bolts blinding flash,

The fire for God in you was turned to simmer

All the sudden you're convinced there's a catch

The finely built cord begins to unravel

Soon there is a swerve in these two that we travel

I notice now, it's nearly to late

How am I to hold you up as you trip and stumble?

Can't let you slip into such a fate

Am I to let this defended friendship so easily crumble?

Sturdy I set my feet apart

There must be a way for me to hold to your heart

With all my strength I lift you up

But you only pull away

All doors for me to help seem shut

I can't allow this failure over me to lay

All at once I realize you're too far off for me

Tears fall as frustrations rise to the feeling you won't ever be free

What sort of a friend am I to fail you?

My strength is sapped now I see

I can't save you, but then who?

The answer is a strong resounding HE

He is the one who orders your steps

He is the one for you who descended into the depths

He has an arm not too short to save

He is the one who sees your wandering heart

He is the one who will calm your raging waves

He is the one who from you will never depart

Where I lost, He has victory

Where I was blind, he alone can see

Where I fell, he stands his ground

Though he draws near to the humble, He opposes the proud.

So I see now I'm not the one to save

He alone is the author of your days

I must trust Him to do his work

Let him rightfully be savior

I, myself, cannot heal your hurt

I'm letting Him lift you as an eagle to sore

As I stand back I see the place to be

I tried to play savior-but God has other plans for me

He has called me to be your servant

Here I devout myself on your behalf to prayer

For you my heart shall be rent

I let go.

I am not Savior, but servant

I commit you, dear one, into my loving Father's capable care.

Sacred Song of the Battle

I am so excited to share with you this point of the revelation that hit me on subject of worship. I have already endeavored to share with you how I have found in scripture and in personal experience that worship can be thing that firstly is created as a unique song that is within you that takes you to a deeper form of worship. Secondly, worship is the gate to the very presence of the Most High God. Thirdly I want to share how I have found that worship, songs sang to honor my Father God-these songs become a vital tool in battle against all that would hinder us from the abundant life that Jesus Christ came to bring. When we sing and praise God it ushers in the very presence of God into that place, whether it be your room, a church sanctuary or around a campfire, God's presence can wash over you. Wherever that presence is, satan and his attacks are powerless.

Four things I know to be true about worship.

1) God has placed unique and powerful songs within each of his precious children that are just waiting to pour out.

2) God dwells within the praises of his people.

3) Worship is a powerful tool against Satan's devices.

4) We can tap into a depth of intercession as we identify with the heart of those around us in song.

+Psalm 149:1, 3, 6 "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful…Praise his name with dancing…Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands…"

"Undefeatable Weapon of War"

+ Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realm."

Now I want to draw your attention to a specific line in the verses I've been focusing in on. Do you see how it says in the last portion "Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands…"? Praises in their mouth as they hold a sharp sword in their hands; worship is a weapon of warfare. When God enters a room, satan cannot stay. In the laws of the Israelites we hear God tell his people "You must be holy as I am holy" no sinful thing can enter into his presence. Just as all darkness flees to the furthest corners of a room when the light switch is turned on, the light of his presence cannot be withstood by a sliver of darkness. During worship services in foreign countries during a crusade, spontaneous healings can take place right in the middle of worship. There is an injection of God's healing power right into the thirsty vein of a people in desperate pursuit of the presence. Bondages of the enemy are broken as God shows up in our worship, the well thought out plans and battle strategies of the enemy are broken in an instant.

When I was in Nicaragua this past summer with my youth group there was one evening in particular where we attended a church service. Our bus driver, Carlos drove us there and sat out with the bus during the two hour service. In the service there was some awesome worship, I was a very powerful and touching experience to sing along to worship song hearing the church singing in Spanish as my group sang just as passionately in English. There was something about the unity that the scene stirred that particular pricked my heart, and I believe the heart of God. He responds to hearts in unity, to hearts focused on him. We were none-the-wiser of how God was moving on our behalf this night. The service went well and two men even gave their life to Christ. However, it isn't to this point that I am taking you to. Come along further. We departed from this church and as we were driving away from the building Carlos, our driver, pulled over. Through our interpreter, Louis, Carlos told us that while we were in the service his daughter was taken into the Hospital. She had a heart attack and was rushed there to be treated. Carlos had stayed at the church because it was his job he didn't want to let us down or those who had contracted him. At his solid servants heart's display tears spilled generously down my cheeks and passed by hanging jaw. How could he stay when his daughter has been rushed to the hospital in such a state? What's more-his daughter was three years old. Carlos had pulled the bus over cause he knew that "when we prayed, God did things." However, his request for prayer wasn't that she would make it through, for you see-even while we were still in the service, as we worshipped the Lord his daughter was found in stable condition. She was going to be perfectly fine. He was asking simply for prayers for her continued health. I don't know if you caught that or not-his three year old daughter who had a heart attack was firstly attacked, secondly restored. The enemy was perhaps attempting to get us distracted from the service where he was going to lose two more souls for eternity-he didn't want the testimonies and the dramas to impact those lives. But God in his infinite power and wisdom intercepted the advances of satan and right in the midst of or worship intervened on our behalf. The enemy went for a swing and the power of the Spirit in worship blocked it and cut him down.

In the scriptures you find numerous examples of how music and worship was a piece of war. In Numbers 10:9 there is a reference to how the people would blow a trumpet to remind the Lord of his promises and to call him to rescue you. The same scripture goes on to say to also blow the trumpet in times of gladness to remind the Lord of his covenant. We worship to ask the Lord to act on our behalf and quell the enemy's strategies and we worship to magnify God.

Another example in scripture that we see is that of Jericho. God told Joshua in Joshua 6 that the land was already his, he just had to follow his instructions, and what were they? He was to walk around the walls, and on the 7^th day of this they walked around the guarded city with shouts and trumpets. They were using music, shouts-to break down the walls. They enforced the victory that God has bestowed to them-with worship. In worship the walls and strongholds of the enemy fell down.

In the same way as we worship we can rid ourselves of a spirit of depression, as Bill Johnson says "Physical obedience brings spiritual release." The very act of worshiping is sending the enemy running with his tail tucked between his legs. Do you see the amazing tool we have in worship? Do you see the threat it is to the enemy. When a child of God truly gets a hold of who they are in Christ, when they are worshiping and have their focus on God-there is NOTHING the enemy can do to attack them. Arm yourselves with praise on your lips and a sword on your hand. Let's break down the walls the enemy has built and take the territory that we have been given by God and let's do it in the midst of our worship.

Sacred Song of the Presence

In my last blog (Sacred Song of the Heart) I shared what I've learned about singing in the Spirit, how God can bring a unique song out of you that hasn't ever been sang before. Its an amazing tool to be used to usher yourself into the presence of God. Not only does singing and worshiping take you to a deeper level of intimacy with God but it opens the door for God's presence to flood over you. David understood this, in the times he most needed a touch from God he would pour his heart out in song and God would come and there would be a sincere God encounter.

+Psalm 149:1, 3, 6 "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful…Praise his name with dancing…Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands…"

Four things I know to be true about worship. 1) God has placed unique and powerful songs within each of his precious children that are just waiting to pour out. 2) God dwells within the praises of his people. 3) Worship is a powerful tool against Satan's devices. 4) We can tap into a depth of intercession as we identify with the heart of those around us in song.
We can tap into a depth of intercession as we identify with the heart of those a

"Ushering in the Presence"

+ Psalm 22:3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel

Have you ever been in a worship service and the atmosphere just changes? You are singing with your whole heart and something happens. You can't really say what it is but all the sudden the entire room seems to be on the same page, the entire room is laying their heart before the God of the universe and just praising him for what he has done in their lives. Everyone without any kind of signal all raise their hands at the same time, whatever it is, maybe they all jump out of excitement, maybe they fall to their knees and are in deep worship only to open their eyes to see the rest of the room in the same humble position. Whatever that atmosphere looks like, we have all seen it. If you have ever corporately been worshiping and everyone's heart is focused on God-then you know what I'm talking about.

This phenomenon can even happen at the most unlikely times. There has been moments when I'm alone in my car and as I have my Hillsong, Desperation, Abbey Johnson, Glorious Unseen-whomever is in the CD player at the time-I have it blaring and I'm just singing, then I feel my stomach flipping, my whole body all the sudden responds to the change of atmosphere right there in the car. Something just changes. Have you ever felt that? Maybe I'm just listening to the music is my personal quite time with God and as a song is playing I feel that inner ache and tears spring to my eyes, it happened. God showed up. God's presence is revealed in a real and tangible way.

When we are worshiping and allowing the Spirit to flow through us we create an environment where our hearts are wide open to experience a genuine God encounter. Our Father God's heart is moved by our willing worship and he draws near. (James 4:8) It isn't some mythological idea or philosophy, the God of the universe; the God whose hand spans the universe
(Isa. 40:12) can manifest his presence to you in your times of worship.

There is no questioning the fact stated by King David that God is enthroned, he dwells, inhabits the praises of his people. We see this in Isaiah's vision in the year that King Uzziah died..

+ Isaiah 6:3-4 In a great chorus they [the angels] sang, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!" The glorious singing shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke.

Smoke is often representative of the presence of God, the Israelites were lead by a cloud by day and a pillar of smoke and fire by night, God's presence was guiding them. Here we see that this powerful God who could have anything that entered his mind chooses to surround himself by the praises of his creation. Do you see that they were SANG holy
holy
holy, the sound of their SINGING was changing things! In response God's presence was filling that place! In the same way when we worship God, we center our focus on Him; he comes and dwells in that place. Have you ever been worshiping and felt that initial change, where you feel like someone just literally opened the door to let the King of Glory come in? That is your Spirit when it connects with the One who made you. It is a divine moment where there is a deep fellowship with this marvelous Creator. In these moments when God is so manifested and near to you there is more than a change in the atmosphere. Often in the presence of God people will begin to weep because they are being washed by God's love or they are feeling convicted as

he cleanses their hearts. This experience is something you should envy, something you should guard, this communing time with your Heavenly Father can strengthen you in a dry season and it can minister to you in your pain. With his presence comes healing, comes words of encouragement, it is most often in my times of prayer and worship that I hear God whispering things to my heart.

We should invest our time into worshiping our God, usher him into our every day. Begin to live an attitude of worship, not just with music but where we are focusing on God throughout our every day mundane activities; it makes the little things holy things. Even when we are singing to ourselves as we go about our day you can feel a nearness
with God that you may have never felt before as you washed the dishes, whatever it is-invite God into your everyday life. Allow him to be the centerpiece. Personally the best way that I have found to focus on my Father God, is worship, because I know that when I am allowing the Spirit to flow through me-he will worship the Father, and in worshiping the Father, in worshiping God-things change. His presence floods over me, and my drive to work becomes a God appointment. I challenge you, worship God today. Take time to set aside and just worship him, sing out, blare your music and allow God's presence to flood over you.

+ Psalm 95: 6-7 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the sheep under his care. Oh, that you would listen to his voice today!

Sacred Song of the Heart

I sing all the time. I sing in the car, in the shower and I've heard you singing around that corner I was walking around…the first thing I do when I wake up is flip open my trusty laptop and light up Windows Media Player and let the melodies saturate my mushy morning mind. (Sorry all you MAC lovers, my HP is faithful! Anyways...) Lately God has been revealing more and more to me how he has designed us to use singing and worship to as one of the avenues delve into the deeper things of God. These things have revolutionized
my mindset in worship and turned it from a precursor to a possibly 'boring' message into a encounter time that I can't get enough of! God wants to show you too how you can use worship as a means to an amazing end!

+Psalm 149:1, 3, 6 "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful…Praise his name with dancing…Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands…"

Four things I know to be true about worship. 1)
God has placed unique and powerful songs within each of his precious children that are just waiting to pour out. 2) God dwells within the praises of his people. 3) Worship is a powerful tool against Satan's devices. 4)
We can tap into a depth of intercession as we identify with the heart of those around us in song.

Let me state my case will you?

"A Unique Song"

Right here in the word we read David encouraging the reader to 'sing a new song .' You may slap a smile across your face and say "awesome! Come on Chris Tomlin, let me hear you're newest song!" Or maybe you think "God is so awesome to inspire all those Australians in Hillsong to write those impacting songs!" Well yes, God uses those, yes they are amazingly powerful, but David, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, here says to sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful, referencing the body of Christ. That means if you count yourself as one of God's children, he is exhorting you to sing a new song.

Now I said I would tell of the personal experiences I've had with this, well let me give you an example of what this looks like. To follow the word set forth in this scripture doesn't mean you have to start your own worship band, but think now of some of the live songs you have heard. There are these fill in moments where the artists will just sing words that are magnifying God, or phrases that are cries of their heart in that moment, or entire lines will flow from somewhere deep within and it just flows perfectly into a build up and others somehow join in, with this...new song. In the times you feel a desire to sing one random phrase that comes to mind in the middle of an instrumental fill-that's the new song God has deposited. It's at the door pounding, and the thud
thud
thud suddenly beats in time with the music that is filling the room you're in and then you hear the words, Jesus! Jesus! My heart it cries-Jesus! Jesus! You know what I mean.

Those moments the sanctuary at church erupts into spontaneous random songs all at once, they are all letting that song break down the door and pour out. This happens a lot for me personally. I will just sing words on my heart in the middle of a song. One of the most powerful times this happened was recently after a prayer time, I was sitting outside with some of my gal friends. One of them just played the guitar and we all just sang whatever came to mind, however it came out and God put together this beautiful harmonizing melodic song that had words and phrases that weaved in and out. It was just this raw beautiful time where we just worshiped together in Spirit. We were singing in the Spirit.

+ John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

It is such a God moment when your spirit is unleashed to pour out a new song. There is always this refreshing atmosphere that washes over you in times of obedience to the word. Here, when you let go of any inhibitions and let your spirit make a connection with God in a way it hasn't before. While the four of us were sitting in the parking lot I felt God's presence so strongly. It was so amazing, we were just sitting there and decided to sing together in the Spirit and see where it lead us. In the midst of this corporate spirit melody we would even be singing about different things and say the same word at the same time. You can't help but smile, God loves to sing through us, the Spirit wants to sign out- will you let that song come forth?

Do not worry about if its biblical, where do you think David's psalms of pain and joy all came from? In Exodus as the people and Moses sang their song of deliverance as they left Egypt, that was an inspired song. In the New Testament when Mary is visiting Elizabeth she begins to sing a song of praise for how God has chose to use her (Luke 1). God has placed a song within your heart that you can find release and a new level of worship when you dive into it.

In the times when your heart is overcome with grief you can allow yourself to sing out a new song, a song straight from your heart. In the times when you are bubbling over with joy, allow thanksgiving to pour out. Worship him in Spirit with the unique song he has placed there and a new level of intimacy can be found. Next time you have the chance, let those words out, flow freely in the Spirit and you will delve well into the deep. Allow that unique and power filled song out. You will feel his presence surround you whenever you allow Him to sing though you.

 

This link below is a "prophetic song" from the International House of Prayer, this is just one example, but just watching it you can feel how the Spirit is orchestrating both the lyrics and the instruments. Youtube Prophetic Worship songs to look into more…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1q8PfXCx-U