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What is meant by “Harp and Bowl”?

For those unfamiliar with the Harp and Bowl model, it’s the name that IHOP-KC adopted
to reflect their fusion of worship and intercession. Using music, the spoken word and
even other forms of art, the Harp and Bowl model helps engage the entire room in
meeting with God over the issues of His heart and ours.

The term itself is a reference to Revelation 5:7-10: “He came and took the scroll from the right
hand of Him who sat on the throne. And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the
twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp (representing worship) and
they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang
a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and
with Your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and
nation. You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they will reign on
the earth.”

In this model, trained teams of musicians, singers and prayer leaders begin each set with
worship, eventually moving toward spontaneous songs and singing/praying the
scriptures of focus for the session. Interspersed are spoken prayers led by a prayer
leader and accompanied by a musical response of agreement. Within these
movements, a variety of opportunities for the entire room to engage are presented
including small group intercession and rapid-fire prayers. This structure cycles
throughout a two-hour block, carrying intercession with remarkable ease.

The structure provides a great deal of freedom for artistic and prophetic expression while
remaining quite grounded in scripture because it is the Word of God itself that is
being prayed and sung. The fusion of musical/artistic creativity and intercession
easily sustains night and day prayer because it enjoyable by nature; engaging all
ages and all backgrounds. Because of this, the model serves our need for endurance
in order to develop a 24/7 environment and to establish a movement that will out
last us - until the Lord’s return. It makes for an accessible, powerful, engaging
encounter with God.

Other gifts of this model include the ease that each musical culture and generation finds
in incorporating its structure while remaining true to the worshipful expressions
they most deeply relate to God in. Additionally, because of the clear
communication that this model affords and the immersion in the scriptures that it
requires, the teams are emboldened by its rhythms and empowered to further
cultivate their own relationship with God. There is actually more room for focused
intercession and increased opportunities for the entire room to participate in a
various expressions of prayer.

Worship and prayer are natural partners and together they catalyze intercession. In a very
cyclical way, they always point us back to Him. God is fascinating really. He woos
us with love in every arena and creates a means to an end that elicits a voluntary
response to His invitation to love Him, enjoy Him and co-labor with Him.
Worship with the Word
I will remember the works of Jehovah; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate
on all Your works and muse of Your doings. O God, your way is in holiness; who is a god, great like
God? Psalm 77:11-13

What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms
with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind. 1Corinthians 14:15

Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. You will sing and make music to
the Lord with your hearts. Ephesians 5:19

What is Worship with the Word?

• Worship with the Word is one of four prayer formats that collectively establish a
rhythm for the House of Prayer. By engaging in diverse formats, there is a
cadence of energy levels that cooperatively sustain endurance in our long-term
commitment to night and day prayer.

• Worship with the Word is a method of biblical education where we sing


systematically through large portions of Scripture. It is meant to foster a deeper
understanding of God’s emotions and desires by meditating on His Word.

Because we learn best when multiple senses are employed, in this format we can:
1. Hear the Word as we sing it;
2. See the Word as we read it;
3. Taste the Word by “chewing” it over (i.e., meditating on God’s intent –
“Taste and see that The Lord is good”)
4. Feel the Word as we embrace the Heart that inspired it.
5. Touch the Word as we live it out

Five purposes for this prayer format:

a. First, to immerse ourselves in the Word by systematically singing through large


portions of it
b. Second, to develop scriptural language and confidence in prophetic singing
(teams will discover new passages to use in other formats)
c. Third, to provide a context to enjoy flowing together in prayer
d. Fourth, to provide an anointed atmosphere that others in the room may be blessed
as they pray and study
e. Fifth, to engage in spiritual warfare (this happens automatically whenever we are
in agreement with God’s heart).

How does it work?


The worship team will focus on one specific passage or theme by singing through
key verses from that passage or about that theme, using cross-references and
Biblical language. Doing this causes the Word to come alive to us.
What are the benefits?
Worship with the Word can help us to gain deeper revelation, knowledge and
understanding about a specific Biblical passage or theme of Scripture. In this, we
function as a “singing seminary” or as “singing theologians” as we sing a chapter
from the Psalms, Song of Solomon, Revelation or other chapters that are easily
“sing able”. We grow in true revelation and intimacy with Jesus as we lovingly
sing His Word back to His heart. We want to grow deeper and deeper in our
understanding of God as revealed through Scripture and we want to develop an
ability to express this revelation. We want to feel the Word burning in our hearts.

How can you participate?


Be creative. Enjoy Him and His Word.

 Dialogue with Him over His Word Ask


inductive questions (who, what, when, where,
why and how). Let Him speak to your heart. Quiet your mind and direct your
heart in love toward Him. Listen. Write down any revelation or thoughts.

 Declare His Word Take one verse or key idea from the passage and just say it
quietly to yourself over and over. By declaring it, you are proclaiming that you
believe it is true. It is amazing what can happen to our heart and mind when we
simply declare truth over ourselves. Stir up your soul to believe the truth of what
you are declaring.

 We begin to feel more closely connected with the Word when we create
Sing it
and sing songs about it. Follow along with what the team is singing or make up
your own antiphonal (responsive) phrases and choruses. Sing with your
understanding and sing in the spirit as well.

 Look for other Bible verses that are similar to or expound


Explore cross-references
on the verse that you are focusing on. The easiest way to do this is to use a
concordance, which is usually found in the back section of most Bibles. Cross-
referencing will take you on a never-ending tour through the Word. Keep a
journal close by so you can write your thoughts about the verses and themes that
you find.

 Commentaries are an excellent way to get insight and


Study it/read about it
understanding about the Word. You can get commentaries at the bookstore, the
public library, or online: www.soniclight.com (click on study aids), www.ccel.org
, www.otgateway.com , www.christiansunite.com , (click on bible study aids),
www.crosswalk.com.

 Create with it Put the passage


into your own words. Write it out for future times of
prayer and study. Transcribe your dialogue with God. Write a story, poem, song
about it. Compose a comparison between the passage or verse(s) and another
passage of Scripture. Draw, Paint, Sculpt, Dance, Scrapbook, etc.
Ephesians 3:16-19
We pray: that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be
able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and
height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-21:
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan,
I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,
the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources
he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and
more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's
marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how
long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great
you will never fully understand it.
Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By
his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask
or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever
and ever through endless ages. Amen.

14-19My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels
out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious
inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that
with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant
dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths!
Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in
your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply
and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!


Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes! The Message

1. Father, we pray that You would grant us, according to the riches of Your glory, to be
strengthened with might through Your Spirit in our inner man that Christ may dwell in
our hearts through faith. Strengthen our faith, Lord. Fortify us with love and the truth.
Cause love and truth to dwell in our midst. You desire truth in our inner man. We want to
be a people who delight you because mercy and truth have met, righteousness and peace
have kissed. Father, strengthen our hearts with your pleasures. Thank You that You dwell
within us and desire to make Yourself known. Fortify us by the indwelling of Your Spirit.
Reveal Your love to us and through us so that we are strengthened with might through
Your Spirit in our inner man.
In Jesus’ name would you strengthen us with might through Your Spirit in
our inner man..

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job33:4

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me. John 14:6

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden parts You teach me wisdom. Psalm
51:6

Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace kissed each other. Psalm85:10

And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man
whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health
in the presence of you all. Acts 3:16

2. Lord, as a unified body, in one voice, we pray that Christ would dwell in our hearts
through faith and that we would have an ever present awareness of Jesus’ life in us. We
want Your perspective on our lives and decisions. We want to carry Your tenderness and
compassion in our hearts. Make us a corporate revelation of Your love and all that
Christ means. Father make us a beautiful people that accurately conveys the sweetness of
Your Spirit – the Beauty of Holiness. We want to be Christ to those who have yet to turn
to You. Make our hearts a place that You love to dwell through faith.

In Jesus’ name we ask that Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1
Corinthians 3:16

Oh worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth. Psalm96:9

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him and We will make Our
abode with him. John 14:23

3. Lord, as a people, as Your Children and as Your Bride, root us and ground us in love,
so that we would be able to comprehend with all the saints . . . the love of Christ which
passes knowledge. We so deeply desire that we would be rooted in Love: in Your love for
us, our love for You and a sincere love for each other. We draw our life from Your love.
Help us comprehend the enormity of your gift; the truth that You love us deeply and your
love is everlasting. Breathe Love into the Church. Make us a dwelling place of Love.
Make us an extension of Your love. We want the real deal Lord. When our family,
friends, neighbors, coworkers encounter us, make us the real thing. Let them be loved
through us and see sincere love in us. Attach those encounters to You Lord. Help them
know that it is Christ in us extending love to them. The love of Christ passes knowledge.
In the same way that You are love, make the Church “Love”. Root us and ground us in
love, so that we would be able to comprehend with all the saints . . . the love of Christ
which passes knowledge.

In Jesus name we ask that you would root us and ground us in Love.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you love
one another. John 13:34

Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1Peter 4:8

We have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us. God is love, and the person who
abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1John 4:16

Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as
severe as Sheol; Its flashes of fire, The very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, nor
will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly
despised. Song of Songs 8:6-7

1. Father, we want to be filled with all the fullness of God. Help us grasp the riches of Your
grace and mercy; the vast wealth of Your life and the love that You have given us.
Enlighten our understanding; give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation so we can
somehow comprehend Your enormous generosity toward us. In light of that, make us a
generous people as well. Make us extravagant lovers, recklessly merciful and kind. Make
us a generous people Lord. Our cup runs over. Reveal the truth to us, that we lack nothing
because of You. We need to know your fullness Lord. We want to marvel at the beauty of
your fullness. In Jesus’ name fill us with fullness of God.

a. Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A large quantity, pressed together,
shaken down, and running over will be put into your lap. For with the measure
you use, you will be measured."
b. Acts 17:28 . . . for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own
poets have said, “For we are His offspring.”
c. Romans 11:33 Oh the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge
of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways

Worship with the Word


Session Format Modeled

WL = Worship Leader
CL = Chorus Leader/Chorus formed to bring in room (can also be done by WL)
PL = Prayer Leader
S = Singer (S1= Singer #1, etc.)
AS = Antiphonal Singing
S–CL = Singer sang a line that the CL picked up and repeated (at least 8x)

• Corporate worship until transition is made (moving from


Apostolic Intercession in this case) and room is re-focused
• Cycle #1 begins with Prayer Leader announcing Psalm 19:9-14 as the focus
for the 2 hour “Worship with the Word” session
• Corporate worship: “You are Holy”
• Singing in the spirit
• Move into chord progression

WL sings whole verse: in phrasing that works for the music – written development of
passage takes place before the session so phrasing is workable.

19:9 “The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of Jehovah are true,
they are righteous altogether.”

WL “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. They are righteous
altogether; the judgments of the Lord are true.”
PL “The fear of the Lord is clean”
AS “The fear of the Lord is clean” echoed, developed & paraphrased
PL “No impurities, it’s clean”
S “Altogether righteous”
CL “Teach me the fear of the Lord”
PL “Teach us” inserted
CL “Teach me the fear of the Lord”
PL “It is clean, enduring forever”
AS “It is clean, enduring forever”
PL “It is eternal, enduring forever.”
AS “It is eternal, enduring forever.”
CL “The folly of man will fade away.”
PL “Your fear will remain”
S1 “It is wise to fear you”
S2 “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.” (A cross
reference is being used to further develop the idea)
PL “Fear Him”
S3–CL “Fear God and worship for His judgments are at hand.”
PL “His judgments are true. They are eternal.”
S “You judge rightly”
PL “You see in secret.” (A cross reference)
S “You see in secret.”
PL “You see the heart of man.”
S “Just and true are Your ways King of the Saints.”
PL “Just and true are Your ways King of the Saints.” echoed
CL “Just and true are Your ways, King of the Saints.”
PL “Your judgments are righteous.”
S “Righteous are your judgments.”
PL “Righteousness and justice are the foundations of Your Throne.” (A cross
reference)
S “These are the foundations of Your Throne; righteousness and truth.”

*WL signals: Musical Interlude/Selah*

Cycle # 2 Begins with a new worship song: “Above all else”


Corporate worship
Free worship with the chorus
Singing in the spirit
Musical prep for change into the chord progression
S1 or CL sings next verse as a form of introduction (Psalm 19:10) (Each verse
is rotated to the next singer to develop to begin the cycle of development: ex.
During the 1st cycle, the WL introduced the verse (19:9) by singing it. This time,
S1 sings verse (19:10) to introduce the new verse being developed. When it has
been fully developed and the WL starts a new cycle, it will be S2 who introduces
(19:11), etc.)

S1 sings whole verse


19:10 They are more precious than gold, even much fine gold, and sweeter than honey
and drops from the honeycomb.

PL “Your words, Oh Lord, are more precious than gold


S2 “How precious is Your word Oh Lord, better than gold and silver.”
CL “Your word Oh Lord is better than gold.”
PL “What could be better?” inserted
CL “Your word Oh Lord is better than gold.”
PL “Nothing is more precious.”
S2-CL “This is the rich man, He who has Your word; Your word.”
PL “Your word is precious to my soul.”
AS “Your word is precious to my soul.”
PL “What could be better?”
WL-CL “This is the rich man; He who has Your word, Your word.”
PL “Your word is precious to my soul.”
AS “Your word is precious to my soul.”
PL “This is true food.”
S1 “This is my daily bread.”
S2 “It is true food indeed.”
PL “Sweet to the taste.”
CL “Your word is sweet, sweet; altogether lovely, lovely.”

*Musical development/Interlude/Selah*
*WL signals movement to next cycle*

Cycle # 3 begins with a new worship song: “Sing to the Lord”


Corporate worship
Free worship with the chorus
Singing in the spirit
Musical prep for change into the chord progression
S2 sings next verse as a form of introduction (Psalm 19:11)

19:11 Also Your servant is warned by them; in keeping of them is great reward.

CL “You are a rewarder of those who seek You.”


*At his discretion, the WL starts to sing in spirit and next cycle is
introduced by His re-entry into a new worship song* (they never fully
developed this verse)

Corporate worship
Free worship with the chorus
Singing in the spirit
Musical prep for change into the chord progression

Cycle # 4 begins with new chord progression


S3 sings next verse as a form of introduction (Psalm 19:12)

19:12 Who can discern errors? Acquit me from secret faults.

ETC.
Note: The general pattern continues and the length of the development of the verse
depends upon the discernment of the WL who partners with the PL. (Apostolic
Intercession is the other way around –PL discerns in partnership with the WL.) In this
example, it appeared that the development of each verse was a little shorter than the
first and second cycle.

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