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Why 24/7 Prayer and Worship?

Jesus said the harvest is plentiful, so his disciples should pray to the lord of the harvest to send out laborers. Traditionally the Church throughout history has sent out missionaries to preach the gospel without first encountering the heart of God through a lifestyle of prayer with fasting. When our hearts deeply experience the love of God in the place if worship and intercession, we are strengthened and empowered to give ourselves to the labor of the work of the kingdom with greater diligence and authority.

24/7 worship and prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere of the city, thus opening the heavens for more anointed evangelism and unity in the church. This also allows for encountering God in a personal way the transforms us by intimacy with Jesus. We believe that the Holy Spirit is orchestrating a global prayer strategy far eclipsing any other prayer movement in history resulting in an unprecedented harvest of souls in the nations

The Salem House of Prayer is only one of many expressions of this prayer movement in the city and across the Earth today. Ministries are arising all over the world that are literally offering supplication night and day before the Lord, helping the work of the harvest to go forth with power and effectiveness. In cities throughout the world, we believe it will become common to hear of worship and prayer ministries that continue non-stop 24 hours a day in the spirit of the tabernacle of David.

Intercessory Missionary

We are all familiar with missionaries who focus on preaching or ministering to the poor, but the Lord is also calling forth a new type of missionary that is essential to completing the Great Commission, people of God whose mission is intercession.

In the gospel of Luke, Anna the prophetess prayed and fasted night and day in the temple for over sixty years just prior to the First Coming of Jesus. Anna proclaimed the Lord’s coming redemption (Luke 2:36-38). The Holy Spirit is raising up men, women, and children like Anna once again to pray, fast and preach prior to Jesus’ Second Coming.

Intercession and worship are the means that God has chosen to establish His kingdom on the earth. Prayer changes the spiritual atmosphere over cities and nations (Psalm 149). As we behold the Lord in worship, we understand His heart and can agree with His will.

Jesus’ desire was that the kingdom and the will of God would be completely manifest on the earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). He longs to build His kingdom in intimate relationship with human beings. As the church all over the globe and these full-time watchmen persistently cry out day and night, He promises to release speedy justice and establish the kingdom of God on the earth (Luke 11:9-13, Luke 18:7-8).

An intercessory missionary is one who has been divinely “set on the wall” of intercession, who would give the Lord no rest in prayer until His desires are fully brought forth on the earth (Isaiah 62:6-7). This calling is selfless by definition – it is a giving of oneself wholeheartedly to God’s agenda, with the knowledge that His plan and purpose is far greater than anything man could possibly devise (Deuteronomy 6:5, Joel 2:17).

Historical Inspiration for an “Intercessory Missions Base”

Ancient Israel—King David organized prophetic singers and musicians to lead corporate worship and intercession 24 hours a day in Jerusalem before the Ark of the Lord. The names of the singers and musicians are even listed in 1 Chronicles 13-16, and 23-25. Many Psalms were the songs in the tabernacle.

Herrnhut, Germany, 1727—A German nobleman, Nicholaus Ludwig Count von Zinzendorf (1700-1760), gathered persecuted Christians from Moravia to his large estate in Germany that he named Herrnhut (“Watch of the Lord”). They began a prayer meeting that continued 24 hours a day for 120 years resulting in the first Protestant missions movement.

Bangor, Ireland, 555 A.D.—A Celtic monk named Comgall and his co-worker Columbanus gathered 3000 monks to a place called Bangor (“the High Choir”). They began a prayer meeting that continued with singing 24 hours a day for 300 years resulting in the first Celtic missions movement.

Clairvaux, France, 1120—A Catholic monk named Bernard gathered 700 monks to a valley called Clairvaux (“Light”). They began a prayer meeting that continued 24 hours a day for many years resulting in a dynamic release of evangelism through signs and wonders across all Europe.

The Quiet Revolution

“…he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever…when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes…” 2 Chronicles 20: 21-22

Since 9.19.1999, there has been a quiet revolution going on. Many do not even know that it exists, and others are not sure why it exists. 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, the sounds of this revolution go out into the atmosphere into the ears of God, angels, demons and humans. It is the sound of praise and intercession mingled together, day and night offered as a sacrifice of incense before the throne of God. As John the apostle saw when he peered into heaven:

“…now when He [Jesus] had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints…and they sang a new song…” Revelation 5:8-9

As it is being done in heaven…so there is an attempt being made…to let it be done on earth. There is a growing God ordained movement of worship and intercession…the harp and the bowl…that is being entered into by men and women on planet earth. The eternal song, heard by only a few, but believed on by many, is being sung here and now. It is the “holy, holy, holy, that Isaiah saw (Isa 6:3), and has gone on around the throne for countless ages. Many are beginning to say “yes” to the invitation to join that ancient worship meeting in heaven, while still standing here on earth.

In 1999, it began with a small handful of people, many of them youth, in a small modular building, praying and singing around the clock. It outgrew its facility and moved into a converted mini-mall. It grew in participants until now, there are close to a thousand full and part time staff. They raise their own financial support, and live simple fasted lifestyles, as designated “Intercessory Missionaries” for their city, state, country and world. It is one of the most amazing things that I have personally ever witnessed. One thousand people praying in 2 hour shifts, around the clock, every day of the year. You simply cannot sit in that atmosphere with any level of openness to God, without being radically impacted with a desire for more of the reality of His presence.

Imagine a place, where at any time of the night or day, you walk into a room, and a group of multi denominational believers represented from all sorts of churches, are gathered together to seek and love the God of heaven. Up front, one of dozens of bands are playing live worship music together with specifically designed seasons for prayer. The music never stops. The prayer never stops. The fire on the altar (Lev 6:13), never goes out. The presence of the Lord just seems to increase day by day. It is to some, almost tangible. It is to most, very intense. And it is to nearly all, unlike anything they have ever witnessed. In this holy atmosphere, lives are changed, bodies are healed, bondages are broken, and new determinations for the pursuit of nearness to Jesus are made.

Imagine now, this quiet revolution coming to your city. Dream with me about the impact this would make. A 24 hours place of worship. A catalyst for unity. Made up of many churches. A refuge for weary desperate young people. A place for hungry souls of all ages to simply come and rest. Sound like a dream? This reality may be closer than you think. Eight years ago, a small group of intercessors began in Kansas City and formed the International House of Prayer. Since then, 24-hr prayer and worship has continued in that community without stopping. This can and will happen here in Salem and the surrounding area.

“Beginning On August 8th, 2008 (8.8.08), 24-hour prayer will be launched in the City of Salem Oregon.”

With the help of a willing God, this prayer meeting will continue without ending, until the return of Jesus Christ. You are invited to come and be a part of this historic prayer endeavor. The battle for the heart of Salem has been going on for many years now, by many wonderful men and women of God. It is our desire to come along side and give additional prayer strength to them. It is not primarily a political or social battle, but a battle for the hearts of men and women. Hearts that were created to be lovers of God and lovers of people. We intend to enlist in this battle, in this very specific commission of 24-hour prayer, until the King returns. Be it 1 year, 10 years, or 100 years from now.

I am not trying to be melodramatic. We are in a battle. Every city on the earth is engaged in a battle for the souls of its people. The battle we fight is not a physical one, but spiritual, and yet it far outweighs the physical in importance. In a natural battle men and women die. As tragic as that is, it pales in comparison to the eternal death that Jesus spoke of. If you believe the Bible, we fight for a cause that will not pass away with a political system or kingdom. Whether to give alliance to the King of all Kings and His kingdom, is the greatest decision that every person will have to make in this life.

Consider this your call to arms. A call to settle in, long term in prayer, which is undoubtedly the greatest weapon given for the advancement of the Kingdom. If you believe that…then will you answer Yes?

In His service,

Jim Moore, Salem House Of Prayer