THE OLDHAM HOUSE OF PRAYER – OHOP
Around 1000 BC, King David established a tabernacle in Jerusalem and set a precedent of night and day worship before the Lord that continued at various times throughout Israel and Judah’s history. Each time this order of worship was reintroduced, spiritual breakthrough, deliverance and military victory followed. Likewise, throughout the centuries, groups in Ireland, Germany, South Korea, and elsewhere across the globe have established day and night centers of prayer and worship.
Oldham House of Prayer is established by a similar motive and out of desire for more of God and to see His Kingdom come in us, through us and around us.
- The Concept
The precursor to revival, the manifestation and attainment of the Glory of God in and through the church for the desired transformation and visitation of God into our community, in the market places and nations is s sustained prayer culture.
That is the job of the church, the people of God, as stated in 2 Chronicles 7 v 14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God has called the church to evangelise, reach out to the society, build strong family relationships and these can only be accomplished in the place of prayer.
The concept of “house of prayer” is from Isaiah 56:7, where it is used twice. “…These [foreigners] I will bring to My holy mountain and give them joy in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
It was this verse that Jesus referred to when casting the money changers from the temple, as recorded in Mark 11:17. “Then He taught, saying to them, ‘Is it not written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it a den of thieves.’” (See also in Mt. 21:13 and Lk. 19:46.)
The heart of the house of prayer is perhaps best captured by David’s heart cry in Psalm 27:4: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.”
King David established the tabernacle of David. Referred to in many parts of the Bible, this house of prayer is best described in 1 Chronicles 16:1–37:
(1) So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it… (4) And [David] appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD God of Israel… (37) So [David] 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.
The best picture of what the house of prayer strives for can be found in the book of Revelation, in the many descriptions of the redeemed gathered before the throne of God, such as:
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, 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 out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Rev. 5:8–9)
- The Prayer Room
This is the kind of House of Prayer that is inspired by David’s tabernacle (1 Chr. 23:5; 25:7), where 288 singers and 4,000 musicians were employed as their full-time occupation to minister to the Lord and serve the community.
Our desire is to have a 24/7 prayers schedule into twelve worship-based prayer meetings a day, each lasting two hours.
There is a special blessing for praying through the, which is found in Psalm 134: “Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion!” We receive the blessing that the Lord promises those who stand in His house through the night.
Scripture teaches that night-and-day prayer is deeply connected to the fullness of God’s power and purpose being released (Lk. 18:7–8; cf. Isa. 62:6–7).
We desire to offer Jesus unceasing worship, while contending for justice and for the power of the Holy Spirit to be manifest in and through His church that will bring transformation in lives and every sphere of society.
- The Order
Each session will have someone or some people assigned to lead. It is important that the house of prayer be organized, so that there is no confusion for leaders and participants. We believe God works through anointed leadership that allows freedom in the Spirit. God is the Head, and He looks to partner with us here on the earth.
- Who Can Attend?
The Prayer Room is open to all to come and go freely and to stay in the prayer room as long as they like. While in the prayer room, feel free to join in with the corporate worship and prayer, read your Bible, study a favorite commentary, write in your journal, or engage in private prayer. You may sit, stand, or pace up and down the aisles. Whatever you do, we ask that you do it in a manner that honors and serves the other people in the room.
We extend a very warm welcome to you, our visitor, and hope the Lord will minister to you while you visit.
OHP calls for a lifestyle change and a unique dedication from an intercessor. It will require a rearranged their lives in order to carry the torch of intercession through the night hours.
- The Prayer Format
Our prayer format is based on the heavenly picture that we see in Revelation 5, which speaks of the harp and the bowl—worship and prayer. Within the harp and bowl prayer model, we use two basic worship and prayer formats. In addition will be praying the Scriptures
The Worship for now will be mainly supplied from audio equipment.
Intercession sessions are usually energetic, as the room is invited to engage in corporate prayer. There is generally a specific prayer focus, and individuals in the room are welcome to pray out for a corporate burden, which may involve the Church, our Cities and or believers worldwide. There will be as well, times of small group prayer for any who wish to participate.
We would pray prophetically and make prophetic declarations as led and directed.
One Intercession slot session is for 2 hours
Prayer with the Word is a prayer format in which we agree with God’s heart as we read the biblical truths of who God is and what His promises are. These sessions are more devotional in nature, providing an atmosphere conducive to reading the Bible and entering into contemplative or devotional prayer.
- The Atmosphere
The concepts of beauty and enjoyable prayer is very important for the house of prayer
The highest expressions of beauty are the beauty of God (see Ps. 27:4) and the beauty He imparts to the Bride of Christ (see Eph. 5:27; Ps. 149:4). These two realms of beauty provide a solid foundation and fuel for night-and-day prayer.
Fascination: The heart of man was designed to be fascinated with who God is and what He looks like—never to be dull and lifeless. Part of our journey is rediscovering how amazingly beautiful and fascinating He is.
Confidence: As we begin to understand how amazingly beautiful He is, we also begin to understand that He has passed His own beauty on to us. We stand confident in His love and grace, sustained in affection, not in shame or fleshly motivation.
Pleasure and joy are indispensable to the house of prayer. He assured us through the prophet Isaiah that He would give us joy in the place of prayer (see Isa. 56:7). The psalmist said, “At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11).
In the house of prayer, we are operating under a paradigm of a God who is beautiful, fascinating, and full of delightful pleasures. These qualities are inexhaustible on this side of eternity and are a worthy and wise pursuit for the human heart.
- The Place of Music and Singing
We are in the midst of a global worship movement, focused on prayer and intimacy with God. It is vital that prayer becomes enjoyable for every believer; it releases a spirit of devotion and fills the heart with worship.
Many who have begun houses of prayer will attest to the “rock-pile” prayer meetings, where one feels as though he or she is simply chipping away little by little at the resistance around them, with very little anointing and power. Fortunately, through God’s sovereign design, when worship is combined with intercession, a spiritual stirring occurs through the corporate body of believers.
Music awakens the heart to beauty. Since God is a musical being and we have been created in His very image, we have been made with a musical spirit. Almost every person finds solace, comfort, or expression in music. Again, this is God’s design. In heaven, music and verbal expression (prayer) are never separated from one another. We base most of our prayer meetings in the house of prayer upon this concept and value.
When King David instituted the tabernacle, he knew that worship and devotion were major components of day-and-night intercession. He must have possessed deep revelation of how heaven hosts a prayer meeting. We are seeking to emulate this heavenly model, found in Revelation 5:8. We call this particular model “harp and bowl intercession.”