Biblical Foundations for Building a House of Prayer

Contemporary expressions of the House of Prayer often refer to David’s Tabernacle as its biblical model because David established 24/7 worship and prayer before the Ark of the Covenant.  (See 1 Chronicles 15:2, and 1 Chronicles 16).

Because it is birthed and most fully expressed in the Old Testament, some would say it is no longer relevant as a model for night and day prayer. However, we believe it describes an eternal reality and a valid launching point for corporate worship-filled prayer because it reflects the glorious dynamics of the Throne Room of God, which is not, by any means, delegated to the restraints of history.

Lord Jesus connected night and day prayer to justice for the earth. The apostle Peter connects it to the emerging expression of Joel 2. James picks up this theme in Acts 15 as he quotes the prophecy from Amos 9 and John sees it and describes it again and again in the Book of Revelation (see Ch. 5 ff). Simple bible study underlines the fact that revival for Israel always came on the heels of each restoration of 24-7 worship-filled prayer before the Lord and post-biblical history confirms the same fruit from major moves of worship-filled prayer throughout the centuries (see below for more detail). The final word though belongs to the Lord describing His Father's House as a House of Prayer for all nations and an invitation to Israel and the nations to gather around Him and learn from Him as He is seated upon His earthly throne in Zion. (See Isaiah 1, 2:3, 56, Zechariah 8)