The Power of Music and Praise(Newsletter 28:5:00)
Newsletter 28:5:00
Hi guys. No newsletter last week because the computer was away for repair. The modem has never worked properly. However, they replaced the ram, which was probably damaged in transit, and the modem still doesn't work. Now it also doesn't want to boot up, and tells me I have bad disk sectors. So it's going back. Plus Duane hasn't been able to update the Web site cos his ram burnt out. We agree that this assignment will come to nothing, and we will get better computers out of it, to His glory. It is no co-incidence that I have been writing the vision, and sharing the 'Son's of Thunder' prophesy. We are the Church Triumphant, the battle is the Lords, and the Victory ours.
The Power of Music and Praise.
In 2Kings 3:15, the Kings of Israel and Judah sought out Elisha for a word concerning the coming battle. "But now bring me a musician" and it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.'
1) Music releases the anointing and the flow of the gifts of the spirit. It creates an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to move. It ushers in the shekinah glory, the very presence of God. If you think our music is loud (and it is) in 2Chronicles 3:13 when they dedicated the temple, there were 120 priests blowing trumpets! 'indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever." That the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.'
2) It binds up unclean spirits. 1Samuel 16:23. While David played, the anointing destroyed the yoke on Saul, bound up the unclean spirit, and softened his heart.
3) It throws the enemy into confusion and drives them defeated from the field of battle. 2Chronicles 20:22 God told Jehosaphat not to be afraid or dismayed about the multitude coming against them, because the battle was not his, but the Lords. That he would not need to fight, but to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.
However, the army still assembled on the battlefield, but they sent the praisers out in front, singing "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.' "Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the people of Ammon….."
Musicians and singers need all your prayer support, because they are the ones at the battlefront - who carry the battle to the enemy.
4) It brings forth the will and judgment of God.
"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment - for this honour have all His saints. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 149:6-9 This is true in the spirit realm, as we deal with principalities and powers. But I have also seen it manifest in the natural - "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and any tongue that rises against you in judgment shall be condemned (proved wrong.)"
5) Music and Praise to God causes the earth to yield her increase. (Psalm 67:5)
There is some bible reference to Lucifer being the angel of music. Satan is fully aware of its power, and the battle rages hot in that area. Elvis and many others grew up singing in church, and started their careers singing gospel. Satan has been almost unopposed in the secular realm of music because of religious mindsets and legalistic teaching. I was frustrated musically for years after becoming a christian - they took away my Eric Clapton and gave me icky-wicky. Not so anymore, praise God! We're taking back the land! Did you know that the writer of amazing grace was an ex-slaver who took a pub song and put christian words to it? That in William Booth's day, when he started the salvation army, the brass band was the in thing! It is not the quality, or the style, but the heart of the musicians that determines its effectiveness.
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THE POWER OF WORSHIP.
David was an effective warrior, and a powerful praiser, because he was first a worshipper. We were blessed to get to David Hogan's meetings last year - an Apostle who has raised up several hundred churches in Mexico and South America, and walks in the power of the Holy Ghost!
He shared much good stuff, but one thing really went off in my spirit.
He talked about how, in the early days, he saw himself as a warrior, clothed in the armour of God and meeting the enemy on the field of battle. But he said that today he sees himself in a linen ephod. In other words, he is first a worshipper, ministering to God.
Although we worship corporately also, it is to me a very intimate and personal thing. The Hebrew and Greek words for worship have various shades of meaning, but basically come down to this simple meaning: Loving on God. Praise magnifies Him for what He has done, worship adores Him for who He is. Praise is powerful demonstrative and militant, worship is humble, gentle and intimate.
The individual priesthood of every believer is part of the mystery of the dispensation of Grace. In the OT only the high priest went into the Holy of Holies. Today the Holy of Holies is in us!
The priest went into the presence of God: firstly to minister to the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Secondly to make offerings on behalf of the people. To stand in the gap for the land. The prophet stands before the people on behalf of God. The priest stands before God on behalf of the people. We have had too many 'prophets' and not enough priests.
Praise brings God into your scene, worship takes you into God's scene.
Jesus said in John 4:24 "The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth." Then He made an astounding statement: "For the Father seeks such to worship Him." There is something that Elohim, the creator desires. Something that El Elyon, the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, longs for. Something that He has to use His faith for. Because He gave us free will. That revelation stunned me. There is something that I can give God.
Something that He seeks after from me, that is precious to Him.
When I lift my hands and say: "I worship you Father" I give Him that which He desires from me more than anything else. And I find more and more in my worship, that I'm not just ministering to God, but coming before Him on behalf of the people. And especially the unsaved.
But we make a mistake when we try to take our worship out to the world. I have seen it many times in homegroups, where someone has brought a visitor - maybe unsaved, along. Some zealous saints get into deep worship and when I take a peek the visitor is alienated, embarrassed and uncomfortable. You went somewhere that they couldn't go, couldn't relate to. That sort of worship should be saved for private devotions, or corporately with fellow believers ministering to the Lord.
In other words, as a priest, instead of trying to take them into the presence of God when their hearts and minds aren't ready for it, you should, from your own private worship, be carrying the presence of God to them! I was extremely zealous in my early days of ministry. I still am, but have learned its proper context. God had to tell me - "Your zeal is not for the people, it just agitates them and makes them uncomfortable. Your zeal is for ministering and pressing in to me. Be zealous with me, and laid back with the people!" Are you zealous for souls? Then burn it off ministering to the Lord on their behalf. So you can lighten up with them! You are no longer critical of their sins, because they have been dealt with - by Jesus our high priest, that stood in the gap for every man - and by you. The OT high priest had emblems on His tunic that represented the twelve tribes of Israel. That was a physical reminder of his role - not just to minister to the Lord, but that he was there on behalf of the people of Israel. Sure we need to become effective with the weapons of our warfare. But to be balanced and effective, we first need to get comfortable in our linen ephod!
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