I will have you to know from the start that this article will not be the norm. God has called me to share revelation with those who will hear it that we may be aptly informed concerning the things we do in the body of Christ.
The ministry of music in the body of Christ has been very much abused due to the manipulation and control that people have applied to it. We live in a society that is music prone. We have music in the grocery store, in our homes, on our cell phones, in our cars, and even while we exercise - no doubt music has been weaved, and very much so, into the fabric of our culture. Music has been very much misunderstood due to many people in world, to include the body of Christ who really have no idea of the real power of music.
The ancients used music as a prescription for healing sickness and disease, while we today, for instance only use it to enter the presence of the Lord, and even then really don't, or for personal pleasure, profit, and praise. In these last days, there is an uncovering of the true spirit behind things by the prophetic nature of God, which allows one to see a thing as it really is, not as it appears to be. This is the case with music. With many people who can play an instrument as well as sing, the question needs to be raised, ‘Why are we not seeing the Glory of God as the Ancient Hebrews did in the Old testament, if we are “more” equipped, talented, anointed, and informed? We go concert to concert, church to church, conference to conference, networking, listening, singing, and worshipping, but still there is no glory. The old testament speaks of the singers in the Old Testament who sang and the glory cloud of God came down. My question is this: “ If you call yourself a psalmist, gospel singer, worship leader, praise team member, or choir member, why isn’t the same level there when you minister as it was then?” Don’t get deep. This is a real simple question. The problem is us.
Somewhere down the line, we have gotten use to growing up hearing people tell us how anointed, or talented we are and we have trained ourselves or have become accustomed to hearing, receiving, or expecting that response. Those who are talented can sing a house down with no anointing in a heartbeat and the carnal minded person will call it God when God was no where to be found in or near it. Our musicians, psalmists, gospel artists, and worship leaders need to stop worrying about whether they sound and look good, and as leaders, impart that same mind to those who are under them. The question is rather, is your spirit right? Do you stay before God in fasting and prayer? Do you read, meditate, and study your word? Do you maintain and work your gift. (Selah) This is what makes the difference between an anointed vessel and a consecrated vessel. Everything in the Holy of Holies was anointed, but only what was being used in the present was at that next level of consecration. Yes, to be consecrated means to be set apart, but there are levels of consecration. Everything was consecrated for use at some time, but everything in the Holy of Holies couldn’t be used all at one time. There was a specific time for each to be used because each had a different purpose. In the midst of all of the people who are professing to be minstrels of music, worshippers, musicians and singers, you have to be able to discern who is being used now, and better yet, how you are to be used in the now, and how you can stay there. Remember, Saul was still king, when the anointing was stripped off of him and given to David.
The first thing people in music ministry need to deal with and accept is that their ability and talent is not a gift from God (Selah). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are mentioned in the bible, and I don’t believe singing or playing an instrument is one of them. If that is the case, there are thousands of people in the world who are filled with the Spirit of God and do not know it. We have turned talent and ability into gifts because of a lack of proper understanding and our lack to read the bible, as well as listening to others without being a Berean (the supersession of the primacy of scripture). Anything that you can learn to do is not a gift from God. When God gives you a gift, you will know it. If you buy a car, pay for it, and find out that it has a stereo in it, that stereo is not a gift to you for your enjoyment. It came with it, therefore you find out how to use it and maximize its capability. People who are born with voices to sing have abilities and talents but the anointing is nowhere to be found. The first step to the return of the glory cloud is to stop calling talents and abilities gifts, and recognize that if the real gift, “the Holy Spirit”, was not with them, it would profit them as well as the world nothing. So we have to understand that it s the superimposition of the gift of the Holy Spirit on top of a talent or ability that gives it the effect of a gift from God. The paint on a car is great - but the engine runs it. The engine of a car is great, but without the gas it is nothing, it is not going anywhere. So it is without the gift of the Holy Spirit.
NOTE: This is the first in a series of articles that will address the music ministry of the church and seek to equip musicians and singers with tools, research, and revelation to better prepare them for ministry in these last days. Look for more articles to come.
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