Music is a powerful medium whether used “out from the presence of God” or under the presence of God. Richard C. Leonard observed, “Music has a powerful effect on human experience. Students of religious phenomena have long recognized that music transcends our understanding and appeals to our intuitive nature.”
Music makes us laugh or cry or dance or swoon. It causes us to reminisce or peer into the future. It stirs us to fight and go to war. One of the deadliest weapons of warfare on the earth is the bagpipe. To its music men have marched, against all odds, into hails of bullets or thickets of swords. Music also soothes the savage beast. Music consoles us when we are down or empowers us when we are driven. Music can disable our resistance or fortify our convictions. It can carry us to the heights or depths of our emotions.
Martin Luther said:
“Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is a mistress and governess of those human emotions…which control men or more often overwhelm them…Whether you wish to comfort the sad, to subdue frivolity, to encourage the despairing, to humble the proud, to calm the passionate, or to appease those full of hate…what more effective means than music could you find?”
Music tears down resistance and inhibition and enables its message to penetrate the deepest recesses of the human heart. It has been said that music will be sitting on the living room couch while preaching is still knocking on the front door. You get the picture. A person who is dead set against the gospel might interestingly enough find his heart being touched by a gospel song. The mental barriers might melt away with the music and the heart open up to the wooing of the Spirit of God.
But it works the other way as well. Do you ever catch yourself singing some catchy phrase of song, the message of which you don’t agree with or even understand? But there you are humming that tune or singing that phrase that got stuck in your mind. In the music industry, that catchy part of a song you end up humming or singing is called the “hook.” The hook is something that repeats or is catchy enough to make you want to repeat it. It stands out in a song, drawing you into it. Songwriters look for the hook that will make people come back to their music, singing it over and over again. If someone tried to convince you of the message of the song, you would say, “Oh, I don’t believe that message, and I am totally against it.” But there you are raking the leaves in your backyard, bouncing your head and maybe dancing around a little bit, singing, “What’s love got to do, got to do with it.” Your better judgement was dismantled by the song. That’s the power of music.
Thanks for sharing! This speaks so much to me. I have seen through my ministry giftings how God’s promise “I will put a hook in your jaw” is applied to draw men to his word through their love of music. And how the enemy counterfeits this strategy, and how we must beware of being aligned with the counterfeit message rather than the beauty and the rhythm of the song. I am blessed by your ministry, and all at glory-of-zion!
Oh John…I so know this in my spirit and you have put words to it. This has reminded me of a vision I had a few years back concerning the future of my son, Jeremy. The vision wasn’t a visual, but a deep knowing of what should take place. I saw how the enemy had thrown rocks in his well to cover this gift of music that he has. He has always said that “music is my thing” and we all know that our next generation is what we as parents fight for. I mean come on now he reads sheet music like I read books. I love the comment …” One of the deadliest weapons of warfare on the earth is the bagpipe. To its music men have marched, against all odds, into hails of bullets or thickets of swords.” I look for healing through the power of music. Thanks so much for sharing this “treasure” from the treasuries that you have been given. Blessings….
And as we sing along or move our bodies to that song, we are coming into agreement with the message, whether we intend to or not….what you said is absolutely true, John…Bless you and all of Glory of Zion, you truly are bringing the Kingdom of God here on earth, & enthroning the King of Glory on your praises…I join with you in Spirit & truth !
Tell me about ‘church’ music that is not of the right spirit. How does this effect those in the pews? How do we really know if it’s coming from Heaven or self indulgence?
While we can never really judge how someone else is worshipping, there is a good book to help understand the difference between “anointing” and “soul” in your own self. It is called “The Latent Power of the Soul” by Watchman Nee
The music design and sculpture our soul!
So True.
What incredible insight. May the Good Jesus set us free to truly uproariously worship and enjoy Him!
Music is powerful! I wake up many mornings with a phrase from an old hymn in my spirit. He has me singing it all day. I was raised on the Hymns but your music is powerfully rich too. Every time I hear “i will dance Like David danced”… I have to dance. The first time I ever hears it was at the Hope for tomorrow conference in CO Sprgs in 03. After my personal deliverance – I was compelled to dance in the isle with many others who had been set free that day. The first and only time I have danced in public. But I am a wild worship warrior in my own sanctuary. Music helps me build altars – like ‘I will Dance Like David danced’ – will forever remind me of my freedom in Christ through the tearing down of strongholds. I am most grateful to you, John and the team for ministering to me with your music at that conference. Thank you!
Still dancing!
Patrina><
Your words are SO very true!! Music has been a part of my heart, my soul, and now my family for MANY years! I always recall how David played for Saul, and ‘soothed’ the savage beast within! When you are a musician, there has to be a switch from playing music proudly, while performing it from the (God given) talents within your mind, and at-times your heart – to the humble ‘on your face’ worship of the heart – that takes your giftings, and all the power residing within them, and uses them to point back to God, instead of taking all the credit for something that God created in the first place; intended for His ultimate power and glory; fashioned to do battle against satan and all his imps. We must all make that shift and engage in the battle and use music as the anointed powerful tool that it is, to bring and empower the body of Christ and defeat the forces of evil, and give the glory to the One and Only to whom it belongs…our heavenly Father.
Joe S….
I truly loved your response to this! Wow! you got it right, brother. God bless you for his wisdom in you for understanding this gift of music.
you wrote….”there has to be a switch from playing music proudly, while performing it from the (God given) talents within your mind, and at-times your heart – to the humble ‘on your face’ worship of the heart – that takes your giftings, and all the power residing within them, and uses them to point back to God, instead of taking all the credit for something that God created in the first place; intended for His ultimate power and glory; fashioned to do battle against satan and all his imps. ”
What a mouthful! Would you mind if I quote you – from this – on my blog sometime in the future? (if I make reference to or link back to this page)
You have just written so well – what I’ve known in my heart surrounding this music thing. Performers are just that – performers. But true anointed musicians – are a separate breed – and oh how sweet and powerfully rich is their sound – rich with the fragrance of Christ – it is! Rich with ‘substance’ – that hovers over the audience with transforming power and conviction and healing. Amen!!
God bless,
Patrina ><
Every few years there is a song that the enemy uses as his hook. In the fifties it was “Don’t Say Don’t”, and this powerful message helped lead many young people to make wrong choices. Wisdom says “be careful little ears what you hear!”
Today God is writing His music! Yes, there are “hooks” to draw us into the arms of Jesus. My current favorite is “Let our praises rise as a weapon in Your hand. Let our praises rise, Oh God!”
Gloria