Thinking About Music

I've been thinking recently about what motivates my interest in music and musicianship. I have to admit that my journey as a musician has been very long one. I started when I was 12 years old and I've played off and on until I joined IHOP where I really started playing regularly 5 years ago. I'm not all that skilled, although sometimes I surprise myself, there are a lot of musicians at IHOP that blow my mind.

I've been thinking about what motivates my music. Why do I even play guitar at all? What is the purpose behind it? It wasn't until I joined IHOP and met Seth Yates that I heard of Biblical prophetic musicianship or anointed music. I didn't even have a grid for the false worship movements of the earth. In fact I thought I was doing God a favor by using my special musical talent to worship him. I thought music was music for music's own sake. Now I realize that couldn't be further from the truth.

My motivation for music has been wrecked ever since I discovered the passage in Scripture related to God's purpose for prophetic musicianship. I can't settle for music for music's sake anymore. No amount of skill is enough for me. I am only interested in music that moves the heavens, touches God's heart and sets people free. So much of today's music is self-centered, God-hating and enslaving! But Scripture speaks of music that literally changes the spiritual atmosphere over a region, music that dispatches angels into battle and that no demon can stand against. Who would have thought music could do that? God did.

Scripture makes this so clear through the lives of many musicians such as David, Elisha and the Levites. David's music drove demons away from Saul. Elisha needed the music of an anointed musician to receive a prophetic word, and the Levites played their instruments on the front lines of battle while thousands were slain by angels at the sound of their music. WHAT IS THAT?! What kind of music is that?! Psalm 149 speaks of the church having the praises of God on their lips and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute judgement on the nations! Isaiah 30 says that every judgement that is released against the Antichrist in Revelation is actually to the sound of the church's music! How could the defeat of the Antichrist and our music be related?!

We have so little understanding of our calling as worshipers, or of God's intention for music. Suddenly skill level doesn't matter at all and all that matters is heart-posture before the Lord. God designed the power of music to be accessible not to those who have the skill, but to those who have the hunger. I'm wrecked. As a musician, I care about skill only so that I can express what I feel in my spirit (and cooperate with a team). All the skill in the world means nothing without the right heart-posture.

So, honestly, what motivates my music? Skill doesn't, and maybe that's bad because I don't practice enough. But I have a vision and a calling for something greater than skilled musicianship - to drive out darkness with a single note. I honestly don't care that much about how fast my fingers are or how well I understand music theory, although those things do have their place and importance. I can't be satisfied by any music that doesn't encounter God's heart. I just can't.

So, that's what I'm thinking about music right now. I'm a mess until I have all that God will give me as a musician. This is my public statement of my ache to play music that brings heaven and earth together, to encounter God's heart every time I pick up a guitar, and to commit my musicianship to music that sets people free.

Consecrated Musicianship

Music is such a huge part of all of our lives. Have you ever met a person that doesn't like music? We can debate certain types of music, but everyone loves at least some kind of music. The real glory of music is found in its Creator.

Music was invented by the Lord for His worship. Angels participated in music long before humanity ever existed (Job 38:7). Before Satan fell, he was the highest musician and worship leader in heaven. Studying Satan before his fall reveals how he was created to lead creation in worship through music. Satan is a musician (parts of his body were designed as beautiful instruments), and scripture actually references the Lord being Lucifer's source of inspiration and music (pre-fall). But Satan fell, launching his own worship movement for his own glory, as the chief musician, to deceive humanity. 

Side note: Part of Satan's war against humanity is that we have replaced him as the chief worshipers of heaven. Satan was created to lead us in worship of Yahweh, but he fell, and God granted that humanity would take his place as the chief worshipers of heaven. There are lots of references and studies behind these statements, but I don't want to unpack the entire background right here.

Not only did God invent music and create Lucifer as a chief musician, He also designed our spirit and emotions to respond to music. All music is rooted in spiritual inspiration, whether good or bad, based on who (or what) we worship. Our spirits are directly effected by what we listen to. Our emotions are knit to the music that we submit ourselves to. Many have found freedom from deep depression after changing the music that they listen to. Many who have struggled with the spirit of fear have found deliverance after removing certain music from their library. And not only that, but many have found freedom from demonic oppression related to what they listen to.

The call to be a musician is indeed a crucial calling in the kingdom of heaven. There is real power in music, rooted in who (or what) we worship. There is real power that the Lord wants to give to the church in the area of music that we can only receive if we ask him for it. Music isn't just about sounding good, music can release the power of God to all who hear. Music can deliver or enslave. And musicians will be judged based on what they worshiped with their talents.

I've heard many fantastic musicians, real geniuses with God-given creativity who use their talents to openly worship demons, and their albums are iTunes bestsellers, hardening the hearts of those who hear their music.

I think a lot of Christian musicians need to wake up. Music isn't just sound, there is real power in music. We need to get over our sound and start pressing into the power of Jesus and what He says about our music. We need to stop drinking from the cup of demons (1 Cor 10:21) and actually dedicate our music and inspiration to the Lord. How can we lead anyone in the worship of Yahweh if we're listening to demon worship? And we worship the one who invented music! How is it that secular music dominates the industry when all of their music is based on a counterfeit without revelation or divine inspiration?

I believe that no music can compare to the music of anointed worship. There comes a point where the sound falls away and the power and presence of God overtakes the music and suddenly your song becomes an encounter with the living God. Where is that music? Where is the music that breaks the chains of bondage that the secular music industry enslaves us with? Where is the music that causes our faces to shine and the glory to manifest as in 2 Chronicles 5:11-14? There is more to be had for those who are hungry.

I encourage you, if you are a musician or a singer, to consecrate your music to the Lord and set aside secular music from your life. You are called to distinguish between what is holy and what is common, especially as a musician or singer. Whether or not you feel called to lead worship, or write music, play shows and tour, or just rock out, as a believer, your music has a higher calling to release the power of God on the earth. Seek the Lord about how He would use your music, and seek His inspiration.