Music is mentioned over eight-hundred and thirty times in the Bible, and we are told to sing unto the Lord over two-hundred times within the scriptures. This “universal language” transcends our social, political and intellectual walls and has the ability to speak to human emotions directly, moving the hearts of humanity. This is why movies, commercials, social changes, revivals have and will always be accompanied by music.
In this moment in history two worship movements are rising up across the earth. One lifts its voice to glorify God and the other lifts up praise unto Satan. Just as God will pour out His Spirit on musicians and singers and anoint them to usher in His Presence in a greater way, there is a counter movement promoting a “positive” humanitarian view that exalts the needs and glory of man.
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 2 Peter 2:1-2
The primary tool in these movements will be within the music. Understanding that these two movements are alive and growing on the earth right now is crucial in gaining discernment on what music you allow yourself to listen to. Within music there is a spirit behind it; music is clothed whether it is of God or of something else entirely. Not all music has an angel or demon attached to it, but that there is a spirit fueling each sound.
Whether or not it was right to listen to secular music was always an issue for me in the past, especially being a musician. At first I gave up what was blatantly evil and obviously not a good influence on me, ultimately I giving it up completely. But as time went by, song by song, I started listening to everything again. I realized I wasn’t totally convinced that secular music was bad. I wanted hard evidence. I began to research different bands and artists; I was shocked at what I found. I could see clearly the spiritual battle that was going on with and through music, and I felt deceived. The lyrics to songs I had been listening to for years were speaking directly against God and had been staring me right in the face and I had been so ignorant of it. I had always given excuses, “I’m not listening to the words, just the music” or “I’m getting creative inspiration from other artists.” The truth is if I had truly known what’s behind what I was listening to, I would’ve never gone there for inspiration. We aren’t meant to drink from wells of the world’s influence. The Holy Spirit has made Himself readily available to teach us. Why not turn to the Master Creator, who is the author of music and inspiration?
It becomes a question of whether or not you trust the Holy Spirit to teach you, and do you have faith that He will? The Lord gave to me a series of dreams regarding this issue and the true melodies of Heaven. Each, I believe, are imperative to acknowledge and understand.
In the first dream, an angel named “Moriah” (which means “God will provide) stood ready to show me and a few others the melodies of Heaven. Those around me called the melodies too “child-like” and eventually the angel left us. These people with me seemed entirely content to play the songs they knew and were comfortable with because they had perfected the sound.
The songs of Heaven are available to each one of us, but we must ask and have faith to receive them with open hearts. I started praying for a melody during worship in the Prayer Room as I played, and the Lord gave it to me. Immediately I started playing the opening melody for the song “My Soul Longs for You”. (You can find this song on Misty Edwards' CD "Relentless") That moment confirmed my dream and the truth that God will provide what he has promised to give!
In the second, I found myself in a large room with many well known musicians that are popular in today's culture. The room seemed more like a prison cell with bars on the windows rather than just a room. The door was being held shut by the popular musicians of the past. Inside were new, younger musicians and once they had been held inside long enough, they would join the othfers outside holding the door shut. I reached in my back pocket and pulled out a small silver harp that was tuned to the melodies of Heaven. I knew that it would unlock any of the windows and let me out. Through this dream God revealed to me that the iconic rock bands and musicians of the past have the newer and upcoming musicians in a prison of influence. Musicians everywhere are turning to the same secular bands and musicians of the past for inspiration and influence. The popular musicians of today will become the inspiration for the next generation as well. If we will tune our ears to the songs of Heaven, we will be set free from the earth's prison of influence.
The Lord opened my ears to hear the secular music that's to come in future in the third dream. The music was beautiful, mesmerizing; everything I ever wanted to hear in a song. Although lovely, my spirit knew it was demonically charged and even though I knew it was evil, I was still drawn to it.
In the fourth dream, the “blueprints” for a secular song’s power were revealed to me. I was holding a 2 page layout with a long list of questions and answers on it. It had every question you could think of regarding someone’s character and personality. This question'eer concluded that if you listened to a certain secular song long enough, you would become the person that the pages described. I felt like I had been given a copy of the enemy’s plans and I knew that I wasn’t supposed to be seeing this. But, God was showing me in order to understand the true power that Satan had placed on secular music and the effects that are deeper than most think (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
If you aren't a musician you still should be aware of the music you’re listening to, where it gets it's influence and it’s inspiration. When the Holy Spirit anoints music, it leaves the listener provoked to run after holiness. Other music might leave you feeling emotionally high, confident and strong, but to what end? Everything we listen to should be leading us towards holiness unto the Lord, its important to recognize the power of music and the effects it has on us. As long as we keep subjecting ourselves to the sounds of the enemy and the harmonies of this world our ears will slowly but surely become dull to hearing the true sound of Heaven.
If our ears are tuned to the frequency of God’s voice and the harmonies that permeate from His throne in Heaven, we will begin to sing and play the very songs that choirs of angels are singing. These songs will bring deliverance, healing and an increase of the Holy Spirit with power unprecedented. May a new sound arise!
Seth Yates is a full time musician at the International House of Prayer. He plays electric guitar over 6 times a week on Corey Asbury and Matt Gilman's worship team. Seth has also played on Misty Edwards' worship team and worship CDs "Always on His Mind" and "Relentless".
