The Musical Kingdom
seven chapters
Chapter One
Music and the Kingdom of God
Open to me the Gates I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord. This is the Gate of the Lord
through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You,
Psalms 118:19-21
God’s people are about to experience the atmosphere of Heaven in greater magnitude and intensity then one could ever imagine possible. The Church is about to undergo an earthshaking worldwide revival of seismic proportions. The Kingdom of Heaven is about to be actualized on earth and you and I are going to be a part of it. That’s good news!
A Heavenly protocol
However, such titanic progress will only be accomplished when we begin to live according to a heavenly protocol. The final wave, the last great move of God will lead to a great harvest of souls. The final ingathering from the north, the south, the east and the west will bring about the consummation of this Church age and will hasten of the second coming of Christ. God is a God of plans, purposes and patterns and His divine plan for mankind will be carried out and fulfilled according to a heavenly protocol.
A divine pattern
The ancient Israelites served at a sanctuary that was a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you…It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these . . .
Hebrews 9:23
When Christians begin to follow the divine pattern as set forth in the scriptures, they will experience the glory and presence of the Lord unlike any other time in history. The pattern and protocol of the Kingdom is neither complicated nor mysterious. However, it is indeed weighty and profound. In this book we will touch on one aspect of it – namely godly music and worship.
A great awakening is about to shake not only our nation, but the entire planet. Godly, heavenly music will be at the forefront of this final move. A new song from the heavens is being birthed. These are certainly exciting times to be apart of the Kingdom!
Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also Heaven… Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably.
Hebrews 12:26, 28
Glory music
The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14
What will bring about such colossal change? How will the knowledge of the glory of the Lord cover the earth? I believe in great part that this will be accomplished by singing into the heavens anointed praise and holy worship to God. Singing praise into the Heavens draws the presence of God and the presence of God brings with it the life transforming supernatural glory of God. Such glory, such majestic music and worship will always come as a result of us getting into agreement with God’s divine pattern.
Principle: As we sow into the Heavens anointed music and praise, God will sow back
into the earth His life giving Glory.
Only the purest praise can contain His presence. And when His omnipotent presence comes down, revival and Kingdom conquest is the outcome.
Humility and the glory
Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4
In this day God is calling forth an army of worshippers who will carry His glory wherever they go. Every one is a musician in this Kingdom. Everyone is a singer in this Kingdom. Every lover of Jesus is a king and a priest in God’s eyes and without respect of persons.
You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
1 Peter 2: 5, 9
Jesus promised that if we lifted Him up in adoration, He would draw all men to Himself and without respect of persons. But there are some serious hindrances to be removed before God will pour out His Glory upon the Church.
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel.
Psalms 22:3
Innocence Restored
When the Lord taught us what the heart of a true Kingdom worshipper should look like, He gave us the vivid picture of a care free young and trusting innocent child.
Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4
You see, the Kingdom is all about humility and purity. Jesus said only the pure and innocent in heart can see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God . . .
Matthew 5:8
The King Himself promises to inhabit the praises and sincere heart songs of even the smallest child! He will also inhabit the worship of His chosen Kings and Priests who have humbled their hearts as a child and whom have consecrated themselves in devotion to God.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise . . .
Psalms 8:2 (NIV)
Only the humble, the pure in heart can ascend to the Lord’s throne . . .
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
nor sworn deceitfully, he shall receive the blessing from the Lord
Psalms 24:3-5
The power of a song
Music is the gift of God given to the children of men, in the midst of their sorrows,
to give them a joy worthy of their eternal destiny. . .
-J.S.Bach
A single song can change our entire outlook on life. In an instant, its lyric and melody can transform our emotions and influence our destinies. Music can also corporately influence our society and change the direction of an entire nation! There is power in music to inspire vision and to give hope. The mathematically precise, ingenious Christian composer was spot on when he said music was a gift from God!
Principle: Beauty and harmony are very rare in this life, but in good music they are both made possible.
Music can be a trendsetter — for good or for bad. Music can rapidly change a culture faster than any other medium. It can change our perceptions and the way we view others as well as ourselves. It can define what is “hot” and what is not. It can defy time and carry us to another place transporting us into eternal realms — whether good or evil. The wings of a song can carry angels or devils depending on what sort of music it is and where it originated.
The sounds of War
While a student at the College of William and Mary in colonial Williamsburg Virginia, one of my fondest memories was to wake up in the morning to the inspiring, early American sounds of the Drum and Fife Corps. Often I would rise early to watch them exuberantly marching down the historic Duke of Gloucester street. Historically, these sounds were a call to arms for all good able-bodied citizens to stand up and fight for freedom and liberty.
Hearing such melodies reminded me of the zealous resolve of the “rag tag” Continental Army. During the American Revolution, the ancient beat of the drum combined with the piercing sound of a piccolo, strengthened the out-numbered Continental Armies’ resolve to fight and in the face of overwhelming force. Though marching strait into heavy fire, the sounds of inspiring music went before them and emotionally and spiritually prepared them to courageously face the enemy.
A melodious call to arms
As music was at the forefront of the advance of the Minute Men in waging battle against the Redcoats so it will be at the forefront of the Churches in the final conflict with the dark kingdom. Even as the Minute Men found inspiration in the power of song to defeat the vastly superior and more numerous troops of King George of England, so the Christian army will be inspired by a new heavenly song which will sally forth to meet the fallen Cherub and his countless cronies head on and defeat and annihilate them.
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous:
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
Psalms 60:12; 118:14
More than a melody
Down through the ages, Patriotic music and lyric (much of it taken from the Psalms) has inspired millions of soldiers to literally walk into the jaws of death. Inspiring music can be an exquisite and sublime motivator of entire armies. In the 1980s War of the Falklands, the British army played the Vangelis’ theme song Chariots of Fire over their battleship’s loudspeakers, while they fought the Argentinean army. After the Brit’s victory the soldiers claimed that the music inspired them to fight more valiantly.
The healing force of godly music
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Psalms 30:11-12
A lot of contemporary music being produced these days (even Christian) is just plain un-anointed, agitating and obnoxious to listen to. However, good, creative, godly, peace inducing, non-raucous music can heal a broken heart or even cause a failing, tender plant to flourish! Soothing music can calm the nerves, stimulate the body organs into producing endorphins, kill pain, release serotonin and melatonin into the brain and cure insomnia.
Anointed music assists the body in the healing process. Spirit-inspired music, dedicated to God, has the power to pull down strongholds and undo bondages. It can neutralize demons, heal the mind and help in deliverance. What a witness such music is to a lost and dying world!
Seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well. And so it was, whenever the spirits from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
1 Samuel 16: 16, 23
Music, prophesy and signs and wonders
Time and time again my wife and I have seen the wonderful impact the Song of Angels and the Healing Waters worship projects have made in the lives of thousands. We are overwhelmed by the countless testimonies of people who have been saved, baptized in the Holy Spirit, healed and delivered while praying and listening to the music. Young men and women have been called into the ministry, terminal diseases have been instantly and totally healed, marriages have been restored, angelic visitations and signs and wonders increased in the lives of prayerful listeners, ministries have been renewed and the fire of God has fallen in corporate meetings where the music was played.
Of course, according to the Bible, whenever you mix the living, infallible Word of God with holy unction, prophesy and beautiful, heavenly melodies, this is what we should expect! This is part of the heavenly protocol and pattern for revival.
And it will happen, when you have come there to the city that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.
"Then the Spirit of the will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man
"And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.
1 Samuel 10:5-7
Here we see that when the anointing rests upon pure worship and prophetic music, a person’s destiny can be powerfully influenced for the cause of the Kingdom.
Prophetic worship as a sign
In the passage above, the Spirit of God referred to prophetic music as being a “sign” from heaven. The prophet Samuel directed young Saul to look for these “signs” from heaven which would confirm the kingly anointing and call on his life. Conversely, music can also be used to influence people for evil when such music is demonized, rebellious and contrary to the plans and purposes of the Spirit of God.
Music is a spiritual object. It has real substance in the heavenly realms. As believers, we must be careful stewards of it. Godly, anointed music is comprised of much more than rhythm, melody and harmony. It is a spiritual force that can shake the heavens and the earth! Godly, beautiful music is now going before the army of God and winning the nations. With every stroke of the Harp of God, with every verse of the song of the Lord, the devil is being hammered with blows from which he will never recover!
With his scepter he will strike them down. Every stroke the Lord lays on them with his punishing rod will be to the music of tambourines and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm.
Isaiah 30:31-32
Kingdom music acts as heavenly artillery blasting away the ancient evil principalities, dark fortresses and strongholds which have ruled over cultures and nations for centuries. It can instantly unlock a closed heaven and cause the presence of the Lord to fall in great power. In the twinkling of an eye, anointed music and worship can smite Lucifer and cause him to fall from the air at the speed of light!
Chapter two
Glory Music
As the air is the atmosphere of earth, so glory is the atmosphere of Heaven. And the supernatural, extra-terrestrial glory of God is about to invade the terrestrial earth with a fresh sound from Paradise. Get ready! Heaven’s music is about to invade the nations of the world! The power of a godly song will awaken backslidden souls from their sleep and will stir up our entire generation for the glory of God.
During the great spiritual awakening of Deborah’s generation, the Lord instructed her to stir herself up in God by singing a holy song to the Lord. We need to stir ourselves up to do the same . . .
Then the people of the Lord shall go down to the gates. Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, sing a song!
Judges 5:11-12
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You shall have a new song
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth…
Revelation 5:9-11
To the prayerful and spiritually attuned ear, new and Heavenly songs are now being downloaded to the earth from the regions of Glory. For those singers and minstrels who humble themselves as a little child and keep their eyes from looking upon evil, the Lord will give to them a new melody. To those will invest time and resources in prayer, God is about to peel back His dimensional curtain and allow them to hear the new sounds descending from the heavens. John heard such a sound when living on the prison isle of Patmos . . .
And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne. . . And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Revelation 14:2-3; 15:3-4
New songs of the Kingdom are now being performed by angels in heaven and true worshippers will soon begin to tap into this heavenly musical stream. All the Nations will soon hear this free flowing song which will literally become a spiritual wedge in opening their hearts to receiving the word of the Lord. This is an early step to take in bringing the nation shaking glory of God down to earth.
Ichabod: The Glory has departed . . .
Failure to seek God, failure to hear this new song and the very absence of such heavenly, anointed praise and worship music in an assembly, will be a clear sign that the presence of the Lord’s glory is gone from that place. I don’t know about you but he stiffest judgment I can think of would be to lose the very presence of God in my life and in my assembly . . .
She named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."
1 Samuel 4:21-22
In the church many are worshipping God their own “commercial,” way instead of God’s Kingdom way. They are like the carnally minded priest Eli. As we will soon see, many today are not following His divine pattern or sequence. They are lawless and unholy in their approach and their praise has become all but “noise” in the ears of the Lord . . .
I will put an end to the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps shall be heard no more.
Ezekiel 33: 32
Great Awakening Music
"Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
Ephesians5:14
In the music of the Kingdom, godly singing is simply “preaching to notes.” God’s truth should always ring true in the lyrics. Men’s words, however clever, pithy and poetic, will always return void but God’s Word always prospers into the thing wherein it was sent. [Isaiah 55:11] What we so desperately need today is scriptural music that is impregnated with the yoke-breaking, burden removing, anointing of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word is Spirit. We need songs and scriptural lyrics that will challenge and awaken the spiritual giant of the body of Christ. His words alone can give eternal life because they are life. [John 6:63] Music when mixed with the word of the Lord becomes a life changing spiritual substance.
Healing Notes
We need songs imbued with the peaceful, healing balms of Heaven. Whether original or adaptive, they must be heavy with the unction of the Holy Ghost. Again, we should long for praise and worship music that is not only doctrinally sound, but music that will bring Heaven back down to earth. Songs with creative key changes, modulations, musical interludes, artful transitions and free flowing changes of voice and lyric line will be free flowing and natural like a mountain stream and will be much more representative of the music of Heaven . . .
Therefore glorify the Lord in the dawning light,
the name of the Lord God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.
From the ends of the earth we have heard songs:
Glory to the righteous
Isaiah 24:15-16
Music of celebration
Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy . . .
Isaiah 51:11
In this day, we are about to take part in the greatest display of corporate, celebratory music and praise the Church has ever experienced. Kingdom music is happy, joyous and celebratory! After the Lord miraculously delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt, Moses led the children of Israel in a wonderful celebratory song . . .
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name.
Exodus 15:1-3
The very breath of the Spirit of God will bring a festive, holy celebration to the earth in this hour. The world is about to hear farther and wider than ever before the celebratory songs of the Kingdom. This is nothing new. The Kingdom has always rejoiced and celebrated great victories over the enemy with godly music
Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem… for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.
Nehemiah 12:27-30
Many prodigals will be returning home in this day. Many homes and churches’ will be celebrating with joyful music when they do. In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus alluded to the fact that music and dancing would be used by those of the Kingdom to celebrate God’s grace and triumph over evil and sin . . .
'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing . . .
Luke 15:23-25
Chapter Three
Music, Sound, color and light
The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a blue, sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a Rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Ezekiel 1:22, 26-28
Because God is light, He is also a God of sound and prismatic colors. His resounding voice has brought forth all of creation in glorious beauty. Since sound waves are light, they can also be represented by the color spectrum. For example, the A note on the music scale is the “balancing” note and is the standard note that all orchestras tune to. The A note is represented on the color scale as red which is one of the main “balancing” colors. Why this is nobody really knows. God simply predetermined it would be this way. The A note’s sound is universal and mimics the moderate hum of crickets and soothing night sounds of nature--although sometimes the crickets will switch over to the key of G!
In any event, if you could see into the spirit realm, you would see that when notes are played there is a gorgeous display of colors and hues with every vibration.
The prismatic effect of sound and color at the time of creation was incredible to say the least!
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like a green emerald. Great bursts of light flashed forth from Him as from a glittering diamond or from a shining red ruby, and a rainbow glowing like an emerald encircled His throne… And I heard a sound from heaven like the roaring of a great waterfall or the rolling of mighty thunder. It was the singing of a choir accompanied by harps . . .
Revelation 4:2-3; 14:2
God must like the A note because great bursts of reddish light of from around His Throne appears as the color of amber and looks like a fiery, brilliant, reddish shining ruby. Maybe the A note is the centering note in the musical Universe because it at the center of Heaven. Some musicologists teach that an “A” note’s corresponding color on the light spectrum is red. God is the divine balancer and standard of beauty and the ultimate golden means of universal balance and symmetry for the entire Universe.
Angel Song
A glorious angelic chorus in the key of A is most likely resonating throughout the entire realm of Heaven and Earth! The natural kingdom He has lovingly created is responding to this beautiful vibration. No wonder why the night sounds of crickets and other critters when blended together often praise the Lord in the key of A!
Let everything that has breath now praise the Lord . . .
Psalm 150
Sound and the four elements
Theologians, philosophers and physicist’s will all tell you that the four universal elements of creation are in one form or another wind, fire, water and earth. The closest musical band to ever be named for the four elements was the 1970’s R&B band called Earth, Wind and Fire. Their name was missing only one element— water. Interestingly, man is primarily made up of clay or earth.
But we are also comprised of the other three elements — lots of water, a little spark of fire (or electricity), dirt and most importantly, spirit or “breath”. We are a fearfully and wonderfully made matrix of electro, bio-chemical components which God animates by His breath or Spirit.[Psalm 139:14] He longs our beings to resonate with His breath the high praises of God and desires for us to walk with Him in sweet fellowship and intimacy.
The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7
Blowing back time . . .
When I was younger and my brother and I would compete in sports one on one, sometimes he would call me a “piece of dirt” in order to unnerve me. All competitive motives aside, I now must admit that he was theologically correct!
Ah, but God can do amazing things with a piece of dirt. All it takes is smidgen of His weighty breath. God’s breath is so powerful and can blow back in time and cause the dead to come back to life!
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, you know. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live So I prophesied as I was commanded: and there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus says the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Ezekiel 37:1-10
Yield your dirt to God
And ye shall know that I Am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put My Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, says the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:13-14
If we would yield our bodies as living and holy sacrifices He would breathe upon our dead bones of His Spirit and turn us into an unstoppable army of the Kingdom! If we would but yield ourselves to the Master Potter’s hands He would mold us into a worshipper of light and fire, and glory! And the sounds we could produce would literally move heaven and earth for the glory of God.
A celestial spark
As Spirit formed creations of God, we have been given a God-like will, imagination and that little celestial spark we call conscience. Other animate and inanimate things of creation lack these God-like attributes . . .
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion . . .
Genesis 1:26
Mankind alone is created in God’s image. We have a will to choose whether or not we will worship God. The Westminster Confession starts off with the premise that the chief aim at mankind in the world should be to love, worship, and glorify God their Creator. The question remains— is our primary purpose in life to love and worship God? Do we truly want to align our breath, our voices, and our sounds with the glorious sounds of Heaven? I trust that the answer is yes because the combination of the two makes for an incredible Kingdom force on the earth!
The power of vibration
Sound is an inconceivable power. Sound is caused by vibrations. Breath or wind causes vibrations. Take an earthquake or tornado. Both are the by- products of powerful vibratory forces. In nature, sound, wind and vibrations are virtually always connected. For instance, the vibrations and low frequency sounds of an earthquake can in an instant displace large surfaces of the Earth’s outer crust causing mass destruction and Tidal Waves.
The vibrations of an earthquake can easily cause a tsunami just as the low pressure vibratory winds of a powerful hurricane can cause massive tidal surge and flooding. All of these tumultuous events of nature are in one form or another result of vibrations or shock waves. The point is such vibratory occurrences cataclysmically change the environments around them.
The power of a sound
The destructive and forceful winds of a tornado are commonly described by victims as “the sound of a loud jet engine or train.” If the force of a tornados’ wind (or breath) can catapult a 2x4 piece of wood through a brick wall, imagine what “God’s wind can do!
And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them… Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.
Exodus 14:19-22
Tests have been conducted where large 26”sub-woofer bass speakers were connected to audio signal function generator (or multi- tone generator) When the device generated repeating electronic digital signals omitting a stream of powerful vibratory, low frequency notes, the sound literally knocked a train car and moved an office building off its foundations! Some low frequency sub-seismic sound waves yield so much force that they are what actually cause earthquakes.
Over time these sounds have literally moved and rearranged the Earth’s entire tectonic plate system. In other words, sound created the hills and valleys and is still creating the mountain ranges of the world today. Jesus was serious and wasn’t just speaking metaphorically when He said that our words when enjoined to His could literally move mountains!
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says.
Mark 11:23
The sound of God’s voice
The sound of God’s voice speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai sounded like thunder, and the breath of it shook the earth and caused the mountain to tremble. The quaking from the sound of His voice resonated throughout the entire Sinai desert . . .
Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain.
Exodus 19:16-20
A thousand points of breath . . .
Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord. ‘And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
1 Kings 19:11-12
When you get discouraged due to all the backsliding and evil occurring around you, pray and ask God to speak to you and show you the remnant who is still faithful and at work truly representing the Kingdom in this day.
Seven thousand points of breath . . .
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
1 Kings 19:13, 18
Elijah discovered that though powerful, God’s voice is all loving, healing, creative and restorative. He’s full of “good vibrations.” His music gives life. His breath, so meek and gentle, so empowering toward the righteous gives hope to a world bond up in fear and darkness His resounding words of life and tranquility give order and guidance in the midst of storms and tempests of all kinds.
When He speaks that still, small, peaceful, voice whispers assertively to us that we are going to be alright, that we are not alone and that there are “7000” others who also have not bowed the knee to Baal.
A thousand points of light is good, but seven thousand points of uncompromising Spirit filled Kingdom believers full of the breath of God, is better.
The Sprit is saying for us to never despair for there are many in the Kingdom who we can join together in holy alliance to form strong army which will go forth with high praises in our mouths to defeat all opposing forces of evil. On the wings of praise and worship God will defeat them all as with a breath . . .
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth… And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. And the channels of the sea appeared; the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; He delivered me from my strong enemy . . .
2 Samuel 22:8-18
He is the God who is as strong as a lion but gentle as a dove. All destructive vibrations are the result spiritual warfare or can reflect the judgments of the Lord against wickedness. [Matt. 24:7; Rev.11:13; 16:18] That’s why God wants our praise and worship to Him to be assertive and sure. He wants us to bring His peace, holiness and order to a world full of chaos. He wants to speak to the storm “Peace be still.” He wants to breathe on the world through us His life and hope. Through anointed, God breathed preaching and music,
He wants the world to know that His Kingdom has come.
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling… Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:37-39
Through then glorious sounds of Kingdom music and pure worship we will pull down evil strongholds and advance the Kingdom of God. We will learn to shout to the Lord our praise. And this anointed force of praise will shake the very foundations of Hell! Like a holy earthquake, it will change the environment around us and the glory of the Lord will cover the Earth as the waters cover the sea.
Chapter Four
How to hear the Sounds of Heaven
The Sound of music
“The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands”.
Isaiah 55:12
Rogers and Hammerstein became even more popular after they wrote that opening lyric to the stanza — “The hills are alive with the sound of music.” Their lyric was inspired by the Psalms. The words of the song ring true because the “music” of the hills they wrote of far predated the existence of human civilization on earth. It was a very ancient sound that they heard.
When R&H wrote such beautiful and lovely melodies, their music was considered new and innovative at the time. But the pretty melodies they scored and orchestrated and the tunes they arranged for big screen, were floating around in the heavens long before those two musical geniuses’ were ever even born.
I guess you might say that they became more sensitive to the God given sounds in their “ears” and by their musical gifts, were able tap into the heavenly ethereal stream of sounds. Talk about musical gifting, after prayer and fasting for 23 days, Handel penned the entire score of Messiah in twenty three, 24 hour, earth-solar days, which I would say was no mere human feat!
God’s muse . . .
Many of the most beautiful songs and melodies that have graced the earth have come during creative day dreams, night visions or by the gentle whisper of an angel at the break of dawn. Some of you would do well to leave a tape recorder or note pad and pen on your night table or near your bed in order to record some of these heavenly melodies. Some of my most luminous moments have come at the most unpredictable and unusual times and circumstances!
The Sounds of Heaven
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing . . .
Isaiah 55:12
So then, what we call “new” sounds are actually Heaven’s timeless, creative sounds. These heavenly sounds will lead you into God’s rest and peace. The Kingdom of God is righteousness and peace in the Holy Spirit. God always intended godly worship and music to be a vehicle to bring people into His Kingdom of peace and joy. It is sad that so much of it has become jaded, scripture-less and commercially driven.
Older then the hills. . .
The sounds of Heaven are nothing new. They just have not been heard too often by the sullied ear of fallen man. Sound and music existed long before time. It existed when God created the Universe. Sound was present eons before Samuels’s prophetic minstrels and King David’s psalmists and court orchestra. It existed long before Handel penned his timeless oratorio Messiah or Charles Wesley’s wrote his glorious hymns.
When a believer’s heart and imaginative mind is yielded to the Lord and ordered aright before God, the Spirit can use their faculties to creatively converge various heavenly sounds in new and free flowing concentrations and expressions of rhythm, melody, harmony and lyric.
Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:18-20
Early on in civilization King David amassed a court orchestra and choir to exalt the Lord. He got a prophetic view of the modern orchestra long before anyone else because his yielded heart was close to the Lord’s. He was given Kingdom keys to hear its sounds . . .
Praise God in His sanctuary, Praise in His mighty expanse. Praise for His mighty, praise Him in his excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the tambourine and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150 offers us a vivid, heavenly picture of the precursor symphony which we now enjoy in the western world. The modern orchestra is full of various sounds and instrumentation. God loves variety and creativity. And so now add to that the electronic, synthesized digital sounds of Dr. Moog and you have a veritable “wall of sound” to work with. Of course, many do not use the gift of sound to glorify God but have allowed the devil to usurp their music and talent.
A confluence of sounds
King David was one of the first to create a unity or “wall” of sound out of many different instruments for the specific purpose of giving glory to God. Samuel and Elisha had their various minstrels and more than likely prophesied to the sounds of music. [1Samuel 10:5-7; 18:6] But their smaller, mobile, musical troupes that accompanied Samuel and Elijah could not be properly considered an orchestra in the modern sense.
And Elisha said, "As the Lord of hosts’ lives, before whom I stand … "But now bring me a musician." Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him and he said, "Thus says the Lord . . .
2 Kings 3:14-16
It was the convergence of sounds in David’s Temple Symphony that was the first to bring to the earth one powerful, symphonic message – God is great! And when all these various voices of instruments and human voices, were combined in symphonic unity, they declared to all of creation … “Praise the Lord!” This is a song the enemy will never sing.
How to tell if music is of the Kingdom or not . . .
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
John 14:27
Jesus promised us that He would leave us His peace. Whenever we practice His presence, whenever we pray and earnestly seek His face, He will visit us with His unmistakable peace and tranquility. The Holy Spirit is the author of peace and joy in the Kingdom.
For the Kingdom of God is … righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
Principle: If you are wondering whether or not a Christian artist or style of music or sound is of God or not, simply get down on your knees or lie upon your bed and begin to seek God and worship Jesus until you feel His sweet presence and peace sweep over your soul.
Step one: Quiet your mind and thoughts and lie still. Like the Psalmist of old, commune with the Lord on your own bed. Do this for some time until you feel you have entered His rest.
Say the name of Jesus over and over again and tell Him of your love for Him. Then, listen patiently to hear His still, small voice speak lovingly in reply to your heart. Be anxious for nothing. Surrender. Let His precious Spirit of peace and tranquility lead you besides still waters.
Step two: Make sure the volume levels of your CD or DVD player are not too loud of course and then via remote control, click on the music or artist in question.
Listen to it as it flows out of your stereo speakers. If the very first impression is that is that the sound or voice disquiets you, confuses, vexes or throws you out of rest; if grieves your heart (even the slightest)or quenches the gentle Holy Spirit; or if it chases away the peace of God – it is not pure, Kingdom worship!
It really doesn’t matter who is singing or how scriptural or inspiring the lyrics or voice may be. If it quenches away the sweet and gentle presence of the Holy Spirit turn it off and discard it! The fact is, true music from Heaven will actually increase your awareness of God’s presence and magnify the peace of the Lord to ecstatic proportions.
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. For the fruit of the Spirit is …peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19; Galatians 5:23
Chapter Five
The breath of God and Music
“Pneuma” Music
When God began creating the heavens and the earth, the earth was a shapeless, chaotic mass, with the Spirit of God brooding (breathing) over the dark vapors.
Then God said, "Let there be light” and light appeared.
Genesis 1:1-3
The music of breath . . .
God the Holy Spirit breathed over “nothingness” and the light of all of creation came into existence. The Greek word in the Bible for Spirit is pneuma which means “wind” or “breath” or “to blow” upon. Audiologists and sound engineers will tell you that all sounds are produced by the movement of invisible air (wind) passing over vibratory mediums, (such as a reed, vocal chords strings or the brass body of a trumpet) which cause hundreds of vibrations per second at different wave lengths and frequencies.
Music and the breath of God . . .
God the Holy Spirit is the creator of all music and Creation’s first conductor. God Almighty was in fact “singing” when He created the universe! He was creatively blowing out of His divine breath the substance, elements and very “stuff” of creation. This “exhaling out” was a purposeful, symphonic song of love. It was all vibrating with the sweetness and genius of the Holy Ghost. It was originating from the very gut, the very diaphragm of the Father.
In Genesis chapter one, verses one and two, Moses wrote that at the beginning of time, God’s Holy Spirit was’ brooding over’ and ‘breathing’ into existence all of creation. Although the eternal wind of God is invisible and immaterial it is raw omnipotence. [Genesis 1:1-3; John 3:8]
Then God said, "Let there be light, "and light appeared.
Genesis 1:3
The physics of sound and light
You could say that when God said “let there be light” He was also saying “let there be sound.” Scientists now will tell you that sound waves are actually light waves at the lower end of the light spectrum. Sound waves travel at a mere 1088 feet per second. (When an object travels faster than that it is said to have broken the “sonic barrier). Sound waves are essentially light waves moving at a much slower wave length then for example, an intense beam of electrons moving at the speed of light – the highest end of the sound spectrum. (186,000 miles per second!)
Lend your ear to a love song . . .
Into the void of darkness God spoke forth the “sound of music”. The breath of God vibrated over the void and created beauty out of nothing. Bara is Hebrew word “to create something out of nothing. In one moment there was absolutely nothing (no-thing) and then…poof, there was every thing— all because of sound. God spoke forth sounds and breathed out all of Creation. When God sang the love song of creation, God was releasing the light of His glory. You could also say that sound, music and light were created at the same instant.
Principle: Music wasn’t just created to glorify God. Music is a direct expression, the “out-breathing” of the love and Glory of God. Music is another aspect of God’s glory.
When music is performed under the orchestration of the Spirit, it is one of the most direct manifestations of God’s glory on the earth. When the Lord released music He was releasing His glory to men.
The power of breath . . .
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7
‘Breathe on me breath of God’ is a good hymn to sing because the words to the song are so relevant. A person is only as weighty and influential as their breath. If you’re not breathing the fact is your not going to be very influential!
In the Kingdom of God, be it physical or spiritual, there is always a divine pattern a preordained sequence in the way God does things and there is always a plan and purpose for this. God is never the discordant author of confusion . . .
Let all things be done decently and in order.
1 Corinthians 14:40
First the Natural . . .
The divine principle of sequence is no more apparent then in symphony of God’s creation.
But each one in his own order… However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward then the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15: 23, 46-47
I love watching certain specials on the Discovery Channel because it shows in intricate detail, the beauties of God’s natural creation. The first thing God did was to create the natural, terrestrial realm in order to make physical life possible on Earth. One of His first creative acts was to create the atmosphere (biosphere) and one of its essential elements, oxygen.
And God said, "Let the vapors separate to form the sky (atmosphere) above . . .
Genesis 1:6
Out of the elements of the dust or “ground” He then created a biologically adaptive body which could efficiently utilize the life giving properties of oxygen. Within that body he created diffusive organs like the lungs,(one of the major components in singing) a blood stream loaded with oxygen carrying red blood cells, (platelets) and billions of living cells capable of absorbing the life giving properties of “breath” or oxygen through a biological process micro-biologists call osmosis.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground . . .
Genesis 2:7
It was in the primeval Garden of Eden that oxygen was first exhaled into living things. But it was also in the Garden that the breath of God’s own eternal Spirit, His very image was exhaled upon the sons of men. And the Lord God…breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7
It is God’s breath which gives us life and animates the wonderful human frame. God lends us His “pneuma” breath in this life and then at the appointed time, takes it back to Him.
If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
Job 34:14-15
Nigh to departing this world, one great Christian summed up his entire life with the following observation . . .
I am a like an arrow flying through the air, a spirit (breath) sent from God, returning to God.
-- John Wesley
One of the last things caretakers, priests, pastors, doctors, nurses, EMT personnel or family members report hearing when a loved one passes on is the sound of their breath (or spirit) leaving their body. Believe me, life and power is in the pneuma, the breath . . .
While I live will I praise the Lord : I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth . . .
Psalms 146:2-4
Wielding influence . . .
You might say that God was incredibly influential when he “breathed” the whole cosmos into existence.
God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands “Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
Acts 17:24-25
In the Kingdom, God wants to unite His song with ours. He wants us through prayer and worship to partake in a divine process of osmosis where we inhale the life giving spiritual oxygen of His Glory and exhale it upon the dead and breathless souls of fallen men. Like the prophet of old, God challenges us to ruah (Heb. for “wind or breath”) to speak to the dead bones of our generation His Kingdom songs and words of power, life and peace.
His words are pneuma and they are life to all who would “absorb” them through faith.
The Spirit it is that who is giving life; the flesh doth not profit anything; the words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life . . .
John 6:63
The word must be mixed with faith even as the oxygen must be mixed and absorbed into the blood for life to be possible.
Principle: God wants His spirit, His breath to become one with our breath and spirit so that when we pray, praise and speak to the world there is the weighty influence and power of God in it.
Only His Breath, His Spirit, His spoken word can bring healing, restoration, and salvation to a broken and chaotic world. Only His Spirit can bring peace and order to confusion, fear, hopelessness and depression. Our words and songs should be full of scripture and the life giving forces of prophesy and the words of Jesus. Enough with the bridging pap lyric of the contemporary Christian ‘artist’— God is raising up an army of prophetic singers, minstrels and musicians and musicians in this hour whose healing song will bring miracles and revival to the nations. . .
Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.
Ezekiel 37:4-5
When we sow into Heaven the breathy, weighty creative power of Spirit formed worship, He will sow back into the earth deliverance and Holy Ghost wind and heavenly songs for the healing of the nations! Oh can’t you see that the living breath of pure worship practiced His way will help spread the Gospel and extend the kingdom in a thousand different ways we never thought possible.
We need to begin to declare by the Spirit, we need to decree with the very pure essence and breath of God, that the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our God! No human, language, cultural, ethnic, social, educational, or demonic barrier on earth will be strong enough to hold back the flood gates of the Glory of God which is about to invade planet earth on the wings of Kingdom music and worship.
Entering the Kingdom through Praise
Enter into His Gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
Psalms 100:4
The first sequence . . .
There are three basic sequences to entering Kingdom Glory. In this chapter we will deal with the first.
Praise
An underdog NFL football team gets the ball on their own twenty yard line and in the last couple of minutes of the game mounts a come from behind victory to win the Super Bowl. After scoring the game winning touchdown the big board clock winds down to zero and a orange colored Gatorade cooler of ice cold water is then ceremoniously(or un-ceremoniously) dumped over the head of the head coach. The happy and triumphant coach is then joyfully hoisted upon the strong shoulders of gleeful line backers, defensive ends and linemen and then is victoriously carried off the field. Although only involving sportsman, this scene should give one a pretty good picture of the technical meaning of praise.
Praise in the scriptures
The English word praise (from the Greek words ainos and epainos) means to approve of, to bestow virtue and excellence upon, to esteem worthy, to joyously express approval or admiration of, to exuberantly extol or lift up, to glorify, to laud with extravagant commendations, to publicly acclaim or approve as by loud applause and cheering, to lift up as the victor, to commend, or approbation to be ascribed only to God.
As in the tabernacle of Moses and David, there were spiritual “stations” or levels of sequence one went through in order to gain the favor, blessings and life giving presence of the Lord. In the New Testament church, the first station we should proceed with when we enter the House of the Lord is the inner court of vibrant praise. David knew his first step in opening the Ancient Gates was through praise and as we shall see closely links it with thankfulness . . .
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Psalms 100:4
Some people teach that praise takes place solely in the outer courts. In David’s day praise and celebration was exercised in the outer courts while worship (the most intimate expression of prayer) took place in the Holiest Place of all—the place where the Glory of His presence came in all its fullness.
An instrument of Harvest
When the Glory cloud and pillar of fire fell on the tabernacle of Moses or the Temple of Solomon, the neighboring heathen tribes saw this great spectacle this and greatly feared God. Do you want your Church to grow qualitatively as well as quantitatively? Churches that do not experience quality growth are churches that don’t praise God continually.
Praise is an instrument of harvest. Corporate praise attracts God’s favor and invokes His living presence. Praise calls us from the outer courts of the brazen sacrifice of Christ, into the inner court where the Golden Altar is located. The Golden Altar is not a place for blood sacrifice, but a place of prayer. It’s a place where we should offer up the sweet smelling incense of the sacrifice of praise. [Psalm116:17] When we praise God and experience the joy of the Lord, the world can smell that joyful incense. They will want what we in the Kingdom have.
As we begin to praise the Lord, those outside the camp will witness and see an external display of our joy and smell the aromatic scent of the Spirit’s zeal and ardor. I say that praise is an instrument of harvest because God says in His Word, that when we sow into the Heavens, He will sow back 100-fold into the earth. God will send down the corn (word/manna), the wine, (joy) and the oil (the anointing of the Holy Spirit).And these are all the outward elements, manifestations and demonstrations of a revival . . .
For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord. It shall come to pass in that day that I will answer," says the Lord; I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil . . .
Hosea 2:8, 20-22
When we truly praise God the gifts of the Holy Spirit will flow and the prophetic Word will come forth. We are to praise God whether we feel like it or not.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15
When we praise whole heartily and with one voice shout to the Lord, we shake off the shackles of sin and cast off the garment of heaviness and worldliness
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
Isaiah 61:3
There is a liberty that comes to the Kingdom of God when the saints all shout their praise as one, unified celebratory shout to the Lord. If God would open your eyes to the Spirit realm, you would see that when the saints offer up strong praise the very fountainheads and river of God’s presence breaks through to the earth like a deluge.
Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the Temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar
Ezekiel 47:1
We need to begin to release the rivers of God upon the earth and declare that God is doing a new thing. We need to declare the glory and victory of the Lord with faith-filled praise. We need to sing of God’s goodness so that God will sow His goodness back into us. God will respond to our praise.
Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Isaiah 51:11
Thanksgiving and praise
Jesus said to forgive and release all others before entering the Temple to offer the sacrifice of praise. The bible says that if we regard iniquity or un-forgiveness in our hearts, the Lord will not hear our praise. Thanksgiving and praise are inextricably linked therefore the spirit of murmuring and complaining must be put away. We cannot enter the Kingdom and be bitter toward anyone nor be unthankful to God.
We can never progress in God if we do not partake of joyous, thankful exuberant praise to God. Praise will lead you and me to the Promised Land. Praise will lead you and me to our provision. On the other hand, unbelief, murmuring, complaining and pointing the finger will always lead to poverty, sickness and al kinds of troubles. It will cause us to live our lives in a dry and thirsty land.
While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
Hebrews 3:15, 17, 18; 4:1
Partaking of a critical, murmuring and complaining spirit is the direct opposite of the thankful spirit of praise and has the exact opposite results. A lot of people are too quick to blame God for their troubles when all along they invited the destroyer into their lives by imbibing of a spirit of unbelief, murmuring and complaining.
But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Nor let us . . . complain as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
1 Corinthians 10:8, 10
People who never pass the tests of life through faith -filled praise will spend their lives going around in circles and like the Israelites, never make enough progress to enter the Promised Land.
Principle: The degree in which we are thankful and praise God is the same degree that we progress in the Kingdom of God.
That’s why when tests and trials come we all need to sing, dance and shout joyfully the song of praise until we see the cloud of the salvation of God descend. Soon you too will be like Moses and Miriam, dancing on and treading down the serpent and enemy of your soul. And a great harvest of souls will follow . . .
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory. "No man shall be able to stand against you; the Lord your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you.
Deuteronomy 11:24-25
This is the heritage of an exuberant praise warrior. You will possess every place your foot shall tread. You will continuously celebrate your victory in Christ with joyous singing and dancing.
I will sing to the Lord,
for He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!
The Lord is my strength and song,
and He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
my father's God, and I will exalt Him
Ex odus15:1-2
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Psalms 30:11-12
God wants to enlarge your heart to praise Him more. He wants to bring to you to the place of encouragement and joy unspeakable and full glory. With powerful and authentic praise, you can and will create an atmosphere for miracles. You and I praise God in order to ascend. We praise so that we can reach the Temple of God in Heaven. [Psalm 24:1-5]
Enter . . .
When you come into God’s house, it is important that you are aware that your praise is about the first sequence of ascent. No matter what, no matter how you feel, praise Him until the anointing comes upon you and you’ll experience a new and fresh liberating flow of God’s river of praise flowing through you. Enter in! Enter into His courts with thanks giving in your heart. Enter His courts with praise. Enter into His rest and provision. Enter into His Kingdom.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 5:18-20
Praise – the key to Kingdom expansion
If the Kingdom of God is to expand exponentially across the earth as God has intended, a great transfer of wealth and provision is needed to carry out this massive Kingdom undertaking. God is downloading anointed Kingdom music in this hour which has at its core, burden removing, yoke destroying native power. No matter what you have been through, anointed praise and worship can cause your petitions toward Heaven to be heard and give you breakthrough victory—even every area of your life including the area of prosperity and wealth transfer
O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: we went through fire and through water: but thou brought us out into a wealthy place.
Psalms 66:12
Praise and Prophesy
And it will happen, when you have come there to the city that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.” Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
1 Samuel 10:5-7
Anointed music and praise will increase and intensify prophetic utterances as it did in Samuel’s day when many prophesies were uttered while praise music was performed. Prophetic praise also was of great benefit to godly kings who employed it as a weapon of warfare . . .
Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:20-23
Too many in the church have neglected the vital ministry and role that heavenly praise music should play in the Church in this hour and have not fully entered the Kingdom.. They do not understand that when the preaching of the truth of God’s Word is combined with Kingdom praise music, the two will bond together to form a sweet recipe of incense which the angels of God will carry to the Throne.
Principle: Praise is an instrument of harvest. As we sow anointed, Spirit inspired music heaven-ward, God will sow abundantly back to the earth the fear and reverence of the Lord, the spirit of holiness, prophetic revelation, wisdom, guidance, financial provision, miracles, healing on a massive scale, angelic visitation, signs and wonders, visible manifestations of His presence and revival. When the Church is revived the unbeliever will want the reality of it all and conversion rates will increase geometrically.
The new sounds are coming. The song of the Lord, the anointed ballad is being sown into the Heavens by a unified army of praise warriors. Do you hear what I hear?
Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard . . .
Psalms 66:8
Praise as an instrument of Kingdom warfare . . .
And the Lord said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. "You shall march around the city, all you men of war … the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. "It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him."
Joshua 6:4-5
Principle: Praise is a most powerful weapon of warfare.
On the battlefield, God always instructed his Generals to send the musicians and thunderous sounds of joyous praise first before going into battle. Are you experiencing warfare in your life? Has sickness or disease afflicted your body? Is the enemy assailing your mind with demonic confusion or oppression? Can you sleep at night? Is your marriage under siege? Is your family divided? Has your beloved son or daughter become a prodigal? Is your ministry, job or finances under attack? Then put this book down and read no further.
Let the high praises go before you! Waste no more time. Begin by faith to declare His Kingdom victory in the matter right now. Claim every promise that Scripture affords you. Open up your Bible right now and through out each day continually proclaim God’s promises on the matter until you experience your breakthrough. For the family declare Gen. 17:7; 22:18; Acts 16:31, for finances claim Deut.8:18; Malachi 3:10-11; Phil.4:19, for sickness decree Matt. 8:17; 1Peter 2:24, 3John vs.2, James 5:14-18; for attacks on the mind and emotions Isaiah 26:3; 2Tim.1:7 KJV, 1John 4:4, 2Cor.10:3-5; for insomnia Psalm 4:8;Proverbs 3:24 and so forth.
If you forgive all, are thankful and begin to praise God with all your strength, then God will give you and your loved ones victory in these areas and in many others. And you won’t have to wait very long for God will send help from Heaven immediately.
Praise – a quick solution
Did you know that when you sincerely praise and worship God with all your heart, that He will literally cause confusion to come into the enemy camp and that He will rout the devil (and folks who are motivated by him) on every side? Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, must have studied the life of Joshua because when facing an incredibly powerful enemy army of overwhelming force, he humbly confessed his need for help and God answered him quickly . . .
For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid or dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's 'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever." Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
2 Chronicles 20: 12, 15, 17, 20, 21
Don’t focus on the problem . . .
Notice that in this passage God the good king refused to focus on the enemy or problem but rather put his entire focus on the Lord. Don’t waste time looking at the problem or overwhelming odds you are up against. You can’t beat it alone any way. But you and Jesus are an all powerful majority. Look to God and begin to praise Him and thank Him and he will speedily dispatch angels to rescue you.
And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:7, 14
Motives for Praise . . .
In the Kingdom heart motives are every thing to God. We don’t come to the Father solely to “get” something from Him. God is not some sort of slot machine or State Lottery. He is not someone to gamble with nor can we can manipulate Him. God gives us provision simply because He loves us. It’s a loving relationship He seeks.
The truth is, the gates of praise will closed to self exalting, prideful, arrogant, worldly, and morally impaired, self- deceived know-it-all worshippers who praise and sing to God with questionable motives. It doesn’t matter how loud one shouts. It doesn’t matter how good the voice or how many of the latest commercial P&W praise songs a person has memorized. They will be forever blocked from being able to ascend as long as their motives for praising God remain impure. God speaks of such a person in the following passage . . .
Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Amos 5:23-24
God wants our hearts to become pure and lovers of justice and mercy. God wants for us to soar to new heights in our praise. With the new heights comes fresh perspective and with fresh perspective will come new and effective strategies for Kingdom expansion and conquest.
Our Victory is in submission
Cry for grace from God to be able to see God’s hand in every trail, and then for grace to submit at once to it. Not only to submit, but to acquiesce, and to rejoice in it…I think there is generally an end to troubles when we get to that.”
-Charles H. Spurgeon
Has your spiritual armor been tried? Are you “praise tested?” When facing a dilemma or attack of the enemy you will find that as you surrender to God, praise Him and thank Him, the enemy must flee.[James 4:7]Like Joshua and Jehoshaphat all of us need to acknowledge our own inability to defeat the enemy.
In the Kingdom of God, our safety is in our submission. Then we will humbly put our lives in God’s hands and trust in His power. It takes faith to do that. We need faith filled praise and worship—the kind of faith that overcomes and will not waiver no matter what odds are arrayed against us.
Next, now take your shoes off, for the place where you stand is holy.
Praise the Kingdom’s way
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:13-15
Joshua learned the holy approach. When he realized he was standing in the presence of God Almighty, at once he abandoned his “casual” approach to the Lord. Right after he did this he received instruction and concise guidance in how to go about securing territory and received from the Lord. With pure motives and clear vision he was able to secure from heaven effective strategies and plans for Kingdom expansion.
Ruah Praise
Shout to the Lord! When facing a dilemma, like Joshua, in our prayer and praise we too should be asking the Lord, ‘what shall we do?’ In Joshua’s case, God told him to “shout’ or to ruah which means “to cry out” or to “blow the alarm.” In other places in scripture God tells us to shabach or shout. [Psalm63:3; 145:4]
Once more around Jericho
Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
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 wicked . . .
Psalm 149:6-7
Why all the need for loud praise? When Kingdom believers sanctify themselves in the holy, healthy, fear of the Lord, and when they come together in one accord to praise the Lord and shout to the heavens, then the whole earth will shake as the mighty presence of Jehovah descends. The devil and the enemies of the Lord will be flattened and destroyed.
"It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat.
-The prophet Joshua
Your audience is One
But thou are holy, O God that inhabits the praises of Israel.
Psalms 22:3
In your praise, focus on Jesus and Jesus alone. Don’t ever be distracted by others or your circumstances. No matter what situation you are in, if you will just be thankful and begin to thank and praise God for the trial or challenge, and then Heaven will come down and quickly turn your defeat into a victory! All the great saint’s knew the Kingdom secret of praising God no matter what. They knew that God literally dwelt in praise. They understood that if that drew close God would draw close to them and would quickly dispose of the enemy before them.
“If anyone could tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness and perfection, he must tell you to make it a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you. For it is certain that whatever seeming calamity happens to you, if you thank and praise God for it, you will turn it into a blessing.”
William Law (18th century mentor to the Rev. John Wesley)
Face up and slay that giant . . .
Like Joshua and Caleb, Kingdom saints are never escapists. Kingdom saints refuse to retreat. It’s important an important step in the act of praising God to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not on the immediate, threatening circumstances facing us. When faced with a seemingly insurmountable failure or difficulty, there is no need to fly off on a Southwest Airlines jet!
Notice in the passage above that Joshua turned to God for help. He didn’t waste time sulking, whining or complaining. He simply turned and faced the giants before him, shouted forth loud praise and slew him. David must have held Joshua’s story close to his heart when he faced Goliath . . .
And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand . . .
1 Samuel 17:44-46
What a faith declaration! David later prophesied how the Son of God would face the ultimate giant of all time and defeat him on the wings of praise! When Jesus was in the worst of His trials never did he point the finger and blame God or someone else. He never retreated or became detached from His surroundings either. The Savoir did not try to escape from his dilemma through “wishful thinking.” Nor did He close his eyes to the threat or the enemy set against him. He simply recognized his own inability and acknowledged his own helplessness and totally turned to Father for help. Through praise the Father rescued Him in a very big way . . .
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, Save Me from the lion's mouth . . . You have answered Me. I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. All you who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
Psalms 22:21-23
“All you descendants of Jacob” includes you and me my friend!
If we truly are desirous of taking the first step to entering the promised land of the Kingdom of God—a land flowing with milk and honey, we should begin to count our blessings right now and praise God regardless of our current status or circumstances. Let every thing with breath, everything that would enter His Kingdom sing forth the with pneuma praise. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord . . .
Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.
Psalms 149:1- 5