We live in one of the most exciting times in Church history, and as you will be well aware the Lord Jesus Christ is pouring out His Spirit on the earth in great waves of awakening and revivals at this time. It is important to understand that these are apostolic and prophetic days in the church as we rapidly approach the year 2000. With the winds of revival now blowing, there will be a restoration of powerful authority in the Church and her influences in the world, along with the great harvest of souls expected in the last of these last days! Along with that will be even more powerful apostolic and prophetic music and worship coming from the church than has ever been before.
Around the world and with churches like Brownsville Florida USA Assembly of God where over 100,000 people have come to Christ in just 2 years there. We are now seeing the beginning of miraculous revivalistic harvest fruit of this new awakening that has been pouring out on the earth, particularly since 1993-94. The Church now and in the close future will need to be POWERFUL, MATURE, STRONG, HOLY AND CONSECRATED; a holiness in, and a passion for the Lord and the lost like we have never experienced. A church that REPRESENTS and AMBASSADORS TRULY WHO HE IS. To be like this and to carry this God given CHARACTER and expression as individuals, as a church, and the anointing that goes with it, ( INCLUDING ALL THAT 'IN YOUR MUSIC') - will cost you!
AN APOSTOLIC AND PROPHETIC PEOPLE
The House of God must become a 'BODY OF CHRIST minded organism' - GIVEN TO THE PURPOSES OF GOD like never before. The nature of the Church will carry the 'GOVERNMENT' of God in its heart, and the 'Sound' of the Father's voice in everything it does, including the music.
This is an APOSTOLIC AND PROPHETIC people. This nature and character applies to the musician and singer very strongly especially with the apostolic and prophetic NATURE that the arts tends to embody. We can see this depicted many times in the bible, particularly in the Old Testament, where the power of music, song, and the arts played a great role in BUILDING the House of God, affecting nations and peoples. This nature of the arts and music is evidenced in the world many times down through history, in bringing great changes to society. The power in these days that will bring the changes the LORD DESIRES will be BY THE SPIRIT, through HIS yielded people.
THE NEW SOUND
There has been increasing talk of a 'NEW SOUND' in the midst of these days, that will have great release and power with it. There has been a general wondering whether it is some of the newer ‘styles’ of music or even the old revived. These may be part of it, but it isn't a specific MUSICAL OR 'CHURCH' style as such, but the 'SOUND/S OF GOD' in the music and in the song, that expresses fully what God is saying NOW, in whatever style is relevant for any particular church, city, nation etc. Melodies, rhythms, grooves, lyrics and musical ideas that have been inspired and wrought by the Holy Spirit through creative, yielded, consecrated Christians. Spiritual songs of 'Pneuma', that come on the 'fresh winds of Gods moving today; carrying the purposes of His heart'.
BEING A VOICE OF AUTHORITY NOT AN ECHO
This inspiration from the Lord will be found in many areas of the arts, as His creative hand in human artistic affairs has been witnessed before down through the corridors of history. The power of it in these days will ultimately compel people closer to God which in itself is not new, but there will be AN AUTHORITY that will speak loudly of God's heart for now and the days ahead in the midst of His presence. The 'sound' is a 'VOICE', HIS VOICE IN OUR SOUND. The voice of the NEW, not an echo of the past, or things that have been done many times before. Not because of man's good ideas. Not because of 'Christian movement, streams or institutional traditions and liturgies', or even the pressures of earthly market forces to produce records and marketable stuff, but because our God is DOING A NEW THING (Isaiah 43:18), and we must RESPOND accordingly to HIS PLAN.
RELEASING IN GODS TIMING
In 1992 I released an album of prophetic songs 'Hear The Sound', (not released in the UK yet) and the Lord had us touring for 5 years in different places in the world including the U.S.A and 4times in the UK since 1993, proclaiming a 'New Sound', and to 'GET READY'. For what, we were not fully sure of at the time. My wife Rebecca and I were just being obedient and ready to proclaim a NEW SOUND - a trumpet call wherever God wanted - at the right time and moment into the atmosphere. I believe the SPIRIT OF IT did what it was mean't to do, along with everything else that was happening in the Spirit world at the time. There is something very real about these principles and we have experienced this at other times in our ministry in different places. When Elijah the prophet SPOKE TO THE WIND - the life giving breath of God - SOMETHING HAPPENED in the Spirit. The 'dry bones of the Church' became'moist' and NEW LIFE EMERGED! A NEW THING SPRANG FORTH, and shall you we know it!
WHAT WE SING IN THIS CURRENT MOVE AND TIME IS IMPORTANT
When Jehosophat's musicians sang a simple sound 'For He is good and his mercy endures forever' there was a rending in the heavens and an AFFECTING of the atmosphere over THE AREA and ultimately the NATION and nations around. No one could take real credit, God just did it as PEOPLE FLOWED WITH HIM IN HIS STRATEGIES. WHAT WE SING AND WHEN WE SING IT IS IMPORTANT. I have often said "The Church will be what it sings". Today is the same.
A REFORMATORY MOVE OF GOD
A move of God that is REFORMATORY has been SET in the world in the past few years. The Toronto church in Canada is sensing a NEW WAVE coming, different from what they have had in the past. Today in England we sense 'pending revival','another wave','the end time harvest coming','a call to intimacy with God','fear of God', 'holiness', everything we have dreamed and prayed for. ARE WE READY? The question we have to ask is 'Where are we now as a church / as a music team / as a music company. What season are we in. What sounds are we to bring forth TODAY. What songs and words will 'cover our congregations'. What is our VOICE in the to the region, the nation NOW?"
CHANGES IN CHRISTIAN MUSIC
There has been such rapid growth in Christian music in the last 15-20 years, and there has been many new sounds and literally a flood of thousands of new songs and ideas. However these ensuing days will be different. In recent times God has, and already is shaking up, pruning and challenging the Christian music industry in and out of the Church, and causing many to reflect and re-evaluate. For these undoubtedly are the days like Nehemiah the prophet, when the musician and singer will be gathered and consecrated 'on to the wall' of his/her rightful place of authority. This will come from a SOLID COMMITED BASE in the local Living Church and a great love for Jesus and the Church local and corporate. Last year I was fortunate enough to be the Director and producer of the Wembley Stadium Champion of the World Video film, with Noel Richards. The event reflected the new stirrings that are happening here in England among worship leaders, artists and prophetic musicians, which are now starting to impact globally. My friend and Prophet Musician Kevin Prosch who is now with Integrity music have played a great role in inspiring and ‘fathering’ through his music some of these musicians.
APOSTOLIC SPIRTUALLY GOVERNMENTAL CHURCH BASES
There will be more powerful apostolic churches raised up in cities and towns that will affect whole regions and nations, gathering the 'cords' of the Church corporate together to those who are WILLING AND MOVING with God; 'filling in the gaps in the walls', making the House of God strong. In them will be 'housed' powerful musicians, singers, songwriters and creative leaders, working with the ministry where they are called to be; supported, encouraged, loved and nurtured in a sound biblical way. Their ministry may even go into the world such as Hillsongs Australia has, and at many different levels, but NOT AT THE EXPENSE of the 'House of God' or relationship with one another as has happened to so many in times past. The Glory of the 'House' will be far greater in these latter days! Get ready, prepared and excited!
THE PRICE
As I have said there is A PRICE to pay in having the Lord speak powerfully through what you do as a musician and singer or artist in its various applications.
There is A COST to carry the precious anointing of God and to be prophetic with authority. One will discover it doesn't just come with following the greatest and latest idea or tune, whether 'in house' or from overseas somewhere. It doesn't just come from playing 'your favourite songs, or pumped up music, loud or soft, or even being highly skilled, as much as that is very important at its varying degrees. It comes with a MATURING LIFESTYLE of WORSHIP that encompasses ALL OF YOUR LIFE- hidden and public - and the relationship with Christ you have in the midst of it. Laying it ALL down for the Lord's purposes.
Being prophetic is not something you JUST DO in a service, it's not a 'category' or 'style' of music. It is something you BECOME. It is the nature of Jesus - His testimony, the testimony IN YOU, it is the spirit of prophecy! The more given you are to Him the more you will be like Him. The nature of the arts is PROPHETIC. As your life walks in consecration before God in all ways, laying down your life for His, you will increasingly become a VOICE, and carry God's authority and power. That's the cost. It takes time, living in the WORD of God, KNOWING INTIMATELY THE GREAT I AM OF HEAVEN. Increasing in your stature and skill on all fronts, and BEING FAITHFUL. A faithfulness that opens doors that no man can shut, including THE HEAVENS!
With Churches / company’s etc there are seasons of growth. When the transistion comes there is always a change.Llike Toronto in Canada, or Brownsville in USA for example, things changed dramatically for them and adjustments were undoubtedly made along the way, in their new seasons which have affected the world. Toronto won't 'laugh' in the spirit for ever! When you wake up and are re-oiled there is work to be done. When plateau's are reached, re-evaluation takes place. New things are ultimately birthed.
The music that birth’s a work, or even the way that it has always been done, won't just be enough in the long term purposes of God for what he wants to do. Perhaps now is the time for the next 'level', of growth and development. New sounds, new songs of revival, power, intimacy, prophetic, proclamation. A new level of maturity and expansion, everything from sound equipment/anointing/attitudes/giftings/songs etc. It does not ever negate what has been, but builds on it, so your church / company etc becomes what it is mean't to be. What matters is that you grow, mature and bear TODAYS fruit; going on from 'glory to glory' - being a prophetic, apostolic gift of administration of the Holy Spirits desires So I pray your times are fruitful and properous. Go for it - be hungry, learn, be what you are mean’t to be and enjoy the journey!
Yours in Christ,
Stephen Bennett
Prophetic Worship Minister
About Stephen Bennett
I met Stephen and Rebecca at the International Charismatic Bible Ministries Conference.
We were blessed by this divine connection! I am sure you will be, too!