MUSIC AND IT’S EMOTIONAL POWER
Revelation 3:18… and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Psalms 32:2 Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.
1 Thessalonians 2:3 For our exhortation [was] not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
- HOW IMPORTANT IS MUSIC IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AS CHRISTIANS?
Since I was a ten year old, being taught by my Aunty Lill how to play piano, I have developed a great love for music, especially instrumental music, both secular and sacred, consisting of folk ballads, choruses, hymns and later on, some Pop and Rock music. At the age of 14 I started learning or teaching myself how to play an electronic organ (a simple but beautiful instrument – Lowrey Holiday deluxe, with it’s beautiful American tone and built-in Leslie Tremolo revolving speaker system). One thing missing from the organ? A Rhythm Unit, which most electronic organs came with standard! I longed for this and when opportunity came, I loved to play on our close friend’s Baldwin Encore organ with it’s powerful Drum sound and magnificent Rhythm Machine built in. Types of music I mostly played were the 50’s, 60’s. 70’s Movie themes and Pop ballads from groups such as The Beatles, Abba, Olivia Newton-John, Simon and Garfunkel, The Seekers etc. along with the usual Hymns and Choruses on ‘Sabbath’!
This ‘mixed’ musical taste brought a ‘mixed’ Spiritual atmosphere into our home and I was often ‘told’ to ‘turn it down’! Don’t use that Rhythm Box; it’s Worldly!
Thus began my thoughts and investigations into the subject of ‘Musical discernment’!
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
1:9 For they [shall be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
James 1:8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.
- WHAT INFLUENCE CAN MUSIC HAVE ON PEOPLE?
A classic illustration of the power of music is found in the Children of Israel as they forgot God and turned to worshiping a Golden Calf in the Wilderness, just not long after they had received the Ten Commandments from God’s own voice!
Exodus 32:17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, [There is] a noise of war in the camp.
32:18 And he said, [It is] not the voice of [them that] shout for mastery, neither [is it] the voice of [them that] cry for being overcome: [but] the noise of [them that] sing do I hear.
32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
32:25 And when Moses saw that the people [were] naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto [their] shame among their enemies:)
32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who [is] on the LORD’S side? [let him come] unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, [and] go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
32:28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
- WHAT ABOUT A MORE POSITIVE ILLUSTRATION OF THE EFFECT OF MUSIC?
1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
- WHAT WILL SATAN USE IN THESE LAST DAYS TO DECEIVE ALMOST THE WHOLE WORLD?
Ezekiel 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
28:14 Thou [art] the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
28:15 Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Daniel 3:8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
3:9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
3:10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
- IS MUSIC AMORAL OR MORAL?
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
For Spiritual discernment we need Spiritual Hearing along with Spiritual Eyesight!
- HOW CAN WE KNOW WHETHER MUSIC IS GOOD OR BAD?
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
Psalms 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all [them that are] about him.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Isaiah 51:11 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.
1 Chronicles 15:16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren [to be] the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
- WHAT TYPES OF MUSIC WILL BE SEEN, ESPECIALLY IN THESE LAST DAYS AMONGST THE FAITHFUL LITTLE FLOCK OF GOD’S ELECT?
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.
Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Psalms 92:1 A Psalm [or] Song for the sabbath day. [It is a] good [thing] to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
92:2 To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
92:3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
Leviticus 19:30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I [am] the LORD.
Psalms 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all [them that are] about him.
Isaiah 51:3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
1 Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory [due] unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
- HOW CAN WE USE MUSIC TO WITNESS?
2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he (King Jehoshaphat) had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].
5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
As to my continued experience; I have not been happy with traditional church music, Hymns etc, mostly because sung very poorly in congregations, slow and boring, though I have enjoyed some of the Southern American Gospel Quartets with their enthusiastic choruses, some fast, some slower in pace, such groups as the Statler Brothers, Blue Ridge Quartet, Florida Boys Quartet, and Elvis Presley’s backup group, The Jordanaires. Having a somewhat ‘double-minded’ experience I have had a taste for Rock Music at the same time, enjoying Philosophical groups such as Supertramp, Pink Floyd, along with some more popular groups such as Queen, Chicago and Phil Collin’s Genesis group. Asking the Lord to help me find Sacred Christian music with the same or more power in a Joyful Attractive manner to fill the Emotional Void of Rock music, he turned my attention to the soothing sound of Organ and Piano, both Electronic and Pipe organs, along with Acoustic Pianos, playing various Hymns and Spiritual songs with utmost depth of feeling and expression. Artists such as Paul Mickelson, Rudy Atwood, Les Barnett, & Lorin Whitney, attracted my attention in their manner and quality, both in Sacredness, Spirituality and Musical Genius or Talent! Other types of music that are Incredibly well produced and Spiritually uplifting are the Fountainview Academy Orchestra and Choir, Eastward Mission, various violinists such as Hayden Wiseman, Barbara Monteiro and Pianists such as Kaleb Brasee, Christian Kiriakov amongst others, all available on Youtube in some form or another. May the Lord continue to turn each of our musical tastes in His direction and let our hearts soar with the Angels!!!
HOW IS SATAN USING ‘HIS’ STYLE OF MUSIC, SOMETIMES SUBTLE, SOMETIMES BLATANT, TO SEDUCE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE, CHRISTIANS AND WORLDLINGS, TO ‘HIS’ AGENDA, ‘WORSHIPING ‘MAN’ INSTEAD OF ‘THE TRUE CREATOR GOD’?
MUSIC DISCERNMENT
BEWARE! WAKE UP!
Lovesick sentimentalism, developing into sensual (sex-related) or semi-sensual / hypnotic, semi-hypnotic rhythm of repetition = Modern Charismatic (and Old Heathen Spiritual) practices.
Emphasizing the Sensual satisfaction of the ‘Physical’ over the ‘Spiritual’ in Pleasure seeking! = Corrupt Music
Test the Spirits! Prove All Things!
Hold fast the Good, the Straight, the unquestionably Pure & Trustworthy! – Emphasizing the Healthy Balance of Intelligence & Reason over Emotion. –Exercising Control over the Physical in Sensibility, & Surrender to the One who Made us- Our Creator and Saviour, who redeemed us from the Anarchy, Disorder, and Rebellion of Sin (Self over Service)
Let us put God & His Love (Service over Self) over Satan & His Lust, and be -TRULY CONVERTED
Surrendered ‘Joyfully’ to God’s Holy Spirit, especially in the very important area of promoting and drinking in the right kind of Wholesome, Healthy, Uplifting, Inspiring, Elevating music that comes straight from Heaven! (As we are convicted through having our ‘senses exercised to discern both good and evil.’ ) (Hebrews 5:14)
LET US BE DISCERNING AND YET JOYFUL AS WE USE MUSIC AS GOD’S TOOL TO WIN SOULS IN THESE LAST FEW HOURS OF PROBATION, THAT WE INVITE THE RIGHT KIND OF ‘SPIRIT’ INTO OUR MIDST!
AMEN
14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne,……..
LET US JOIN THEIR VOICES IN HOLY AND HEAVENLY PRAISE!
Gary Southwell26/6/2021