Apostolic Kingdom Praise: Ushering in the New Sound from Heaven

By Dean Mitchum

Dean Mitchum, one of todays most experienced prophetic worship leaders and songwriters, shares revelation on how we are to prepare for the new sound from heaven. He explains with great understanding how the pattern of worship for the New Testament church is The Tabernacle of David and not the Holy of Holies from The Tabernacle of Moses. He shares how worship is changing in the coming season toward The Tabernacle of God. Receive wonderful insights and revelation for practical application in worship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483513218

Book preview

Heaven

CHAPTER ONE

Advancing the Kingdom

Through Praise and Worship

During my years as a Christian I've heard people say, Oh, I wish I was alive during the time of Jesus. When I hear this I reply, You are. Or they've said, I wish I was in the Church during the book of Acts. Again, I like to respond, You are. There is no greater time to be on planet earth than the appointed time God has given us. The glory days of the Church are not over but are straight ahead, wrapped in the eternal plan that God has been building from the foundations of the earth. Jesus emphasized this plan when He told Peter, I will build My Church. (Mt. 16:18). We are in the midst of a whirlwind of movements, restorations, and reformations, the likes of which the Church has never seen. This is the time when God is restoring the Prophets and Apostles to the Body of Christ, so that the training of the saints can take place and the Church can grow up into Her destiny of maturity and unity (Eph. 4:11-13).

Throughout Church history every major movement and restoration has used the power of music to propagate and support the doctrines of truth restored to the Body. Music is a powerful tool that was present at creation and will be with us throughout eternity (Job 38:7, Rev. 4:8). God created music like prayer, to cross the divide between the natural and the spiritual realms (Ps. 22:8). Praise and worship not only blesses the worshiper, it actually helps to advance the Kingdom of God.

PRESENT TRUTH PRAISE

Our praise and worship should reflect the doctrinal truths that are a part of the Church today. The Church is constantly advancing and changing and our songs should reflect that truth. 2 Peter 1:12 says that we should know and be established in the present truth.

2 Peter 1:12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.

Psalm 47:7 tells us that we are to praise the Lord with understanding. We are to have an understanding and revelation of our worship and what happens when we praise God. When I was growing up, most of the songs we sang were about the hope of the Church for heaven and the Lord's return. During the Charismatic Movement we sang about the presence and love of God. Now, in the Prophetic and Apostolic Movements, we are singing about God as the Warrior and Ruler. At Christian International, our music department produces praise and worship products under the label CI Music called Present Truth Praise. Our goal is to reflect present truth in the products we produce.

DOCTRINE IN WORSHIP

Which came first, the doctrine or the songs? Do we believe our doctrine because of our songs or do we believe our songs because of our doctrine? We can trace a lot of our beliefs to our songs, but can we trace our songs to the Word of God? We should not take our songs lightly; we do not want to simply believe the wonderful poetic lines or add empty words to justify our favorite musical style.

I am a firm believer in the theory that the message should match the music. For example, our warfare music should sound like warfare and not sound like a song of repentance. If we're singing about stomping the enemy, the beat should make us want to stomp. Military bands and marching bands at football games don't play fight songs to the rhythm of a lullaby. We can have scripturally sound lyrics but if the music is inappropriate, the message can become weak.

Likewise our music should be culturally relevant and not dead or outdated. It is wonderful to live in a time when our music is not limited to a particular style, just as the scripture says to sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

When this scripture is applied to any culture or nation in the earth, it will sound different in almost every place where creativity is flowing. As long as the doctrine is sound and the music is singable for the congregation, any cultural music style can be used to glorify God.

As songwriters and worship leaders, it is paramount that our songs be scripturally sound and in accordance with the vision of the house. Our singing should emphasize our beliefs and establish the truth of God in our hearts, not only the truth about God but also the truth about His Church. Psalmists and songwriters are preachers who sing instead of preach, and we should be held accountable for what we preach and teach.

A QUICK OVERVIEW OF HOW MUSIC HAS ADVANCED EACH MOVE OF GOD

From the Dark Ages until now, the music of the Church has changed with every restoration. Not just the music itself, but the way people worshiped changed to reflect the truths restored in that movement. (For more details on all of these movements see The Eternal Church, by Dr. Bill Hamon) If we are going to hear a new sound which will continue to advance the Kingdom, we need to know where the Church has been and what the music of each age reflected.

THE DARK AGES

During the Dark Ages (according to historians approximately 500 AD to 1500 AD) music and singing moved out of the midst of the congregation and into the ranks of the clergy. Joyful sounds were not a part of worship, singing was monotone, and musical performance was reserved for the priesthood. One well-known example of this is the Gregorian chants established by Bishop Gregory. The basic premise was that joyful sounds were of the world and were not considered holy.

THE PROTESTANT MOVEMENT

In order to propagate the new revelation of justification by faith in the 16th century, Martin Luther used the well-known secular tunes of the day. He also wrote numerous hymns and required an understanding of music from those who were to be ordained.¹ One of his most recognized songs is A Mighty Fortress is Our God. Music played a vital role in advancing this new revelation and helped establish its acceptance all over Germany.

THE HOLINESS MOVEMENT

Charles Wesley wrote many hymns establishing the truth and the doctrines of the Holiness Movement, including many Christmas songs that we still sing today. During the 18th century over 7,500 hymns were written by Charles, of which some 4,500 were published including Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O for a Thousand Tongues.

THE PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT

The Pentecostal era, beginning around the 1900's, introduced the Church to the gospel song. From Topeka, .Kansas to the Azusa Street Revival, the message of these songs varied from personal testimony and exhortation for salvation to the power of the blood and experience of God's power. The Salvation Army, which was established during this time, popularized using many instruments for God's glory including the tambourine, brass, and drums.²

THE LATTER RAIN