Music casts out and brings down spirits

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.

2 Kings 3:15: But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

Music is a very powerful medium which opens up the mind to spiritual influences, for it is a channel by which spirits can be brought down or lifted off a person. The right kind of music can bring down the Spirit of God, like it did for Elisha, and conversely, the wrong kind of music can bring down evil spirits. Music also has the power to heal and deliver. David had a gift of healing with music, for when he played upon the harp, the evil spirit that oppressed Saul would depart from him.

It is therefore vital that we are sensitive to what pleases and displeases the Lord in the music that we play and listen to, especially in the house of God. Our music and our worship must be an incense that is sweet before God. The words may sound right and even contain phraseology from the message of the hour, but if that music is not of God, then the Spirit of the LORD will not associate with it.

A striking example of this was seen in one of the prophet’s meetings. When the Spirit of the LORD swept over the pianist (an Amish girl), she raised her hands to God, and when she did so, the ivory keys of the piano kept moving up and down as the Angel of the LORD continued to play the congregational song, “The Great Physician now is near, the sympathizing Jesus.”

The best question for any person to ask themselves concerning Christian worship is this, “Would the Angel of the LORD be happy to play this song with the style, the beat, and the rhythm that we have?” It is only the Holy Spirit that can sovereignly reveal to each one what is pleasing to Him, otherwise it becomes one man’s opinion versus another man’s opinion on what is acceptable and what is not.