How To Flow With Prophetic Song

Prophetic song can be bewildering. One of my friends described it this way: “I went into the meeting, and the people on the platform sang one song after another I’d never heard before. The songs went on and on. After a couple of meetings, I just went home. I didn’t have a clue how to get involved. And the worship leader didn’t teach us what to do.”

Another friend said, “I could tell the musicians were having a great time, but the congregation didn’t know what to do. From time to time the singers led us in a line or two of song, over and over again. A lot of people were dancing, but a lot more people were staring into space.”

So here are a few principles that may help you if you find yourself in a meeting with a lot of spontaneous and prophetic song.

Principle 1. It is appropriate for you to sing in the Spirit when the worship team is leading the church in spontaneous worship. Singing in the Spirit is your song to God as you pour out your heart to Him. When the musicians are repeating a simple musical pattern, it is easy for the congregation to sing along with them.

When you sing in the Spirit, what should you sing about? Here are a few ideas:

Sing in tongues.
Sing about the theme the worship leaders are singing about. Use their words as a springboard.
Sing about Jesus. The Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. Just as the Old Testament worshipers brought a lamb to God, we can worship the Father by bringing the Lamb to Him. Jesus is the invisible God made visible; when we focus on Him we see the heart of God.
Sing about whatever God has been speaking to you recently. His word to You must mean something to Him, or He wouldn’t bother to talk about it.
Open the Bible, and use a passage of scripture as an outline for your song.

Principle 2. When God speaks prophetically to the church, it’s time to be quiet and listen. As we worship, we speak or sing to God – but then He speaks back. We need to pay attention to what He says.

Sometimes He will give direction to the church, pointing us to a new theme for the next round of prophetic worship. Sometimes He will speak about things that need to happen after the meeting is over. And sometimes He will speak something to draw us into new intimacy with Him.

Whatever He speaks, we need to pay attention. Often I’ve heard people talking after a meeting, and they say, “There was a great prophecy – it was very anointed – I can’t remember a word of it, but it opened the heavens.”

We need to cultivate a hearing ear. If God speaks, we need to respond – but how can we respond if we don’t know what He said?

Principle 3. We need to pay attention to timing and seasons within a meeting. We need to grow up, so we will understand when it is time to worship, when it is time to listen, when it is time to press into God, and when it is time to rest.

There is a rhythm to prophetic song, like the ebb and flow of the tides. Sometimes God wants the whole church to worship Him. Sometimes He wants to speak to us through a prophetic song poured through one musician. Sometimes He uses prophetic song to release another ministry altogether, as he did when Elisha called for a musician before he would prophesy.

You will find the word selah in many of the Psalms. Most commentaries will say this is a musical pause, giving the congregation a moment to meditate on the words that were just sung. Among prophetic musicians, the selah is a time of waiting on God for what should happen next. Waiting is the fruit of humility: we realize that however great our musical talents and abilities may be, God is much greater.

Worship leaders and congregations will make mistakes, but God is patient. Increasingly, the church is learning to treasure the manifest presence of God, and to spread our wings and ride the winds of the Spirit.

Principle 4. Just being in God’s manifest presence will transform our lives. Sometimes God isn’t looking for us to do anything. It is enough for us to be with Him. We’re saved by grace, not by works.

It’s good to learn to sing in the Spirit; it’s good to pour out our hearts to God. But sometimes it’s good to be still and know that He is God.

You may seem to be staring off into space, but what’s going on in your heart? No man can see it, but God can.

Jesus tied this principle to His coming. “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” If this principle is true of the great second coming of Christ, it is also true when He visits the church with His manifest presence. Two people are going through the same motions in worship, but one is meeting God and the other isn’t. Two people are both sitting still and looking uninvolved, but one is meeting God and the other isn’t.

It’s not about the outward appearance; it’s about the heart.

Principle 5. God values diversity and spontaneity. We don’t all have to be doing exactly the same thing at the same time. One person may weep while another laughs; one may sit silently while another shouts; one may dance joyously while another lies on his face and repents.

This diversity can be chaotic with one group and wonderfully harmonious with another. What makes the difference?

Part of the difference is maturity. Sometimes a group becomes excited about its liberty, and everyone tries to do something unchurchy or unreligious. This seldom bears good fruit, because our eyes are on ourselves. But when we learn to look away from ourselves and to see Jesus, we will come into a wonderful mix of unity and diversity. Our unity will result from looking to the same Lord. Our diversity will stem from our heartfelt responses to Him.

And this is what prophetic worship is all about: that Jesus Himself becomes the worship leader. He is the only way to the Father, and we have never imagined quite how eager He is to lead us to the Father here and now, not just in the life to come.

So the heart of prophetic worship consists in seeing Jesus, and responding to Him. And you don’t have to wait for a church service. This is something you can cultivate at home.

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How To Flow With Prophetic Song *By Stan Smith* Prophetic song can be bewildering. One of my friends described it this way: “I went into the meeting, and the people on the platform sang one song after another I’d never heard before. The songs went on and on. After a couple of meetings, I just went home. I didn’t have a clue how to get involved. And the worship leader didn’t teach us what to do.” Another friend said, “I could tell the musicians were having a great time, but the congregation didn’t know what to do. From time to time the singers led us in a line or two of song, over and over again. A lot of people were dancing, but a lot more people were staring into space.” So here are a few principles that may help you if you find yourself in a meeting with a lot of spontaneous and prophetic song. Principle 1. It is appropriate for you to sing in the Spirit when the worship team is leading the church in spontaneous worship. Singing in the Spirit is your song to God as you pour out your heart to Him. When the musicians are repeating a simple musical pattern, it is easy for the congregation to sing along with them. When you sing in the Spirit, what should you sing about? Here are a few ideas: Sing in tongues. Sing about the theme the worship leaders are singing about. Use their words as a springboard. Sing about Jesus. The Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. Just as the Old Testament worshipers brought a lamb to God, we can worship the Father by bringing the Lamb to Him. Jesus is the invisible God made visible; when we focus on Him we see the heart of God. Sing about whatever God has been speaking to you recently. His word to You must mean something to Him, or He wouldn’t bother to talk about it. Open the Bible, and use a passage of scripture as an outline for your song. Principle 2. When God speaks prophetically to the church, it’s time to be quiet and listen. As we worship, we speak or sing to God – but then He speaks back. We need to pay attention to what He says. Sometimes He will give direction to the church, pointing us to a new theme for the next round of prophetic worship. Sometimes He will speak about things that need to happen after the meeting is over. And sometimes He will speak something to draw us into new intimacy with Him. Whatever He speaks, we need to pay attention. Often I’ve heard people talking after a meeting, and they say, “There was a great prophecy – it was very anointed – I can’t remember a word of it, but it opened the heavens.” We need to cultivate a hearing ear. If God speaks, we need to respond – but how can we respond if we don’t know what He said? Principle 3. We need to pay attention to timing and seasons within a meeting. We need to grow up, so we will understand when it is time to worship, when it is time to listen, when it is time to press into God, and when it is time to rest. There is a rhythm to prophetic song, like the ebb and flow of the tides. Sometimes God wants the whole church to worship Him. Sometimes He wants to speak to us through a prophetic song poured through one musician. Sometimes He uses prophetic song to release another ministry altogether, as he did when Elisha called for a musician before he would prophesy. You will find the word selah in many of the Psalms. Most commentaries will say this is a musical pause, giving the congregation a moment to meditate on the words that were just sung. Among prophetic musicians, the selah is a time of waiting on God for what should happen next. Waiting is the fruit of humility: we realize that however great our musical talents and abilities may be, God is much greater. Worship leaders and congregations will make mistakes, but God is patient. Increasingly, the church is learning to treasure the manifest presence of God, and to spread our wings and ride the winds of the Spirit. Principle 4. Just being in God’s manifest presence will transform our lives. Sometimes God isn’t looking for us to do anything. It is enough for us to be with Him. We’re saved by grace, not by works. It’s good to learn to sing in the Spirit; it’s good to pour out our hearts to God. But sometimes it’s good to be still and know that He is God. You may seem to be staring off into space, but what’s going on in your heart? No man can see it, but God can. Jesus tied this principle to His coming. “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” If this principle is true of the great second coming of Christ, it is also true when He visits the church with His manifest presence. Two people are going through the same motions in worship, but one is meeting God and the other isn’t. Two people are both sitting still and looking uninvolved, but one is meeting God and the other isn’t. It’s not about the outward appearance; it’s about the heart. Principle 5. God values diversity and spontaneity. We don’t all have to be doing exactly the same thing at the same time. One person may weep while another laughs; one may sit silently while another shouts; one may dance joyously while another lies on his face and repents. This diversity can be chaotic with one group and wonderfully harmonious with another. What makes the difference? Part of the difference is maturity. Sometimes a group becomes excited about its liberty, and everyone tries to do something unchurchy or unreligious. This seldom bears good fruit, because our eyes are on ourselves. But when we learn to look away from ourselves and to see Jesus, we will come into a wonderful mix of unity and diversity. Our unity will result from looking to the same Lord. Our diversity will stem from our heartfelt responses to Him. And this is what prophetic worship is all about: that Jesus Himself becomes the worship leader. He is the only way to the Father, and we have never imagined quite how eager He is to lead us to the Father here and now, not just in the life to come. So the heart of prophetic worship consists in seeing Jesus, and responding to Him. And you don’t have to wait for a church service. This is something you can cultivate at home. © 2002, GospelSmith
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How To Flow With Prophetic Song