By Stephen Bennett   

Reformation – the act of reforming, or being formed again

The removal of faults, errors, abuses, or malpractice

A radical improvement and change for the better

The ministry gift of the prophet has seen a broad restoration since the 1980’s, and there has been a powerful release of the prophetic voice around the globe. It has stirred the spirit world, and prepared the way for the apostolic Church to rise in the new millennium.

The first decade will see the Body of Christ continually in apostolic transition. In the period since the 1980’s, much of the worship and music from the Body of Christ has also been a prophetic voice. God has raised up musical messengers; sent ones, paving the way for the end-time power of apostolic music. This era is now being called the new apostolic reformation.

Some have used the term, a new apostolic wineskin, or the third day Church – as we are in the third millennium since Christ, and ‘a thousand years is but a day to the Lord’ (2 Peter 3:8). Whatever term is used, the Church is being reformed to become radically improved and glorious.

The new apostolic reformation is bringing revelation to those who genuinely have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches (Rev 3:6). This is prophetic, and reveals to the Church the fullness of her purpose in these days.

‘Where there is no vision (prophetic divine communication), the people perish…’(Proverbs 29:18). The listening Church is not perishing; it is in transition, to ultimately function in proper divine order.

Apostolic revelation also shows us the ultimate purposes the Lord has for the power of music – awesome sounds from the Body of Christ helping to bring immense change to our world in these end-times. This will be the result of music in the apostolic reformation.

The Prophet’s Voice

The prophet’s voice is always a forerunner. 2000 years ago, John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin) was the voice who paved the way for Christ to be revealed to the world. When John was born, his dad Zacharias sang a prophetic song over him confirming his destiny, ‘and you child will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways’.

Jesus said, ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You’ (Matthew 11:10, Malachi 3:1). John was that messenger, and his voice stirred the spirit world. 

Jesus said, because of John ‘the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force’ (Matthew 11:12). 

The war was on, because the prophets voice had gone forth, and the ‘Messenger of the covenant’ was about to be revealed – Jesus Christ, Savior of the world (Malachi 3:1).

When Jesus was baptized, and the Holy Spirit came upon Him, He was released to rise into the fullness of His authority and ministry as the ‘apostle of our faith’ (Hebrews 3:1-2). Sometimes the prophetic has to be in a wilderness to do this! John and Jesus were family.

The ministry of apostle and prophet are being connected closely now. They are foundational ministries in all that is ahead for the Church. The heavens are stirred, the war is on, and the Church must be strong; being reformed is part of the transition into the apostolic model of church. Singers and musicians will become an apostolic prophetic voice as the foundational ministries nurture and release them.

Music in the Apostolic Pattern

If we are to release God’s earth changing glory through our music, and for the apostolic reformation to be prevailing – we need to take heed of Heaven’s pattern.

God has a heavenly design and structure for everything. The spirit world is not some nefarious, wispy, chaotic place. It is a place of perfect truth, design, and specific structure for the proper implementation of God’s plans and purposes here on earth – ‘as it is in heaven’(Matthew 6:10).

Divine order for today’s Church is part of the blueprint, and within her there is an apostolic pattern for music. This is foreshadowed in the Tabernacle of David for us to model today. The principle of doing things according to heavens ways is clearly shown in the bible. Moses (as with David) also received a pattern for building his Tabernacle.

The priests in his day were ones, ‘…who serve the copy and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the Tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’ (Hebrews 8:4-5).

The divine order of heaven’s pattern will take the Body of Christ to a governing level of power. Music and song must also come into its proper order of function today. God required this of King David before he set up the Tabernacle (1Chronicles 15:13).

The Tabernacle is an apostolic pattern for these end times, and as the Body of Christ comes into apostolic order, so must music. Those who truly seek after God (like Moses) will understand. Strategy, plans, patterns and purposes, are revealed from being close with the Lord.

The reformation is restoring an apostolic pattern of expression, and a mature understanding of the proper function of music and song in the House of God.

As music decrees and proclaims into the spirit it helps build the Church. Healing and deliverance flow in those sounds, and release the manifest presence and glory of God. The powers of darkness are bound and pushed back. Change comes to nations and a great harvest of souls is reaped.

Music and song are not the sole answers to seeing the nations come to the Lord, however, the ministry of music has an important leading role to play in these end-times.

There are many Davids (male and female) whom God has prepared to fulfill their destiny now. Many have strong prophetic gifts, and need to be divinely connected with apostles, working together in healthy relationship.

Some have gone through many trials and experiences in their preparation, just like David. They must be embraced and received by the Body of Christ, helping advance the Church into the realm of apostolic governing sound. Jesus said, “…he who receives whomever I send receives Me” (John 13:20).

Music in the Foundation Gifts

The proper order of music should function in the Church within an apostolic teamwork of the five-fold ascension gifts (see Ephesians 4:11-13).

The apostolic and prophetic gifts are a foundation of the Church. …Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone’ (Ephesians 2:20). Jesus is ‘the stone the (religious) builders rejected’ (Psalm 118:22). Jesus is the cornerstone who strengthens and supports, bringing the proper order of this foundation all together in the day we live.

The apostle Paul said to his spiritual son Titus ‘I have left you in Crete that you should set in order the things that are lacking…’ (Titus 1:5). Today God is moving to activate, and strengthen all the paradigms of Church life – to have the fullness of apostolic expression, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

In recent history, there has been a preparation for the apostolic foundation to be restored. There has been a different emphasis at distinct times in the broader end-time restoration of the five-fold gifts (1 Corinthians 12:28 & Ephesians 4:11-13). The evangelist in the late 1940’s – 1950’s, followed by the teacher and pastor in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the prophets in the 1980’s, and the emphasis of apostles from the 1990’s.

Today these gifts can function in proper relationship together, in the divine order of God’s apostolic pattern for the New Testament Church. Music is right in the midst, and can now be fully released into its proper place of authority and power.

The five-fold gifts have been existent under various title and function since Jesus’ time; however, the restoring of proper biblical terminology as common place has been a phenomenon of these days.

Some ministries and movements still secularize their language in an attempt to be modern. This can be confusing, amongst the thousands of Christian religions and traditions, who have already brought the power of God’s word to none effect. It is important we use the language of the Holy Spirit and call the gifts what they are, not unbiblical references such as doctor, director, associate, superintendent, or reverend.

The five ascension gifts (given by Christ to the Church after he ascended into heaven) are for training and releasing Christians worldwide into their varied callings – to do the work of the ministry. In this apostolic paradigm, the training and releasing of singers and musicians is vital. 

The release of the Body of Christ is the prophesied army of God, the great camp of the army of the Lord (see Joel 2:11). An army moving in great power, functioning everywhere in life as well as gathering together. An army that meets anywhere – in work places, houses, or with each other.

Everyone is a leader for Christ – moving in power, connecting with people, and winning souls to God. The real Church; focused, specific, strategic, and truly envisioned for the whole planet. It functions powerfully on all levels of life, motivated by great love, and carrying God’s grace and power.

Music in the Apostolic and Prophetic Anointing

The anointing of the apostolic and prophetic gifts, is an important and powerful ministry combination. The Lord is strengthening and uniting them to affect the world. These gifts have an awesome breakthrough anointing – working together.

Two thousand years ago the apostle Paul and prophet Silas went into national territories and turned the world upside down – together (Acts 17:6). We will see this happen more in our time.

It is God’s desire for this anointing to be released throughout the whole Body of Christ, as part of our individual priesthood as believers in Jesus (1 Peter 2:5,9). This anointing will cause the Church to spiritually govern with power, and embrace the nations for God. The Church will reach into every corner of life, correcting false spiritual authority, dysfunction and imbalance.

God’s order is first apostles and second prophets (see 1Corinthians 12:28). Without the apostle set in their governing place, the end-time anointing to reach the entire world cannot be released, neither the full governing power of music.

Music will have awesome influence in our world through apostolic and prophetic anointing. The new apostolic reformation will create the platform for this to happen.

Selah and be formed again.

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From “ The Power of Apostolic Music – The Proper Order of David’s Tabernacle, Re-Building in these End Times” by Stephen Bennett. Chapter excerpt reprinted by author’s permission. Originally from England and now based in Australia, Stephen Bennett‘s gifting spans various creative fields and he mentors to a wide community of musicians, singers and artists around the world. He is a creative prophetic and apostolic voice to the Church.