Where Is That Sound Coming From?
by Minister Qimmah Gillund (iamsanctuary1@aol.com)

Is there a difference between spirit and sound? No, spirit and sound are synonymous; you really cannot separate the sound from the spirit. Sound is so relative to spirit that they are one. In fact, the spirit is identified by the sound. Have you ever been in a Service and the Holy Ghost (Spirit) swept through, and you could hear the sound of deliverance? It's unmistakable! Only the Spirit of God can produce deliverance, and it has its own sound, no other spirit can produce it.

Remember Daniel when the King decreed that at the sound of the trumpet, psaltery, dulcimer . . . that everyone should bow? Daniel refused. He recognized that the sound was preceded and influenced by the spirit. Although it’s only an assumption that the musicians were operating under duress, (it is probable that they were under orders to play), their role was to usher in the act of idolatry or idol worship. That same spirit was being used to force the people to humble and bow in reverence to the King. Daniel refused to bow to the spirit, not just to the music, but to the spirit that created it, along with the intent. The musical instruments were under the control of the musician and the ambience of the music was controlled by the spirit of the man.

Consider 1 Corinthians 15:52, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Most definitely this sound will come from Spirit, thus there is no separation! We shall know the conveyor of the sound, the ministering spirit of God. If you believe the Word of God, you must also believe that this sound will be unmistakenably godly.

The Psalmist David was employed to play skillfully so as to drive out the evil spirit sent to Saul. It was the spirit of God's peace that was with anointed David that enabled him to do so. The instrument is not independent of the musician, and cannot alone create music, ask any musician. I’m sure you will hear numerous testimonies of being used by the spirit of God to drive out demons and create an atmosphere of deliverance. Next, sample the music which was played and you will learn that it was not hip hop, classical, club or jazz that created the atmosphere of deliverance. These genres of music usher in spirits not normally represented in the house of God. There is no gangster or rap spirit that truly gives honor, tribute and/or worship to God.

And lest we forget, "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout” (sound), with the voice of the trumpet of God (sound) . . . all spiritually induced sound. Thus, we cannot separate sound from its producer, spirit. This particular example shows how important it is for us to realize that there is a certain sound that will usher in the second coming of Christ. And, another sound that precedes the ushering in and dominion of the anti-Christ. Let he that has an ear hear what the spirit is saying to the Church. Spirit equals Sound.

Rap is a component of Hip Hop, and you can’t separate one from the other. So why would we invite this spirit into the sanctuary? By changing the location of a concert from a club to a church won’t transform the music from worldly to holy. The Bible teaches to make and/or put a difference between clean and unclean, holy and unholy. So it is our responsibility to make the difference and to do the separating. Grey is grey, it is neither black nor white; it’s a combination of the two colors. Thus, it is not a separate color unto itself, but a combination of two.

When separation happens you have two totally different (opposite) and distinctive colors. Thus the same with music, you cannot mix the same elements and get a separation, what you get is a combination! Further, the Bible teaches that God wishes we were either hot or cold for if we are lukewarm he will spew us out of his mouth. God doesn’t like lukewarm (or the mix); it makes Him sick to His stomach. He wants us to come up straight.

Where is that sound coming from? I'd like you to consider this: If an individual is fostered as a young child, and removed from his natural parents, it does not change his DNA, or his origin. Under close observation, his Genesis will be determined. The DNA is in there no matter where the child resides. Although the child may not know where he originated, his kinship can be easily ascertained. It is the same with music; rap is rap in or out of church.

Jesus taught us, that a corrupt (evil) tree cannot produce incorruptible (good) fruit. We know that Hip Hop was created by man in a state of separation from God. So, if Hip Hop is the tree and rap is the fruit then how can we separate the two? It’s like trying to separate Christ from His love, and that can’t be done for He is Love. Neither can you say that a hater can love, a hater doesn't love neither does a lover hate!

Is renaming the music enough? Well let us consult with the final authority of the word of God. In the Bible along with every renaming; a change was effected in the heart, personality, and the overall condition of the spiritual state of the individual. To think that renaming alone can and does affect a change, is in error. Because you call the color blue black for instance, does not alone make it so. There must be an actual change in the content of what makes up the color blue for the statement to be factual. There has to be a change before the renaming takes place, and in man it's an inside job. If there is no change and merely a renaming than you are identifying the same thing by two different names. One of the names will be correct, and the other will be in error. One will be true, and the one which misrepresents, a lie.

I’m sure we can all agree that once we are blood washed our spiritual DNA changes, but then too we must also agree that it does affect a change in our lives, and we become new creatures. We are no longer similar to, or even somewhat like the old man. “If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature, old things are past away, and BEHOLD (get the revelation) all things have become new.” The Bible is right, that means somebody else is wrong!

Just because the world looked at running around naked and renamed it streaking, it did not make the act decent and acceptable. Only when the condition of the heart is changed can the condition of the man be changed. I think we can agree here. Even in the conversion of a Sinner to a Saint, before the name can be changed, there must be repentance, and a turning away from sin. This act alone will initiate a change in a life. You can call a pear a peach but it doesn't make it so, simply, peaches don’t grow on pear trees.

By what authority do I write these things? I have not only been authorized, but charged by the word of God. The Bible makes it clear, "A righteous man judges all things, yet he is judged of no man." And further charges us to “Try the spirit to see whether it is of God.” Obedience leads to righteousness and righteousness to holiness. If we are not making or putting a difference between clean and unclean and holy and unholy, then surely we are in a state of disobedience. All disobedience is unrighteous, and all unrighteousness is sin. How can the same exact music that is popular in the secular world be holy unto God? The world loves its own. And, the world is enmity to God. Its music never drew a soul from the club into the church. Jesus taught, “You will know a tree by the fruit it bears.” This alone has encouraged me to be a good fruit inspector, and I encourage you to be the same.

Why be a watchman on the wall? If not you, who? If not now, when? The music industry is in need of a voice crying in the wilderness. Advance and take your ground! None can come except the Father draw them, let us not move the landmark and draw souls into a grey area, but rather into the marvelous light.

Lastly, the value of a thing is based on the amount that someone is willing to pay for it. Christ paid with His life, and He paid for holiness no compromise! Where is that sound coming from? It’s coming from spirit! What spirit? You decide. It is my prayer that you will decide to stand in a place where there is a clear difference, in Jesus’ name.


Minister Qimmah Gillund is a Holy Ghost filled Intercessor, Minister, Teacher, Singer, Songwriter, Musician and Church Mother.  She served as an Adjutant for more than six years, traveled the U.S., and six countries, and has lived overseas. Prior to living abroad, she wrote a column for a Women’s Magazine, published out of Philadelphia.  She taught weekly etiquette classes, Bible Studies and currently ministers at a weekly ecumenical prayer group. She received her BA, in that she is a “Born Again” Christian and her MA, in that she is “Master Approved”.  Professionally, she is a Program Administrator in the Educational Assessment field.
 - “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 
1 Corinthians 15:10

Please direct all comments and questions to the author @ iamsanctuary1@aol.com