“Discarding Tobiah's Stuff”
by Jim Bakker

Default version: KJV unless other wise specified

God is doing an awesome work in Nashville. When I recently was asked to speak to about 400-500 Nashville musicians, singers and producers, I was shocked to find out some of the prominent people who were there. When you see musicians and singers wanting to turn their back on the high publicity, fame and fortune and seek Jesus Christ—something is happening.

There is a group of musicians and singers in this land who are thirsting and hungering for righteousness. They want to put Jesus first in their lives. In a capsule, this is what the Lord is doing: He is laying the groundwork for a restoration of true worship.

God seems to delight in birthing things in stables and deserts, in prisons and in fiery furnaces. We think He is going to birth things in a cathedral! You better watch out, for you don't know where He might choose to birth the next thing He does.

There is a work happening all over the land, and God is telling the musicians, the singers and the Levites, "It is time to come off the farm!" What I mean is found in Nehemiah 13:4-12, the story of Eliashib and Tobiah. It directly applies to those in music ministries, but it also applies to those of us who are not—for it is crucial right now that we as the body of Christ recognize and validate such ministries.

When Levites Turn to Farming

The reason we do not have the level of music in the church that we should is because we haven't recognized and respected the worship leaders as true Levites—holy ministers called of God. We have let them "go to the farm" in order to pay their bills, instead of giving them the financial support God intends for them to have.

Someday these anointed ministers won't have to go "farm" anymore, for God from the beginning has intended that singers and musicians be paid as well as other "priests and Levites." But currently many anointed worship leaders are out "farming" in secular jobs because of the church's disobedience and lack of vision.

This is the very situation that existed in Nehemiah chapter 13:

And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore; therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber (vs. 7-8).

As in the day of Nehemiah, Eliashib and Tobiah, we've got a lot of "stuff" in the church that is contrary to the Word of God! It's time to discard the "stuff" so the house of God can again be filled with His praises.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense (v. 9).

What a tragic situation. The incense and all the vessels that were used in praise and worship were removed so that a bunch of household stuff could be moved in — Tobiah's stuff.

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field (v. 10)

The Living Bible says, "I also learned that the Levites had not been given what was due them, so they and the choir singers who were supposed to conduct the worship services, had returned to their farms." Many of God's musicians today are supposed to be giving themselves to worship, yet they are out "making tents" and doing other things to make a living — they've gone back to their farms.

If we are going to have the move of God that the Lord has ordained, it is going to take people who are wholly dedicated to the ministry of worship. If you don't understand the power of music, you don't really know the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, worship is powerfully used by God.

Even in battle, the musicians and singers would go before the Israelite armies (see II Chronicles 20:20-22). Great choirs and orchestras led the victory processions into the Temple. Their worship was not only on special occasions—not even just weekly—for they had singers and musicians leading continual worship to the Lord (I Chronicles 9:33).

The Power of Music

At one time Gospel Music was a phenomenon in this country. When I was a little boy I remember going to all-night sings and people would feel good. We all would shout and praise God and stand to our feet.

But do you know what happened? The performers began to think that they were doing it. The performers who walked into that applause and enjoyed that good feeling began to use the good feeling to manipulate people. They began to learn how to manipulate the crowd with the emotions of the music.

Perhaps you haven't understood the wickedness that has often tainted Gospel Music. We don't air our dirty linens; we try to cover it up. What happened in Gospel Music is that gifted musicians and singers took what belonged to God and used it to promote themselves.

God says He inhabits the praises of His people! (Psalm 22:3 KJV) So when we walk into the praise going up to God and we take bows to the applause, we are in serious trouble. And when we literally cash in on the anointing and presence of the Holy Ghost, we are in danger of God writing "Ichabod" over our music ministry as He has already done over much of today's Gospel Music (see I Samuel 4:21). Yet, though judgment has come to Gospel Music, I believe it will be raised up again to play an important role in the coming revival.

God inhabits praise. That is why we need to esteem worship leaders as Levites, worthy to receive financial support in the same way as the other priests and ministers do. Anointed singers, musicians and psalmists must be pure before the Lord. They must be devoted to seeking Him. They need to be freed from unnecessary secular distractions so they can spend time preparing to lead the church into the throne room of God. That is what this portion of Scripture is all about:

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries (Nehemiah 13:10-12).

Preparing for the Next Move of God

That is what the Lord wants to do — bring the wine and the oil back into the house of God. It is time for all the elements of worship to come back to the Lord's house. This is an urgent message to the church. It might be that God wants to raise up full-time singers and musicians in your church, because that is part of the process by which He is preparing us for the coming move of His Spirit.

In the coming days, we are going to see an awesome restoration of New Testament church life, with all the gifts and miracles back in place, all the prophecy, all the brotherly love and freedom of the Spirit. All these things will happen because no one is going to get the glory except the Lord. Everyone is going to be praying for each other and we won't even know who touched God for our healing. Gray-haired grandmas will see more healings than any healing evangelist ever has, because God said these signs will follow anyone who believes.

Worship is a central part of what God has planned for the days ahead, for there will be a new hunger and thirst for Jesus in the church. But, as the church falls in love with Jesus again, we will need to discard "Tobiah's stuff" and restore worship leaders to their rightful place.