The New Song

 There is a new song being birthed in the earth today. It has the rhythm and intensity of the drum, but it is not a drum. It has the soul-stirring drone of bagpipes, but it is not bagpipes. It has the beckoning echo of the Native flute, but it is not a flute. So what is it? What is the new song? It’s actually an ancient song being heard anew. It is the song of repentance.

Recently, during a time of prayer and intercession, I felt a strong rhythm in my spirit, like the Lord was really wanting something on drums to come forth, and I felt like it was going to come through a friend of mine who is a drummer on our worship team. I thought, “He has to get a drum!” But I didn’t say anything to him right away. I looked up a short time later and he was holding a drum but not playing. I walked over to him to encourage him with what I was hearing in my spirit, and he told me that his wife said the same thing to him—that’s why he got the drum. I encouraged him to just listen for what the Lord was saying and go for it. Shortly after some further prayer, he starts repenting to several who were assembled together there. It was definitely God-directed with tears. Suddenly the Lord spoke up to me and said, “There’s your rhythm!” I asked Him what He was talking about. He told me that the repentance was the rhythm I was hearing. It was such a revelation. Since that day, the same thing has happen several more times.

Why Now?

The Father has been taking us on a journey to His secret place, and as we enter into each new level of truth or revelation on our journey, it becomes real easy to think we have arrived at our destination. However, the Father lovingly assures us that we have not. But now we have come to a time and place in our journey where we need to recognize where we are and where we’re headed. This is the part of the journey where Isaac understands why there isn’t a lamb—the part of the journey where Jesus, as the Lamb to the slaughter, prepares Himself to become the sweet aroma of worship to His Father.

 So where are we? Our corporate worship is a reflection of where we are on the journey of becoming like Christ. We’ve been embracing and enjoying a season of intimacy with the Father like we’ve never experienced before. Songs like “Breathe” and “You’re All I Need” have become the anthems of our gatherings—It’s been a much-needed, breath from Heaven. Intimacy and relationship with the Father have been missing from our lives and our churches for so long, that we’ve had to get to know Him and fall in love with Him all over again. We’ve had to learn what it’s like to be in His presence and sit at His feet as Mary did.  But there’s been a purpose to this love story that’s more far-reaching than to just sit at His feet—it’s been to prepare us for what’s next. Remember, we are on a journey, and without the understanding and context of intimacy, we will never be able to comprehend the trust, the honor, and the compassion that will be required of us in the future. He had to draw us into His presence so that we could get close enough to hear His heart—and His heartbeat!

The Heartbeat of the Lord

Within the sound of His heartbeat is the song of repentance. This ancient melody is not one that many enjoy singing. It stirs up such strong emotions—brings to the surface things long forgotten and hidden. It requires something from us. It’s not a song from our heads—it must come from our heart. When our heart synchronizes with the heart of the Father, the song of repentance bursts forth, and our tears that come provide the rhythm. The tears that accompany it are a gift—a rhythm that we cannot play on our own. They come as Deep calls unto deep, and as the deep breaks forth. They are the rains of Heaven being released to once again cleanse the earth. 

There are a lot of misconceptions about repentance. Repentance isn’t just about being sorry, or realizing that there’s a problem. It’s an identification process—identifying with your own sin, the sins of your region, your forefathers, etc. It’s not just a personal thing. It’s a corporate thing. We are a many-membered body. What affects one affects all. It’s a response—an action, not a reaction. We’ve seen repentance as a reaction—it’s not. There is also motion involved—we are MOVED from one direction to another. It’s a turning. Compassion works the same way. It is closely related to repentance in that our response to it is the same—it requires movement. It too comes from the rhythm of the father’s heart. We see the lost surrounding us—the poor all around us—and we know that something needs to be down, and even want to do something. But we don’t feel anything. Our hearts aren’t touched by it. Unless we are MOVED—unless it is birthed deep within us—we will not be effective and it will become a work of the flesh. Jesus was moved with compassion. It was His dance to the song. 

 “Yet even now, declares the LORD, Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and relent And leave a blessing behind Him, Even a grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber. Let the priests, the LORD’S ministers, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not make Your inheritance a reproach, A byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, "Where is their God?’ Then the LORD will be zealous for His land And will have pity on His people. The LORD will answer and say to His people, Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied in full with them; And I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.” Joel 2:12-19 

The Rain of Heaven

Rain cleanses as it falls and our tears are that cleansing rain. God is waiting for us to ask Him for this “Rain Song”—to ask Him for the tears so that the time of drought and famine can end. Just as “April Showers Bring May Flowers,” so too does our tears bring forth the buds of new birth. 

“Lift up your eyes to the desolate heights and see: Where have you not lain with men? By the road you have sat for them Like an Arabian in the wilderness; And you have polluted the land With your harlotries and your wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no latter rain. You have had a harlot’s forehead; You refuse to be ashamed.” Jeremiah 3:2, 3 

“Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.” Zechariah 10:1 

This sound is connected to the land. (We are part of the land! God created us from the dirt.) It’s the sound of creation groaning for a manifestation of the Sons of God. All creation is crying out! It’s crying out because of the blood. It’s crying out because of the broken covenants. It’s crying out because of the immorality. It’s crying out because of the idolatry. It’s crying out because of the curse. It’s calling to us, “Show Him to us!” Can you hear it? Do you hear the echo of the lost crying out from deep within, “Show Him to us”? The sound has never been louder. The broken are crying out, “Show Him to us!” It’s the sound of “Wailing Worship.” 

Repentance and Intercession

Many associate this weeping with intercession—and it is a part of it—then they say that they are not intercessors. I’ve said that for years. I think our minds need to be renewed concerning intercession. Joel says “Let the priests, the LORD’S ministers, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, Spare Your people, O LORD…”  

We are ALL priests: 

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 

We are ALL ministers: 

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 

So this is something that we are all called to—to intercede. And as we weep in intercession and repentance, we break down the structures in our life and in the lives of others that keep the song—the aroma—from coming forth, and we connect with its melody once again. 

Out of Our Bellies

As we yield ourselves to this worship, something breaks and the song of Heaven will begin to pour forth. As this song of the Cross is released in our lives, the thrust of the Sword (the Word) into our side (the depths) will bring forth the water and the blood—the elements of birth. From our bellies will flow a gushing, living river to release the awesome resurrection power—the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. As we begin to sing this song, we join the countless others in a victorious “sound of many waters” that will forever drown out and silence the accusing voice of the enemy. 

“And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.” Ezekiel 43:2 

“And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.” Revelation 14:2   

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” Revelation 19:6 

Through singing this song of repentance, we become living martyrs—dying daily—and give birth daily to the revealed glory of the Father. And it will be revealed in your mortal body because in yielding to the melodies of this song, the veil of your flesh will be rent, even as Christ’s was, giving unhindered access and exposure to the Most Holy Place. 

We cannot afford to be sidetracked any longer by being consumed with what’s wrong with each other and our churches. It’s distracting us from seeing Him. We have tried to use our gifts and callings without the Cross and it has brought us into Pride, Judgment, and Criticism. It has caused us to lose sight of His glory both in those around us and in our circumstances. We need to listen for the song! We need to learn the song. We need to join the new “Trail of Tears.” But this time it will be a highway of holiness, not rejection. And as we walk on this highway, we move from mourning into dancing! 

First the Wailing, then the Dancing. 

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” Psalms 30:11, 12 

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5 

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.” Psalms 126:5 

“To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:2, 3