Thanks for your comments and encouragement. Yes, those were made up on the spot.

I have someone checking on the broken links. Not sure what happened.

Although the first song didn’t mean as much to me, which is no big deal, I can tell you that I was touched by the one you sang about the chronic pain. I know for a fact the person sitting next to me was very deeply touched by it as she has suffered from it more than I. Unfortunately the download link doesn’t seem to be working. Maybe there’s another way to get it?

Either way I think you hit the nail with this post.
Jesse

I wonder - how do you understand the continuum of corporate worship as it relates to prophesy, preaching, song and prayer? Are they all integrated, is there some distinctiveness of each?

I ask, because we, the “enlightened”, “modern” church, seem to try and categorize/segregate these elements when I am not sure that they are so easily uncoupled.

Some are horrified to even consider the integration of these elements, considering it chaotic or confusing to the body. I am not so certain and would appreciate your insight.

Thanks for stopping by. Wanted to comment on your reference to Heb. 2:12. Seems as though the primary purpose of that passage in context is not to support prophetic song, but to highlight the fact that Jesus, in his incarnation, is both God and man.

It’s important for us to strive for biblical faithfulness in this area because the prophetic gift is so subject to misinterpretation and abuse. I’ve seen too many times where we start with Scripture, but then start reading our experiences back into the Word. I think there’s support for prophetic song in Scripture. I just wouldn’t go to Heb. 2 to find it.

I pray God continues to use you for the Savior’s glory.

I too have been moving in prophetic song for many years. I’ve gotten to see it work in many ways.

Sometimes I have had God give me a prophetic song in advance of a series of meetings — something that is immediate to the event I’m participating in — and I use the song for those few days, and never again.

I see this as a fulfillment of I Corinthians 14:26 — “Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation…” This is the kind of psalm David had, the kind that flows prophetically. Or to put it another way, it is a revelation in song.

On one occasion, I heard a new song in a dream — a classic biblical manner of prophetic inspiration. The song was in a style I could not play; a young man patiently spent about an hour with me, going over the song again and again. (I don’t know if this really took an hour or if I simply dreamed that it did.) The words were from Jeremiah 29, straight out of scripture.

I woke up, remembered the song, and sat at the keyboard, where it took me about an hour to learn it.

We can split hairs about the usage of the word “prophetic”, but Hebrews 2:12 makes it clear that Jesus will come into the church and sing praise to the Father. I believe this is meant to happen through us — and that because Jesus, who is God, sings through us, the song is necessarily prophetic.

In other words, there is more to “Christ in you” than we have realized!

Blessings,

Tim

Thanks for your quick and helpful response.

Thanks for stopping by. I think there’s still an element of the prophetic when a song comes in advance, if the idea for the song comes spontaneously. That is, the “immediate” applies to when the impression first comes. But typically the songs are written on the spot.

Look forward to meeting you at WorshipGod08.

You write: ” … I’ve also written down prophetic songs in advance …” If you write it down, does that take away the element of the “immediate” which Grudem and others use in defining the NT gift of prophecy? BTW, I have been blessed by your prophetic songs, both in hearing them live and via mp3.

Second, reading your blog and watching the recently posted interview you did with Tim Smith at Resurgence increases my anticipation for WG08! We have 8 people from our church registered and eager to attend.

Third, thanks for your book recommendations on Psalms. I’ve been using a couple in preparation for WG08.

Tim Wat - I met you when you ministered at a church that a friend attended. I think you have a review on Amazon for Peterson’s Engaging God (a book Bob recommends highly). Tim, if you are in the TriValley area and would like to fellowship over a cup of Starbucks or Peets, I’d welcome the chance. Or if you are attending WG08 it would be great to see you there.

Grace and Peace to all!
-tim
Wellspring Church, San Leandro, CA