On my journey to do the will of the Lord and in this adventure of coming closer to the heart of God, I have been led to expose a particular message on music. It has come to my attention that there seems to be an enemy at the gates that many of us are facing here at APU. However, some may be unaware of this enemy and how to defend ourselves from attacks.
For the past school year, I have invested in extensive research and prayer on the spiritual attachments to music. From examining how those spiritual ties affect an individual when his or her spirit receives music that is played, I have developed a proposal to present to my fellow peers of APU in regards to reconsidering one’s music selection. Research has led to an abundance of hidden realities in regards to the manifestations that are attached to music.
Through an interview with revivalist, missionary and worship leader Seth Yates — who has worked with the International House of Prayer, Youth With a Mission (YWAM), several Christian artists such as Misty Edwards and Matt Gilman, and has developed his teaching on this subject from extensive research — he informed me of how the heart posture of musicians affects the spiritual atmosphere when they play or sing, or when a song they have recorded is played.
This means that whatever place a person’s heart posture is at when making music determines what gets manifested in the songs that he or she plays. That manifestation is transmitted onto the music and affects the listeners whether they realize it or not.
This leads to the idea that secular music often has strongholds of Satan on it and that when people listen to it, they can come under that stronghold.
Romans 6:16 says, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey — whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” A commentary by theologian Sam Tullock on this verse proclaims that there are two masters, sin and obedience, that a person can be in service to.
In other words, whatever people give themselves to is what they become a slave to. This very thing is what happens when a person listens to music that has evil manifestations in it.
So now the question is, “What music has these strongholds of the enemy on it?” Research has unveiled the fact that there are some musicians that have literal pacts with the devil, have admitted to selling their souls to the enemy and are actually worshipping Satan.
Aleister Crowley is a professed Satanist and is known as “The Wickedest Man on Earth.” His life and teachings are behind the Church of Satan, the New Age Movement (Age of the Antichrist), Eastern Mysticism Movement in America, Scientology and many new occult teachings.
This Satanist has thrived in the world of rock music and is at the root of much teaching that has influenced secular musicians today. Crowley has influenced the lyrics of artists such as The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, David Bowie, Sting, Ozzy Osbourne, The Clash, The Cure and more. Crowley taught that one could become a genius in music by practicing Satanism.
A tangible example of this is in pop artist Nicki Minaj’s latest work. This year’s Grammy performance by the pop star created a huge buzz when Minaj acted out scenes of an exorcism.
The performance ties into the release of her newest album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Fox News writer Jo Piazza reported on how Nicki has explained that she admits to having a demon named Roman living inside of her, hence the title of her latest album.
The main evidence here is that fans are intrigued by her satanic acts, which has resulted in her album deputing at No. 1 and 250,000 records sold already.
According to developmental psychologist Shoshana Dayanim, “If a teenager relates a satanic image with something cool — or someone they aspire to be — even if they do not understand what it means, they may later come into contact with the ‘real’ thing and transfer those desires of who they wish they could be to unhealthy, risky and dangerous behavior.”
This knowledge is the reality I am trying to hit at. Whatever music people are allowing to infiltrate them has affects that are not only spiritual but mental as well.
Piazza has also reported that artists Lady Gaga, Kanye West and MTV’s Best New Artist Tyler the Creator have confessed to worshiping the devil, which has resulted in major success in their music careers.
“And with Satan’s imagery arguably translating to remarkable success for these stars, who have Grammys and gold records under their belts, experts don’t see it going away any time soon,” Piazza wrote.
Therefore, if music is being played from an artist who has a heart posture that is affected by the manifestation of demons or satanic worship, that manifestation is transmitted through the music and into the “ear-gates” of those who hear it.
This leads to facing the enemy at the gates.
“If we are not of this world, then what we feed ourselves should veer from the things of this world,” Yates said. I believe that we must regard what Seth has said as he references John 15, Romans 12 and John 17 — which tell us not to be of the world — in addition to quoting James 4, which tells us to resist the devil.
Yates refers to “our gates” as the passageways through which the things of the spirit can enter our bodies. This includes our eyes, ears, hands, etc., and what comes in through our gates affects our souls.
“When you live from the inside out and allow the Holy Spirit to have power over your body, you begin to see, hear and say the Kingdom of Heaven,” Yates said. “But you have to let the Holy Spirit come in through a gate, which is why it is so important to regard what you watch and hear.”
Yates was referring to resisting evil from entering our eyes, ears and other gates of our bodies. Since evil can enter through things such as music, as I have previously explained, it is important to be cautious towards what music we allow to enter our gates.
In support of this, 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Overall, I wish to invite those who have been encouraged to rise up and take action on this matter and regard the music we listen to with greater caution. It all lies upon coming closer to the heart of God, which is what I wish for the body of Christ. Let us near that resting place of dwelling with the Father.
If there are evil manifestations attached to the music that is entering our gates, then how are we allowing the Lord to sanctify us in purity for His glorification?
Therefore, fellow APU brothers and sisters, let us resist the enemy that is lurking at our gates and do so by reconsidering the music we listen to. Let us begin to cut off all the passageways of evil so that we may be purified in his Holy Spirit and able to bring truth and light to the world through the pure manifestation of His Spirit in us. God bless you all.
More information on this topic can be found in Seth Yates’ podcasted lecture titled “The Melodies of Heaven,” S. R. Hutson’s scholarly journal article “Technoshamanism: Spiritual Healing in the Rave Subculture” and Lawrence Sutin’s book Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley.
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Alexis Kupratis is a junior communication studies major from Fullerton, Calif. She works for the Office of Orientation and Transition as an Omega intern, is a dance instructor at Impact Dance Academy in Azusa, is involved with a new prayer ministry on campus and will be going to India this summer on a mission trip with Team Himalayas. Some of her passions are dancing, writing, interceding, working with children and learning. She dreams of working with various ministry organizations and also desires to work in the entertainment industry in order to bring more of God’s light and truth to the world.