Delivering Souls To Christ Through Music

THE PURPOSE OF MUSIC 

By Francis Fawkes, Th.D.

Music in today’s secular society is divorced from God’s original purpose.  It was really meant to glorify its creator, and magnify His name in praise and worship.  In the world, we see the complete reversal of purpose of everything that God created.  And this is especially so with music.  It is used for the glorification of man and the magnification of his name.

In Colossians 1:16, it states that, “…all things were created, that are in  heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible - whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers – and all things were created by Him and for Him.”  God gave us these gifts, so let us give them back to Him.  Do not rob God of His glory.

We in the secular society see nothing wrong with this humanistic approach of attributing all innate artistic ingenuity, and excellence to man.  Artistic excellence, without God in the equation - really degenerates into petty nit-picking.  It only caters to man’s vanity.  We do not realize that we are not totally responsible for the greatest of giftings.  Whether these giftings are in music, languages, mathematics or the visual arts - they sometimes baffle or mystify the possessor.  A mathematical or musical prodigy may be at a total loss as to how he can perform feats of mind with little or no training.  Neither does he know how the gifts came about.  The best thing to do is to give glory to God for their possession, rather than taking the glory for it.  Do not rob God of His glory.

Again, some church performers think that their relationship with Christ consist of an artistic performance; I have sensed that the Lord is displeased with this particular attitude.  There are some church musicians who may not even be saved!  The musician who has consecrated his music to the Lord should have a corresponding Christian lifestyle.  He should be a vessel of honour with a renewed mind.  He should not don the attitudes and philosophies of so many of the musicians in the performing arts.  With a renewed mind, he should realize that the word of God takes priority over - and gives direction over his music.  This is so because: “God even honours His word above Himself” – and most certainly above music.  In the field of the classics, music is above all else and fanaticism is the norm.  This can result in musical idolatry that is so pervasive in the performing arts.

THE RELEVANCE OF DIFFERENT MUSICAL STYLES IN THE

BAHAMAS

Here again it is a question of calling.  It is my belief that the preference for different artistic styles is inborn.  If you find that you have a strong preference for classical music as opposed to popular music, contemporary Christian music or other styles, it may not have as much to do with your environment as you thought. However, it may have everything to do with what God predestined for you before the foundations of the earth were laid.

God first conceived a purpose in the earth and then created a liking for the thing you were supposed to do.  Your personal style is related to your purpose.  Do not let anyone force you to change your style.  It could seriously hinder your purpose.  You may not minister to the people within your calling.  You may play other styles, but always come back to your calling.  Remember the story of the prophet in Jeremiah 1: 5.  God ordained him as prophet to the nations before he was born.  If he did something else, he would not have reached the nations.

Thus, your culture did not create or shape you entirely; you created your own culture according to what God already birthed in you.  God then is not a God of uniformity, but a God of diversity.  He then created the different styles to express his versatility.  I have noticed that the predominant style in this Bahamian society is indigenous music or Junkanoo music.  That also is God’s doing.  However, this does not mean that everybody is called to do this type of music.  There are also a few classicists like myself as well.

All these tastes are legitimate and relevant to God’s purpose as far as He is concerned.  Your brain was neurologically wired for your artistic taste.  I also suspect that there is a genetic basis for strong rhythms shown in peoples of African or Caribbean descent.  Just consecrate your style to God and invest it in His Kingdom.  Others of similar taste may be attracted to the style and find salvation through your performance and lifestyle.  Now, if you don’t like a particular form of musical expression, do not worry about it.  It was probably not meant for you anyway.

WHAT ABOUT FRANCIS FAWKES?

Many people know about my liking for classical music.  As far as I can recall, I was exposed to popular music which I liked before classical music.  Then my father, Sir Randol Fawkes, purchased for me a classical series called Music Masters.  This dealt with the lives and music of the great composers.  Since my father was constantly traveling overseas, I eventually accumulated an impressive collection of recordings and music books form the United States.  This act of wisdom on his part, I believe, was in keeping with God’s specific purpose and calling for my life.

So overwhelming and so profound was the experience of listening to great classics, that it became the predominant factor in my taste.  It has not changed since.  My liking for the classics was intense and immediate.  I did not have to learn to appreciate this art form.  It was as though I was always familiar with it (sorry no allusions to reincarnation intended).  When people come up to me and say I had to learn to appreciate classical music, I cannot relate to what they were saying.

Later on, I discovered that this art-form was part of my calling.  I remembered asking God what was my purpose on this earth.  He replied to me in a dream: “I have placed you on this earth to do my work.”  In 1987, I received the anointing for my music by the laying on of hands.  But revelation is progressive.  I am not only anointed to play the Classics but to preach the Gospel as well!

It is interesting to note that before I learnt of my purpose, I never suspected I was called to Christian ministry work through music and the Word!  I only flowed in the direction of my strengths.

MINISTERING THROUGH THE CLASSICS

I know that it is God’s mandate to reach the world with our callings.  This is certainly true of the musicians in the arena of the classical performing arts.   Most of them however, are spiritually indifferent.  The field of the performing arts is one of the unreached mission-fields.  Prophet Kim Clement, a former prize winning classical pianist, said that God was going to touch this area in the latter times.

In all of my years of experience with classical music, I have only heard of one or two European musicians with a clear-cut Christian testimony.  One of them happens to be concert pianist Van Cliburn!

Situations like this led a music scholar Patrick Kavanaugh to form the “Christian Performing Artist’s Fellowship”- (CPAF).  His goal is to help fulfill the great commission, to go and make disciples of all nations.  It is his contention that you do not have to go to Africa to be a missionary.  But you can go to the Kennedy Center to find people unreached by the Gospel.  Another outreach organization is “Crescendo” – This is an international network of Christian classical professional musicians and music students.  Their mission is to encourage classical musicians to be “the salt of the earth.”

I have often wondered what happened to the souls of the great performers in the classical arena – especially concert pianists.  If they have Christian testimonies - surely it is the world’s best kept secret.  All I hear about them is gossip!  I am very thankful that these artists are beginning to consecrate and use their gifts for the Kingdom.  This is what all musicians should be doing – bringing souls to Christ and impacting lives for the Kingdom.

When I win a soul to the Master, I feel the surge of God’s power at its strongest.  This is because you touch the heart of God every time a soul is won.  I have been doing this for over 20 years, especially among Bahamian musicians - as well as those involved in other aspects of the performing and visual arts.  It is a source of great satisfaction and relief when they pass on later; to know that you have contributed to their life in eternity with Jesus Christ.

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Jesus - The Way, The Truth and The Life!

The Better Way

By Francis Fawkes, Th.D.

Many religions are trying to attain salvation by works alone.  But by the works of the law no flesh is justified.  Why?  Because God's standard is infallibility.  Can one attain infallibility?  No, it is impossible because if you have committed a single sin, you are branded a sinner forever.

Buddha realized this and said that you could not escape the results of your sin even if it took you trillions of years.  Buddha also gave a description of Christ 500 years before He was born - telling of the wounds that were on His body and the markings on His forehead.  He said that this coming figure had a better way.

These writings are accurately transmitted and are found in the Buddhist's scriptures of Cambodia.  In them, Buddha himself stated that the old way was limited and ineffectual.  How did he know this?  My surmise is that God revealed it to him.  It was then up to the Buddha to accept this and disseminate it.

Unfortunately, all that has been handed to us are formulas for right conduct and metaphysical systems from the East which would enable us to attain salvation.  How erroneous are these notions, for Ephesians 2: 8 states that salvation is attained by grace through faith; it is a gift of God and not of us, lest any man should boast.

Jesus also said that "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man commeth unto the Father but by Me."  By His blood all of your sins are wiped away.

 

Buddha Prophesized about Jesus (Yeshua)>>>

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Be Rapture Ready!

THE DANGER OF NOT BEING RAPTURE-READY

By Francis Fawkes, Th.D.

There is a lot of teaching on prosperity.  Sure, Christians need a certain measure of prosperity to be more effective in Christian ministry.  They would certainly be handicapped in carrying out the great commission if they were broke (Matthew 24:14).  However, Ministers of the Gospel need to prioritize and give end–time prophecy its rightful due.  God revealed to the Christian author David Wilkerson in his book, “The Vision,” that as Job was tempted by depravation and loss, so is the latter day Christian tempted by greed and wealth.  It is rather unfortunate that eschatology or end-time prophecy has been eclipsed by prosperity teaching, and many Christians are not prepared for the next appearing of Jesus.  Holiness, with which no man can see God’s face, has ceased to become an issue of importance (Hebrews 12: 14).

The Rapture is conspicuous by its absence in the pulpits today.  Emphasis needs to be placed on the Rapture (Harpazo, Gk. – snatching away from danger).  This is an extremely serious situation as the Rapture is synonymous with the first resurrection of the righteous dead (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17).  The whole of Christianity revolves around the resurrection.  St. Paul states: if Christ did not arise, then our faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14).

My concern stems from a dream the Lord revealed to me on the Rapture in the 1980’s.  I found myself thousands of feet in the air.  When I looked down I saw many people still on the ground.  They exuded egotism and pride in their jobs.  They were totally unaware that the Master Jesus had come and gone.

Confounded and mildly upset, I wondered what this meant.  I had never experienced anything like that.  I thought that all mouth- professing Christians go to Heaven.  The Lord explained to me that not every Christian will be going up in the Rapture.  He further stated that some believe that they are real Christians, but they are not.  I had other dreams of the Rapture in which I saw the prepared go up in small groups!  When you study the situation, it shows the Christian that he cannot use salvation by grace as a licence to sin (Hebrews 6: 4-7).

HOLINESS NOT MIRACLES IS THE KEY TO BEING THE RAPTURED

In Matthew 7: 21:  “Jesus expressly states that not all that say Lord, Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my  Father which is in heaven.”

Many think that speaking in tongues, prophesying and casting out devils will guarantee them a place in the Rapture or Heaven.  But listen to the rest of the story.  Jesus quotes in verse 22: “Many shall say in that day Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name?  And in thy name cast out devils?”  In verse 23 he will say unto them: “I never knew you, depart from me ye workers of iniquity.”  They could have made it if they had repented of their evil deeds.

With the search for guidance from the Holy Spirit, I continued to study other visions, dreams, near-death-experiences and outer-body-experiences of people around the world.  In trying to distinguish the genuine from the counterfeit, I discovered something traumatic but possibly true.  If a very small percentage of the world’s population are going to heaven where do the majority go?  No need to answer the obvious.  This is a revelation from Jesus to Minister Howard Pittman in his telling of a near-death-experience that he had in his book called “Placebo.”

Here are the most surprising revelations of men of God.  When the Rapture comes only 10 percent of Christians will be taken up.  There are many such similar reports.  Furthermore, a large percentage of Ministers of the Gospel may not be raptured because they lack a pure heart or are not living holy lives.  Many of them may fail because of sins of the heart and sins connected with their thought life.  I believe that God has an incredible standard for Ministers of the Gospel – one of absolute, pure holiness!  It is certainly higher than the general population at large.  In Matthew 7:14 it is written:  “… straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto eternal life, and few there be that find it.”  It is incredible that “few” can mean few Christians as well.  We have to put more emphasis on holiness and repentance.

HOLINESS - THE SOLUTION TO THE RAPTURE PROBLEM

Whatever happened to holiness?  Has it been thrown out of the window?  In Leviticus 11:45 it states: “I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be ye holy, because I am holy.”  In Hebrews 12: 14: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.”  In an alarming revelation that was given to a very popular man of God, many men of God who were thought sure to be in heaven were not there – God knew their hearts.  Others, who many thought would never make it to heaven, were seen in heaven.  “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).

There are revelations given by Ministers of God as to why God would have rejected them if they had not repented and met his standards.  Howard Pittman thought that he was pleasing God in ministry.  God revealed that his motives were selfish and that he was his own false God.  He committed the sin of idolatry without repentance.  If he remained in that state, he would not make it into heaven.  He learnt that 2.5 percept of the world’s population were being saved at that moment.  The other 97.5 percept perished.

Renowned Ugandan pastor John Mulinde despite a prospering ministry with healings and salvations was not ready because he had not repented of an abominable thought life.

Pastor John Ekechukwu of Nigeria was not ready because of unforgiveness in his heart towards his wife.  He learnt that if he had not repented, he would have his part in the lake of fire.  Many ministers have intense hatred and refuse to let go of certain things in their hearts towards others.  Jesus said: “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive you your trespasses” (Matthew 6: 15).  Forgiveness is the essence of salvation.

REPENTANCE IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE IGNORED

“Repent ye, therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19).  What habitual sins should the Minister of the Gospel and Christian repent of alike?  Here are some of the sins all need to repent of.  One can use Galatians 5: 19 as a complete guideline for spiritual purity and purity of the heart.  However, I will name some of the more common lifestyle sins of both: Adultery, fornication, lustfulness, witchcraft, hatred, envyings, wrath and drunkenness.  Repent of these sins if they become a matter of lifestyle.  Those that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Slander, whether direct or by innuendo in everyday life and in the pulpit is a sin according to 1 Corinthians 6: 9.  Such a person is called a “reviler” in the aforementioned passage.  Those that make these sins a lifestyle shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

IS HELL FIRE REAL?

Jesus told a Christian that the fires of hell cannot be compared to the fires of earth – they are much hotter.  There are some Christians who believe that the fires of hell are figurative, however in no sense of the word can it be unreal.  Here is a passage too explicit to be figurative.  “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter the Kingdom of God  with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where the worm dieth not and the fire quenches not” (Mark 9:47 -48).  The Lord also told another person that the greatest punishment is not reserved for the pagan, but for the Christians that knew the word of God but still persisted in evil doing without repentance.  Yes, the key is repentance.

THE ASTONISHNING  DENIAL OF THE CHURCH

This passage of scripture Revelation 13: 16 - 18 is being fulfilled before in our times, but many ministers hardly make a comment on it:  “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich or poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the Beast…”  In verse eighteen this number is 666.

It is astonishing, that 2 ½ million people have already accepted the microchip.  This is the forerunner Mark of the Beast and the pulpits are silent!  Mark of the Beast legislation is being fought successfully in several states of the United States.  They are Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Wisconsin, North Dakota and California.  The church continues to slumber in denial.

Does the Christian know that the cashless society is making progress at a frightening rate of about 90 percent in Europe and Asia?  There are certain shops in Europe which reject liquid cash because purchases are only permissible electronically.  In a few years’ time, they want everyone in India to have a number.  The Bible indicates that buying and selling will be done according to a number system.

This chip is supposed to go on the back of the right hand or in forehead.  That microchip carries the possibility of monitoring and controlling you for not only medical purposes but for economic and political purposes as well.

So, Christians - you have been warned.  In Matthew Chapter 25, do not be like the five foolish virgins: prepare your lamps with oil.  Do not be like the proverbial virgins today who say the Rapture promotes “an escape mentality” and fail to fill their lamps with oil.  Listen to what the master Jesus had to say about this: “for there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world, to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).   According to the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowls, the judgements will wipe out billions of lives in a short space of time.  Islands and mountains will be dislocated (Revelation 6 – 18).  So preparation with an escape mentality is very well justified.

Friend, if you die today that is your Rapture.  For it states in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17, the dead will be the first to arise to meet Christ in the air.  They will be followed by those saved ones who will never see death.

I want to conclude by saying do not be afraid of the word “Rapture.”  It really comes from the Latin Vulgate Bible, and it does not conflict with the original concept of “snatching away” in the original Greek text.  Look and prepare with great expectation for the next appearing of Jesus the Christ for there is a special reward for them that desire his appearing (2 Timothy 2: 8).

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Frequently Asked Questions About Salvation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON SALVATION

By Francis Fawkes, Th.D.

What is Salvation?

When most people hear of salvation, they think of escape from hell and securing a spot in heaven.  However, it is not just soul salvation, which is of the main and utmost priority.  It encompasses more.  Salvation comes from the Greek word Soteria that includes healing, financial prosperity, remission of sins, deliverance from demonic oppression, a renewed mind and many other benefits that follow it.  In other words, it is abundant living on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.  Salvation is also the redemptive plan of Christ to restore us to the position that we enjoyed before the fall of Adam.

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Can we attain salvation through good works?

Salvation cannot be attained through good works because God's standard is that we be sinless to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  God's reaction to sin or impurity is destruction.  And all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  Many religions like Buddhism and Hinduism try to attain it through meditation, good works and other types of spiritual disciplines.  But this is not the Way.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is a gift of God - not of works lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2: 8).  Therefore, salvation is a gift that you accept by believing that Christ died for your sins and was resurrected.  Again, we do not have to work for a gift - it is free of charge.

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If good works do not save us, then what purpose do they serve?

Good works are a by-product of your salvation.  If we are saved, we should manifest a Christian character that is motivated by the Holy Spirit - not by self-effort.  The purpose of the law is to make you sin-conscious and to act as a behavioral guideline after salvation.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Galatians 3: 24).  If salvation were a matter of a certain percentage of faith with a percentage of works as some believe, then you would be adding something to Christ's finished work on the cross.  "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath something of which to glory, but not before God.  For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto Him as righteousness" (Romans 4:2 3).  Good works, however, determine your rewards in Heaven.

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How do we know that we are saved?

The moment we are saved, the Holy Spirit indwells in us.  There is a particular intuition or unction coming from the Holy Spirit that tells the believer that he is a child of God.  The Spirit himself beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God - (Romans 8: 16).  There are also certain signs that follow the believer.  You may manifest any one or several of them.  In Mark 16:17 it states, "these signs shall follow those who believe: In my name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues.  They shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."  Another way of knowing if you are saved is check to see that you manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23).  These are "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control, against such - there is no law."

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Do all religions lead to the same God?

All religions do not lead to the same God.  Allah is not a triune God and he had no son.  The adherents of Hinduism worship 30 million gods.  Buddhism is an atheistic religion and believes that the godhead is within.  Hinduism believes that salvation is attained when one achieves Samadhi.  This is a mystical state of contemplation in which one has achieved union with the universe or mistakenly with God.  They also believe that the godhead lies within.  The Buddhist's salvation is Nirvana, which is the complete extinction of the personality.  A series incarnations or meditation is the vehicle that will lead us to this kind of spiritual perfection.

Again, there can be no perfection outside Jesus.  The eastern mystics are probably developing powers of the mind and spirit that Adam had prior to the fall.  However, if the Holy Spirit is not guiding them in their deliberations, deception and deadly error results.  To dispel the deception that surrounds eastern mysticism, read: The Death of a Guru by Rabi R. Maharaj.  Islam on the other hand, proclaims salvation by good works out-balancing bad works on a scale of justice.  All of the aforementioned are not the prescribed way of the Master, Jesus.  Again salvation is a gift and is not attained by self-effort or works.  Whatever they achieve, cannot lead to God.  Whoever comes to God by some other means are both a thief and a robber, according to scriptures.

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Is there more that one mediator between God and Man?

Jesus said "I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14: 6).  In 1Timothy 2:5, it is written "for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus."  The other founders of different world religions outside Christianity have belief systems of their own making.  Others of them have founded religions based on the ideas of deceiving or impersonating spirits.  It is written in Genesis that the serpent (Satan) was the subtlest of the Beasts of the field.  In the world religions, he mixes truth with error to make false ideologies more palatable.  However, that 5 percent error in amidst 95 percent truth will destroy or kill you.  This is a very popular strategy in the spiritual world.

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What is the blood atonement?

In the Old Testament, the High Priest made atonement to God for his sins and the sins of the people by sacrificial animals.  These sacrifices were a daily chore.  The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for atonement is Kaphar.  One of its meanings is to cover.  So the blood of animals covered up the Israelite's sins.  When Jesus Christ came, He made a new and better covenant.  Animal sacrifices stopped and He became the Sacrificial Lamb for once and for all (Hebrews 9: 11-15).  His blood shed on the cross not only covers up sins but also removes them.  There is no remission of sins without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9: 22).  In 1John1:7 - it is written and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all unrighteousness.

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What is the Rapture?

Some people say that the word "Rapture" is not in the Bible.  However, if you look in the Latin Vulgate, you will find the derivation of the word.  In Latin, "rapturo" means caught up.  Nobody knows the exact time of the Rapture.  However, it was prophesied that when this generation (known as the terminal generation) will witness the preaching of the Gospel to all the ends of the earth, then shall the Rapture occur (Matthew 24: 14).  The blooming of Israel is also another landmark event.

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Do we all have to experience death to enter Heaven?

According to the Bible, we will not all die.  However, in the rapture, the dead will rise first and then the living.  Their souls from Heaven will unite with their resurrected bodies and they will be lifted up to be with Jesus.  There is also a second class of people that will never experience death.  Those are most likely the young people living in this present generation.  According to 1Thessalonians 4:17:  "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord."   Again the Greek word "harpazō", which means to snatch or catch away, is used implying Rapture.  We shall also be changed in a twinkling of an eye (1Corinthians 15: 52 -53).

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