What Was That Sound Larry W Peebles October 25, 2019 19.37
On my first ministry trip to India, a most unusual thing happened. At the invitation of my dear friend John, who travels the world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, I found myself part of a team in a somewhat dangerous region of India. The State of Orissa, now called Odisha, was the location of an infamous and cruel death of a Christian missionary and his two young sons a few years earlier. We were there to conduct three nights of open-air revival meetings to preach the good news of Jesus in this territory heavily populated by Hindus. These were public meetings held in a cricket stadium complete with lights, sound system and advertising.
Many miracles happened on this trip. A very influential man described as a radical Hindu had a sudden change of heart and turned into our biggest ally. He was instrumental in securing the permits and venue. He also made the arrangements for the lighting, sound and stage decorations. We saw many come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, and there were healings, signs and wonders. The crowds grew larger each night, with the final night estimated at 10,000 of God’s precious children of India. I will never forget wading out into that crowd on the last night, laying hands on as many as I could reach, imparting a touch from the Holy Spirit. The power of His presence was evident. The local ministry we partnered with captured much of the three nights on video, including the conclusion of the last night when the whole team prayed over the people.
On the overnight train ride from the revival meetings back to our base of operation, John reported hearing music through much of the night, something like a new choral arrangement of a familiar and powerful old hymn. He reasoned a team member in the bunk below had listened to music all night. When he inquired the next morning, the person sleeping beneath him indicated they had not played music during the train ride. Unable to identify the source of the sound, John dismissed the matter. A few days later we left India with many memories of what God had done, and our personal copies of the videos as keepsakes.
John called within a week of our return, and asked if I had seen the videos. I had not, and so he quickly relayed what he had found. The video of the conclusion of the final night, when we all went out into the crowd to pray for as many of the people as possible, contained something in the background. A high-pitched, angelic choral sound could be unmistakably heard on the video. There was no choir singing the night of the event. John said it was the same sound he heard on the train. I took my copy of the video to my local church, where some very savvy sound guys working with sophisticated equipment were able to isolate and amplify the sound. I sent that recording to John, and last time I checked, that video clip with the sound amplified was featured on his ministry website. What was that sound? The final conclusion we all reached was that the angels provided a sound from heaven to join the sounds of revival on the floor of that cricket stadium. Jesus said- “I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). We did not see them, nor did we hear them at the time, but their sound was captured on video.
I had heard of the sounds of heaven, and the sounds of angels, but this was my first experience with those sounds. Scriptures are filled with references to the sounds of heaven. Here are a few examples:
- Sound of a signal-2 Samuel 5:24- “And it shall be that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” After David had been anointed king, the Philistines struck twice against the Israelites. Each time David inquired of the Lord as to the military strategy to employ. For the first strike, the Lord advised David to go straight up and attack the Philistines, and He would deliver them into David’s hands (v. 19). On the second strike, David again inquired of the Lord as to what to do. The Lord said this time David should not go straight up and attack, but rather circle around behind them and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. When David “heard the sound of marching” in the tops of the trees, he attacked and drove the Philistines back as far as Gezer. The sound in the tops of the trees was a sound from heaven, a supernatural sound that sounded like troops marching. The sound was intended to confuse the Philistines and to throw them into utter panic. It was both a sign from the Lord, and a signal to attack. To be successful, David had to listen for the sound, hear it, and act on it. He was overwhelmingly victorious against the enemy. The Philistines also heard the sound, and were terribly frightened.
- Sound of change– 1 Kings 18:41- “Then Elijah said to Ahab “Go up and eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” In Chapter 17 of 1 Kings, Elijah had proclaimed a drought-“As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” King Ahab had provoked God by leading Israel deeper into idol worship and other pagan practices. God wanted to draw His children back to Him, and instructed Elijah to declare a drought to get their attention. After three years of drought, God told Elijah to challenge the prophets of Baal (false god) on Mt. Carmel, to see whose god would answer by fire and consume the sacrifice presented. Of course Baal could not answer, but the God of Elijah answered the challenge with fire. The fire came and consumed the sacrifice and the altar, after both the altar and the sacrifice had been soaked with water, so precious during the drought. The people were shaken to return to the One True God, and then killed the 400 prophets of Baal. To emphasize the conclusion of the matter, Elijah then heard the sound of the abundance of rain. Elijah prophesied the beginning of the drought, and now it was time for the drought to end. Verse 45-46- “The sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”
Elijah heard the supernatural sound of rain before there was rain. He spoke of the coming rain while still in the midst of a drought. Elijah may have been the only one who heard the supernatural sound from heaven. He then held a contrary view, a view that would change the circumstances (rain), instead of reporting on the existing circumstances (drought). This is not unusual for a believer who hears the sounds from heaven. Noah built an ark before the people ever heard of rain. He had a different word or sound to follow—one from God.
3. Sound of power-Acts 2:1-4- “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Everyone heard the sound of the violent wind, and everyone felt the power of the Holy Spirit invade the room, as symbolized by the fire that appeared on each head. God used this powerful sound to accompany His powerful work. He fulfilled His promise of the Holy Spirit to not only those gathered that day, but ultimately to all who believed in Him until He returns. Jesus had now been glorified, and the Holy Spirit was forever released into the earth.
While everyone in the room heard the sound that day, many today do not hear the sound of the Holy Spirit. Many in the church today teach that the Holy Spirit no longer operates in the earth. Others ignore the Holy Spirit because they do not understand and perhaps even fear the Holy Spirit. When Jesus said many have ears, but do not hear (Mark 8:18), He was including the sounds of Heaven and the Holy Spirit. Jeremiah Chapter 5 and Isaiah Chapter 6 also speak of this problem. To cooperate with and have power from the Holy Spirit, we must earnestly desire to hear the sounds from Heaven. Then we must listen intently, and respond immediately, even if we are the only one who heard the sound. When we ask if anyone else heard the sound, we must not let their negative answer dissuade us from faith and action on what we heard.
On our last ministry trip to Kenya, the country was stricken by severe drought. The national news spoke daily of the debate in Parliament over the import of corn to feed the nation. In two different towns, my wife heard a sound from Heaven that she should publicly declare rain was coming as a sign. In the first town, the rains began to come that very evening. In the second town, where the drought was even worse, the rains came about a week after we left. She is open to hear from Heaven, heard the voice of God, and delivered the message publicly. God delivered on His promise to the people as a sign of power and encouragement. Months later we are still receiving messages from the local pastors of the profound spiritual effect in their town. God sends these supernatural sounds with a purpose and power all their own, and we must not let them go unheard. The sounds from Heaven cause change, give hope where there is none, and give victory where defeat seems imminent. Pray our ears will be open to the sounds of Heaven, and act boldly on them even if we are the only one to make a move.
