Dean Mitchum:
The Elijah List
Proverbs 25:2 tells us that God likes to hide things, and that is His glory. We get to discover things, and that is our glory. He leaves hints and trails that lead us to the discovery of divine matters and plans for His next move. You can't get to the next move without going to Him.
Right now, the Church is experiencing a great reformation, and worship is being reformed as well. Understanding the Tabernacle of God, from Revelation 21:3, is the key to discovering that next dimension as well as the result of the reformation itself.
The Tabernacle of David is the framework from which we will discover this next dimension, and God is calling forth a new army of worshipers who are willing to join Him in this season of discovery.
Over twenty years ago, while leading worship in the Charismatic movement, I began to experience some divine discontentment. The way we were doing worship just wasn't hitting the mark. I did all the things that we were taught regarding worship, but still it felt like we came up short.
It slowly occurred to me that we were in the same predicament as the early Church of Acts, chapter 15.
We preached that God was restoring the tabernacle of David, yet we continued to use the pattern of Moses in worship. This divine discontentment caused me to seek the Scriptures, which led me to chapter 10 of Hebrews.
(Photo via SXC by Sias van Schalkwyk)
Hebrews 10 explains that Jesus is the veil of flesh, and we are to boldly approach God though Christ. The pattern of atonement found in Moses' tabernacle was not to be used as a pattern for worship. The pattern for worship would be compared to the tabernacle of David.
With this revelation, I could then be free from working my way behind a veil that didn't exist or worshiping with a pre-atonement fear of acceptance. The divine discontentment was resolved once I began to worship after the new pattern.
We are at such a place again: Divine discontentments and distractions are occurring in order that they might prepare us for change.
Bishop Bill Hamon has declared for several years that we are in the Third and Final Apostolic Reformation. This move is not just a wind or refreshing but a reformation. A form to come out of the form that is. A time where God is changing what is to what will be.
Church history reminds us that whenever a major change happens, music or worship adapts to incorporate those changes, either through practice, doctrine, or message.
When I heard this message along with the Third Day message, I starting praying about the changes in worship and seeking God for direction. Would there be a third tabernacle pattern for worship?
We had experienced the tabernacle of Moses as the first tabernacle. Moving through the outer courts, inner courts, and the holy of holies worship to the tabernacle of David, the second tabernacle. Experiencing worship without a veil, courts, or holy of holies. This transition has taken place for the modern Church over the last 40-50 years or so.
In my quest for direction, the Lord showed me a verse in the book of Revelation. Revelation 21:3 says: "And I heard a loud voice from Heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."
This passage describes the third tabernacle: the next pattern for worship, a new revelation or understanding of worship. This verse is referring to the City/Kingdom of God, a place where God is. In this place, no symbolism or substitute for Him is needed, because He is there.
The tabernacle of Moses kept us separated from God by a veil. The tabernacle of David brought us into the presence of God without a veil, and the tabernacle of God is bringing God's presence fully into man.
The Scriptures say that God has restored the tabernacle of David (see Acts 15:16). The interesting thing about this Scripture is that David worshipped God in a way that we would after the new covenant was established.
The prophetic nature in the tabernacle of David is amazing. Not only did he worship in a future manner, but he prophesied the coming Messiah. He demonstrated a pattern of relationship in worship that was to come. He reached into a new dimension where Christ would have come, and he brought that to the generations of his day.
(Photo via SXC by Dorothy Brucks)
This is why the Bible declares David's tabernacle as the pattern for New Testament worship. He was a forerunner. He looked into a future dimension and brought it to the present, long before it took hold.
Discovering the next dimension of worship is our responsibility as prophetic people. We can prepare for worship in the Third Reformation by looking to Scripture and hearing the voice of God. We should begin to worship as if God has already come.
Worship with a longing and a satisfaction at the same time. He has completely given Himself to us. All of His goodness, grace, glory, and power without holding back.
We should worship in a way that removes every distraction and item that takes the place of the presence of God and the preeminence of Christ.
Transitioning From the Tabernacle of David To The Tabernacle of God
We are poised for a dimensional transition, and this verse helps us realize the direction we are heading.
Zechariah prophesied:
"The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah.
"In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them" (Zechariah 12:7-8).
What a powerful Scripture of transition and dimensional change. Every existing level is poised for the next dimension, to move us from the tabernacle of David to the tabernacle of God. All the revelation and understanding of this is yet to be revealed, but the call going forth is for us to discover what He wants to do.
(Photo via SXC by Jen Thomas)
One morning, to no credit of my own study, this verse popped up on my Bible app (Thanks,YouVersion):
"Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of His great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing" (Isaiah 40:26 NLT).
God is calling the army of stars to shine with His light in this next reformation.
He is calling them forth one by one. He knows their name, and not one of them will be missing. Trust that God knows where to put you and you will not miss out. This is the time to answer the call and accept the responsibility of discovering the next dimension of worship. This call is not for one person to discover but for all who connect with this call.
God is commissioning an entire generation of worshipers for an expedition of discovery – a new prophetic season where multitudes will experience the presence of God in ways they have never known – where we will write the songs of where we are going, sing what we are seeing, and do what we are declaring.
Discovery will not come from our decision but from our encounter with God. The new sound will not come from our playing but from the way we play having been transformed by God.
We will worship for future outcomes. This is the anointing of the prophetic: To see where God is going and act as if we have already been there. This is faith.
Answer the call of discovery and demonstrate that God is with us now. Emmanuel. Who was, and is, and is to come.
Dean Mitchum
Christian International Ministries
Christian International Ministries
Dean Mitchum is a proven prophetic worship leader, psalmist, and teacher. Having been the worship pastor and director of worship ministries for Dr. Bill Hamon for the last 17 years, he has taught thousands the understanding and implementation of prophetic and apostolic worship.
Dean serves as worship leader for Pastors Tom and Jane Hamon at Vision Church @ Christian International. He is the author of Prophetic Worship 101 and Apostolic Kingdom Praise, which has been published in several languages. Dean has recorded 16 worship albums, four prophetic instrumental albums, and recently published a songwriter's course on how to master the process of writing great worship songs. Dean and his wife Lisa have written over 100 songs, many of which are sung in churches around the world. Dean and Lisa have been married for thirty years and have five children and three grandchildren.
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