MhAX Blog with Nick Costello
Evangelist, youth communicator, school assembly speaker, seminar and conference speaker Nick Costello tackles issues facing youth and young adults.
Nick Costello has experienced the glamorous rock star life millions of teens only dream about. Success didn't fulfill his search for inner peace, security and purpose in life. His bad attitude and fast lane lifestyle of sex, drugs, rock and roll nearly destroyed him. One night, Nick surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. God miraculously redeemed and transformed his life.
Today, he ministers as an evangelist, youth communicator, school assembly speaker, seminar and conference speaker. He's calling christians of all ages to an uncompromising walk of obedience to Christ. In public schools, he's equipping kids to make healthy, right life choices. Respected leaders say he's a "dynamic, relevant, passionate, challenging, inspiring communicator!
Visit Nick's website
Is All Music Evil?
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- Published on Monday, 18 June 2012 16:33
- Written by Nick Costello
Is music itself evil? I don't believe the Bible teaches the creative art form we call music is evil, nor does God tell us any musical instrument is evil. What is evil is the fruit an instrument produces in the hands of it's user. Does God have a favorite style of music? The Bible is silent on this issue. God may like jazz, rap, or the blues styles. No one knows. Again, don't believe any style of music is evil in itself. What's evil is the message being expressed and the spirit behind it. God has his music. Satan has his music too! God's music boasts biblical principles, encourages godly living, shouts of God's greatness. It draws people to God and the things of God. Satan's music boasts messages from hell itself, his evil and wickedness. It encourages unhealthy, ungodly living an thinking. It draws people to everything he offers which is full of poison to you heart and mind. I am not talking about music that is 'neutral'. It's simply morally good and wholesome. I am talking about music that blatantly promotes the devil's kingdom principles and beliefs. What does God call evil, wicked and ungodly? Read Matthew 15:18-20, Galatians 5:19-21 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5. They list some of the things God hates like: hate, witchcraft, jealousy, murder, anger, violence, slander, drunkenness, sexual sins of all kinds and so much more. All of it is represented in much of today's many styles of music and entertainments. It's full of the darkenss God hates. Paul warns in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to "avoid every kind of evil." In 2 Timothy 3:5 God says stay away from anyone who practices these evil things. Don't even associate with them. If you are a Christian I ask you, when you listen to your music... what kind of people do you associate with? Are you avoiding the evil God hates in your music? Satan knows when you listen to music full of the things God hates, he has your attention. Once he has your attention, he can pour his poison into you. He isn't worried if you go to heaven. What he cares about is getting your heart and mind off of the things of God and onto what he offers. Then, he can slowly lure you away from God, get you to buy into what he offers and get you to sin. In fact, when you listen to music full of the evil god hates, you are disobeying God, grieving the Holy Spirit and sinning against God. God still loves you but he hates your ungodly music. Too many christian teens today, praise Jesus in worship during church which gives glory and honor to God. Then, they walk out the door and listen to music inspired by the devil which gives glory and honor to him. Is that you? Does the devil have a ground of entrance into your heart and mind through your music? Does your music give glory and honor to God or Satan? What kingdom does your music promote? Does your music please or displease God? God loves you, but is it possible he hates your music because it represents Satan's kingdom? You can be heaven bound. But my Christian friends, what you allow into your life can make the way there pretty rough. If you listen to music that you know grieves the heart of God and is full of the evil, wickedness and ungodliness God hates, shut the door of your heart and mind to it NOW! Say NO to the devil and his music. Be sold-out to God and worship him alone. Stay tuned for more on this issue.
Why Does Music Exist
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- Published on Tuesday, 08 May 2012 09:25
- Written by Nick Costello
Do you know what the Bible says about music and its purpose for existing Do you know where music came from? Music is perhaps one of the most powerful communication tools. The Bible tells us music was present from the beginning of creation. In Job 38:4-7, God challenges Job, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations - while the morning stars sang together?" Morning stars refers to angels. They were singing. It was good, clean, godly music. "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." (Gen. 1:31 NIV) This included music. I believe when God was creating the universe there was a praise and worship celebration with angels singing. Who was the worship leader? Ezekiel reveals it was Lucifer, one of the three angels closest to God in heaven. God describes Lucifer as beautiful, perfect, "The workmanship of thy tabrets and pipes wast prepared in thee on the day thou wast created." (Ezek. 28:14 KJV) Tabrets and pipes are musical instruments. Lucifer could compose and play music with or through his body which had musical instruments built into it. Read it for yourself! He could lead the angelic worship choir praising God as he was creating. Maybe it went something like this. God spoke, "Let there be light." Light bursts forth. Galaxies, sun, moon and stars appear. The Lucifer led choir sings, "Our God, is an awesome God he reigns, holy is his name, we exalt you O Lord!" Read Revelation and Psalms. You'll gain wonderful insights about the true expression of praise and worship to God. I believe it was loud, energetic and exciting music. Remember, when God finished his creation work he said everything was very good. Music glorifying and honoring God was very good, too. The Bible draws us to conclude Lucifer knows all about music, could write music, could influence music and understood its power to communicate a message. Lucifer was an amazing one man music making machine. But, what happened next changed all creation and mankind forever. Isaiah 14 tells us there was a bad war in heaven. Lucifer rebelled against God, was defeated and cast down to earth. He lost the battle, lost his place in heaven, lost his name and became Satan or the devil. Evil consumed his heart. Satan is now the mastermind behind all the evil and wickedness in the world today. No longer was everything good. Satan became rotten on the inside and his evil influence can be seen everywhere, including in music and entertainments. He's committed to corrupting everything good God created, including music. Stay tuned because in my next article we will ask the question, "Is all music evil?"
Three Champions For God
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- Published on Sunday, 15 April 2012 14:11
- Written by Nick Costello
God reveals to you and me in Daniel Chapter 3, Satan can use music to influence or lure God's people away from worshiping God. Let's follow the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, three young believers and champions for God. You will learn some valuable life lessons and be inspired to be a sold-out worshiper of God.
Read Daniel Chapter 3. King Nebuchadnezzar made a monster, gold image or idol representing his evil kingdom and all his accomplishments. It was a fake, false god. He commands everyone, everywhere to attend this huge worship celebration. The king orders that when everyone hears the sound of the music, they're to bow down and worship the statue representing the king and his kingdom. "When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down will be thrown into the blazing furnace." (Daniel 3) Anyone who refuses will be fried up in the blazing furnace and die. The band plays and everyone falls down and bows to the statue. No one is standing except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The king freaks out as they defied his command. He confronts the 3 champions and they tell the king they will never bow down to any other God but the God Of The Universe, Jehovah God Almighty.
Have you made that decision today or do you bow down before some other God? Maybe your God is astrology, drugs, alcohol, the occult, sex, a job, your music, something that you put before the Lord God.
The king gives them another chance and again the defy the king and are thrown into the blazing furnace. Miraculously, the Lord meets them in the furnace and rescues them. hen the king sees the miracle, he becomes a believer in their God. What an amazing and inspirational story of God's faithfulness to those who honor him with their lives. Are you honoring God with your life?
This is a favorite Bible story told in churches everywhere. But we miss something very important to Christian young people today. Music played a major role in this celebration. Follow me as I take you on a long journey in the next year and look at music in the Bible.
Do you know what the Bible says about music and it's purpose for existing? Do you ever wonder where music came from? Have you ever wondered why so much of today's music is full of evil content God hates? Have you ever considered what both God and Satan think about your music?
When God created the universe, music was present. God speaks to Job saying, "Where were you when i laid the foundations of the earth's foundations. On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4) Morning stars refers to angels. They were singing. it was good music. After God created the universe he said, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." (Gen. 1:31) There was nothing in the world that was evil. Everything was absolutely perfect and good, including music. It was pure and excellent in every way. I believe as God was creating the universe the angels were conducting a praise and worship service to God. Music was created originally by God, to bring glory, honor and praise to God.
What happened? How did music that was good become bad and corrupted? Tune in next month as we look deeper into how music became evil. Read Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14.
