Taking Prophetic Music Down The Path Less Travelled
(as published in “Agape” magazine, following an interview with Shoba Sadler)
Clocking 50 countries now where he has ministered, Steve Lincoln has seen the vision God gave him 37 years ago come to pass.
He was 15 years old at the time and alone in his bedroom lighted only by some candles. He was in deep contemplation over what the Youth Pastor of his best friend’s church had told him that day about Jesus Christ and the reason for his faith.
Steve had been on a journey in his life, seeking truth and meaning. This road had taken him through some dangerous doors – trying drugs, alcohol and the occult to try and find his answers.
“I had been asked to this church only because my best friend’s father was the pastor there and he had asked me many times to go along to their youth group. When I first visited, I was determined to scare everyone with my Satanic regalia so my friend would stop inviting me to his church.
“I went dressed in an Iron Maiden t-shirt and a denim jacket with patches of heavy metal bands, studs and chains on. I had long hair and the chain around my neck bore a pentagram. I did not hide the fact that I was interested in the occult. I knew enough about Christians to know they didn’t want people like me in their church.
“To my surprise everyone was friendly and made me feel welcome. They accepted me. They were mostly a gang of kids hanging out together, having a Bible study, listening to Christian music, talking and playing games.” Steve recalled the events leading to his conversion. This led to the chat with the Youth Pastor and that night Steve was determined to find out if this God the Pastor spoke of was real.
Alone in his bedroom, in the dark, except for a few candles and his Dad’s King James Bible, he closed his eyes and asked God if He existed. God spoke to him and told him to stand up. Steve obeyed. God then directed him to look behind him. He did and there was nothing there. When he turned back, he saw a vision of a sports arena filled with people from many nations wearing their traditional clothes.
Then he saw the cross and heard God say “I love you. I’ve done this for you. I’m calling you as a prophet to the nations.”
Steve then accepted Jesus Christ into his heart right there in his bedroom, with absolutely no idea of what God meant by “a prophet to the nations”, but Steve knew that this was real and that God had called him to walk a road with Him.
The next morning he took all his occult books, tarot cards, Ouija board, satanic music, drugs and anything at all he felt was part of the occult and a hindrance to his walk with God and threw them into a bonfire at the back of his house. He has never looked back since.
That vision in Steve’s bedroom has come to pass many times over in his life. He has taken the gospel all over the world, ministering through prophecy, healing ministry, prophetic music and teaching.
Prophetic music is very different from mainstream gospel music such as Hillsong or Bethel. It is Holy Spirit-led music, expressing God’s heart to the people. It may not sound as structured as mainstream gospel music but that is because it is engaging the heart more than just the mind and outward expression of worship. It is great as soaking music while listening to it alone in prayer.
When Steve is speaking at a conference for more than one day he likes to bring in the drums as a way to introduce people into Spirit-led worship. He would have a drum circle session where a group of people would sit in a circle with djembes in front of them. It did not matter if they never played before. They simply follow Steve’s lead. This helps them drop any inhibitions and allows Steve to minister to them.
Steve has also ministered in many non-Christian settings, such as New Age fairs, music festivals and as a guest speaker, using these doors to minister God’s love and truth to those who do not know Him.
In April 2020, Steve was featured in the new song ‘Circle Me Lord’ released from the album “Heaven’s Open”, which is the first album by True Light (True Light is a prophetic worship trio comprised of Steve on vocals and drums, Ant on keyboards and Ruth on vocals). They had been planning to release this song later in the year, however due to the immense fear gripping society as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Steve and the other band members decided to release that song from the album earlier than the album’s release date, which is set for October.
“’Circle Me Lord’ is based on an old Celtic blessing or prayer,” said Steve. “Basically a prayer for God’s presence and protection. We wanted the song to minister to people who were afraid and let them feel the peace of God.”
“I get invited to speak at a lot of conferences and churches in affluent nations, but my heart is very much for the underdog. I love to go off the beaten track and simply let the Holy Spirit lead me to the people He wants me to minister to rather than in an organized setting. I love to visit tribal villages in Africa, Native Americans in the USA and Aboriginal communities in Australia because these people usually cannot afford to pay to attend conferences. Neither do popular ministers of the gospel often visit these places,” said Steve.
It was precisely off the beaten track that Steve witnessed this miracle in a township called Khayelitsha in Cape Town. He had been preaching in a church in a large tin shed with a corrugated iron roof and it was a sweltering hot day. The miracle took place outside the confines of the church, unexpectedly and on the street.
“I love the warmth of the beautiful people, but the African sun inside a tin building is something quite different! So, after I had preached the message and was about to start praying for people, I decided that I needed a little breather, so I stepped outside for a few minutes.
“Whilst outside, I saw a lady who was sitting nearby, and the Lord told me to go and offer to pray for her. It turned out she was a dressmaker and was helping other ladies in the township to make clothes, and she was blind in one eye.
“As I spoke with her I could see that the eye was glass, and she started to cry saying her one good eye had started to hurt recently and she was afraid that she would also go blind in that eye. I asked if she wanted me to pray for her, and she said that she would love God to heal her.
“I started to pray, and God told me to keep my eyes open and watch her glass eye as I prayed. While I was praying I saw a vision. I saw a room in heaven with body parts such as feet, legs, arms and hands. They were not covered in blood. Instead there was an aura of silver light around them, making them glow.
“I also saw cupboards with internal organs such as livers and kidneys and another cupboard was labelled “EYES”. I saw the Lord Jesus open that cupboard. In them were eyes of different shapes and colours. He picked one and looked downwards, as if He were looking at me and this dressmaker. I then saw her glass eye change in front of me! It began to glow and then her glass eye disappeared and in its place was a REAL eye!
“She just stood, mouth wide, looking straight ahead. Then she began jumping up and down, saying ‘No pain, no pain. I can see through both eyes again! Jesus, Jesus!’.”
“We were only expecting God to heal her good eye because it was hurting. I don’t think either of us expected Him to restore the glass eye!
“As Ephesians 3:20 says, ‘He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ever ask or think’. Since that day I have seen God do creative miracles including forming hands, feet, eyes and ears where they were either missing or damaged through accidents or birth defects, and He has shown me many of His other Heavenly cupboards. God is amazing!!!”
It is following God “off the beaten tracks” that takes Steve to some of the greatest miracles he has witnessed because he allows the Holy Spirit to have His way without any planned schedule. Now God is taking Steve on another new and exciting journey as he launches his podcast called ‘Access Granted’. It will be a podcast where Steve shares his teaching, testimonies and music, other Christians share their own testimonies and their journey with God and Steve prays for the sick and for those wanting to experience more of God.
For further information on ‘Access Granted’ go to the Facebook page.