The POWER of Music

TAKE HEED HOW YOU HEAR!

 "Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have." Luke 8:18

"If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given." Mark 4:23-24

Jesus places an importance on hearing. Mainly on hearing the Word of God, what the Spirit is saying to the Church, but in essence regarding ALL things!

• For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. Matt 13:15-16
• I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Ps 101:3
• Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Ps 141:3
• A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. Prov 17:4

!!!TAKE HEED!!!

The other day my wife was listening to "Christian" radio at work (The Joy fm). Her boss happened to come over to the desk and overheard the music that was playing, and he asked, "You're listening to secular music now?" She said "No" that it was a Christian singer named Bryan Duncan. He said if he's a "Christian" why is he singing a "Beatles" song? A legit question: The world wants to know why "Christians" are singing "Jesus-haters" songs? I wonder IF God is pleased with Bryan Duncan's remake of a Beatles song? It's like we're telling the world, whatever you're serving the devil with, we got in Christianity. If you listen to Rock, we got "Christian" Rock. If you listen to Rap, we got "Christian" Rap. You don't really have to give anything up to follow Jesus, you just conform and adapt to Christianity; pick anything you want or don't want; the gate is broad.

I hope by the end of this Bible Study we will get a sound doctrine regarding the nature of music!

Also, I've had several good Christian friends who loved Jesus a lot; but when confronted with this issue regarding "Music", they rejected truth from the Scriptures, and now are currently "backslid." I'm not going to say music alone was the reason or source to why they backslid, but without a doubt music played strong part and was an influence that helped them to backslide! So even IF you don't agree, please hear me out for their sakes!

Quicken us according unto your Word O' God!

I write this study to you out of concern for your souls! It is not a legalistic attack on anyone personally, but towards exposing the devices of the devil which have been literally taking Christians captive at his will! God warns us to guard our heart with ALL DILIGENCE for out of it ARE the issues of life! (Proverbs 4:23) The eye and ear gates absorb what it is exposed to, into your spirit man quicker than anything else! And with the dangers of "what comes out is what you put in," we need to wake up and set ourselves to be watchmen over those gates!

This topic of "Music" may not be seem to be a significant issue to do a study on for you, but in all reality it is a very important subject to understand when you take into consideration that many people:

• Sleep listening to it
• Wake up listening to it
• Drive listening to it
• Work listening to it
• Play listening to it
• Clean house, shower, work out, and do homework listening to it!
• It's on tapes, C.d.'s, Videos, Movies, Computers, Play Station, Ninetindo Games, etc, etc

It's everywhere you turn! IT IS A DRIVING FORCE to be reckoned with!!! It is NO light issue and should be taken seriously!

To the Christian, those types of music should be obvious that it is wrong! But it's regarding the wolves in "Sheep's" clothing that is my target: "Christianized" Rock, "Christianized" Rap.

One simple question I would ask anyone who disagrees with this Bible study is:

"Why do Christians want a need a substitute ANYWAY?"

"Christian Rock, Christian Rap"

How do you take that which is offered to devils, and offer it to God?

• "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?" 1 Corinthians 10:20-22
• "They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation." Deuteronomy 32:16-21

"Rock" and "Rap" was not born from the Spirit of God, but from the spirit of this world and it centers around the theme of "REBELLION!" So in all reality, "How do you take that which is offered to devils, and offer and conform it into that which is acceptable to God?" "Christian Rock", "Christian Rap" is like taking a blind or maimed sacrifice to God! (Malachi 1:8)

• Romans 12:1-2 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world (ROCK, RAP or anything else): but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
• And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph 5:11
• And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:16-18

It is sin to imitate the heathen! We are to imitate Jesus!!! That's why we are called "CHRISTians!" "Christ-like"

• "But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel." II Ki 16:3 (The Lord cast the heathen and their practices from before the children of Israel, but Israel went back after them! And Christians whom God has delivered the powers of darkness and translated them into the kingdom, want to pick back up the things that God has separated them from! Israel had no business being like nor wanting to be like the heathen; God is to be the all sufficient one in our lives and every time they did, it got in trouble! Just read through 2 Kings and read for yourself what happened every time a king would arise who didn't destroy all of the images, gods, and high places of the wicked kings that preceded them. Interesting note to keep in mind: It has been stated by secular musicians who REALLY got saved, that when they got saved, they didn't want "Christian" Rock, because it was too much like what they just got delivered from; it disgusted them!)

• II Ki 17:7-17 "For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."

Do our hearts yearn for the FLESH-pots of Egypt that much? It's like we're saying, "We gave up those styles of music when we came to Jesus and we can't have them so we'll "Christianize" Rock and Rap music, we'll still go to Church and claim that we're walking in the newness of life, but we'll revert to the lusts of the old man, which are suppose to be dead, nailed to the other side of the cross!"

Many people don't seem to be unaware that God didn't create a "devil." God created a perfect, holy angel named "Lucifer" who sinned against God on his own will and volition, turning himself into our adversary, the devil! Before Lucifer turned evil, he was in charge of the worship in heaven, he was the chief musician. He was CREATED WITH "tabrets" and "pipes" IN him! Ezekiel 28:13-19

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

So the devil is NO stranger when it comes to music, he knows the real meaning why God made music and would seek to pervert it because he wants to have the worship that belongs to God alone! See Isaiah 14:12-16

Lyrics always enhances the power of deception, but just in music alone the Bible is clear regarding it's supernatural power!

WITHOUT WORDS:

We can worship and praise God without even saying a word. For example, let's look at the musical instrument known as the "harp."

• Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Ps 43:4
• I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Ps 49:4
• Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Ps 147:7

WITH WORDS:

• 2 Chronicles 20:17-22 "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten."

EITHER WAY, IT'S SPIRITUAL AND IT'S SUPERNATURAL!

• elisha II Ki 3:14-15 "And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
• saul 1 Sam 10:5-13 "After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. (Interesting note: It has been stated by numerous "Rock stars" that when they stepped on stage, something else took over, and it was themselves) And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place."
• David and saul 1 Sam 16:14-23 "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."

There IS power music! One sure way to tell how healthy a society is, is to hear what type of music it is producing! Now stop for a moment and consider what is out there today. Are you having problems with your kids? You would be wise to check out what they are LISTENING TO and WATCHING!!! Music reflects the atmosphere we live in.  It helps to breed, shape and mold the next generation, there IS power in music!

• "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." Lev 10:1-3

Israel was forbidden, even in the simplest things not to:

• Sow different kinds of seed in the same field or vineyard. (Lev 19:19; Dt 22:9)
• Wear garments made of mixed threads - wool and linen (Lev 19:19; Dt 22:11
• Plow with an ox and a donkey together (Dt 22:10)

All of these things sound weird to us, and we're are not under the Old Covenant, but God said it for a reason, so obviously there's some value to what God said without being "legalistic." God didn't sporadically utter nonsense! We know of spiritual applications that the Apostle Paul defined in the New Covenant which were physical applications to Old Covenant people, such as: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." 1 Cor 10:4-6 I can honestly say that If Paul didn't say, "that Rock was Christ", I would have not put 2 and 2 together from reading that Old Testament account of the Rock following them. The verse goes on to say however, "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. So as ridiculous, silly or insignificant as the above 3 verses may appear to us, there is very valuable significance to us to take heed to! Now the purpose for not being mixed with other lifestyles other than what God has called us to live in, is found in Deut 7:4-6

• "For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people (Not like unto) that are upon the face of the earth." Compare 1 Peter 2:9

Paul, like Jesus, taught "leaven" and "unleavened" bread. In 1 Corinthians 5:5-13, Paul is correcting and commanding "Christian" principles. Regarding fornication, specifically a person who was discovered engaging in sexual intercourse with his father's wife, Paul writes:

• "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out (The Old man, his practices, his lusts and desires!) therefore the old leaven, (Conformity to heathen practices) that ye may be a new lump (IF any man be in Christ Jesus he is a NEW creature: old things ARE passed away, behold ALL things are become NEW 2 Cor 5:17), as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; (ANYTHING that what of the OLD nature!!!) but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, (How are we going to win the world IF we are just like the world!) or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; (A "Christian". A brother, who is trying to drag the OLD man into the Christian lifestyle! Jesus didn't come to make the Old man reformed, rejuvenated, or better! Jesus came to make a New man, Old things being past away, over and done with; not to take baggage through the cross!!!) with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

Though the Bible doesn't specifically say, "Rock and Rap are bad," there are true principals found in the Bible to guide every issue of our life, even in the 21^st Century! He that hath ears to hear, let him or let him forbear! 

This is probably the most frightening, "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" 1 Cor 14:8 Whether you know it or not. "Christian Rock and Rap" artists are nothing more than prophets leading people into a particular direction. What kind of "prophets" though, is yet to be established. But one thing is for sure, that they're are leading people who want to be like "them" and idolize "them", instead of Him!

I've observed these artists, radio stations, Christian television; and quite bluntly, I don't hear the cry of the Spirit, the sound of the trumpet in the mouths of the majority of them! They are not preparing us to live godly in Christ Jesus, Christ-like! They are transforming us to the same lusts of the world and calling it "Christian!" From Rock, Rap to money, etc. We've "Christianized" everything to the point that I really would not be surprised when one day we have "Christian Bartenders" and "Christian Prostitutes!" An old time preacher once said, "that the Church used to infect the world, now the world is infecting the Church!" So IF the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, If preachers and prophets give an uncertain sound, who will be prepared for the time to come? And IF the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the spirit says to the church.

"It's reaching millions!" This is the strongest view that Christians claim for advocating Rock and Rap music as "an evangelistic tool!" Ironically this is the weakest statement for an excuse to try and have the best of both worlds! It absolutely doesn't hold water compared to New Testament living established in Holy Writ! Jesus told the disciples "to tarry at Jerusalem" and come up with all kinds of hooks, lines and sinkers, tricks and gadgets to reach those who didn't know Him as Messiah! NO! He told them to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high! The Holy Ghost was to empower them to be a witness! He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment to come! He uses "The Word", just as Jesus quoted "The Word!" "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1 Cor 1:21 "All these kinds of entertainment to draw people in is the wisdom of men, not the wisdom of God! The Word of God is clear regarding WHAT is to be our evangelistic tool:

• For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; (And to some supposed "Christians" also!) but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor 1:18
• And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. John 12:32-33
• For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Cor 2:2

It's no longer the love from "The Cross" to draw people in, it has got to be the compromises. It's false "Love" without the cross! Just take a look around you today in modern America alone; if something exciting isn't happening, if people aren't dancing, if the preaching isn't dynamic, the people will not come! We can't just sit at Jesus' feet, worship and learn. We've got to be hyped up and simulated to appear as though God is in the midst of us! It's been proven time and time again, IF they don't come for the cross, they will not come at all for the real Jesus! And when good times stop, and the music stops, they'll fall away, because they didn't come to take up a cross to begin with! And so as "evangelistic" as it may appear, and there are multitudes attending, But if they don't come to and through the cross to BEGIN with, they are deceived, and need to get saved!

It may not please everyone's flavor of music, but Jesus is ultimately our best example to follow! We have a reference speaking of the 12 Apostles and Jesus in Mark 14:26 saying, "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." Moreover, God said in Zeph 3:17 "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." I don't know about you, but when I see most of these "Christian" Rock and Rap stars, I really can't see Jesus in the comparison of the two. I can't see Jesus in skin-tight spandex, banging His head, with fireworks going off, ripping a guitar.

Ps 100:2-5 say, "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.(Our God IS a consuming fire! He's not your "Homey!" He's the Lord God, the Almighty) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; (This is where the road divides, we ought to please God rather than man! "Christian Rock" and "Christian Rap" is nothing more than New Age deception! Instead of changing God into images of "Golden calves", they've made "Golden Jesus'." Go God's way!) we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

"Worship" is the heart of God! If it comes out in a rhyme, that's all right, but it's the whole personification that comes along with "Rap" and "Rock" and that "Death Christian metal" displays! It's the same hard attitude the world fronts! Go to your Christian bookstore and take a little time to look at the covers of the C.D.'s in the Rock, Rap, Heavy Metal, Death Metal & Alternative sections. You'll see sacrilege, idols & blasphemy! You'll see people fronting like there are ALL that, posing as if they were hardcore bad! Read some of the titles and sample some of the lyrics; let me know what you think.

There's lot of songs ABOUT Jesus, but we need to sing TO Jesus

• "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;" Eph 5:19
• "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Col 3:16

"The book of Revelation gives us some insight on songs that will be sung in heaven. I wonder IF this so-called "Christian Rock" and "Christian Rap" will be any of those songs? I didn't read of Jesus beat-boxing in heaven with a microphone, His hat turned to the side and a gold chain around His neck saying "Yo, waaaazzzzzuuuup." So IF they will not have a place in heaven, why do we give them place in our heart?" SELAH

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