Lord I want to thank you for what you have done
for me. Thank you for saving me from my
sins and making me your son. Lord help
me to be a music minister who sings with reverence and joy on the inside and on
the outside. Please help me to lead
others in musicing unto you in a way that will cause them to truly worship
you. Please help me so that my music
ministry will never become mundane.
These petitions I am praying in your wonderful name. Amen.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Singing Praises with Gladness
Singing
Praises with Gladness
IIChronicles 29:309b states, “And they sang praises with Gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.”
The word gladness is derived from the Hebrew word simekah (8057) which means that they sang with exceeding joyfulness or glee. The chief musician led the singing of praises to Jehovah with great joy in his heart. Do you lead the praise music with a smile on your face and great thankfulness in your heart that produces a happy expression on your countenance?
The reason that the chief musician sang with exceeding joy was that he was remembering what God had done for Israel. As he remembered, gladness poured over his soul and he expressed his thankfulness with great gladness. The children of Israel expressed great glee because they were expressing real worship of Jehovah.
The Hebrew word shachah (7812), which was translated worshipped here, means to prostrate oneself or to do obeisance or reverence to God. We should never lose the wonder of God’s grace that has been extended to us. We should remember often that we are saved by grace and grace alone. Israel was looking forward to the blood of Christ being shed for our sins.
Israel worshiped in types and shadows, but we worship in the joy of the perfect covenant. Have you recently prostrated yourself before God in musical Worship? When we truly prostrate our hearts before the blessed Trinity in musical worship we are not experiencing a “natural high”. We are remembering Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and we are worshiping God in “spirit and in truth”.
IIChronicles 29:309b states, “And they sang praises with Gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.”
The word gladness is derived from the Hebrew word simekah (8057) which means that they sang with exceeding joyfulness or glee. The chief musician led the singing of praises to Jehovah with great joy in his heart. Do you lead the praise music with a smile on your face and great thankfulness in your heart that produces a happy expression on your countenance?
The reason that the chief musician sang with exceeding joy was that he was remembering what God had done for Israel. As he remembered, gladness poured over his soul and he expressed his thankfulness with great gladness. The children of Israel expressed great glee because they were expressing real worship of Jehovah.
The Hebrew word shachah (7812), which was translated worshipped here, means to prostrate oneself or to do obeisance or reverence to God. We should never lose the wonder of God’s grace that has been extended to us. We should remember often that we are saved by grace and grace alone. Israel was looking forward to the blood of Christ being shed for our sins.
Israel worshiped in types and shadows, but we worship in the joy of the perfect covenant. Have you recently prostrated yourself before God in musical Worship? When we truly prostrate our hearts before the blessed Trinity in musical worship we are not experiencing a “natural high”. We are remembering Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and we are worshiping God in “spirit and in truth”.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Thought for the day--Depressed Musicians
Thought
for the day-Depressed Musicians
King Saul sought out a Godly musician that could
play beautiful music and play it skillfully to help him get out of his depressed
state.
Musicians Are Sometimes Depressed
Musicians
Are Sometimes Depressed
I Samuel 16:17 states, “And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.”
When God allowed the evil spirit to trouble Saul, the king sought out a musician who could play skillfully and beautifully (nagan yatab—5059, 3190). We know from this account that there was more involved in David’s playing mere performance. David was able to minister to the king because he was a cunning player of the harp (lyre, kinnore 3658).
Christian musicians who have had a long, broad, dedicated study of applied music are often prone to depression. They often wonder,”Why do I work so hard on perfecting my instrument, I’m not a professional concert musician?” Every Christian musician should remember that one does not have to be a great musician to be a useful musician in God’s eyes.
Do not let Satan make you think that you are not “good enough” to be used of God. Do not let the enemy of your soul depress and accuse you. It is a fact that the longer you study music the more you will realize just how much you do not know about it. However, you do not serve Jesus Christ with what you do not know but rather on what you do know. Also, remember that the Lord did not say Well done thou talented and accomplished servant but rather well done thou good and faithful servant.
I Samuel 16:17 states, “And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.”
When God allowed the evil spirit to trouble Saul, the king sought out a musician who could play skillfully and beautifully (nagan yatab—5059, 3190). We know from this account that there was more involved in David’s playing mere performance. David was able to minister to the king because he was a cunning player of the harp (lyre, kinnore 3658).
Christian musicians who have had a long, broad, dedicated study of applied music are often prone to depression. They often wonder,”Why do I work so hard on perfecting my instrument, I’m not a professional concert musician?” Every Christian musician should remember that one does not have to be a great musician to be a useful musician in God’s eyes.
Do not let Satan make you think that you are not “good enough” to be used of God. Do not let the enemy of your soul depress and accuse you. It is a fact that the longer you study music the more you will realize just how much you do not know about it. However, you do not serve Jesus Christ with what you do not know but rather on what you do know. Also, remember that the Lord did not say Well done thou talented and accomplished servant but rather well done thou good and faithful servant.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Song and thought for the day-Sounding Brass
Song for
the day—“Love divine all Loves
Excelling” by Charles Wesley
Thought
for the day-Sounding Brass
If we really love God, we will act. Real love is love in action. If I see that you are hurt one of my
grandchildren, I will take action because I really love them.
Ministry that is "Sounding Brass"
Ministry
that is Sounding Brass
I Corinthians 13:1 states, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angles, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol.
I Corinthians 13:1 states, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angles, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol.
The
sounding brass (echo chalkos-- 2278, 5475) was no doubt referring to a series
of hollow brass vases found in niches in Greek theaters. They were tuned chromatically to amplify the
actor’s and singer’s voices. However
these vases gave off an unnatural sound.
Likewise, the tinkling or clanging symbols (alalazo kumbalon—214, 2950)
produced a clanging hollow sound. So our
musical ministry, unless it is bathed in prayer, humility, and agape love is of
little effectiveness.
The
musician who makes the loudest noise is not necessarily the most spiritual or
effective music minister. Enthusiasm is
no substitute for the dunamis of the spirit.
Likewise, the most astute performer or director does not always have the
most efficacious music ministry. Church
musicians and worshipers in general want to be effectively led in worship. However, one must not only lead with skill
but also with spiritual passion. With the
power (dunamis) of the Holy Spirit, religious musicing becomes a hollow empty
musical offering.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Thought for the day-Seek God's Answer
Thought
for the day-Seek God’s Answer
Common sense should tell a Christian musician that one should look before he or she leaps. Wandering down a philosophical music path merely because it is “trendy” is dangerous. Wolf says, “know before you go”.
Common sense should tell a Christian musician that one should look before he or she leaps. Wandering down a philosophical music path merely because it is “trendy” is dangerous. Wolf says, “know before you go”.
Seek God's Answer
Seek God’s
Answer
Psalm 1:31 states, “LORD my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”
This psalm is a prayer of a musician. In the first part of the musician’s prayer he reminds Jehovah that, in his heart, he has not lifted himself up. In other words, this musician does not think more highly of himself than he ought to think. Put another way, he does not try to sell himself for more than he is worth! This musician was wise enough to know that it is God’s job to do the exalting.
Most musicians can truthfully say “neither do I exercise”. However this is not what the musician meant. He is merely reminding God that he does not exercise his thoughts on things that only God is able to understand. Strong’s states that the word translated exercise is the Hebrew word halak (1980) which is similar to yalak (3212) which means literally “to walk”. We know that the word halak is used here in a figurative sense. It means that this musician refuses to follow a philosophical hypothesis that cannot be supported or that he or she does not understand.
The psalmist refuses to have a haughty spirit that pretends to know things when they are in fact a mystery to him. He wisely admits that there are some mysteries in the Bible that, as he put it, “too high for me”. I am convinced that God honors an honest heart. If we as musicians do not understand some of the mysteries of the Bible we must seek God’s answer. James 1:5 reminds us all that, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Psalm 1:31 states, “LORD my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”
This psalm is a prayer of a musician. In the first part of the musician’s prayer he reminds Jehovah that, in his heart, he has not lifted himself up. In other words, this musician does not think more highly of himself than he ought to think. Put another way, he does not try to sell himself for more than he is worth! This musician was wise enough to know that it is God’s job to do the exalting.
Most musicians can truthfully say “neither do I exercise”. However this is not what the musician meant. He is merely reminding God that he does not exercise his thoughts on things that only God is able to understand. Strong’s states that the word translated exercise is the Hebrew word halak (1980) which is similar to yalak (3212) which means literally “to walk”. We know that the word halak is used here in a figurative sense. It means that this musician refuses to follow a philosophical hypothesis that cannot be supported or that he or she does not understand.
The psalmist refuses to have a haughty spirit that pretends to know things when they are in fact a mystery to him. He wisely admits that there are some mysteries in the Bible that, as he put it, “too high for me”. I am convinced that God honors an honest heart. If we as musicians do not understand some of the mysteries of the Bible we must seek God’s answer. James 1:5 reminds us all that, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Song and thought for the day-What are You thinking?
Song for
the day: “Jesus is the Joy of Living” by A.H. Ackley
Thought
for the day-What are You Thinking?
I believe that I have every right to be happy
because I am a child or the King!
Prayer, Song and Thought for the Day
Prayer
for the day-God Hears Us
LORD, I may not hear from You every day, but You
will hear from me every day. I want to
thank You in advance for hearing my sincere petition. I am looking “up” to You because You are
willing and able to answer my prayer.
LORD I pray that Your will be done in this matter. Help me to desire Your will instead of
mine. Thank you LORD for past prayers
you have heard and answered. Thank You
that You are concerned about my problems and perplexities. These things I pray in Your wonderful name. Amen.
Song for
the day-“Sweet Hour of Prayer”
by W. Walford
Thought
for the Day
When we bought our home we received the Deed, the
promise of title guarantee, and the key before we actually took possession of
the property. We had to trust the
realtor that the key would unlock the door before it actually unlocked the
door. However, we owned the property
just as much before we actually used the key to open the door and we entered
the house to possess it.
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