God Is Faithful!

God Is Faithful!

1Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

          Since God is faithful we should as Joshua 23:6 admonishes, “Be ye therefore very courageous…” and as Mt 10:16 states, “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”   We should also as Luke 6:36 said, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”  Furthermore  Luke 12:40 reminds us, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”  Also, as St. Paul reminded the Christians at Ephesus in Ephesians 5:1, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.”   1Peter  4:7 solemnly reminds us, ”But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

          All of the above are made possible by the great faithfulness of our faithful Savior Jesus Christ.  God’s grace is truly faithful in and through every situation.  God’s promises are true.  What God says He is always faithful to do.  We should never forget that Ephesians encourages us to believe that we, as 6:10  that we should,”… be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”   We must always remember that the battle is not ours but rather it is the Lord’s battle and He will win it.

Prayer for the Day

My heavenly Father, I want to bring glory to Your matchless name today.  You are worthy of all the praise that we would ever give You because you are completely faithful.  Lord, I am asking You to help me to be an overcomer!  Your Word is true truth.  So, help me to believe Your Word and allow the Holy Spirit to apply it to my heart and understanding.  I know that I can pull through every problem of life if I will only allow You to pull me through each situation.  So, help me to simply “Trust and obey”.  This I am asking in Your strong and faithful name.  Amen.

Musicians in Perpetuity

Musicians in Perpetuity

1Chronicles 25:6 states, “All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.”  Have you ever wondered why the level of music worship developed to such an advanced level during the time of the first and second Temples?  When I was a Bible College divisional chair some of the largest churches in Cincinnati would call me because they did not have accompanists enough to meet their ministry needs.  They had money, facilities, and equipment but they did not have musicians in perpetuity.  They had planned and prepared for future music ministries, but they had not accepted the responsibility to train their own Church musicians.

1Chronicles 25:7 explains that the Levite musicians who were in  charge of the music of the  ancient Jewish Temple trained musicians in perpetuity when it states, “So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.”  Many churches and Christian elementary and secondary schools do not even include music education in their church education program or in their school academic curriculum.  They seem to not consider music education to be a priority.  Therefore, it is of little wonder that they do not have enough qualified musicians to meet the needs of their music ministry needs. Also they fail to realize that failure to educate students musically will result in a shortage of adult musicians that understand sacred musicing.  As I have said many +times , Christians cannot expect secular music educators to make sacred music a music education priority.

Reading Hymns Can Shapes Our Faith Part 2

Reading Hymns Can Shapes Our Faith Part 2

 Serious music worship leaders are not trying to lead a congregational musical event but rather a time of valuable musing (thinking).  We all know that the majority of great hymn text were written first as lyric poetry and then later were set to a tune.  I doubt that any thinking church musician would deny that they have great value as poems.  Perhaps we consider the reading of poetry to be a task undertaken only by those who gather to partake of tea and crumpets and recite the works of dead poets.  So, since we know that quoting this great poetry skillfully can have a positive effect on a worshiping body of believers as well as being a form of catechism to those who are unchurched, why not practice up on our dramatic reading skills and give this form of hymn usage a try?

There is another point that should be considered in our discussion of quoting hymn texts.  I remember my former pastor Rev. R.E. Carroll saying that he often took not only his Bible but also his hymnal to his trysting place with God.  We pray out loud so why shouldn’t we read hymns out loud during our time of devotion.  It is a fact that praying out loud keeps my mind from wondering during my time of private devotion. Quoting hymns from memory or reading them during private devotions can be a wonderful experience.  Telling God how you feel or what troubles you by reading to Him can be an expression of prayer and praise.  

Thought for the Day

Praying the words of a well written hymn can be an effectual way of telling God how you feel about Him.  If our own words simply fail us in the time of prayer, the words of a great hymn may help us to express our heart’s petition to God.

Reading Hymns Can Shapes Our Faith Part 1

 Reading Hymns Can Shapes Our Faith Part 1   

I was reading in James Sydnor book the other day and ran across a statement that made me ponder on the worth and relevance of hymns. “In corporate worship and in daily life, hymns can have a profound, sustaining, and complex effect on a person.  Therefore, leaders who are interested in improving congregational singing should spend some time pondering the means whereby hymn reading and hymn singing can shape the faith and influence the daily lives of their congregational members.” Hymn and Their Uses, by James Sydnor, p. 23 Those of us who believe that hymn singing is a valuable part of worship, do not need to be convinced that Christians may be edified by singing the great hymns. 

          However, I must confess that over the years I have not taken advantage of utilizing speaking the words of hymns as calls to worship and as transitions to hymn sequences.  Church musicians like me have the faulty notion that we have to sing hymns to derive value from them.  I have quoted hymns many times in my lectures on worship but I am woefully negligent when it comes to reading hymn texts in public worship.  Think about it.  The skillful presentation of part of a hymn text can be a source of valuable congregational cognition.  

Thought for the Day 

Worship musicing should always be musing—i.e. it should cause us to think.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joseph Scriven’s late 19^th century hymn is many times published in standard hymnals with only the first three verses.  The first verse introduces the hymn’s prayer theme by establishing that it is truly a privilege to take everything to our God through prayer.  The second verse teaches that we should not let life’s troubles discourage us because we are able to take our weaknesses, trials and temptations to our faithful friend Jesus.  The third verse reminds us that when we are weak, heavy-laden, and even forsaken by our earthly friends, our precious Savior will take us in His arms where we may find solace.

The forth verse adds a wonderful final dimension to this wonderful hymn.  It reminds us that as Hebrews 4:15 teaches we do not have to bear our burdens alone, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  It also teaches that Jas 5:16b states, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  Finally, this verse states that the Christian will soon be in the presence of our Lord where prayer will be replaced with endless worship.  Praise God for this last verse which should always be included when we sing this great prayer hymn.  Read it and rejoice! 

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there. 

Prayer for the Day    

I want to thank You precious Savior that You are truly my friend.  Thank You that You are always bigger than my troubles.  I also want to thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer.  In the time of trouble and temptation I can always come to You our sinless Savior for help.  Even if my earthly friends were to forsake me, You are a friend that will stick closer than a brother.  Lord, help me to draw close to You so that You can take me up in Your strong arms and shield me from life’s stormy blasts.  Thank You for being such a wonderful Savior and friend.  Amen.

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 4

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 4

          Nehemiah 8:10  states, ”Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Psalm 89:15 states, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound [teruah 8643—great acclamation of joy]: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.”  Psalm 149:1-2, “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful [giyl, 1523] in their King.”  The word giyl is used in a great variety of applications in the OT but it most often connotes gladness and rejoicing.  These scriptures are only a few of the multitude of Scriptures that teach worshiping with much joy.

 Certainly the fact that the Bible repeatedly mentions singing with joy should encourage us to music with outward joy and emotion.  1Chronicles 15:16  states, “And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy [simchah, 8057-exceeding gladness and pleasure].”  Isaiah 12:2-3 states, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.  Therefore with joy [sasown, 8342—cheerfulness, gladness and mirth] shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”  Zepaniah 3:17 states, “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 [giyl, see above] over thee with singing [rinnah, 7440—singing with gladness and joy].”

          I believe that sacred musical performance that has been devoid of the aforementioned characteristics has been one of the reasons that so many Christian musicians becoming disillusioned with traditional sacred music.  One of the other reasons has been that some busy musicians have failed to seek the aid and anointing of the Holy Spirit upon their sacred musicing.  Therefore, I contend that a part of being a faithful servant (pistos doulos 4103, 1401) is being completely submissive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Furthermore, I believe that a part of faithful musical servanthood involves being as passionate, and being even more passionate, about sacred musicing than one is about secular musicing.

Quote for the Day

“The importance of song as attracting to the House of God, as interesting and spiritually benefiting those engaged in worship, and as finding audible expression for devout feeling, should be fully enforced.  It therefore becomes the duty of all who have the gift to lay it on the altar of God’s service in the sanctuary.”  The Pulpit Commentary, 1 Chronicles, p. 95, Canon Spence & Joseph Exell editors

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 3

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 3

          I strongly believe that the good and faithful musical leader should and must be moved deeply by the message of the music that is being used as a worship vehicle.  It is one thing to be moved intellectually by the meaning of the music but it is another to have the dunamis (1411) of the Spirit which  I believe comes to only to good and faithful Spirit filled musical servants.  As I have often stated in my philosophical writings that many Christian musicians seem to forget the great musical discourse in the fifth chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians not only includes verse nineteen but also verse eighteen that states, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”  To me, what is taught in verse nineteen can only happen to those who are living a life in the Spirit.  I believe that verse eighteen teaches a continual life in the Spirit after the Christian is once filled.  The good and faithful musical servant that is spoken of in the fifth chapter of Ephesians is also admonished to let the Holy Spirit have control of his or her life and music ministry. 

          The influence of the Divine upon the human can and should be a reality in the twenty first century.  The musician who is touched and moved by the Holy Spirit has the right to be passionate about the music that he or she uses as a vehicle of worship.  All of the Christian musicians that I have had the privilege to know, who were accomplished musicians, have been very passionate about their secular musicing.   However, some of them believe that their sacred musicing should be very sedate and staid and should be executed in a manner that is seemingly almost detached from any passion or emotion.  I see no place in Scripture where Christian musicians are instructed to perform sacred music in a manner that is devoid or outward emotion; outward evidence of meaning (understanding); or outward physical expression of being passionate about the music being performed .  Therefore, I am drawn to the philosophical conclusion that although sacred musicing is very serious business, we may and should perform it with joy.

Quote for the Day

“One hallmark of the Spirit’s filling will be a desire to give vocal expression to the heart’s devotion to the Lord by the use of canticles and songs which the Spirit inspires.”  The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, p. 166, Ephesians by Ralph P. Martin

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 2

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 2

Matthew 25:21states, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

 A part of being a faithful musical servant is learning how to use music as a worship vehicle.  Even if a musician loves music and is passionate about performing it, he or she is not necessarily a faithful musical servant.  There is a vast difference between loving music so much that one worships it and loving God so much that one has a great passion to use music to worship the God who created music.  As we all know the Bible condemns worshiping created things (see Romans 1:25).  The faithful musical servant leads others in worship and at the same time worships God through the music he or she is using as a worship vehicle. 

          The faithful musical servant is not only a leader and a worshiper but also a

 faithful teacher.  Faithful musical leadership includes teaching others to worship God by musicing unto Him.  The faithful musical servant utilizes teaching skills in their most profound form i.e. teaching by example.  The faithful musical servant is not only a technical leader but also a “touched” leader.  I contend that the touched servant is an anointed servant.  Starting late in the twentieth century Christian writers and music philosophers began to make acrid comments about those who sought the anointing or the Holy Spirit as though such philosophical belief was egotistical or somewhat fanatical.  Although it may not be a popular concept among Christians in this century, the visitation of God upon human servants is certainly a biblical concept.  For examples see Leviticus 7:35, 8:12, 1 Samuel 15:1, Isaiah 10:27, James 5:14, and 1 John 2:27.

Quote for the Day

“Faithfulness over a little opens the way for one to be entrusted with much. The reward for faithful service is also known in terms of entry into the joy of one’s master.” The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 8, p.225 by Frank Stagg et al

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 1

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 1

Matthew 25:21states, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

          A musician can be a good servant morally and not be passionately faithful to the responsibilities of the music ministry where God has placed that musician.  Christian character is what makes a musician a good (agathos 18) person.  The word agathos means good in any sense but its meaning is different than the word pistos (4103) which means objectively “trustworthy” i.e. in the case of a Christian musician, one who experiences the actual reality of being a completely trustworthy servant musician of Christ.  It stands to reason that moral goodness is a necessary requirement of the ministering musician who is a bond servant (doulos 1401) of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.  Ralph Earle stated that, “these are the only two things God requires of everyone—that he be good in character and faithful in service.”  Beacon Bible Commentary, A.F. Harper, Editorial Chairman, Vol. 6, p. 237  Although God requires both, I do not believe that being a morally good person automatically makes one a quality musician or does it make one a faithful trustworthy music leader.

Quote for the Day

Lenski states that the master who is a type of Christ pronounces this verdict, ‘“Slave excellent and reliable!’ and thus furnishing his master great satisfaction.  No higher commendation can come to any believer from the lips of Jesus” The Interpretation of St. 

Christian Musicians Must Reason

Christian Musicians Must Reason

Isaiah 1:18a, Come now let us reason together saith the LORD…  I Samuel 12:7 Now therefore stand still that I may reason with you…    Romans 12:1, 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.  Acts 17:2, And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three days reasoned with them.

       Isaiah, in his prophecy to Judah, uses the Hebrew word yakach (3198) which has been translated reason in the AV.  It means “to cause one to decide to be right’.  In Samuel’s exhortation to Israel, the Hebrew word shaphat (8199) was used and it has been rendered reason in the AV.  It means literally to “pronounce sentence or to execute a judgment” on someone.  The Roman writer used the Greek word logikos (3050) which the AV translated as reasonable.  This Greek word means to use rational thinking or the use of logic.  St. Paul used the Greek word dialegomai (1256) in his three day disputation in the Synagogue at Thessalonica.  It is translated reason in the AV and it means to dispute or argue thoroughly with logic.

       God’s Word and God’s way is always logical and reasonable.  If Satan is trying to get you to think unreasonable thoughts or follow a path in life that is unreasonable, resist him in the name of Jesus Christ and he will have to flee from you (James 4:7, Jude 1:9).  Satan will not have to flee because of your logic or what you believe, but rather because you invoke the strong name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ who is sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you at this very moment.

       God is never the author of confusion or irrational thinking/reasoning.  Musicians are emotional and sometimes irrational thinkers.  Sometimes they just do not think before they leap.  If your thinking does not line up to the Word of God, change your thinking.  If you cannot defend your thinking with God’s reasonable Word, then what you are thinking is wrong.   Do not leap if you haven’t prayed and followed the clear leading of the Holy Spirit.  If you are in doubt, don’t do it!

      If a thorough discussion of God’s Word proves your thinking to be faulty, you are, as my father used to say, “Leading your ducks into a poor pond”.  Don’t speak or act before you think.  Be sure that you never act in haste.  Satan whispers “You must act fast”.  Our wise heavenly Father says, “Come now let us reason together.”