Singing in Gods House

8/14/2019 Singing in Gods House

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Preached: West Walker singing school, March 20079th Ave.

LRSinging in Gods HouseChristianity 101: Lesson 7

(Psalm 100)

Introduction:

David wrote in Psalm 100 (RSV):Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!Serve the Lord with gladness!Come into His presence with singing!Know that that Lord is God!It is he that made us, and we are His;We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.Enter His gates with thanksgiving,And His courts with praise!

Give thanks to Him, bless His name!For the Lord is good;His steadfast love endures for ever,And His faithfulness to all generations.

1. Singing has always been an important part of the worship of God. Inthe Old Testament we read many times of singing to God, such aswhen the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15).

2. In New Testament Christianity, singing is an essential part of worship.It is commanded and implied many times in the New Testament.

3. But singing is also one of the most abused of the commands in ourworship of God. We are to sing, but some do not. It is possible to sing,but not to sing songs that are in agreement with Bible teaching.

Things are added to our singing that are not commanded by God.4. Last week, as we continue to think about some Bible basics, we looked

at worship in general. Today, we are going to look at one of theavenues God has given us with which to worship Him. We want to lookat singing in Gods House.

I. First of all, look briefly at what Gospel singing is NOT:A. It is not just a call to worship.

1. Many times people would sing to bring people to the building orto get them silent to begin the worship period. While this is oneuse of singing, it is not all that singing is.

2. There are many Bible scholars who say that the shortest of allthe psalmsthe 117thwas so short because it was used tobasically bring the worship assembly to order as the OT Jewspraised God.

3. Not many places do this now, but very often in years past asong would be sung to settle down the worshipers. That may bea purpose for singing, but it is not the only one.


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B. It is not just a physical stimulus to liven up the worship.1. Someone might say, Our singing is so lively. What do they

mean by that? They mean that they feel excited when theysing. Certainly singing moves us, but that should not be itsprimary purpose.

2. God did not give us singing just as some sort of stimulus.

C. It is also not entertainment.1. Singing can be entertaining, but GOSPEL singing is not intended

to be such. When we as Christians come together to sing, weare not entertaining each other, we are praising God.

2. I love singing, and many enjoy attending Gospel singings. Thoseare wonderful things, and there is nothing wrong with that, butthe sole purpose of singing is not about being entertained.

D. It is not just a custom.1. Singing during the worship is not something we just do because

we have always done it.2. Sadly, there are many who are wanting to change the avenues

of worship because they feel as though we just do the acts out

of custom. It is true we have been doing them for a long time,but the tradition of singing is not the reason we sing.

*In a brief way, those are some of the things singing is not. Now, for the nextfew minutes, I want us to think about what Gospel singing is, and we will doso by looking at those famous questions we were always told to ask wheninvestigating: why, when, what, and how.

II. Our first question as we investigate NT singing: why do Godspeople sing?A. First and foremost, we sing to praise God.

1. You might as well have your fingers ready, because we are goingto be coming back to the same verses more than once to noticedifferent emphases. In Ephesians 5:19, Paul wrote: speaking toone another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing andmaking melody with your heart to the Lord.

2. In a parallel passageColossians 3:16Paul wrote that, whenChristians sing, it is to be done with thankfulness in your heartsto the Lord.

3. The Hebrews writer builds his argument for staying a faithfulfollower of God through 12 chapters and then comes to chapter13. In verse 15, He writes, Through Him then, let us continuallyoffer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lipsthat give thanks to His name. Note that the praise is to God.

4. This is the primary reason for our singing, but there are others.B. We also sing to teach and admonish each other.

1. Colossians 3:16 says that we are to teach and admonish oneanother with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

2. Our children learn many important Bible facts and concepts fromsinging. To be honest, when I am trying to remember where aprophetic book is found in the OT, I still think through the song Iwas taught of the OT books!


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3. As adults, we still learn a lot from singing. We can learn Bibleverses, and we can also learn many important concepts ofChristianity.

C. Thirdly, we sing to elevate the worshipper.1. Finally, something for ourselves.2. Again, Colossians 3:16 contains the idea that we admonish

one another with our songs. The word admonish carries twoideas.a. The first is the idea of warning! We might like think of it that

way, but we can sing songs to warn against immorality andtemptation. Theres a sad day coming is a song thatcomes to mind when I think of this idea.

b. We more often think of the other meaning of admonish,and that is to build up or edify. Singing has a way of buildingus up through our words and through the way the notes areput together. It IS uplifting to sing!

3. May I say here that, if we will truly attempt to praise God andteach others when we sing, we WILL be elevated. It should

make us feel good to praise God and know that we are teachingothers.

D. Fourthly, and connected with the idea of admonishing, we sing topromote spiritual living.1. Good, Biblical Gospel singing will bring about a change in our

heart and in our life.2. This is one of the purposes of the invitation song. It is meant to

promote a spiritual change in someones life!III. So, we know why we sing, but WHEN do Gods people sing?

A. Gods people have been known throughout the years as singingpeople, but one of the things that has truly stood out is thatChristians sing at many different times and in all circumstances of

life.B. We sing when we are joyous.

1. This is the most obvious time of singing. When we are filled withjoy from our reflections on what God has done and of Who Godis, we are filled with singing.

2. James 5:13 asks the question: Is anyone merry? Then theanswer is given: Let him sing psalms.

3. When people hear Gods people sing, they should know we arejoyful people!

4. We sing all types of happy songs that get us through our day.a. Im in the Glory-Land Wayb. Happy Am Ic. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

C. One of the reasons we are joyful is because God has done so muchfor us. So, when we think of those things, we sing when we arethankful.1. Notice an OT example of this. In Psalm 13:5-6, David wrote,

But I have trusted in your loving kindness; my heart shallrejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because He hasdealt bountifully with me.


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2. In the same way, when God does something for us, we desire totell others. Songs have a way of expressing that thanksgivingwe have.a. The LORD Has Been Mindful of Meb. Thank You, LORD

D. Unlike many in the world, we also sing when we are down-trodden.

1. Christians are able, through the power of God, to sing evenwhen times are sad and we are down.

2. I think of Paul and Silas in prison in Acts 16. While the Bible saysthey were singing praises to God (verse 25), they were still in adifficult place in life. However, through their faith, they sang!

3. Today, we sing songs that are meant to bring us through thedifficult times in our life, and to encourage others as they gothrough hard times.a. Take My Hand, Precious LORDb. Be Still, My Soulc. He is Abled. Does Jesus Care?

E. Were already spoken of this, but let me just add it to our list here:we sing when we are trying to teach. And, again, may I add thatthis is not just for children!

F. One of the more interesting times that Gods people sing is whenwe are confused.1. Go back and read many of the psalms. While they were poems

at first, the Jews incorporated them into the worship of God.And many of those poems were written at a time when the poetwas trying to figure something out in his or her life. Why dogood people suffer? Why has this calamity happened in my life?Where is God when I suffer? These thoughts run throughout thepsalms, and Gods people sang those thoughts for centuries.

2. And, today, this confusion and struggle is the place from wheremany of our songs came. The writers were trying to figure somedifficult time in their life out, and they wrote a song to helpthem. We can relate to that many times.a. It is Well With My Soulb. Where No One Stands Alone

G. Finally in our list, we sing when we are trying to encourage others.1. We sing when we are down, but we also sing when others are

down, spiritually or physically.2. Someone who has done something wrong may respond better to

a well-written, spiritual song than to a 30-minute sermon on thesin in which he may be involved.a. Trust and Obeyb. Have You Been to Jesus?c. I Am Resolved

H. Put it together, and Christians sing ALWAYS. We may not be singingout loud, but there is always a song in our heart.

IV. Next, lets ask the question: WHAT do Gods people sing?A. There are tens of thousands of songs out there, but are all of them

appropriate in the worship of God?


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(1) This is where the majority of our songs come from.(2) Anything that is Biblical, truthful, and spiritual can

be set to music and sung in the worship of God.(3) Not to be redundant, but the focus here is on the

truthfulness of the song, not on how it sounds. Wedo need to check songs for Scriptural accuracy

before we sing them. Just because a song containsthe word God or Lord or Jesus or Bible ortruth does not mean it is Biblical. But, may I addthat just because a song is new or sounds a littlestrange does not mean it is unbiblical.

(4) If it teaches truth, we need to sing it.V. Fifthly and finally, though, HOW do Gods people sing?

A. We are to sing, Paul wrote, making melody (psallo) in our heart.1. The word psallo means to pluck, and it came to mean to pluck

the strings of an instrument.a. A-ha! Someone says. You are the folks that continue to say

that you not only dont need a piano or band, but its sinful to

have such. But you just preached that the word for makingmelody means to play an instrument.

b. There are two things that need to be pointed out very brieflyabout that.(1) First, notice I said that the word came to mean to pluck

the strings of an instrument. It came into that meaningyears and years after the NT was written. When the NTwas written, the word simply meant to pluck, and couldbe attributed to anything you could pluck, including a bowor an instrument or anything figurative.

(2) Even more than some Greek word study, though, is whatwe miss when we automatically make the jump from the

word to playing an instrument. What these people miss isthat the Bible also gives the instrument we are to pluckin our singing. We are to psallo (pluck; make melody) ourheart. The instrument to be played is our heart.

B. In other words, our singing should issue from our heart and containa message we both love and believe.1. It is worth noting that the only place in the NT where

instruments are played in worship to God is in Revelation. Therewe see instruments, not in the church, but in heaven, AND thesound is like harps or lyres. The passage does not say that wewill play instruments in heaven. Even if it did, does that give usthe right to do that here?

2. Also, I truly believe Hebrews 13:15 is too often overlooked whenwe think about our singing. We are to offer to God the fruit ofour lips. That can only mean oral praise.a. Why dont we play a piano or drum or violin when we

worship? Are they beautiful sounding? Of course. Whenproperly played, instruments make a gorgeous sound. Butwe are attempted to follow a God-given command, and He


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asked for singing and for the fruit of OUR LIPS, not the fruit ofa box, drum, or piece of metal.

b. Why dont we clap along with our songs? Its part of OURbody, and it adds such excitement when we sing. Maybe toyou, but it is not the avenue God asks for when Hecommands singing. He asks for the fruit of our lips, not our

hands.C. When you sing, make sure you are filled in your heart with joy and

thanksgiving, and then allow that singing to overflow through thewords of your mouththe fruit of your lips.

Conclusion:

1. Gods people are to be singing people. How is your singing? DO YOUSING? Entire books have been written on singing and I have severalbooks or chapters of books, but this morning I just wanted us todiscuss the basics. Our singing is good, but it can always be better. Iknow that because we are human and our minds are often not on whatthey should be on. Our singing is to God and is to teach others. Is thatwhat is on your mind when you sing?

2. Singing, as we already mentioned, can also move people. Invitationsongs especially so. I came forward when I was moved by the words tothe song Come to Jesus. Many others have similar stories. Will youlet us encourage you and move you as we sing this evening to becomea Christian or come back to the LORD?

3. Wont it be wonderful, When all of Gods Singers Get Home?

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Singing in Gods House