Music is very powerful.  God found it powerful enough to commission an arch angel as minister of music at the onset of creation.  Heavens sang the praises of the Lord.  The Word says if we don’t praise Him then the rocks will cry out, Luke 19:38-40.

 Scriptures to instruct us to sing are:

·                        "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives" (Matt. 26:30)

·                        "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25)

·                        "I will confess thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name" (Rom. 15:9)

·                        "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (1 Cor. 14:15)

·                        "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..." (Col. 3:16)

·                        "In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee" (Heb. 2:12)

·                        "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Heb. 13:15)

·                        "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms" (James 5:13)

 Singing is Bible.  However it is very possible to take singing in praise and thanksgiving and turn it into something very unpleasing to God.  We can get confused with our songs of praise and worship and turn it into something that entertains our flesh or is void of feeling and emotion toward God, just going with the motions.  Not only can we turn it into those two things we can also turn it into a form of idol worship.  This is done for the most part unintentionally but we can admire someone’s ability so much that we start to find it impossible to worship without their assistance.  We can also make it a stumbling block for the one performing by exulting their gifts/abilities.   Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with being moved by someone’s song or even the instrumental music.  The Bible instructs us to not hold back a kind word so to let someone know they moved you in song is okay but I believe we as a Christian people with our “Christian” music can fall pray to all of the snares set before the secular society with their music.

We check ourselves in our household.   First we ask is it simply entertaining Christian music or is it music that is meant to draw unto the heart of God, real lyrics of worship.  Then we have to establish when we find ourselves listening to what might appear to be too much music, are we doing it because we are really focused on praising God, do the words of the song  stir us to draw nigh unto God or are we listening more because we are entertaining our flesh even though its labled "Christian music". Maybe we like the beat and aren’t paying attention to the words.  Are we listening to so much music that we haven’t been listening for the voice of the Lord.  We remind our children and ourselves that sometimes we just need quite.  You can’t listen for the voice of God when other things are drowning Him out.  God is such a gentlemen he often won’t over ride what we are doing.  We have to choose to listen for Him. Sometime we as Christians can entertain our flesh under a Christian label and make ourselves believe its unto Go when its really just self indulgence.

My family and I were listening to an old time preacher last night and he simply spoke this song.  There was no music, no choir but the words moved the heart towards it’s creator and the heart reached out to God and God moved. May God bless you and you bless God in your worship and praise.

Down from His glory, ever living story,
My God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name;
Born in a manger to His own a stranger,
A man of sorrows, tears and agony!

Oh how I love Him!  How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him!

What condescension, bringing us redemption,
That in the dead of night, not one faint hope in sight,
God gracious, tender laid aside His splendor,
Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul!

Oh how I love Him!  How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him!

Without reluctance, flesh and blood His substance,
He took the form of man, revealed the hidden plan;
O glorious myst'ry sacrifice of Calv'ry!
And now I know He is the great "I AM"!

Oh how I love Him!  How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him!