South Texas Bible Ministry Training Center n

Transcription

1 South Texas Bible Ministry Training Center n THE. 311 Prayer and Worship Week 5 Ricky Joseph, Ph.D.

2 The Song of Worship 2 Chronicles 20:19-21 (KJV) 19 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. Nothing is more basic to our worship practices than song or nothing more dynamically significant Apart form the Word of God, singing constitutes a most significant part of our gathering.

3 The Psalms By their very existence indicate the huge priority God puts upon song as a worship exercise of His people Even if there were not one New Testatement reference to the details for God s order in our pursuit of worship, in the Psalms we wousl have all we need The book of Psalms was the worship guide for early New Testament believers

4 Songs in Worship It would be no exaggeration to suggest that our songs of worship are a declarative love song of the Bride to the heavenly Bridegroom. Song introduces the rule of God s Kingdom and the dominion of His power. Ephesians 5:19 (KJV) 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

5 The Gift of Song Only humankind creates new songs and links them to consciously created lyrics that express more than a mere animal response of a natura endowment. Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. Psalm 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Psalm 57:8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

6 David Prioritizes Song 1 Chronicles 25:1-8 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: 2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. 4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:

7 David Prioritizes Song 5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 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. 7 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. 8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

8 Example of the Prioritization of Song 1 Chronicles Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was: 2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; [a] the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, [b] Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, [c] under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the LORD. 4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, [d] Shebuel, [e] Jerimoth, [f] Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman the king s seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. [g] For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the authority of the king. 7 So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight. 8 And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student.

9 Making Song a Priority in Our Personal Worship of God Ephesians 5: See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

10 The Effect of Song in the Believer s Worship At Colosse, worshipful song is directly related to a believer s being open to and integrating God s living Word in life and for spiritual profit Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hyms and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord Colossians 3:16

11 Sing With the Understanding Our singing is not simply an acquire habit of church life Psalm 47:6-7 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. It is a God directed call and if obeyed it yields God-ordained fruit In at least 41 of the psalms we are told to sing praises to God

12 The Applied Power of Song Isaiah 54:1-5 Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman, says the LORD. 2 Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. 3 For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited. 4 Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. 5 For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

13 The Power & Functional Dynamic of Song Job 38 Song relating the creative power of God Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 The principle of song bringing victory in battle Paul and Silas from imprisonment in Philippi Acts 16 The principle of song bringing release from bondage

14 Singing in The Spirit 1 Corinthians 14: Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say Amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

15 Singing in the Spirit If you employ speaking with tongues insensitively, they become distracting. If you employ them as I have learned to, you will find them personally edifying Singing with the spirit is implied, singing in tongues : the Greek words hodais pneumatikais (spiritual songs) use the same word for spiritual that is used in 1 Cor 14:1, introducing the subject of the gifts of the Holy Spirit Speaking with tongues in the private, devotional life of a believer

16 The Affirmation of Worship What falls from our lips is pivotal when it comes to victory (or fumbling) of our walk with the Lord especially as it relates to our worship. Our words open or close off the pathway for God s power and Kingdom authority to enter our personal world Driven by the conviction that we worship more effectively when we think clearly as we seek God humbly so we will look at Amen and Grace in light of this.

17 Shouting Grace! This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of host. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of Grace, grace to it! Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple: his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of host has sent me to you. Zechariah 4:6-9

18 God s Work in Us by Grace Jesus gives grace to us when our lives are bogged down. God works by His grace in ways that are impossible to us to figure out; His summons to us, as it was to Zerubbabel, is that we call upon Him to release it. ($75.00 miracle) Grace! The New Testament s favorite word for the Holy Spirit s working:

19 Grace Charis the Greek word for grace describing divine favor and the release of divine power in situations or human disability and undeservedness Charis the word used describing the miracles that began to flow from Stephen s life, as the Holy Spirit did works beyond human capacities Charis the first half of the word charismata, which refers to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and brings about operational displays of God s wisdom, knowledge, discernment, insight, power, healing, etc. by His power alone

20 Application Whatever the case with any of us, not only is the message of the text wrapped in the truth that grace alone can suffice, but we are called to the humbling application of that truth and open, bold commitment to announce, to declare our dependence on God to shout at the obstacle, and in the name of the Lord and on the grounds of His promise, implore His Spirit s working of grace!

21 Saying AMEN Another of the power principles of the Bible is the spiritually discerning use of the word Amen It essentially means It is faithful! or That s true! The significance of the word is its derivation from the Hebrew awman, referring to a thing being built up, supported or made permanent so in English it equals so be it, let it or may it be so

22 Uses in the Old Testament To bind oneself to an oath Signifies us being responsible for the occurance To affirm leadership Recognize and exalt authority To affirm correction To affirm the Word of God And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, Amen, Amen! while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground

23 Use in the New Testament At the end of a book it is a statement of affirmation of the truth the books contain. It occurs most frequently on the lips of our Lord (101 times of the 150 times it occurs in the NT) In these cases Jesus is issuing a divine affirmation of the truth of His Word By saying, Amen, Amen, Jesus affirms the divinity, authority and the mightiness of the Word of God In the Person of Jesus we have the affirmation of the trustworthiness of all the promises of God

24 The Divine Amen of Confirmation For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us 2Corinthians 1:20 When Jesus came preaching The Kingdom of heaven is at hand, He was saying that God s will and God s rule war for here and now, and that He was here to affirm it. If you will hold forth My Word, I will honor it. If you will declare My Word, I will affirm it by the working of my Holy Spirit