Worship Music - a way to Grace

We have well established that our worship is primarily for God.  Therefore our worship music is to glorify and exalt Him.  But secondarily, worship music is also a way to edify the body of believers.  It should be a way of grace to bring the body as a whole, and individually, to a point of experiencing God in His fullness and grace.  Worship music not only honors and glorifies the Lord, but helps strengthen and sustain the spiritual life of the saints and should unify the saints.

According to scripture, when our worship music is a sacrifice of praise unto God it will at the same time strengthen the believer and make the sinner desire to have fellowship with God. (Psalm 40:3) Our worship music has the power to draw believers into His presence and is an instrument of the Holy Spirit to draw sinners to Christ.

The goal of worship music should be to cause the whole congregation, both sinner and saint, to center their attention and focus upon God.  Even though a sinner can't worship, his attention should be drawn to our Lord being worshipped. Psalm 34:8 would indicate that sinners could recognize that believers are "tasting and seeing that the Lord is good".  

Our worship music should make all aware that God is holy and He is present in our worship.  Psalm 22:3 tells us that God "sits down among" or "dwells in the midst" of praise.  He comes to dwell with us that we might know Him intimately.  Our worship should focus on Him, not our problems, not our position, not our performance, not our personal tastes.  Our full focus and attention should be on worshipping, magnifying, extolling, and honoring the Living Lord.  Then, worship music becomes a way to grace.   mjm

Church Music Matters

One author has said that church music matters, but that it is not everything.  A good word to us musicians.  However some don't see that it does matter.  Also, some mistake Christian Music for Church Music.  They are not the same.  They have different purposes and philosophies.  God created music for the same purpose He created everything - to glorify Him!  Church Music does matter.

We first see in ancient Israel that church music matters.  When you read the account in the Old Testament we see how God considers it very serious business.  He even called it prophesying, putting the giving of God's musical message right up there with the Major and Minor Prophets.

The detail that God goes into shows us that the temple musicians were set apart for ministry and service to Jehovah God to make music.  It was such a serious endeavor that He made sure they were trained by the chief Levite musicians.

Then we see that the curriculum for the Levite's sons was instruction in the songs of the Lord.  The Levite School of Musicians did not train in the performance practice of Israel's ungodly neighbors.  They taught their sons and the people to sing the songs of Jehovah. We certainly need to follow their example and teach at church through preschool and children's choirs and youth, at home, in Christian Schools, Christian Colleges and Seminaries; teaching them to sing and play the songs that truly honor and glorify God.

Not only must we instruct them in God's songs, we must teach them to know the Lord personally.  Not only do we need to pray for them, but we need to teach them to pray and seek the Lord before they choose and perform in the worship of the church.

Finally, (for today) we must constantly remind church musicians that there is a war between the flesh and the Spirit.  We must teach that there is a distinct difference between the music of the world and church music.  We must remind them that worldly music has never had anything to do with grace.  Yes, Church Music Matters in God's plan and purpose.  May we be found singing and playing His Song!  mjm 

When Ceasing is Worship

Marva Dawn, in her book "Keeping the Sabbath Wholly" (not misspelled),  points out some interesting principles of "ceasing" that I want to summarize in my own words.  In Gen. 2:3, we find these words, "And God blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy, because on it He ceased from all the work of creating that He had done."

What are we teaching our children and grandchildren about the principle of the Sabbath?  Do we just say, "we are going to church?"  Or do we say, "the Lord has taught us to set aside a time where we 'cease' doing other things and wait before Him?"  There is an obvious importance put on ceasing on a day set apart as Holy unto Him.  What are some of the principles of "ceasing"?

We should cease to work. Most Americans work flat out 5 days a week and then try to catch up around the house and yard, take kids here and there on Saturday and Sunday to the exclusion of having a day of ceasing.  God is saying to us that we can't keep breaking the rhythm of life as He provided and not suffer consequences.

We should also cease productivity and accomplishment.  Our culture worships productivity and accomplishment and we make it about a person's self-worth.  When we meet someone, we don't say, tell me about you.  We say, "What do you do?"  But the Sabbath principle is about setting aside a day to remember that we are precious in God's sight and lavishly loved by Him, not because of what we produce.

We should cease anxiety, worry, and stress.  In Phil. 4 Paul clearly instructs us to "Rejoice in the Lord . . . and to not be anxious or worry about anything, presenting our requests to the Lord and letting His peace in Christ Jesus transform our attitudes."  Keeping the Sabbath helps us to do this.

We also need to cease trying to be God in our lives.  If we stop working, accomplishing and worrying we are freed by the Sabbath principle from the need of creating our own future.  God shows us over and over in the Old Testament that God will provide.

We can cease from our possessiveness, being a slave to our culture, and meaninglessness if we will but be faithful to observe the Sabbath principle. The Sabbath separates us from things, conforms our lives to the living Word rather than culture, and gives us a chance to celebrate the life God has given us.

May we learn to cease and therefore worship.  mjm

Servanthood in Worship

We usually think of servanthood as serving others outside the walls of the church, which is the last part of our worship, always.  We haven't truly worshipped Him authentically unless it blooms into serving and ministering to others.  But, servanthood should play a part in the "gathering" as God's people join together for worship.  Our pastor shared eloquently this morning on the subject of servanthood, emphasizing our servanthood in the world.  But, I want to relate the principle of what he said to the actual gathering of the people of God, for the actual worship gathering or worship service.

We live in a day where there have been "worship wars" in churches of every denomination.  Number one -  if there is a war there's not much true worship going on.  We believers are sometimes so selfish and even prideful when it comes to worship music that it is not even funny, and worst of all not Biblical.  A variety is indicated in scripture: "...psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs".  And the servant spirit or attitude among the body is indicated in several places, but because of space we will hone in on Rom. 12:10 where it says for the body to "yield to one another" or in other words, "give preference to one another".  

Everyone has his own musical taste or preference.  There are classical, jazz, southern gospel, country gospel, hymns, the latest contemporary chorus.  Now, guess what?  There are what I call "musical snobs" in every one of those categories.  I have actually had people say to me, "I can't worship unless you do such and such kind of music".  I have also had people say, "Well you didn't plan that service for me".  Actually, the worship service was planned for Him!  We are a multigenerational church.  Sometimes even groups of people have a preference, but you would be surprised how many of them cross the lines.  

As the Body of Christ, we are to have a servant's heart and yield one to another.  Some churches have split their generations up to some extent, by having different kinds of services.  But I challenge anyone to find a scriptural basis for dividing up the Body.  The family of God is to have family worship.  

So let us come to worship; let us gather the Body and yield one to another, oh yes, sing one another's song in praise to the Lord and to edify the body.  And that spirit will carry the light of Christ into our daily lives as a servant.

mjm

Worship Leading - to impress or to inspire?

We live in a day when people have begun to confuse religious concerts and popular Christian artists with the worship of the church.  Now am I saying that there is not worship that goes on in those venues?  Absolutely not, however that is not always or necessarily their purpose.  Usually, we come away from those events impressed with the vocalist or artist or impressed with particular songs.

Worship leading in the church is not for the purpose of impressing, but for the purpose of inspiring the worship of our God.  If you look at your Bible choir was God's idea.  So, I want to focus on the worship leading choir in this context.  The worship leading choir does not merely "sing for Jesus", but is charged with leading the people of God in worship of God.  The choir's role is not to impress, but to inspire.  The choir's goal should not be to have people say, "Wow, you really sang well."  The choir's goal should be to ignite the hearts of people to worship the Father in spirit and truth with a longing for His presence among us.

In a very real sense the choir is an usher.  We need to usher people to the very throne of God so they can experience Him in all His fullness and glory.  The choir shows the congregation the place of worship prepared for them to the glory of God.  It is not the choir's job to worship FOR the congregation or TO the congregation but WITH the congregation, opening the door and encouraging the congregation to enter that door of worship.  Some would say that if a worship leading choir is to only do that, then is there a place for the choir to sing an anthem?  I would say yes, because that is simply another way the choir inspires or ushers the congregation into His presence and His truth.  The worship leading choir inspires others to worship with them.

Pray for one another if you are a part of the worship leading choir and if you are not, then faithfully pray for the worship leading choir to be effective in ushering the congregation into His presence!  mjm

Remembering . . . "Even This"

On 9-11 we appropriately remember those who were lost and the family and friends directly affected, the First Responders, those who have stood and some who have fallen to protect our freedom in the years hence.  We also need to remember on this special day the worship of our God Who providentially brought America to be founded on the principles of His Word by men who looked to Him, depended on Him, and worshipped Him.  We need to remember all of those throughout the history of our nation who have given themselves for our freedom and liberty, which is based in the principle of salvation with the freedom and liberty we have through Jesus Christ.  

But, on this day of remembrance, God pricked my heart early this morning about an "even this" that we also need to remember on this day.  In Matthew 22:37 Jesus says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  In a very real sense our worship is not complete without our living out the second part of that verse.  The question is,  "Who is our neighbor?"  It is, according to scripture, all peoples, all nations, all people groups. Today, we need to remember . . "even this" that Christ died for ALL men.  Jesus got even stronger with these words, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."  We as worshipping believers are compelled by our Savior to pray for our enemies who showed themselves on 9-11.  God is making inroads all over our world, using many of our own missionaries to reach and see God's salvation among many of whom would be considered our "enemies".  We need to pray and reach out . . . yes, "even this" we need to remember. . . that our worship might be complete, true, and authentic.  Blessings!  mjm 

A Tribute to Dick Baker

I was saved as a nine year old boy in First Baptist Church of Hollis, Oklahoma.  We were in a week of revival with the Baker Brothers.  Bo and Dick Baker were preaching and leading music.  I had started piano when I was seven.  I remember being mesmerized by Dick Baker.  They pulled and extra piano on to the platform for the week and Dick would lead music sometimes from the pulpit and sometimes from the piano and then he would sing solos from the piano.  Bo, Dick's brother not only preached but played trumpet with Dick.  I had never heard two trumpets play together like that.  There were over 40 saved that week and my Pastor baptized right at 40 on the following Sunday evening.

As a nine year old, when I saw Dick play the piano and sing, I told my Mother that some day I was going to do that.  I got some sheet music from them that week.  My favorites were "Longing for Jesus", "Mighty Things", and  "His Way-Mine".  Ever since I was nine, I have sat down on a regular basis and played and sung,  . . .

"God has a place for every planned creation; a path for every star to go.  

He drew the course for every river's journey, now I know He has a place for me.

I place my life in the hands of God.  Those hands so scarred now outstretched for me.

Wherever it may be, over land, over sea; 

May thy will divine, O Thou God divine, be mine.

Those words and that song have been used by God's Spirit to lead me for more than 50 years in music and worship ministry.  I was able to talk with Dick on many occasions and remind him of how God had used him in the life of a little nine year old boy in a small town in Southwest Oklahoma to bring about a life of music and worship ministry inspired by the Lord through him.  

Dick and Bo were in evangelism for many years.  Then Dick served as Minister of Music at Prestonwood for several years and retired there.  Bo went home to be with the Lord a couple of years ago and Dick's wife, Ann passed away about a year ago.  Dick's funeral will be at Prestonwood on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

By the way, the Baker Brothers were from just north of Rockwall,  There home place was in Farmersville and he will be buried there.  Thanks Dick for a life of music and worship ministry!  mjm

For more information go to www.HisWayMine.com

In the Presence of Jehovah

Why do we talk so much about the presence of God and its importance in worship?  Sometimes it is not whether God is present or not, but whether we are in a state of knowing and being aware that God is present among us.  I'm afraid many times we come to worship, both private and public,  so wrapped up in other things that His presence isn't even a part of our thinking.  Sometimes we are distracted because of the messiness of life.  Sometimes we are distracted from His presence by sin we are holding on to.  Sometimes we are distracted by being unprepared spiritually or as worship leaders; sometimes we have failed to prepare all we need to and we get wrapped up in logistics and stumblings that become distractions. 

Why is our preparedness and awareness of His presence important? Remembering and rehearsing in our hearts the redemption we have experienced doesn't happen apart from His presence.    Saving grace doesn't happen apart from His presence.  Conviction of sin doesn't happen apart from His presence.  His glorious praise doesn't happen apart from His presence.  His peace that passes all human understanding does not happen apart from His presence.  A place of comfort in a crazy world doesn't happen apart from His presence.  Broken hearts mended doesn't happen apart from His presence.  The Glory of the Lord doesn't happen apart from His presence.  Most of all, a sacred meeting with God doesn't happen apart from His presence.

It still grieves me that according to some surveys more than half of church goers say they come to church and never experience the presence of God.  Maybe it's because they are church goers and not worshippers. May we be worshippers who enter His presence every day in our private worship time.  And may we be worshippers who enter the gathering of God's people every week with a keen awareness and expectation of the glorious manifestation of the presence of God among us!  mjm