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When being told certain genres of Christian music are not appropriate for our lives before God, many questions arise:
- What am I suppose to listen to?
- What about the youth? What do you give them?
- How do I distinguish between songs and artists?
To answer these questions, let’s review our greatest commandment:
Matthew 22:36-38 – Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.
Our greatest duty within this life is to love the Lord with every part of our heart, every part of our soul, and every part of our mind. Before we accomplish any other work or service before the Lord (in church), our chief aim should be to love Him. Concerning the realm of music, it is important that we are continually filling ourselves with songs that keep us in an intimate and consuming relationship with the Lord throughout each moment of the day.
Ephesians 4:27 – Neither give place to the devil.
Giving place (or a foothold) to the devil is dangerous beyond measure. The ‘place’ you give him will leave you and those connected to you in the crosshairs of sin. When you allow the devil to be given a place within your life (via disobedience, acceptance of temptation, sin), you open a doorway for every imaginable evil spirit to enter into your life.
There may come a time when you’re angry at one situation, and begin to break laws, yell at people, and do things you normally wouldn’t if you were in your ‘right’ mind. Your willingness to allow the devil to have a place in your life will bring continued death and destruction. Isn’t that the purpose of the devil: to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)?!
Remain with the Lord…He has come to give you life!
Music has a powerful influence upon people. The beat of a song can usher us into joy, deep reflection, inappropriate behavior, and others make us feel invincible. The beat has a powerful draw upon us, often something we can’t explain, but we feel it running through our soul. Now, secular music (secular means separate from religion) we can imagine all the influences of sin, flesh, and the devil, but can such music infiltrate Christian borders? It sure can…and has.
Matthew 6:5-13 – And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Many people in Christ want to know how to pray. Many formulas and acronyms have been created, but our Lord has established how we are to pray in His teachings. Let’s break it down:
Don’t pray to be seen of men (Matthew 6:5).
People that pray in this manner are considered as hypocrites. Their focus is to pray for others to see how ‘spiritual’ them seem. They are hypocrites because they choose not to live the life they portray. Their reward is not answered prayer, but the applause of men.
December 7, 2010
The Work of the Holy Spirit
The listing below illustrates the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the Scriptures. In the Bible, the term Holy Spirit is used in conjunction with Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit, Holy Ghost, and Spirit of Christ.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
1. The Spirit of God dwells within men (Genesis 41:37-43; Judges14:5-7, Judges 14:18-20 , Judges 15:14, Judges 15:18-20, 1 Samuel 11:5-7, 1 Samuel 16:1-14, 2 Samuel 23:1-3; Isaiah 59:20-21; Ezekiel 2, Ezekiel 3:22-27).
2. The Spirit of God enables men (with wisdom and skill) to accomplish specific tasks (Exodus 28:3; Exodus 31:3; Exodus 35:31; Deuteronomy 34:9; Judges 3:9-11, Judges 6:33-35, Judges 11:29-40, Judges 13:25; Ezra 1:1-6; Proverbs 1:22-33; Ezekiel 2, Ezekiel 3:22-27; Daniel 5:11-15; Micah 3:7-9).
Jesus tells a parable about a pasture land that is given to the sheep that follow Him (John 10:1-18). This peaceful pasture land is given through the gift of eternal life. The sheep represent those the Lord has called by name, loved, and cared for. Jesus said that the sheep know His voice and follow Him (into eternal life) – a stranger they will not follow (John 10:3-5).
Many people want to know how to hear God’s voice. However, the BIGGER desire (or question) must be to KNOW His voice. God speaks to us all (even before believing in Jesus)…and so does the devil (and our own lust). The issue is to recognize God’s voice above all others, so that when He speaks, you know it is the Lord.
Many times we cannot see how God will use something we do for Him today in the future. However, it should never discourage us from moving out in faith. Many of us may never see our seeds sprout, but we must not weary in well doing because it seems the storms of life will not let up (Ecclesiastes 11:4; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7; Galatians 6:9-10).
Step out into the areas of ministry the Lord is calling you to perform. He knows what He’s doing (even if you’re not sure of what He’s up to). He wants to be glorified and is entrusting you with His precious Word and gifts. Use His precious gifts well and treat them honorably and with integrity. Allow His name to be lifted up. Give Him praise! Write. Dance. Sing. Travel. Speak. Do what He’s calling you to do!
Photo courtesy of freeimages.com/Johanna Ljungblom
Many believers are living with sexual addictions, fetishes, etc. They may try or attempt to live for God during the day (or at least in public) and then in the darkness, at night, or when no one is looking, they satisfy their tempting desires. They’re struggling between who they were and who they should become in Christ.
So what should they do?
Why do I always have to go through trials and temptation? I don’t want to continue facing the same things over and over and over AND OVER again! I just want to be free.
Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like the Apostle Paul when he said that when he wants to do right, sin is right there (Romans 7:21)? OR the things you want to do you don’t do, but the things you don’t want to do, THAT you find yourself doing (Romans 7:15)? Many of us can relate to Paul’s statements of temptation and sin, but we often stop there without going any further. We continue to live in a cycle that goes from temptation-sin-repentance-temptation-sin-repentance and it never seems to stop. We want to get off the merry-go-round, but it doesn’t seem like we ever can. Why do I have to go through this? Why can’t God just take it away because He knows I want to serve Him. If I didn’t have this ‘sin’ issue, I could just run for Him.
1. Grow in Intimacy. This is the most important for us as believers. Our connection with the Lord must be strong and sound…where He is our first source and not people. Learn how to have an intimate relationship with Him. Meditate on the Psalms to witness lives that were dependent upon the Lord (in the good and tough times).
2. Grow in the Word. Allow the Word of God to become your source for all aspects of your life…it is the most important ‘book’ you will ever read. Understand the entire message of the Bible and how each inspired writing ties into the plan of God and your life. Use study resources (i.e. study guides, commentaries, and dictionaries) that do not inject a lot of personal opinion.
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