SPIRITUAL SONGS

TEXT: EPH 5:19-20 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Introduction:

A. Songs make up a very important part of our worship.
1. Have we paid proper attention to our songs?

2. What should our song service consist of?

3. What is the proper concept of “SONG SERVICE”?

B. Serving is also a very important point to conceive.

1. We serve in doing good.
a. In benevolence.
b. In edifycation.
c. In sacrificing.

2. Every act a Christian participates in can be an act of service to God.

ROM 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. (NIV)

COL 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (NIV)

a. The KJV reads “Which is your reasonable service.” in Romans 12:1.
b. Since service is of importance, and anything we do directing it in Jesus Name is our spiritual service,
then, it is proper to think in terms of offering our songs of praise as SERVICE TO GOD.

3. How then would we best please God with this service of Song?
a. Of the 13 times that the matter of singing appears in the New Testament we can learn several things.
b. Perhaps these things can enrich our Service to God.

DISCUSSION:

I. When did singing occur?

A. The early brethren sang:
1. when observing feast… Mat 26:30.
2. when they were in trouble… Acts 16:25.
3. when in the presence of unbelievers. Rom 15:9-11.

B. The epistles command singing:
1. in Spirit, and mind… 1Cor 14:15.
2. in speaking to one another… Eph. 5:19.
3. to make music in the heart to God…
4. for teaching one another… Col. 3:16.
5. for showing gratitude to God…
6. as a declaration of Jesus name… Heb. 2:12.
7. as a sacrifice to God… Heb. 13:15.
8. as an expression of joy… Jas. 5:13.

C. Revelation exhibits the victory of the ages with the heavenly host singing praise.
1. Rev. 5:9… A New Song…Worthy is the Lamb.
2. Rev. 5:12.. With a loud voice…
3. Rev. 5:13.. Singing His Glory…
4. Rev. 14:3.. The Song of the Redeemed…
5. Rev. 15:3.. The Song of Moses…

II. When we view some of the passages that deal with song it will perhaps give us a proper concept of the sort God desires.
A. Why would Paul and Silas sing in time of trouble?

ACT 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (NIV)

1. What better way is there to remove the silence?

2. Remove the fear with Song:
a. fear of the dark…
b. fear of dangers…
c. fear of doubts…

B. From Paul’s writing to the Romans we find the the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus were to be evidenced by the Gentiles in Songs.

ROM 15:8-11 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples.” (NIV)

1. Singing then is proper in response to Conversion.

2. Singing could be considered a demonstration of the Christians faith before unbelievers.

C. When correcting the confusion in Corinth over the use of gifts Paul included proper sining.

1CO 14:15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. (NIV)

1. Babbling words without meaning served no valuable purpose…

2. The same is true with song… EVEN IF WE UNDERSTAND THE WORDS WE CAN IGNORE THEM.

D. Our singing is to be with purpose…

1. All should be for praising God…

2. But our singing should accomplish something for our immediate needs.
a. for teaching each other.
b. for edifying each other.
c. for showing our joy to our brothers.

3. Can we accomplish that when our songs are without feeling?

4. Can we lift up our brothers when we are in deep depression?

EPH 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, (NIV)

COL 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (NIV)

HEB 2:12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.” (NIV)

III. Allow me to close with the words of Paul:

HEB 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name. (NIV)