Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Musical Worship

Transcript

Musical Worship · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
It is a joy to be here with you all this morning.
0:05
We're taking a small break from our regular exposition of the gospel according to John.
0:12
! Over the past couple weeks, Nathan has preached on elders and deacons.
0:16
And this morning, as Nathan mentioned, we're going to be in the book of Colossians to consider
0:21
the command, the purpose, and the design of singing within the church.
0:27
So if you would, go ahead and turn with me to Colossians 3.
0:31
We'll be reading and looking at verse 16.
0:43
Our text reads,
0:44
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
0:51
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
0:58
Let's pray.
1:02
Father, we praise you for your word this morning, for the gathering of your saints.
1:06
And yes, Lord, for the singing.
1:07
We pray that you would enlighten the eyes and the ears of our hearts,
1:12
that we may come to know you more deeply this morning.
1:15
We pray these things in Christ's name.
1:17
Amen.
1:17
All right.
1:20
Throughout the book of Colossians, Paul and Timothy are focusing a lot on the person and work of Christ.
1:27
He spends a bulk of his time leading into chapter 3,
1:30
reemphasizing that Christ is preeminent and rightly to be worshiped.
1:36
They are correcting the worship of man and imparting the worship of Jesus,
1:41
which, to be clear, is not just through singing.
1:44
Worship is much more expansive than singing.
1:47
But as we come into chapter 3, Paul describes Christian living in light of God,
1:53
creating a new man from death to life in Christ.
1:57
And not only is he producing new individuals, but he is building his church.
2:03
Those in Christ are to be putting off the old man with its practices
2:08
and putting on the new man with Christ's likeness.
2:11
All right.
2:13
And then Paul goes to give us some commands to achieve that and what that might look like.
2:18
And we find ourselves this morning focusing on one of these commands in verse 16.
2:23
So the first part of our text, it starts with an objective and a precondition,
2:31
dwelling on the word that guides us to the rest of our text, teaching through singing.
2:36
So we exhorted to dwell on the word and one way to do that.
2:41
And as a result of doing that, we sing.
2:46
To begin with, the command to let the word of Christ.
2:49
In our English language, the word let is often used to like allow or permit.
2:55
The Greek, however, is a little trickier than that to give the English a clear translation.
3:00
The word in Greek, the word let actually isn't even there.
3:05
It just starts with the word of Christ.
3:07
It's more of an exhortation than asking permission.
3:12
Paul's not asking us to give permission for the word of Christ to dwell richly.
3:16
Piper brought to memory how we might start off the Olympic Games.
3:20
Let the games begin.
3:21
That announcement is not asking the crowd to convene on when or how to start the games.
3:26
But it's more commanding, start the games.
3:29
So the English doesn't have a true one-to-one for how this text reads, but he is being exhortative here.
3:35
There's some debate on what the word of Christ actually is, whether it is the canon of Scripture,
3:42
the words Jesus actually said, or the general message of Christ the gospel.
3:47
Later in chapter 4, verse 3, Paul is talking about sharing the gospel, and he uses the word there to communicate that.
3:56
And in Romans 10, he says, faith comes from hearing through the word of Christ.
4:02
So I believe he's specifically referring to the gospel here, and that's what I want our hearts to be thinking about.
4:08
But since Scripture is ultimately one metanarrative of the gospel message of Christ,
4:14
it's breathed out by God, I think we can take this either way and not lose too much of the intent.
4:20
But I do want to specifically be meditating on Christ and the gospel,
4:24
since that's the main focus throughout the book.
4:27
So the word of Christ is foundational.
4:29
I mean, it is its utmost importance to anything we do,
4:35
and that particularly includes our singing.
4:37
And I'll explain more why it's a particularly important singing later,
4:41
but as God himself birthed human history with his words,
4:46
the Christian is born again through the word of Christ, the gospel.
4:51
And at all times, we should be immersed in this truth.
4:55
It is our identity once the gospel has taken its regenerating effect in our hearts.
5:02
And this message, to be clear, is that God created all things.
5:07
The first humans, Adam and Eve, fell to temptation.
5:12
They disobeyed God and introduced sin into the world.
5:15
And the sin of our first parents is now inerrant to all of us.
5:20
Therefore, we all now disobey God, and this separates us from fellowship with him.
5:25
We stand condemned for breaking his good and moral law.
5:29
And the sentence being eternal destruction,
5:34
away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might.
5:39
But praise the Lord, Christ came to uphold the law perfectly,
5:44
and then dying the death that we deserved,
5:46
so that we would not have to.
5:48
Through faith and repentance of sin, this can be true for anyone.
5:53
For you and your household, for the Jew, the Greek, the male, the female, the slave, the master,
5:57
anyone confessing and believing leaves you justified instead of being condemned.
6:04
And being justified, we are reconciled to God and adopted into his family as his children.
6:10
And I love that this is the beginning of our text.
6:12
I mean, it truly sets the foundation for what proceeds.
6:17
And this word of Christ, this gospel message, is to dwell in us richly.
6:21
Our goal in singing is to draw nearer to Christ and into deeper fellowship with him.
6:28
And we're going to focus a lot on music today, but our musical worship is not worship,
6:32
unless it is aimed and set upon Christ in his glory,
6:36
not the glory of the music itself.
6:39
Paul does not say, let the music dwell in us richly,
6:43
but rather the word of Christ.
6:45
So the word dwell here alludes to God's dwelling place amidst the Israelites
6:52
and now in his covenant people.
6:56
And 1 Corinthians 4, or 3, excuse me, 1 Corinthians 3,
7:00
Paul interprets Ezekiel by saying,
7:03
you are God's temple and God's spirit dwells in you.
7:07
So the heart of the believer is now the dwelling place of God.
7:10
Christ has torn the veil.
7:12
And so now his word, the word of Christ,
7:16
is harbored in the hearts of Christians by the spirit.
7:20
And as God dwelled in the Holy of Holies, his word now dwells in us.
7:24
And the glories of the word of Christ, they're rich.
7:28
They are rich in and of themselves.
7:31
And it is like a deep mine with the most precious of jewels to lay hold of.
7:39
And the deeper you go, the more you realize how vast that mine is.
7:45
And those jewels become more and more precious to you.
7:48
It ought to and it does.
7:51
It captivates our whole being, our hearts, our minds, our souls.
7:56
And it produces outward fruit.
7:59
We become more refined and more Christ-like the more the word dwells within us.
8:04
And that means we have to consume it.
8:07
We have to meditate on it.
8:09
We have to marvel at its beauty.
8:11
Study it.
8:11
Practice it.
8:13
Love it.
8:14
And yeah, sing it.
8:16
And for this to be true of us,
8:18
for us to have the word of Christ dwelling in us richly,
8:21
we have to have eyes to see and ears to hear that only the spirit of God can give us.
8:27
So therefore we must pray for the word to dwell in us richly.
8:29
And we must believe it like our life depends on it because it does.
8:35
So this word is rich.
8:36
And if the eyes and the ears of our heart have been opened to it,
8:39
it will produce wisdom with its knowledge.
8:43
It's not just enough to know it.
8:45
As James tells us, you believe God is one, you do well.
8:48
Even the demons believe and they shudder.
8:50
You can know all about the gospel, the word of Christ, but not truly grasp it.
8:56
And therefore it be worthless to you.
8:59
And perhaps worse than worthless, leaving you without excuse to worship the right God rightly.
9:07
But if the gospel is dwelling richly within you, it will produce wisdom.
9:10
And this wisdom should characterize how we teach and admonish one another.
9:15
In our text, it specifically moves us to teach and admonish each other through singing
9:19
and teaching wisely through our singing at that.
9:26
So the ESV, it is a very faithful translation.
9:30
But one point of clarity I do want to address is regarding the commas in our text.
9:36
I think it is best understood to add a through or by after those phrases about the dwelling and the teaching.
9:46
The ESV puts these verbs in the present tense to communicate the flow of this verse.
9:51
It's all connected.
9:51
It's happening together.
9:53
But the commas kind of can tempt me to read them as three separate commands.
9:58
So I think it's helpful to read it like this.
10:00
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly by teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom
10:07
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
10:14
We are actually teaching and admonishing one another through our psalms and our hymns and our spiritual songs.
10:20
And the outcome is that the word of Christ dwells in us more richly.
10:24
It's not just that we have three separate commands.
10:27
Let the word of Christ dwell, teach and admonish, and also sing.
10:32
Instead, we have these three commands that are connected together and influence one another.
10:37
And the big one I want to really harp on to connect is the teaching and the singing,
10:42
teaching one another with psalms.
10:45
So we have a parallel text in Ephesians 5.
10:49
You're probably familiar with it.
10:50
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
10:56
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
11:01
singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.
11:04
Same author, probably written from the same prison, at the same time,
11:09
sent via the same person, Tychicus.
11:11
And notice it starts with being filled,
11:14
and then it goes on to command us to address or to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
11:21
So those lyrics are sung to one another as well as to God.
11:27
And another compelling reason is more systematic to consider it this way.
11:31
2 Timothy,
11:32
All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
11:39
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
11:43
All scripture for teaching, reproof and correction, or admonishment.
11:48
Right?
11:49
Well, the scriptures are filled with songs.
11:53
Have you been taught and admonished by the book of Psalms?
11:56
Yeah.
11:57
Psalms is actually one of the most quoted books.
11:59
It is the most quoted book in the New Testament.
12:02
Also, the Song of Solomon.
12:04
We have Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Moses.
12:08
There's 185 songs in God's word.
12:12
And God's word is profitable for teaching and admonition,
12:16
that the man of God may be complete.
12:18
So singing is a means for the words to dwell in us richly,
12:23
as it teaches us and as we teach one another through them.
12:28
And so since we're teaching and admonishing one another through these songs,
12:33
they better be true, soul-sustaining, God-honoring songs.
12:38
It is critical that these songs are informed by the word
12:42
and that those truths run through the lyrics and ring through the musical elements.
12:48
The congregation, the songwriters, the music leaders,
12:52
all need to be dwelling on the word richly to properly teach and admonish one another.
12:58
We want to be sure that we are clinging to the word of Christ,
13:02
not man-made innovation.
13:05
And there is room for heresy to invade the church through the songs we sing,
13:10
as not all of the songs are verbatim scripture.
13:14
False teachers will secretly bring in destructive heresies.
13:18
And it's very easy to do that in singing.
13:21
Destructive songs might say some true things about the gospel,
13:25
but not the full gospel, which leads people astray.
13:29
I've noticed in most of these songs you rarely hear about sin,
13:34
but you do hear all about how much Jesus loves you.
13:38
And sadly, they miss the true grace and love and mercy of Christ
13:43
by singing as if they deserve Christ's love.
13:48
Here's one example from Hillsong.
13:51
It says,
13:52
Don't let your heart be troubled.
13:54
Hold your head up high.
13:56
Don't fear no evil.
13:57
Fix your eyes on this one truth.
14:02
God is madly in love with you.
14:06
Take courage.
14:07
Hold on.
14:08
Be strong.
14:09
Remember where your help comes from.
14:13
There's some scripture thrown in here,
14:16
but where's the magnificent grace that Christ came to cancel the record of debt you owe?
14:24
Where is the assurance being placed?
14:27
Is it on Christ or is it on your loveliness?
14:33
Places that claim the name of Christ are singing songs like that all over this morning.
14:39
And this is why it's particularly critical for the word of Christ to dwell in us richly,
14:44
with all wisdom, as we consider singing.
14:47
It's either teaching us to glorify Christ or to glorify man.
14:51
So this also means the lyrics should be clear and not ambiguous.
14:58
Otherwise, we might not be clinging to anything substantial for our souls.
15:02
It can be a mere emotional experience,
15:05
while no instruction or admonishment is actually occurring.
15:10
The Riseners have been on a Lion King kick recently.
15:16
And I was reminded of the song, Can You Feel the Love Tonight?
15:22
And Timon starts that song really vaguely, and he says, I can see what's happening.
15:27
And Pumbaa says, what?
15:30
Timon says, they don't have a clue.
15:33
Pumbaa chimes in, who?
15:34
Pumbaa can't discern what Simone is talking about.
15:38
We don't want anyone to be a Pumbaa when we sing.
15:40
We want the word of Christ to be clear and rich in its presentation as we sing,
15:46
so that we can cling to the Christocentric truths.
15:50
And more than the lyrics, it's also helpful to consider our environment
15:56
and our presentation to effectively teach one another.
16:00
For example, we keep the lights on.
16:04
We are not being mystical or individualistic.
16:08
We are speaking to one another.
16:10
I don't suppose any of you have conversations with the lights off,
16:13
chanting counsel out loud to yourself.
16:17
We do go alone to the Lord in prayer, privately, behind closed doors.
16:22
But that's not the use of singing congregationally.
16:25
It's not always wrong to close your eyes or lift your hands,
16:28
and perhaps that actually can be good sometimes.
16:31
David speaks in this way sometimes, lifting his hands in praise to God.
16:35
But just remember that you are addressing others with these truths.
16:39
You are singing to one another.
16:42
And just because we are singing to others,
16:46
that doesn't mean that the sun rises to hear you crow
16:49
and the church didn't gather to marvel at your singing.
16:52
That's not what verse 16 is teaching.
16:56
We sing, as verse 14 describes, in perfect harmony,
17:00
serving others and not ourselves.
17:03
And the other side of the spotlight coin is maybe distractive singing.
17:09
We should probably practice our singing
17:11
if we find ourselves being a disruption on Sunday.
17:16
I put myself in this camp, but you know who you are.
17:21
We do the same thing for public speaking,
17:23
to better teach and admonish one another.
17:25
I've probably already said um like 20 times this sermon.
17:28
But it is something that we do,
17:30
and we take to heart so that we can more faithfully practice,
17:36
you know, verse 16,
17:37
seeking to deliver these truths in song effectively
17:41
while not being the center of attention.
17:43
But in contrast to this center of attention,
17:47
we also didn't come here this morning
17:49
for the band to be the center of attention,
17:51
to just sit back and entertain us
17:53
while we passively mouth the words
17:56
or just pragmatically sing them
17:59
without actually seeking the edification of one another
18:03
and the worship of God.
18:05
The band is here to facilitate the congregation's role.
18:09
They play in styles and in keys.
18:11
We can all sing.
18:12
They don't have a blaring electric guitar
18:15
and overwhelming volume
18:17
so that we can't hear one another.
18:20
It's a happy medium where we can hear one another
18:22
as the band leads us in the key and melody,
18:27
and therefore the truths of the lyrics are communicated well.
18:31
So we incorporate these practices
18:33
as we sing various kinds of songs,
18:36
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
18:39
I'm not convinced of the exact definition
18:42
and distinction between these three different kinds of songs.
18:46
Some who, to be sure, are smarter than me
18:48
do break them down into specific categories,
18:51
but I think the main point is that we're using a variety of songs.
18:55
Songs from Scripture
18:57
and songs composed as a response to Scripture,
19:01
songs of lament,
19:02
songs of rejoicing,
19:03
songs of triumph,
19:04
and so on.
19:09
The psalms, however,
19:10
they do point to using instruments.
19:14
I wouldn't let someone tell you
19:15
that instruments on stage are sin.
19:17
It would be okay if we didn't,
19:19
but it certainly isn't sin to include them faithfully.
19:23
The very word psalm actually means
19:26
to strum or pluck on an instrument.
19:29
So we are to use all kinds of songs,
19:31
some accompanied by musical instruments,
19:34
others perhaps not,
19:36
but to teach and to admonish one another.
19:40
And so that's the gist of what our text is saying
19:43
in this first half,
19:44
but it leads me to the question,
19:47
why singing?
19:49
If the word of Christ is what we want to dwell in us richly,
19:52
why are we not just commanded
19:54
to speak it to one another?
19:56
Why do we go the extra step
19:58
into singing it to one another?
20:01
And this is no new command in Scripture.
20:03
It's actually one of the most frequent commands
20:06
in our Bibles.
20:07
For reference sake,
20:09
Exodus 15 and 18,
20:11
Numbers 21,
20:12
Deuteronomy 31 and 32,
20:15
2 Samuel 1, 22 and 33,
20:18
1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles,
20:20
Isaiah, Ezekiel, Psalms,
20:23
Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians,
20:26
it goes on and on.
20:27
It's very frequent in our Bibles.
20:31
And I think there are many reasons
20:32
we seem to glorify God,
20:34
but three significant reasons
20:36
we're going to dwell on today
20:37
are one,
20:39
it's a design feature.
20:41
It's part of creation.
20:43
Number two,
20:45
it's a means of displaying
20:46
displaying our oneness in Christ.
20:50
And three,
20:51
we actually edify one another
20:53
through our response to God
20:56
in song.
20:58
So number one,
20:59
singing is founded upon
21:00
a design feature in creation.
21:03
The first song recorded in Scripture
21:06
isn't until Exodus 15,
21:08
but we have reference to music and song
21:11
all the way back to Genesis 4.
21:12
A few generations after Adam and Eve,
21:16
we have Lamex children
21:17
and their trade recorded for us.
21:20
One is Jubal,
21:22
and he was the father of all those
21:24
who play the lyre and the pipe.
21:26
There was also Tubal Cain,
21:28
and he was the forger
21:29
of all instruments of bronze and iron,
21:33
which may indicate tools,
21:35
but I like to think it includes
21:38
musical metal instruments as well.
21:40
So in the first few chapters
21:41
of human history,
21:42
there's enough business
21:43
for these brothers
21:44
to actually be professional music teachers
21:47
and perhaps instrument makers,
21:49
and we have music being played here
21:52
from the start,
21:53
and I have to assume
21:54
there were songs being sung.
21:56
We start in Genesis,
21:57
and it continues throughout human history
21:59
until Revelation and beyond.
22:02
Singing is baked into creation.
22:06
The Lord was creatively
22:08
and gloriously pleased
22:11
to make it an active part
22:13
of human history,
22:14
and it's not just found
22:16
within the church,
22:16
as we all know.
22:17
It's found everywhere.
22:18
I think most,
22:19
we go to concerts with people
22:20
who appreciate the same music.
22:22
We see Marion Pippen at the pub
22:25
singing their Green Dragon Inn.
22:28
In high school football,
22:29
if we won a game,
22:30
we would gather in the locker room
22:32
and sing a traditional song of triumph.
22:36
It's in the DNA of humans.
22:39
We are singers, music makers.
22:42
Furthermore, creation itself
22:44
is described to be singing a song
22:45
as it displays God's glory
22:47
and his sovereign rule over nature.
22:51
Psalm 98,
22:52
let the sea roar
22:53
and all that fills it,
22:55
the world and those who dwell in it.
22:57
Let the rivers clap their hands.
22:59
Let the hills sing for joy together.
23:02
In Psalm 65,
23:03
the pastures of the wilderness overflow,
23:06
the hills gird themselves with joy,
23:08
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
23:11
the valleys deck themselves with grain.
23:14
They shout and sing together for joy.
23:18
So this is all downstream
23:20
from the attributes of our creator.
23:23
God didn't just create a world
23:26
that had mere mechanical function,
23:28
but he created functional systems
23:31
that are beautiful.
23:33
For instance, in Genesis 2,
23:35
God created out of the ground
23:36
every tree that is pleasant to sight
23:39
and good for food.
23:42
So the function of some trees
23:43
were for consuming their beauty
23:45
and other trees,
23:47
their beauty and their fruit.
23:49
The oak tree is beautiful,
23:51
but I had a rough night one time
23:53
after I ate one of its acorns.
23:56
It was not for beauty and food.
24:01
Psalm 19, which is a song,
24:03
the heavens declare the glory of God
24:05
and the sky above proclaim his handiwork.
24:08
Day to day pours out speech
24:10
and night to night reveals knowledge.
24:13
So not only is God's creation functional,
24:15
but it is beautiful
24:17
as it displays the glory of the creator.
24:22
His unique creation, mankind,
24:24
was created in his image.
24:28
The creator created more,
24:32
little c, creators
24:34
to reflect and display,
24:37
to image the glory of their creator.
24:41
It's like Norman Rockwell's
24:43
painting of himself,
24:44
painting himself.
24:45
The great creator or artist or composer
24:48
has created us with a pleasure
24:52
in musical expressions.
24:54
It's one way that we bear God's image
24:57
of creating by creating music.
25:01
God's gift of music and song
25:03
is a means of communication,
25:05
but it's in an artistic and creative way.
25:09
It is both functional
25:10
in presenting information,
25:12
but it's also beautiful
25:14
in the way it is presented.
25:15
It takes words on a page
25:17
and enhances the effect
25:20
of their truths
25:21
by employing our emotions
25:24
and appreciation
25:25
of the musical features.
25:27
God himself seems to be pleased
25:29
with musically communicating deep truths,
25:31
again, as he has given us
25:32
so many songs in his word.
25:35
Harmony, rhythm, pitch,
25:38
poetic lyrics,
25:39
everything about music,
25:40
everything about music,
25:40
when we put them together correctly,
25:42
is pleasing.
25:44
And we will put thematic music
25:47
to our lyrics
25:49
to expound our expression
25:51
of the words we are singing.
25:54
It deepens our experience of it
25:56
so that we can feel the lyrics.
25:58
And although we see God's thumbprint
26:01
in all mankind
26:03
as they create songs,
26:05
it naturally falls short
26:07
of its intended design
26:09
in Adam.
26:11
Singing can be done
26:12
for the glory of man
26:13
or for the glory of God.
26:15
It has been corrupted in Adam,
26:17
but it can be redeemed in Christ.
26:21
If we look back
26:21
in our chapter 3 at verse 10,
26:24
we put on the new self,
26:25
which is being renewed in knowledge
26:29
after the image of its creator.
26:31
So we've already been created
26:33
in the image of God,
26:34
but now we are again
26:36
being made more into the image
26:38
of a creator.
26:40
So setting our minds
26:41
on the things above,
26:43
what we now create
26:44
will reflect God's attributes
26:47
all the more.
26:48
Our songs seek to creatively
26:50
adorn the truths
26:52
that we are speaking
26:53
to glorify our great creator
26:55
as an act of worship.
26:58
So songwriters and music leaders,
27:01
they have the important
27:02
and spiritual task
27:03
of understanding
27:04
what key to play in,
27:06
what volume, pitch,
27:08
so that we can reflect
27:10
God's image as creators.
27:13
They heard us musically challenged
27:16
cats to sound better
27:18
than we would have otherwise.
27:20
They're attempting to make us
27:22
both functional and pleasing
27:23
to experience the lyrical truths
27:25
all the more,
27:27
enhancing the truths
27:28
that they may richly dwell in us.
27:31
It incorporates our emotions,
27:33
our natural attraction to music,
27:36
and our propensity to create,
27:39
and it channels those things
27:40
to present rich truths beautifully.
27:43
And, for instance,
27:46
when we sing,
27:48
great is thy faithfulness,
27:50
there's a line that reads,
27:52
all I have needed,
27:54
and the pitch ascends.
27:56
Where do we look for what we need?
27:58
Seek first the kingdom of God.
27:59
I look to the hills,
28:00
from where does my help come from?
28:02
It comes from above the hills,
28:04
and as our hearts are lifted
28:05
to look for the things we need,
28:07
so does our pitch.
28:09
The conclusion to that line is,
28:11
thy hand hath provided.
28:13
My help comes down from above,
28:15
from the Lord,
28:16
who made the heavens and the earth.
28:18
So as the Lord descends with aid from above,
28:21
so does our voice.
28:23
And that's just a beautiful way
28:24
to further experience the truths
28:27
that we're singing to God.
28:30
There's also the famous Easter hymn,
28:32
Up from the Grave He Arrows.
28:34
That song starts,
28:36
Low in the grave he lay.
28:39
It's really kind of somber and low,
28:42
and you can almost hear the hopelessness
28:45
of the disciples
28:46
as they felt everything was amiss.
28:50
Messiah was gone.
28:51
Death had won the day.
28:52
But then the response is high and fast
28:55
when it sings,
28:56
Up from the Grave He Arrows.
28:58
It's really high and it's triumphant
29:00
because He has triumphed over His foes.
29:03
And it's a way to declare
29:07
the victory of Christ
29:08
over death and sin
29:10
thematically in those lyrics.
29:13
And I remember a few weeks ago,
29:16
Alex led us in Behold Our God one time.
29:20
At the end of that song,
29:22
we repeat,
29:23
You will reign for...
29:25
And I found myself thinking,
29:27
Man,
29:28
He repeated that line
29:29
one too many times.
29:30
How long is this going to go on?
29:33
And it hit me.
29:35
Yeah,
29:36
the Lord will reign forever.
29:39
Forever.
29:40
And ever.
29:41
All the way down
29:42
throughout history and beyond.
29:44
So singing that line again
29:45
and again
29:46
emphasizes the ongoing
29:48
and forever nature
29:50
of God's rule and reign.
29:52
So it's one way
29:55
that we thematically
29:57
present these rich truths
30:02
to one another.
30:03
So the second reason I see,
30:05
and perhaps the sweetest meditation
30:07
of all this,
30:08
is the fact that we are doing this
30:09
as a people
30:11
who have been called
30:12
into one body.
30:14
We, the redeemed,
30:16
are no longer just people.
30:18
We are now God's chosen people.
30:21
Let's look back into our text
30:23
for a little bit of context
30:24
of where we're at,
30:25
where Paul's mind is
30:27
as we come to verse 16.
30:28
We're going to start
30:29
in verse 9.
30:34
It says,
30:34
Do not lie to one another,
30:36
seeing that you have put off
30:37
the old self
30:38
with its practices
30:39
and have put on
30:40
the new self,
30:41
which is being renewed
30:43
in knowledge
30:43
after the image
30:44
of its creator.
30:45
Here there is no Greek
30:47
and Jew,
30:48
circumcised and uncircumcised,
30:50
barbarian,
30:51
Scythian,
30:52
slave,
30:52
free,
30:53
but Christ is all
30:55
and in all.
30:56
Put on then
30:57
as God's chosen ones,
30:59
holy and beloved,
31:00
compassionate hearts,
31:02
kindness against another,
31:04
forgiving each other
31:05
as the Lord
31:06
has forgiven you.
31:08
So you also must forgive.
31:10
And above all these,
31:11
put on love,
31:12
which binds everything together
31:14
in perfect harmony.
31:17
And let the peace of Christ
31:18
rule in your hearts
31:19
to which indeed
31:20
you are called
31:20
in one body
31:22
and be thankful.
31:24
Let the word of Christ
31:25
dwell in you richly,
31:26
teaching and admonishing
31:27
one another
31:28
in all wisdom,
31:29
singing psalms and hymns
31:30
and spiritual songs
31:31
with thankfulness
31:32
in your hearts to God.
31:33
And whatever you do
31:34
in word or deed,
31:35
do everything
31:36
in the name
31:37
of the Lord Jesus,
31:39
giving thanks to God
31:40
the Father
31:40
through Him.
31:43
Right?
31:43
So this text
31:44
is emphatic
31:45
about our oneness
31:47
in Christ
31:48
and how to glorify Him.
31:51
That's the context
31:51
we find ourselves
31:52
as we consider
31:53
singing together.
31:55
Congregational singing
31:56
is not only
31:57
a means of
31:58
praising God
31:59
individually,
32:00
but it's a way
32:01
of displaying
32:02
and embodying
32:04
our oneness
32:05
in Christ.
32:07
The word church
32:08
is a singular noun,
32:10
but it describes
32:11
a plurality
32:12
of people.
32:13
The word body
32:14
is also a singular noun,
32:15
but we are members
32:16
of one body
32:17
with,
32:18
as Colossians 2
32:20
tells us,
32:20
with Christ
32:21
as the head.
32:23
The church
32:24
is beautifully
32:25
comprised
32:25
of diverse people.
32:28
We come from
32:28
different places,
32:30
we have different
32:30
upbringings,
32:32
we have different
32:33
preferences and opinions.
32:34
You know,
32:35
some of us
32:35
wouldn't have even dared
32:36
to hang out
32:37
with one another
32:38
before Christ
32:38
had called us together.
32:40
But at the end
32:41
of the day,
32:42
the Lord has brought
32:43
us into one
32:44
heavenly family,
32:46
and we with one
32:47
voice glorify
32:49
the same God
32:50
and Father
32:50
of our Lord
32:51
Jesus Christ.
32:53
There is one body
32:54
and one spirit,
32:55
one hope,
32:56
one Lord,
32:57
one faith,
32:58
one baptism,
32:59
one God
33:00
and Father
33:00
of all.
33:01
And we are
33:02
His one chosen
33:03
people
33:04
that metaphorically
33:05
sing the same
33:07
song.
33:08
The word
33:08
of Christ
33:09
is our
33:10
anthem.
33:12
Our sins
33:13
have been paid
33:13
for by the
33:14
blood of King
33:15
Jesus,
33:16
and that's
33:16
our song.
33:18
When we sing
33:19
together,
33:19
we are showing
33:20
this usurping
33:21
power of Christ
33:22
over our
33:24
earthly differences.
33:26
And more than
33:27
calling up people
33:27
from all kinds
33:28
of places,
33:29
we also have
33:29
different and
33:30
unique giftings
33:31
that the Lord
33:32
uses to bless
33:33
the church.
33:34
The church
33:35
in this way
33:35
is like a
33:36
heavenly orchestra
33:38
with Christ
33:39
as its composer.
33:41
And when we're
33:42
using our gifts
33:43
for the greater
33:44
good of the church,
33:46
we play the score
33:47
that the Lord
33:48
wrote for us.
33:50
Our singing
33:51
and harmony
33:51
depicts our
33:53
harmony in Christ.
33:55
It illustrates
33:56
the beauty
33:56
of the church
33:57
using her
33:58
unique roles
34:00
in one accord.
34:02
We give
34:02
our individual
34:04
gifts to
34:05
bless the
34:05
body,
34:06
and we give
34:06
our individual
34:07
voices in
34:08
our songs.
34:09
And when
34:10
everyone plays
34:10
their part,
34:11
it makes
34:12
a joyful
34:12
noise.
34:14
And so
34:14
since we
34:14
have a
34:16
variety of
34:16
people with
34:17
subjective
34:18
experiences coming
34:20
to worship
34:20
in harmony,
34:21
it is good
34:22
to sing a
34:23
variety of
34:24
songs.
34:25
Songs of
34:26
lament for the
34:27
grieving heart,
34:28
as well as
34:28
songs of
34:29
rejoicing for
34:30
those who
34:31
aren't,
34:32
it would be
34:33
somewhat
34:34
self-seeking to
34:35
think that we
34:35
can't sing a
34:36
lament because
34:37
we're feeling too
34:38
cheerful that day,
34:40
or that we
34:40
can't sing some
34:41
lively carol because
34:43
we're feeling a
34:44
little gloomy.
34:46
But we sing those
34:47
songs genuinely
34:48
for the one who
34:49
may be in a
34:50
different season
34:51
than we are.
34:52
We weep with
34:52
those who weep,
34:53
and we rejoice
34:54
with those who
34:55
rejoice.
34:56
And if you're
34:57
feeling down,
34:58
maybe you need
34:58
to sing a
34:59
joyful song so
35:00
you can practice
35:01
being joyful
35:02
always and
35:04
giving thanks in
35:05
all circumstances.
35:06
Maybe you've
35:07
been living a
35:08
little too
35:08
lightheartedly,
35:09
and you need
35:10
to be brought
35:11
back to the
35:11
sincerity of
35:12
following Christ.
35:13
We can do
35:14
those things
35:15
through our
35:15
songs.
35:16
And whatever
35:16
your circumstances
35:17
are, we put
35:18
on love, and
35:19
we submit to
35:19
one another out
35:20
of reverence
35:21
for Christ.
35:23
So this leads
35:23
us into our
35:24
third reason.
35:26
Singing
35:26
exemplifies how
35:28
the heart
35:29
responds to
35:30
the truth.
35:32
We are
35:32
teaching and
35:33
admonishing one
35:33
another as we
35:35
are exemplifying
35:36
the worship of
35:37
God through
35:38
song.
35:40
When you see
35:41
a brother or
35:42
sister truly
35:43
singing and
35:44
praising the
35:45
Lord, doesn't
35:46
that edify you?
35:49
I remember
35:49
one Sunday
35:50
morning, several
35:51
years ago, as we
35:52
were singing, I
35:53
was standing next
35:54
to a brother, and
35:55
he was just
35:55
passionately
35:56
singing.
35:57
He then
35:58
threw his
35:58
arm around
35:59
my shoulder, and
36:00
he brought
36:01
me into this
36:02
praise of our
36:03
mutual Savior.
36:05
His transparent
36:06
clinging to
36:08
Christ, you
36:09
know, belting
36:10
these truths
36:10
out amidst the
36:12
church, it was
36:12
edifying to me.
36:14
Even this
36:14
morning, as I
36:15
hear you guys
36:15
sing, it is
36:16
edifying, exemplary
36:19
to me, to my
36:19
heart.
36:21
And when we
36:22
compose a song
36:23
in response to
36:24
scripture, it
36:25
can teach and
36:26
admonish us by
36:27
artists who we
36:29
should trust
36:29
again.
36:30
We're dwelling
36:31
on the word of
36:32
Christ.
36:33
God has gifted
36:34
many with the
36:35
ability to consume
36:36
scripture and
36:37
experience the Lord
36:38
working in their
36:39
hearts and then
36:39
output, creative,
36:41
encouraging, and
36:43
convicting songs.
36:46
Psalm 51, for
36:47
example, David
36:48
singing the song
36:49
of repentance,
36:50
exemplifies how a
36:51
man, after God's
36:52
own heart, responds
36:53
to committing that
36:55
grievous sin with
36:56
Bathsheba.
36:57
And we come
36:58
together to both
36:59
sing praises to
37:00
God and to teach
37:01
one another to
37:02
worship the Lord.
37:04
It is something
37:04
that the Lord has
37:05
ordained that
37:06
supplements the
37:07
exegesis of the
37:09
scriptures.
37:10
Singing teaches and
37:11
admonish one another
37:12
by showing us the
37:13
work of the spirit
37:14
through the way that
37:15
we sing and through
37:17
the lyrics of the
37:18
songs we compose in
37:20
response to the
37:21
indwell word.
37:23
So the very end of
37:25
our text, it
37:26
almost comes a bit
37:28
naturally to me.
37:30
After considering
37:31
the glory of God
37:33
in our singing, it
37:35
nearly goes without
37:36
saying with
37:37
thankfulness in your
37:38
hearts to God.
37:40
But I think it goes
37:41
with saying because
37:42
it directs our heart
37:43
posture as we
37:45
sing.
37:46
There is a duality
37:47
that we are singing
37:49
to one another, to
37:51
teach one another, and
37:52
to God with
37:54
thankfulness in your
37:55
hearts to God.
37:57
You can't just check
37:59
this cognitive box.
38:01
Sing good lyrics,
38:02
mission accomplished,
38:04
congregation has
38:05
been taught.
38:06
It needs to be from
38:07
your heart and
38:08
sincerity with
38:09
thankfulness from
38:09
your heart and for
38:11
the hearts of
38:11
others.
38:12
The goal of our
38:13
teaching through
38:14
song is to affect
38:15
the hearts of one
38:16
another as our
38:18
hearts are affected.
38:19
as this heart
38:21
change isn't from
38:22
the music or the
38:24
smoke and mirrors.
38:25
It's the truth of
38:26
the word of Christ.
38:29
Christ has consumed
38:30
the wrath.
38:31
We deserve to save
38:32
a people who
38:33
rejected him.
38:34
And this should
38:35
move you spiritually
38:36
and emotionally to
38:38
sing praises to God
38:40
and proclaim his
38:41
goodness to one
38:42
another.
38:43
I think this is
38:44
going to look
38:45
different than just
38:46
singing.
38:46
What we sing and
38:48
the way we sing
38:49
reveals what's
38:51
inside.
38:53
Out of the mouth
38:54
flows the heart.
38:56
We are called to
38:57
dwell on the word
38:57
richly.
38:59
Our hearts are
39:00
turned to
39:00
thankfulness.
39:02
And then that
39:02
sentiment is
39:03
displayed outwardly
39:04
in singing.
39:06
It is a spiritual
39:07
and emotional
39:08
expression.
39:11
Women aren't
39:13
immune from
39:13
failing in this,
39:15
but they are
39:15
typically more
39:16
inclined to
39:17
emotionally express
39:18
themselves.
39:19
Whereas men
39:20
have a harder
39:21
time.
39:22
Our culture
39:22
often tells us
39:23
that men are
39:23
to be tough
39:24
and that means
39:25
we are to
39:26
not show our
39:27
hearts outwardly.
39:29
We need to be
39:30
steady and
39:32
stable and
39:33
objective.
39:35
Colossians,
39:35
however,
39:36
tells us that
39:37
we need to be
39:38
displaying the
39:39
influence of the
39:39
word in our
39:40
hearts outwardly
39:41
as we worship
39:43
God and edify
39:44
the church with
39:46
thankfulness in
39:46
your hearts to
39:47
God.
39:48
Vulnerability and
39:49
outward expression
39:50
is not just
39:51
for the
39:52
subjective
39:53
relativists or
39:55
the emotional
39:56
flutty-duddies.
39:58
Art, the
39:59
ordinances,
40:00
imagery,
40:01
allegory,
40:02
metaphor,
40:03
all these things
40:04
when informed
40:04
by the word
40:06
can be used as
40:07
a means of
40:09
worshiping
40:09
God.
40:11
Worship
40:11
through song
40:12
is for those
40:13
strong in
40:14
Christ,
40:15
willing to,
40:16
as Matthew
40:17
records,
40:18
to acknowledge
40:19
Jesus before
40:20
men so that
40:21
Jesus will
40:23
acknowledge us
40:24
before the
40:25
Father.
40:27
And I
40:27
confess, I
40:28
used to think
40:28
I was too
40:29
tough to be
40:30
transparent,
40:30
to outwardly
40:32
display the
40:32
inward work of
40:33
the Spirit in
40:34
my heart through
40:35
various means.
40:37
The Lord
40:38
started to
40:39
sanctify me
40:39
in this when
40:40
I got married.
40:41
It was such a
40:42
beauty in
40:42
displaying Christ
40:43
in the church
40:44
through marriage.
40:45
I probably never
40:46
cried in front of
40:47
y'all until that
40:47
day, but I
40:48
wept that day.
40:52
Yeah, since
40:52
then I've grown
40:53
exponentially in
40:54
being influenced
40:54
by the beauty
40:55
of God
40:56
illustrating his
40:57
word in
40:58
various ways.
40:59
And now I
40:59
probably cry
41:00
most in church
41:01
through our
41:01
singing.
41:02
That's when my
41:03
heart is
41:03
affected deeply.
41:06
And singing,
41:06
it just brings
41:07
a felt weight
41:08
to the
41:10
doctrines we
41:10
are confessing
41:11
together.
41:12
The underlying
41:13
power of that
41:14
all is certainly
41:15
the words,
41:16
the lyrics,
41:17
the truths in
41:18
them.
41:18
But there's an
41:20
influence of the
41:21
heart there,
41:22
and that influence
41:23
is commanded to be
41:24
displayed outwardly.
41:27
So we are to be
41:28
bold and sincere
41:29
and transparent.
41:31
We're to let the
41:32
word of Christ
41:33
have its effect
41:34
and be compelled
41:36
or moved to
41:37
worship him
41:38
with thankfulness
41:40
in your hearts
41:40
to God
41:41
through song.
41:44
We could go
41:45
on, I promise
41:46
you, but time
41:47
is limited.
41:49
I think we hit
41:49
the meat of why
41:50
the Lord commands
41:51
us to sing.
41:52
There are many
41:52
entrees, but he
41:55
himself is a
41:56
singer and a
41:57
composer.
41:58
We, as one,
42:01
yet many, are
42:02
his workmanship
42:03
created in Christ
42:04
Jesus for good
42:05
works.
42:06
He commands us
42:07
to sing because
42:08
he built us to
42:09
sing to experience
42:11
his grace and
42:12
mercy in deep,
42:14
affectionate ways.
42:17
Use this gift of
42:18
singing to bless
42:19
others today.
42:20
Sing with gusto
42:21
and confidence
42:23
in the word of
42:24
Christ.
42:26
We sing with
42:27
thankfulness in our
42:28
hearts to God
42:28
because God is
42:29
due all thanks
42:30
as every good
42:31
gift is from
42:32
above, coming
42:33
down from the
42:34
Father of lights.
42:36
So in closing,
42:37
our application is
42:38
going to be very
42:39
practical.
42:40
We're going to
42:41
sing.
42:43
The first song,
42:44
I know Jordan
42:45
posted these on
42:46
Slack the other
42:46
day, but the
42:47
first song is
42:48
Come Behold the
42:49
Wondrous Mystery,
42:49
and we're actually
42:50
going to do this
42:51
a cappella.
42:52
We chose to
42:53
remove the
42:54
instruments so
42:55
that you all
42:56
can utilize the
42:57
instruments.
42:58
God gave you
42:58
and to use
43:00
them to create
43:01
a joyful noise
43:03
and experience
43:04
the oneness we
43:05
have in Christ.
43:07
This song gives
43:08
us that full
43:09
word of Christ
43:10
in his lyrics.
43:11
We were in
43:12
darkness and the
43:13
light of Christ
43:13
has come.
43:15
He saved the
43:15
hell-bound man
43:17
through his
43:18
propitiation.
43:19
We are bound
43:20
for glory together
43:21
in Christ.
43:23
And for the
43:24
second song,
43:25
we all love to
43:25
sing that one,
43:26
O Christ,
43:27
our hope,
43:27
our heart's
43:28
desire.
43:29
It's a hearty
43:30
and joyful
43:31
and thankful
43:32
song to really
43:33
feel the effect
43:35
of how music
43:36
supplements our
43:38
praises to
43:39
God.
43:40
But I'm going
43:40
to pray for us
43:41
really quick
43:41
before we sing,
43:42
and then as the
43:43
band comes up,
43:44
just take a minute
43:45
to think through
43:46
this text and
43:46
pray through this
43:47
text and put on
43:48
Colossians 3.16
43:50
as you approach
43:51
singing together.
43:52
Let's pray.
43:52
Let's pray.
43:52
Thank you.