A Complete Preaching Series on Music  -  Begun September 12. 2004

- The Opening Introductory Message -
It's Time!

Deceiving vain words!
By now, we should be wanting to let no man deceive us with vain words because we are now light in the Lord, we should walk as children of light.  Even though we must live 'under the sun' we are to not fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather, we are to reprove them.

Not to partake!
That means that a music that is not 'pleasing to God,'  a music that is not 'of' God,' or a music that is not proper for 'a child of God' is to be reproved and rejected!  We are to have nothing to do with that 'fruit of darkness' nor be partakers with them that speak those vain words to the children of disobedience!

The Book tells us!
Music of the world is made manifest by the light - the light of the Word of God!   Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Wake Up to the Music!
If we have been "saved" - "born again" - "put our trust in the Lord from our heart," then we have been awakened from the dead!  (Romans 7:9)   Yet, there are those quickened by the Lord Jesus Christ that still need to be awakened from their spiritual 'ignorance' and 'sleep' concerning music.  We are to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  If anyone doesn't see the evil in Ameriac these days, then you just can not be reading a 'rightly divided' Bible at all!

In order for us to properly speak to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our heart to the Lord, we must be filled with the Spirit.  With that, we are to give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...

It is my prayer and hope that the Holy Spirit makes you hungry and thirsty to have the Light - the word of God - light up your heart concerning music once and for all!   Since I have really taken this music issue to task over they past years, I truly believe that music has become the number one device of the devil concerning churches, individual families within the church, as well as specific individuals, with the final victim being our own Bible Believing Kids, grandkids and Teens!

The devil got the Book rejected & is out of the churches and homes - or even just put down a notch or two by the KJBO folks - so now he has replaced it with music in the lives of almost ALL Christians today!

Folks Don't Know
Most - and I mean MOST Christians do not know!  They really don't, nor do most pastors, preachers and evangelists.   They have heard and read a verse or two about praising God with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, but what has taken place these past 100 years in and with music is only because folks don't know what the Bible says about music - but they know what they like - and they seem to know what kind of music brings in the 'lost' and 'seekers.'

Not Preached
Most folks have not read their Bibles thinking on music and most preachers haven't preached on it - and most won't!  For most of those who have, they usually have no clue as to the truth of what needs to be said about music - especially anything about the language of music!

But I have come to learn that ... God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  That no flesh should glory in his presence. I Corinthians 1:27-29

Flesh Held Back
I have done my part over many years and God has done His part to keep my flesh from glorying about music. Honestly!

I have taught music in schools for 25 years or so that range from 5 to 3,000 students.  I have taught music from grades 5 through Adult Bible Institute level.  I have directed bands and choirs from 20 to 200.  I have taught in public schools, private Christian schools as well as being involved with a homeschool organization.  I have lead singing from a few church folks in small churches to many hundreds of people in large churches.  

I have even learned to play most of the instruments of Japheth as well as teach them to many many children, teens and adults.

God Prevented My Glory!
But through it all, as music was my life for so many years, God kept me from ever getting so 'good' at it that it would become a serious god to me.  Yes, it did become my life "under the sun" and to some extent, that did make it my god - but it never got seriously rooted in stone!  I know the exact times God yanked me away from music becoming my final god!

1.  God will shew us, in His Scriptures, the specific design and purpose of music!
 
 

2.  God will tell us about true worship, true praise, and true thanksgiving!
 
 

3.  We will be given opportunities to read and meditate on ALL the music verses in the entire Bible that preach, teach and admonish us all!
 
 

4.  I will address specific musical concerns for:  the church musicians such as music students, song leaders, the choir, the instrumentalists - espoecially the accompanists on piano and organ.  (not "keyboard artists"!!)
 
 

5.  We will see that the "force" and "power" of music exists openly as well as secretly everywhere today 'under the sun' in this the "Hour of Temptation!" - with music being a temptation that most folks don't realize the danger of it all!
 
 

6.  I will offer specific Scriptural and musical guidance, encouragement and musical direction to pastors, preachers, evangelists, SS teachers - AND then to parents!  I am not trying to sow any discord between pastors and their church members...
 
 

7.  We will view a general history presentation of music from Genesis to Revelation with emphasis on the music of Japheth, Shem and Ham!  We can actually see through the study of music where we have been, where we are today and where we are going!
 
 

8.  We will see that, "Yes!" ... there IS a music 'under the sun' that is approved unto the Lord!
I Thessalonians 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Ephesians 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
 
 

9.  We will Investigate the dangerously deceiving and damning music in children's Sunday School and Bible study programs - including the music backgrounds in Bible story videos and cassettes for children and teens!  The doctrine is bad enough, but what about the music?  EVERYTHING comes with music these days!
 
 

10.  I will point out ungodly music trends within the local church - especially the King James churches!
 
 

11.  We will see how we can and ought to "Triumph in God's Praises" everyday!
Psalm 106:47  Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
 
 

12.  We will take a quick look into the general history of Christian music in America; how America silently slipped from the Philadelphian Church Age to the Laodicean Church Age!
 
 

13.  I will try to even show you how Philippians 4:8 applies to music for us on a daily basis - actually getting into the language of music!
 
 

14.  We will see how the Occult influences the CCM world & how that has taken over the churches in America - yes, even in more and more KJB churches!
 
 

1.  Is there a perfect and pure music on this earth?
 

2.  Is music really replacing preaching in today's Christianity?  If so, how?  and why?
 

3.  Is there such a thing as 'good' and/or 'bad' music? or is music neutral, like so many want to believe?
 

4.  Can music have anything to do with 'devil possession' - even for a Christian?
 

5.  Can we safely use "good" music to heal ourselves and others physically, mentally and spiritually like Saul was healed by David's harp playing?
 

6.  Is it safe for parents to use 'good clean' music to calm their children as well as to aid in their studies for better grades, etc.?
 

7.  Do melody, harmony and rhythm affect us?  If so, how do we stay in control?
I Corinthians 6:12   All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
 

8.  What are the verses in the Scriptures that illustrate ungodly music?
 

9.  Can one's own personal music quench and grieve the Holy Spirit?
 

10.  What influence, if any, does the spirit of antichrist have in today's 'new' and 'updated' church music?
 

11.  What important lesson can we learn from Moses concerning music in our churches today?
 

12.  What is missing from our church song and hymnbooks today?
 

13.  Do we need to 'know' the language of music in order to understand and control the music in our lives?
 

14.  What can we learn from Daniel, Amos and Paul concerning music?
 

15.  What is wrong with music bringing more people to church?
 

16.  Whose music are you?