We are to not only preach on doctrine, but also on reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness - and surely music must be part of that preaching!

I ask that you would just consider this short outline on the "possibility" that - just maybe - music has become an issue in your life - a  your family's life - or even within your local church family.  In other words, "What if?"

We must watch for thieves these last days!
Luke 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

People are coming up with different ways they believe that they 'are being blessed' by God - unfortunately I believe that many are WRONG in that assessment!
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Today's modern 'Christians' don't realize the damage that these 'thieves' do!  If only folks would just be willing to stick with the words of God - their lives would be blessed - abounding more and more!
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Revelation 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

As we hear about pleasing God in our walk (if you are hearing that, anyway), and are seeking that second set of blessings from God according to I Thessalonians 4:1, do you ever wonder why you may not 'appear' to be receiving those blessings yet?  Of course, it could be anything in your walk that is not pleasing to God.  But I wonder, could it possibly be your personal music?

But regardless, you might be talking right, dressing right, eating right, smelling right, doing right, hanging around with others that please God, etc. etc. etc. and yet, something may still not appear to be right in your heart - and even in your life!

Maybe you just don't always have that close fellowship with God (I Corinthians 1:9; I John 1:1-3)?  I imagine that you might even be reading your Bible, etc.  What could it be?  It could be so many things, but ...

Please note that I am not just talking about 'bad' music!  Satan is subtle & deceitful enough to use 'good music', too!  Read about King Nebuchadnezzar and how commanded everyone to bow down when they heard ALL KINDS OF MUSIC, not just the 'bad stuff!'  Daniel 3:5-7

Music is most definitely the universal language.  Unfortunately, because most folks have no clue about the technical and theory aspect of music, the devil could use music to manipulate someone - and they wouldn't even know it was going on.  That is the power behind music.  It DOES manipulate people today. Yes, in your life, music COULD be used as one of the devil's devices.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  I Timothy 4:1

That ole rotten devil can make so many other things look so good - so right!  But music?
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  It is that apostolic Charismatic Pentecostal bunch that brought that CCM in to popularity. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. II Corinthians 11:13-15

If you don't understand the actual language of music, Satan can treat you like a barbarian!  Is that how you want your family treated?  Your children?  I Corinthians 14:11  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

Music can easily have a form of godliness.  Music can replace "almost' every facet of the job of the Holy Spirit. Just find every verse in the Bible that talks about the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and replace the word Spirit with the word music!  It fits.  Music will do everything in your life the Holy Spirit can do - except one - salvation! See Mozart Effect for further details.

For a lost person, music is the imitation spirit in their life!

In fact, for many Christians, music has even replaced preaching - and we ought to know that preaching is the power of God to a Christian - NOT a musical performance, CD, tape, etc.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.   I Corinthians 1:18

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.  II Corinthians 13:4

Remember how powerful that power of God is?  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places ... Ephesians 1:19,20

Not to OUR glory, as so many want to try to prove with I Samuel 16:14-23 in a KJB & Amos 6:1a,5 in an NIV or other modern version!  You can read more about this in future sermons.  Christians become unthankful in the last days and their music can prove it.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.   James 4:4

Remember, we are called to fellowship with HIM, not the world.
I Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
I John 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
John 15:15  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

It is too bad folks would ever want to be a friend to the world because that world really doesn't want your friendship, anyway,  until you renounce your friendship with God and His only begotten Son!

In fact, Lamentations 3:63 tells us that we will be THEIR MUSIC as life gets tougher as we get closer and closer to the Tribulation when you consider what things God has already begun to take away from this world.  (See my sermon on that specific sermon title)

As a Christian, we can not be a friend of the world and be a friend to Christ at the same time. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

In these last days, Christ is knocking on the door of CHRISTIANS - and He just wants to fellowship with us!  And most of the Christians today would rather listen to music instead of fellowship with Him!
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

Turning on a CD - tape, etc. will quickly take the place of your meditating on a sermon, a Bible verse you read, or just praying without ceasing and being willing to hear from God's words!   Music can surely quench those opportunities!

Here we are again - notice the word profiting!  Must be those second blessings I keep preaching about, eh!  And that thy profiting may appear to all - remember... you are always being watched!

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  Galatians 1:6-8

CCM and even when 'good music' has become a 'god' for today's listeners, it can all become a false gospel in itself. The CCM world even has it's own statement of faith!   The doctrine behind modern Christian music is far from Biblical and truthful; it is all a product of the modern bible versions.  Just check out the words in modern Christian music.

A Bible reading Christian should be able to properly discern this particular area without much problem - It must be that most Christians today just don't HAVE the Word of God, nor do they even WANT the Word of God let alone actually READ it, amen!

This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. Jeremiah 7:28

And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 9:5,6

Final lasting results of blindness - and these folks THOUGHT they WERE Christians! Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23

We should know from the Scriptures that the Devil wants to keep people from being saved - Read Luke 8:12 & II Thessalonians 2:10.

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:   Revelation 3:15-17

This is the feel good generation of the Laodiceans and music seems to be one way to make people 'feel' good.  "Feeling good" is earthly -  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  James 3:15 ... and that feel good philosophy and desire is fitting to the last days - Jude 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

God's final counsel is in verse 18 which immediately follows the description of the Laodicean church age.  Revelation 3:18-20 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. I Thessalonians 4:1,2

Considering the content of this whole sermon, this fact could be one of the biggest losses for most Christians today who listen to music so much.  Music when it is done it's proper roll - Psalm 68:4 - would be pleasing to God and that is when we start abounding more and more.

May I ask you "What do the Scriptures say about music?"  Do you know?  Have you ever looked them up?  It is not a difficult thing to please God - WE are the ones who choose to make it difficult!  Ignorance of the scriptures is no unnecessary when He gave us the completed word of God today!

• Thanksgiving
• love toward the brethren
• love toward all men
• fruit to your account
• fruit to knowledge
• proper godly testimony
• fellowship with God
• friendship with God
• friendship with the Holy Spirit
• friendship with Jesus Christ.
• growth with God's love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, etc.

Note: Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Note it is imperative to LOVE GOD in order for ALL those things that happen to us to work together for the good - in our eyes, anyway.  God knows what we need, and when we get it, it IS good - we might as well love Him and realize that whatever happens IS for our own good!

Being unthankful starts a wicked process in Romans 1.  One of the characteristics of the last days is unthankfulness.  Praising God is throughout the entire Bible.  Do you really and truly know what God has done for you, to you, with you, etc.?  If so, praise to Him comes easier from us.  In fact, according to Psalm 68:4, that praise in rejoicing comes FROM ME and yet, it is also FROM HIM!

When one learns just ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THEM - I mean really learn that stuff, it is a shame to think that our music would rob God of ANY praises due Him!

But to think the devil could pollute those praises through polluted music and a polluted worldly heart?  Such a sad thing to consider.  What an awful way to show God we love Him.

And many that believed came, and confessed,
and shewed their deeds.
Many of them also which used curious arts
brought their books together,
and burned them before all men:
and they counted the price of them,
and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Acts 19:18-20

 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms,
to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down,
to build, and to plant.
Jeremiah 1:10