Music in the Church

     What is the biblical approach to music in the church and in the life of the Christian?  And why does it matter to the Holy Spirit?  Unfortunately, many churches are in a state of ignorance when it comes to music.  Music is one of the primary areas of church ministry that has done more to grieve the Holy Spirit than any other.  Primarily because, much of church music is anchored in worldly methodology that is ambitiously predatory in nature for emotionalism.  
     Throughout the New Testament as well as the Old, biblical music and singing is vocal, joyful and respectful to God and finds its origin with God (Exodus 15:1,21; Acts 16:26;  Rev. 5:9). The use of a concordance to find verses that contain the words: "song," "singers" and "singing," will confirm that God has purpose in music. 
     Notice particularly the special assignments given to singers and the special provision for singers in 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah. God also uses trumpets, harps, and other musical instruments for His pose. 
     Satan also instigates the use of music amongst God's people to enhance his deceitful influence.  Obviously, he has accomplished his agenda amongst many well intended Christians. Particularly, we see a weak endeavor to know what kind of music comes from the heart of God and what derives from the mind of Satan and little desire to discern the difference. 
     The music pattern and methodology of your church is very revealing about the intent and motive that drives that ministry. The fact is: what motivates us, conforms us, thus, methodology is conceived.  For many Churches, the devil has a manipulating strong hold in the area of music that is emotionally driven.  Thus you have what is known as "Euphoric Repentance". Churches across all denominational lines have been seduced to a false and vain obligation to provide a non-convicting environment through the use of musical enhancement and entertainment.  This is most noticeable amongst churches that favor contemporary methodology where more often than not, a musicians sincerity is mistaken for spirituality worthy of praise. Discerning believers know and understand that the Bible  teaches and requires a very obvious contrast to worldly methodology of music.  Godly music is most noticeably holy, doctrinal, and reverent in mannerism... and totally unlike the appeal, apparel, and appearance of worldly music.  This is a matter of fact.

         

 

    One of the most prevalent and poisonous rationalizations of sin is when we suggest to ourselves the lie... "I can handle this. If I sense that I'm losing control, I'll just quit. I won't let it get out of control."   Unrealistic expectations is often at the root of self-deception. The problem with such thinking is that in sin's erosive grip, the heart(mind) of a person is dulled ever more by repeated sin.   A calloused heart(Thought) cannot sense the deception and increasing danger of the sin barraging it.  

.                                                     Rev William A Tyler Sr

 

 
    Limitations are a matter of reality.  It has always been God's will to place limits on individuals.  Many are limited in their physical abilities.  Others may face financial, mental and emotional limitations. Discerning believers understand the importance of respecting the limits that God applies to each of us.   Yet, there are many believers in a state of complaining about limitations that seem to restrict their desires and "Their dreams".

     The harsh reality to our complaining about the limits God has placed on us is that we have not confessed and truly repented, or turned away from bad management within our limitations.   The limitations we experience is God's way of working on our behalf in ways that are beyond our control.  This was certainly the case for Gideon in the face of intense opposition (Judges 6).  Gideon learned that his limitations do not limit God.

     The Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus Christ on the eve leading up to His death on the cross. The Lord's Supper is presented in scripture as the distinctive observerance by a local organized assembly of Christians with a purposeful focus on the Lord's death with joyful anticipation of the Lord's return.  The two symbolic elements committed in this observerance are the bread, representing the broken body of the crucified Christ, and the cup, representing the Lord's shed blood.

     Should the observance of the Lord's Supper be open to all Christians or exclusive to certain Believers from a particular church or denomination?  When we rightly divide the Word of truth, it seems clear that the Lord's Supper is open to ALL Born-Again Believers.  This was certainly the case when Jesus observed His final supper, even permitting Judas (who would betray Christ).  There is no admonition by the apostles to exclude other Believers.  The rule to partaking of the Lord's Supper is not to exclude others, but examination of one's self(1 Corinthians 11:28). 

      There are three biblical conditions to partaking of the Lord's Supper...

 I.  You must be a Born-Again Believer.  (1 Corinthians 11:23,33).  This is strongly implied in context with verse 31 where Paul uses the personal pro-noun "we" and then again refers to the believers as "brethren" in verse 33.

II.  A Believer must be associated with Born-Again Believers beginning  with identification through baptism.  Water Baptism is biblically represented as the very first act of obedience to the will of God. Believers who willfully neglect the opportunity of water baptism by immersion should NOT partake of the Lord's supper. Water baptism is a wonderful and powerful testimony of one's dedication and determination to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. And as such it must not be mistaken as the actual act of being Born Again.

III.  A Believer who will partake of the Lord's Supper should be in the will of God with their life and living.  (1 Corinthians 11:28).  This is where the pastor should encourage all in attendance to examine and judge themselves.  If the examinee concludes that they are not in willful disobedience to God... then they should gladly partake of the Lord's supper.

                                                 Rev William A Tyler Sr

 

 

    Every church has it difficulties.  However, there are two types of very difficult Christians that hurt churches more than anything else... the legalist and the modernist. Most churches will be confronted by legalism and/or modernism and if left unchallenged... will lead that church into a pattern of grieving the Holy Spirit. How do we discern the difference between a legalist and a modernist verses a scriptural believer? 
    A scriptural Believer is one who is fervent for sound biblical teaching and exemplifies holy living that is motivated and cultivated by the Grace of God (Titus 2:11, 12).
    The modernist reject a biblical mandate for Holy Standards. They don't want rules and barriers. They prefer their good intentions over the obvious commands of God's Word for holiness. A modernist prefers ideology over theology. They are motivated by toleration, not separation.
    A legalist is rooted in a insecure approach to life. Their primary concern is with external matters and manners of modern society. They put a greater emphasis on spiritual activities verses being spiritually active. Their cause is reformation... not transformation. They believe in salvation by works.. not salvation that does work. They find it very difficult to exercise forgiveness. This was obvious amongst the Pharisees in whom Jesus confronted.

 A Pharisee/legalist lacks understanding in the Person and Purpose Of Jesus Christ. 
    Both legalist and modernist are in concert together as they demonstrate their lack of sensitivity to the indwelling Holy Spirit who enables holiness that is neither legalistic nor unreasonable.  Obviously, neither legalism nor modernism has any favor from God. 
    While legalism focuses on outward appearance, God's Grace emphasizes Godliness both internally and externally. God's Grace could never produce a legalist nor a modernist. It can only produce Righteousness and Holiness. 
    Contrary to the legalist; a scriptural Believer emphasizes transformation over reformation.
In contrast to the modernist/ecumenicalism; the scriptural Believer emphasizes separation over toleration (2 Cor. 6:17).

                             Rev William A Tyler Sr

 

THANKING GOD AND WHY

    Never underestimate the power of thanks-giving. The Bible emphasizes caution against the neglect of giving thanks to God. The lack of gratitude is a sure tell sign that one is walking in darkness. The result is a pattern of defensiveness, defiance and the subtle nurturing of hatred.
     Living in a spirit of thankfulness is beneficial to our spiritual and physical well being.  One of the most important facets of the Christian's life is the discipline of appreciation regardless of one's circumstances.  Whenever we purposefully exercise gratefulness for who God is, we are in essence exercising Faith in God and His Will.  Gratefulness and Faithfulness to God are inseparable. Gratitude and Faithfulness to God accepts the fact that there are no other reserves to draw upon or to seek after.
     Christians have inherited an immeasurable treasure called the Grace of God.  The sufficiency of God's Grace is the core reason why Christians are compelled to be forever Grateful to God. Yet, so many are willfully trapped by their efforts to obtain God's favor by their works. They believe works will bring Grace upon them from God. But this is returning unto the age of works in the Old Testament. This explains why so many Christian remain woe-fully un-thankful. The Bible exacts thanks-giving as an expression of one's sense of completeness in Christ, not in the Law.
     Purposefully acknowledge your oneness with Jesus Christ. Know that Christ is your sufficiency. Thanks-giving is not something that we can manufacture. It is simply the out flow of knowing and responding to God's Favor and Faithfulness (Philippians. 4:6,7). Amen!

                                                     Rev William A Tyler Sr

 

                  Who Grieves God the      Most ?

 

      One of the most difficult Christian's for God and the Holy Spirit to empower is the one who will not forgive themselves.  They are the ones who grieve God the most.  They remain intimidated by a past-experience and enslaved to the post-experience of guilt.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ demands that we beware of any enslaving thought that would provoke a continued indulgence of self-condemnation after one has repented of their sin (Romans 8:1).  For one To forgive themselves, they must bring every condemning and condescending  thought into captivity to Christ Jesus and begin to think scripturally about the death of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5). The only reason why God is justified to forgive sin is the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

                                           Rev William A Tyler Sr

 

Warfare within the Spirit

 

 
     Satan's fiery arrows against Christians are intended to stimulate a distrust of God and tolerance for self-sufficiency.  More often than not... this is accomplished through stimulating the mind with a preoccupation for survival and/or an endless search for self-significance (Genisis 3:1,6).  When believers yield to the tempation for either, they are always on the losing end of the battle. 

     It is interesting to note that Satan will never argue with your desire to invest yourself in spiritual-activities, works without Faith   His hellishness is against God's desire for the believer to be spiritually active... that is... to worship the Lord Jesus Christ by giving thanks and trusting Him to meet every need.

     Satan's will for you is to be sanctimonious... not sanctified; to be good... not Godly; to be used for God... not used by God;  to be available for God... not accessible for God; to work for God... not worship Him.  Christians will always lose in battle when they fight or argue for spiritual freedom.  Fighting for a possession one already possess is a perpetual state of distrust of God.  The only free person in the world is a Christian.   The clue that a believer is losing the battle of spiritual warfare is revealed in a pattern of inconsistency with God's will.
     The challenge to worship God is both perpetual and very personal with God. When we neglect the worship of God, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the wiles of the devil and the vanity of our imagination, thus the sinful nature (disobedient nature) takes control.  Never be sympathetic with any challenge that would hinder your need to yield to the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Word Of God is both our training ground and the ground on which we gain a pure perspective of the worthiness of Christ. Satan cannot oppress a Christian who knows their free to worship Christ in spirit and truth. Also by reading the Bible and gaining understanding by the leading of the Holy Spirit

 

                                                                    Rev William A Tyler Sr

 

 

     Since God created all things, does not in any way suggest that evil must have originated with God. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5) it is true that all God created was good.

    One of the many good things God made was creatures who had the freedom to choose good. God allowed both Angels and Humans to choose good or reject good. 
    As darkness is the absence of light... evil is the absence of good, or a better description would be , evil is the absence or rejection of God and His influence. God did not have to create evil, but rather only allow for the absence of good.
    While God did not create evil, He does allow evil as the result of choices made by man. If God had not allowed for the possibility of man and Angels choosing evil or rejecting Him, both mankind and Angels would be serving God out of mere obligation, not choice.  Thus, there is no legitimate justification to accuse God for the evil and its consequences in this world. 
    As finite human beings, we can never fully understand why an infinite God would allow for the prospect of evil and its consequences. (Romans 11:33-34). God operates from a Holy, eternal purpose. We perceive things from a foolish and temporal perspective. Evil is a reality that originated with Satan when He deemed himself more significant and potentially more powerful than God. Satan has no raw material. He can only take that which God created and pervert it for his own glory and benefit. The enemy that Satan is... is not our chief problem... it is the enmity of our hearts. Ultimately, evil becomes a matter of fact in the life of sinners and Christians when we choose to yield to our fleshly inclinations for self preservation and/or glorification (Genesis 3).

     Fortunately, there is a remedy for evil. It is exclusively the gospel of Jesus Christ. God's grace will always be greater than evil.

                                                                  Rev William A Tyler Sr

 

                                                 Rev William A Tyler Sr