Lifesong – Following The Conductor In A Song Of Praise Series

LIFESONG – Following the Conductor in a Song of Praise

1 Corinthians 12 – 14

INTRODUCTION:

Missionary Robert Porteous and his wife were taken prisoners by Chinese communist bandits in 1931. This missionary couple was led to a lonely spot on top of a hill where they were to be executed. The Chinese leader said, “This is the place.” and the executioner took a long knife from its holder and raised it above the necks of the courageous couple.

Certain death seemed imminent. What would you do in such a situation? This couple sang a hymn! Instead of crying and begging for mercy, the couple began to sing song of praise. The communist bandits stared open-mouthed as they heard Porteous and his wife sing:

“Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face-what will it be? When with rapture I behold him, Jesus Christ who died for me.”

These two missionaries were ready for death and did not take their lead from the men who held their lives in their hands. Instead they followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and worshiped their Savior whom they expected to see when their lives were taken from them. It appeared that this would be their last song. But, no order was given for their execution. The executioner returned the knife to its place, and the couple was released.

Two weeks ago we focused on singing your part in a song of praise; this required knowing your P-A-R-T.

P – Play Your Part

A – Attitude Adjustment

R – Right Relationship

T – Today not Tomorrow

Last week we looked at getting rid of the sour notes, staying on key in a song of praise required that we all know our N-O-T-E.

N NEW NATURE, Our Christian Character

O ONENESS

T TRIUMPHAL GIFTS

E EXPERIENCE and MATURITY

Today we come to part three of our LIFESONG—Following the Conductor in a Song of Praise. As Pastor George pointed out my text today is 1 Corinthians 12-14, three chapters not just three verses! I thought about using the word CONDUCTOR to form the outline for this message; that would give me nine points to use for breaking these three chapters down for us, but I decided that might be to much for us (even with a pot luck dinner). So then I thought about using the word LEADER; that’s only six letters, so I could easily have outlined three chapters with two points each, right? Well you will be glad to know I thought six was still to long so I came up with something else to help us make our way through three chapters of the Bible today.

Following the conductor in a song of praise means we aren’t all running off to do our own thing; instead we are following a leader. Leaders can be thought of as the one who is in charge (ah, but charge is six letters too); the conductor, the leader or the person in charge is the HEAD from whom we all take direction. H-E-A-D that’s only four letters; how many of you can stay with me through four points?

Following the conductor in a song of praise means we take our lead from the H-E-A-D:

H Holy Spirit is in Charge (12: 1-11)

E Everyone Energized by the Spirit (12:8-30)

A All about Love - AGAPE (12:21-13:13)

D Do It For Others (14:1-40)

H Holy Spirit is in Charge (12: 1-11)

1. Don’t follow the wrong leader!

• 1 Corinthians 12:1-2 (NIV)

[1] Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. [2] You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

a) God doesn’t want us to be ignorant, to be unaware or uninformed about who is really in charge.

b) Knowledge sets us free from following the wrong leader! Don’t let a MUTE IDOL be the one you look to for guidance; we have a God who speaks to us by His Spirit!

c) Jesus is the head of the church, but Jesus is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father. The Spirit lives and dwells within the hearts of believers. The Holy Spirit is in charge; He is the Spirit of Jesus giving direction to the church, the body of Christ.

2. The Holy Spirit conducts the song of praise; God is our leader, and the Holy Spirit is in charge.

• 1 Corinthians 12:3 (NIV)

Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

• John 16:13 (NIV)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.