Con Brio-With Spirit

“Con Brio”

Introduction:

In his Letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul writes:

Look carefully then, how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time...Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:15,17).

Regrettably, many people view the Will of God as a ten-ton elephant, hanging over our heads. We say, “oh Lord Your will be done” and then peek to see what monstrous thing God is going to lay on us. And that’s the good side. Many people when they say “Your will be done” it’s more out of habit…I mean that’s what your supposed to say right?

Actually, the word translated into English as "Will" comes from both a Hebrew and Greek word which means yearning. Its meaning connotes the kind of yearning which lovers have for one another -- not a yearning of the mind alone or the heart alone, but of the whole being. It is a yearning that gives us a glimpse -- but only a glimpse -- of the depth of God’s yearning for us. And what’s the consequence of yearning for God’s Holy Will to take over your whole being? Paul says, it’s being filled "with the Holy Spirit," and singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart" (Eph. 5:19).

This would be a good place to explain a concept that has been around forever but was eloquently revealed to me as I read a quote from Henry Scougal, in 1677 he wrote,

“The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love."

What is your driving force? I struggle with life’s trials and tribulations just like everybody else. I struggle with temptation, but the overarching purpose in my life is the desire, the love and the aching need to draw closer to God. If I preach well, it’s because I desire to be used by God. If I sing well, it’s because I can think of nothing I’d rather be doing than praising and worshiping my Savior and using the gifts that He has given me and that only He can use. If people see a difference in my daily life, it’s because I have had an encounter with God The Creator of the Universe and it is impossible for that not to change my life. God is the object of my love! How excellent is that!?!

In another place, Paul writes,

“...Put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony...and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God”(Col. 3:14,16).

When we yearn to be overtaken by the Will of God, we find our life overflowing with goodness. And the song does not stop. It constantly receives new impetus, new reasons, along the way, as God acts again and again for our sake. As we desire God and experience His goodness, His faithfulness, our own level of goodness and faithfulness deepens. We, the faithful, we the Church, keep singing all the way to the throne of God. And we dare to imagine that even beyond our sight, the Church Triumphant, those who have gone before us, are still singing at the throne.

How do we sing that song? When a composer writes a piece of music there are various musical markings composers use to tell conductors and performers how they want their music played and sung. For example, "adagio" means slow; "allegro" means "fast/cheerful." Then there is "con brio." That means,

"with vivacity/spirited."

And that is the life to which Christ is calling us: vivacious...vital...vibrant! Excited!!! It’s responding with enthusiasm to Christ’s invitation to New Life. It’s being stunned, right down to the deepest recesses of your heart and soul by God’s astonishing, never-ceasing Resurrection Power to make all things new. It’s singing a joyful song unto the Lord of Lords who transforms darkness into light, sickness into health, sorrow into joy, death into New Life.

Let me ask you, what do you think would have happened in John chapter 11, if Lazarus’ friends or family had called him;

“Come out…Rise up…” (Elaborate…don’t you miss us…don’t you love us?)

NOTHING!! Why? Did Lazarus not miss them or maybe they didn’t ask well enough. NO! Lazarus couldn’t come out…Lazarus was DEAD! And there is only one call that can bring life out of death, and Jesus made it,

“Lazarus, come out!”

Now, we all need to come to grips with one important and vital truth. Physically we have been dying and decaying from the day we were born and spiritually, we who are now children of God, we were not unconscious in our sins…we were not in a C O M A in our sins, we were D E A D! But through the effective call and the amazing grace of God we have been brought from death to life and not just, LIFE, but life everlasting! Now that is life “Con Brio”! If you can’t get excited about that, then you can’t get excited about anything. I mean I had to get a digital fun meter because my old analog one was constantly pegged out!