Prepare Ye The Way

Tree Of Life Ministries Association

http://www.treeoflifeinc.org

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Prepare Ye The Way!

Pastor Eric Aschendorf

pastor@treeoflifeinc.org

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Matt 3:1-10

Parallel scriptures: Mark 1:3; Luke 3:3-4; John 1:23

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Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Mat 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

I have noticed, over the years many differences in the music ministries in our assemblies. I have seen in some where well worn Gospel hymns are all that you hear. I have been in some assemblies where Country Gospel hymns are all that was played. In yet other assemblies there was only Contemporary music or Contemporary Country music. Then there are the assemblies that try to please everybody within the congregation by playing a mix of any or all of those I’ve mentioned.

As I mentioned, the point in picking any one style or mixing styles was, “… to please everybody.” That then led me to some questions.

Questions such as:

1) Is there a specific type or style of music that is right for ministry?

2) 2) What is Praise and Worship (P&W)?

3) 3) What is the purpose of the ministry of music?

Is there a specific type or style of music that is right? In Eph 5:19 we read, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” I have heard some say that this proves that we are only to be singing the “hymns of the church!” Really? Is that what Paul meant? If so, how many of the “hymns” that are in your hymnal were available when Paul penned those words? Most likely none! When in prison were he and Silas singing Amazing Grace? No! Did Paul even possess a hymnal? Most likely, no! So what was he talking about?

In the Greek there are two words used for hymn or hymns. One is singular and the other is plural. One interesting point is that the singular is derived from the plural rather than what we would be accustomed to of the plural coming from the singular.

The plural word is “humnos”, which is itself derived from “aido” which means “to sing”. “Humnos” means “to celebrate, a hymn or religious ode”.

The singular form of the word is “Humneo” and it means “to hymn, sing a religious ode or by implication to celebrate GOD”.

Let’s now stick that back into the verse in Eph 5:19? “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and [songs that celebrate GOD] and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD.” Now, does that say, “sing only the old stuff?” Does it say, “sing country?” Does it say anything about singing only the stuff you like? No! What does it say that a hymn is? It says that it (a hymn) is a song that celebrates GOD! Does that exclude the old so-called hymns or Country Gospel songs? No, but it doesn’t exclude the Contemporary or even the CHRISTian Rap of today. It says, to sing “anything” that celebrates GOD! Remember in Acts 2 when The HOLY GHOST baptizes everyone in the Upper Room and they all “began to speak with other tongues as The SPIRIT gave them utterance (Acts 2:4)”?

Look with me at what it says in verse 11! Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Just like in our music, this form of the use of tongues is to celebrate GOD.

When the Jews were freed from the slavery of Egypt, which we should remember or see as a type and/or foreshadow of a “bondage of sin” in the New Testament, they sang and celebrated GOD! We see this depicted in Ex 15:1-19. this is what has been referred to as Moses’ song.