Is your Worship experience in church entertaining, or edifying? To be edified means that we are made stronger spiritually, encouraged in the Lord, and inspired to live closer to Him. To be entertained means that we are mere spectators enjoying the sounds, light shows, fog, and performances, then going home virtually unchanged.
Second Chronicles, chapter 25, verses 1-7, provides a perfect picture of powerful praise led by promenit people who had been chosen by God for the ministry of music and song in His House. Let us learn what kind of people God chooses and uses.
1. These Singers And Musicians Were
SEPERATED For Service(25:1)
(1) The same amount of Holiness required of Pastors and other Christian leaders must be required of those who lead in Worship! All Christian’s are Temples of the Holy Spirit!
2. They Were Spiritual (25:1)
(1) The term “prophesy” means to
speak under Divine inspiration.
(2) Eph.5:18-20 as well as John 4:23-24, make it very clear that our Worship experience should be led by Spirit-Filled musicians and singers.
(3) It is extremely imperative to understand that only the “Anointing “ can break the yoke of sin and bondage.
3. They Were Skilled (25:1)
(1) It is obvious that their talents were gifts from God. But their skill was a result of discipline and dedication. Their service was serious service, and they they took their service seriously!
To them the hard work was not a drudgery but a delight!
4. They Were Honorable And Humble(25:2)
(1) They had been chosen by the “King” A chosen generation with a royal priesthood they were. And yet they served freely and humbly. Their only motive was to glorify God. They sought no glory for themselves.
(2)Pride was Satan’s down fall. The anointed musician and singer who led the worship around the throne of God, was thrown out of heaven when he tried to glorify himself!
5. They Were Lovers OF God (25:3)
(1) “To give thanks and to praise the Lord.” They loved God with all their heart, mind, and strength!
(2) Someone has said; “He who praises God best, serves and obeys Him most!”
6. They Were A Pleasant Variety(1-6)
(1)288 of them divided into 24 Choirs-12 in each choir. Male, Female, Young and Old. These were just the singers. There 4,000 musicians!
(2) All of them were orderly and submissive. They worked in perfect unity! “oh how good and pleasant!”
7. Trained (25:7)
(1) “Instructed in the songs of the Lord.” Every song had to honor and glorify the Lord. Not honor the latest star of rock and roll or country music.
(2) Every song prophesied God’s eternal truth.
(3) In the Worship service there is always room for improvement, but there is never room for irreverence!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 98:1-6, 1Sam.10:5,
John 4:23-24, Col.3:16-20, Eph.5:18-20
Acknowledgments: I leaned heavily on The Preachers Homilectic Commentary.
