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.
Exd 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exd 15:2 The LORD [is] my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he [is] my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Exd 15:3 The LORD [is] a man of war: the LORD [is] his name.
Exd 15:4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
Exd 15:5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
Exd 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Exd 15:7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, [which] consumed them as stubble.
Exd 15:8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, [and] the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
Exd 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
Exd 15:10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
Exd 15:11 Who [is] like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who [is] like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful [in] praises, doing wonders?
Exd 15:12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
Exd 15:13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people [which] thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided [them] in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
Exd 15:14 The people shall hear, [and] be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
Exd 15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
Exd 15:16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be [as] still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, [which] thou hast purchased.
Exd 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, [in] the place, O LORD, [which] thou hast made for thee to dwell in, [in] the Sanctuary, O Lord, [which] thy hands have established.
Exd 15:18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
Exd 15:19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry [land] in the midst of the sea.
Notice this is a celebration of GOD! It doesn’t stop there either! In verses 20-21 Miriam, the Prophetess of GOD and the sister of Moses takes a timbrel or tambourine and she and “Exd 15:20 … ALL the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Exd 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea”.
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Thus the point of our music is not to ascribe to singing the old simply because that is what “we call” a hymn! Nor is it simply to sing what “we like”! The point and purpose is to show forth or bring glory and honor unto GOD!
Tex Sample has stated that, “… in considering the entire service, we must ask ‘Do our words make us aware that The eternal, holy and finally incomprehensible GOD is truly present? If any style makes us more conscious of the gifts and personalities of worship leading than we are of GOD, then we must reject it.’”
This then leads us to question two of my original three. “What is the purpose of Praise and Worship?” Is it to make you “feel good” or to get you in the mood? No! Again in Eph 5:19 we are told, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” We have already demonstrated that these are declarations that celebrate GOD. If in these we are to celebrate GOD then does it follow that these are “for you”? No!
Praise and Worship is not about you! Praise and Worship is ALL about HIM!
True Praise and Worship is to prostrate yourself at the feet of GOD! True Praise and Worship lifts up GOD! It elevates HIM above all else! It elevates HIM above all of “us” or above all that we are or think that we are! It shows our love, adoration and admiration of The CREATOR! True Praise and Worship comprehends the value of the cross (as much as a human can)! It attempts to comprehend the value that GOD placed upon the redemption of HIS creation! It attempts to comprehend the sorrow and the loss that HE felt when HE lost HIS relationship with HIS creation, mankind when man “chose” his own way (sin) in the Garden of Eden! It attempts to comprehend how seriously HE valued that relationship! How seriously HE desires to regain that relationship! How HE was serious enough to suffer the injustice of the torture HIS son endured before and upon the cross! For centuries HE tried to regain this relationship via HIS prophets. Eventually HE was compelled to send HIS son who willingly purchased our relationship back via the sacrifice of HIS own life. Contained within Praise and Worship there exist a modicum of understanding of this value!
For me to go any further with this without expounding upon the price of the cross, at this time, would be a disservice to the value of the cross!
What was the price? What did JESUS endure? Once we know this, then and only then can we fathom what Praise and Worship truly is! Only then can we fully appreciate how seriously GOD desires a relationship with that which HE has created!
Turn with me in your Bible to Isa 53:2-5, here we will get a foretaste of what HE endured!
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
History reveals this to be a very clean or sterile description of what actually transpired! Historians will confirm that it was highly probable that when JESUS, “[was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”, that the whips that were used were probably what is referred to as a “cat-a-nine tails”. These whips are not the standard long, single lashed whips that you would generally see in a movie. These are smaller but with many lashes. They derive their name from the variety which was most popular that possessed nine lashes or tails. The Romans, at this time in their history were very brutal or blood thirsty. They had learned to weave into the ends of the tails pieces of bone or pottery. With each lashing this inflicted even greater pain and ripped the flesh even more deeply. It also inflicted nine times the punishment for each single count of the whip. It was a generally common practice to actually have two people inflicting the punishment at the same time. One from each side of the victim!
Often, and from the depiction in Isaiah it would not be hard to imagine that those inflicting the punishment would position themselves too close to the victim. Then as the whips would rip across the back of the victim the tails would continue to proceed and wrap around the victim and lash them in the face as well. Commonly this was done on purpose again to inflict the most amount of punishment possible per single lashing of the whip. This sort of punishment would then lend itself to a verbal rendering as is used in verse 2 where we read, “he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.” In short, after HIS beating, JESUS basically looked like a raw, post tenderized piece of meat, in the front and in the back from the waste up!
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
To truly understand verse 6 you need to understand first some of the basics of an animal sacrifice in the Old Testament.
When the priest would offer a sacrifice for the people, once the animal had been offered they would lay their hands upon the animal as they prayed to GOD. This act symbolized the transfer of the sins of the individual unto the animal to be sacrificed. In that way the person was freed from his sin or sickness and it was consumed by the offering fires for GOD to deal with. In verse 6 this is what is being depicted as JESUS would take ALL of mankind’s sin and sickness before The FATHER for HIS eternal forgiveness and freedom from. This is why in John 20:16-17, when JESUS appears to Mary that HE tells her not to touch HIM. At that point HE had not yet presented the offering of ALL mankind’s sins and sicknesses to HIS FATHER. Later when HE again appears we see that HE then encourages them all to touch HIM so that they will know HE is not a ghost and that HE has arisen from the dead just as HE had promised them HE would. With HIS sacrifice, JESUS once and forever paid the price!
With this understanding our ability to truly Praise and Worship GOD is greatly enhanced! With a virtual view of the events it is no longer a sterile event in history but something that forever will draw our attention to how desirous GOD is to have a relationship once again with HIS creation. For only this reason could GOD or any father have “forsaken” JESUS, HIS son as HE hung upon the cross (Matt 27:46). Only as we express back to GOD our love, adoration and admiration for what HE has done can we truly Praise and Worship HIM!
What then is the purpose of the ministry of music in our Praise and Worship? Music and the ministry of music, serves GOD like a plow serves a farmer. Music does for Praise and Worship what a plow does during planting. It breaks up the ground of our heart and soul in order that the seeds of the Word can be planted. Music is much like John the Baptist in Matthew 3 declaring, “…Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
If it is true that the purpose of Praise and Worship is to bring forth our love, adoration and admiration for GOD then does it matter which style of music is played? Does it matter if there is or is not music at all? Spiritually, No! the problem is that we still wear an earth suit, a flesh suit. The music ministry directly works on the surface of who we are and what we like. This then effects things that are much deeper. Like with the farmer, if we don’t use the right tool we will not effectively prepare the fields.
Is it then the responsibility of the minister of music to decide which music style to use or is it the congregations to seek a place where the style meets their needs? Is it someone else’s responsibility or is everyone involved to be or become a yielded vessel? Clay in the hand of The MASTER POTTER to be used as HE desires and shaped as to HIS will!
Of course The MASTER can reach us with anything if only we will yield ourselves! We must yield to HIS use and HIS will! We must crucify ourselves daily! We must die to self and mortify the flesh when it gets in the way of our Praise and Worship. Our love, adoration and admiration of GOD and what HE has done for or is willing to do for us. Just as John did in Matt 3 Praise and Worship is our call to, “Prepare Ye The Way of the LORD.” Are you ready? Are you yielded? Is your flesh mortified? Is your field plowed? Are you prepared?
If truly you are prepared then you can move to the next position that John directs us toward. Turn to Matt 3:10;
“therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Truly, if you have been prepared then it becomes incumbent upon you to “bear good fruit”. In other words, you are to show your love, adoration and admiration for what the LORD has done! As this becomes your lifestyle, as this becomes a part of who you are, you will invariably also echo John’s words recorded in John 3:30;
“Jhn 3:30 He must increase, but I [must] decrease.”
JESUS lived to die for us! We must die to live for HIM!
Phl 1:21 For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.
Luk 9:23 And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
Luk 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Will JESUS be ashamed of you?
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Tree Of Life Ministries Association
http://www.treeoflifeinc.org
___________________________________
Prepare Ye The Way!
Pastor Eric Aschendorf
pastor@treeoflifeinc.org
___________________________________
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