More Than A Song, Part 6
Type: Sunday Morning Service
Series: More Than A Song
Sermon: The Unstoppable Song
🗣️ Speaker: Pastor Tom Van Kempen
Children learning a song during Vacation Bible School and singing it over and over again serves as a beautiful reminder to be joyful like children. As followers of Jesus we should embrace a youthful excitement in worship, as well as to be willing to look a little silly in our praise because it’s all for God. Worship is more than singing; it involves our whole selves and is a powerful way to please God. Singing has been part of creation since the beginning and unites us as a church. Let’s all sing with passion, knowing it brings us closer to God and to each other!
ℹ️ Tip: The video is set to start at the beginning of the sermon, but you can scrub the playhead to any part of the service. ℹ️
Additional Info
The info below was generated by an AI from the audio recording of the sermon.
The Joy of Worship: Embracing Childlike Faith
Childhood brings with it a natural exuberance and an innate ability to express joy freely. This behavior serves as a reminder of how worship should manifest in our lives. Drawing from the teachings in Mark 10, we can learn that our relationship with God should resemble the innocent faith of children. Engaging in worship with a heart full of youthful energy enables us to truly feel and understand the enormity of being part of God's kingdom.
Our Physical Connection with Worship
Worship is much more than mere singing or reciting prayers. It involves our entire being—mind, body, and spirit. Engaging in worship should also mean losing oneself in joyous expressions, allowing our heart to lead us in praise. The act of worship allows us to embody our devotion and love for God, requiring our enthusiastic participation as seen through the eyes of childlike faith.
The Transformative Power of Singing
Singing holds a unique place in spiritual expression, embodying the deepest forms of worship. It is woven into the very fabric of creation, predating humanity itself. Job 38:7 reveals that the morning stars sang together during the creation of the world. This cosmic melody continues today, echoing throughout the universe as all of creation praises God.
God as a Singer
Recognizing God as a singer, as articulated in Zephaniah 3:17, reminds us that our Creator rejoices over us. The melodies He sings over us are not just beautiful—they are powerful and filled with purpose. Since we are created in His image, our desire to express ourselves through song is a gift inherent to our nature. Singing fosters connections among cultures and generations, serving various purposes from celebrations to moments of sorrow.
The Holistic Impact of Singing
Scientific research corroborates the emotional and physical benefits of singing. Engaging in song releases stress and fosters emotional expression, uplifting our spirits in ways that mere words cannot. The act of singing has proven to enhance wellness, reduce anxiety, and even boost the immune system. As we engage our voices, we create a collective emotional experience that transcends individual feelings, fostering joy within the community.
Singing Together: A Shared Experience
The Bible emphasizes our need for communal worship, demonstrated in passages like Colossians 3:16, where singing together teaches and encourages one another. Every time we lift our voices in unity, not only do we glorify God, but we also foster a sense of togetherness in our congregation. This shared harmony increases our bond, creating an environment where spirituality flourishes and connections deepen.
The Healing Power of Music
Singing has the ability to bind hearts together and promote healing. Whether in a praise and worship service or a moment of personal connection, music acts as a soothing balm for emotional wounds. Historically, music has played a vital role in mental and physical healing, as seen in 1 Samuel 16:23 where David’s harp playing brought relief to Saul. Being in a worshipful atmosphere can be transformative and restorative, enabling people to experience divine healing.
The Role of Excellence in Worship
The power of song is amplified when done excellently. Whether it is through skilled musicianship during praise and worship or through the graceful voices of the congregation, our artistic expressions of worship draw others to God. Excellence signifies our dedication to God, making our songs not merely enjoyable, but also a conduit for the divine presence.
Unified Through Worship
When we sing together, we form a bond that connects us on multiple levels. This connection is spiritual, communal, and deeply personal. As discussed in Psalm 149:1, the assembly of the saints singing praises fosters an atmosphere where God's presence is palpable. Our corporate worship experiences reflect a foretaste of heavenly praise, an eternal dialogue we will continue to engage in.
A Glimpse of Heaven
In reflecting on the vision of worship in Revelation, we are reminded of our ultimate purpose: to glorify God. Heaven is characterized by continuous worship, as exemplified by the hymns of the angels and the responsive praise of the redeemed. Our earthly experiences of singing together prepare us for our eternal worship of the Almighty.
Conclusion: Embracing Our Song
Worship is inherently rooted in the essence of our being. Every believer has a song to sing—an expression of gratitude and praise for the saving grace of God. It is imperative that we embrace this calling, both individually and collectively, lifting our voices in joyful adoration. In every moment, whether in song or silent prayer, may we remember the beauty of worship as our response to the wonders of His love.
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Use the questions listed below as a launching point to discuss the sermon points together as a family. These are great for dinner table discussions and small groups.
Reflect on Pastor Tom's Story: How do you feel when you hear about Pastor Tom’s grandkids being so enthusiastic about a worship song? Does it remind you of your own childhood or any resonating experiences?
Youthful Exuberance in Worship: What does it mean to approach worship with youthful exuberance? How can you incorporate this attitude into your worship practices?
Vulnerability in Worship: Pastor Tom mentioned the importance of being willing to look silly or vulnerable during worship. How does this apply to our spiritual and daily lives?
Holistic Involvement in Worship: Pastor Tom emphasized worship involving our whole selves. What are ways you can engage your whole body in worship and honor God beyond singing?
The Healing Power of Singing: How has singing in worship impacted your spiritual, emotional, or physical health? Share any specific instances where worship through song changed your perspective or mood.
Reflect on how you can bring child-like wonder and joy into your spiritual practices this week, and consider how this might impact your daily life. Pray together for a renewed heart in worship.
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Historical Context of Singing in Biblical Worship
Mark 10: The Call to Childlike Faith
In the Book of Mark, Jesus emphasizes entering the kingdom of God with a child-like attitude. This teaching captures the belief in the importance of humility, innocence, and openness—traits often seen in children. First-century Jewish society, where these scriptures originate, valued children less compared to adults, making Jesus's call radical by urging believers to adopt those 'lesser' characteristics to truly experience God's kingdom.
Job 38: The Foundations of the Earth
Job 38 reflects on God's mighty works during creation, mentioning the "morning stars sang together". In Jewish tradition, this poetic imagery underscores God's majestic creativity and the cosmic order's harmony. It signifies a universe where worship is inherent from its very formation.
Psalm 148: Creation's Praise
Psalm 148 calls on every part of creation to praise God. The psalm reflects Israel's perspective during a time when praising God was not merely an act done by people but one expected from all parts of the cosmos, aligning with the monotheistic worship unique to ancient Israel’s faith compared to surrounding polytheistic cultures.
Zephaniah 3:17: God as a Singer
Here, the vision of God singing over His people conveys a deeply relational aspect of God, characterized by joy and redemption. This was particularly profound for the Israelites, who were often experiencing occupation or exile, showing them a God who finds joy in His people regardless of their struggles.
Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3: Spirit-Led Worship
These passages from Paul's letters instruct the early Christians to live spirit-filled lives, contrasting with the norms of Roman society that often celebrated excess in other forms. Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs was part of the early church’s expression and was countercultural in its spiritual focus, unity, and mutual edification.
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So two weeks ago, you know, my five grandkids showed up. Actually, about two and a half weeks ago. Can I say that again? Two and a half weeks ago, my five grandkids showed up. And it's been a thrill, but a week ago, I started noticing something different than when they first got here.
And they were singing this song over and over and over again. And I would hear it when they were, like, coloring, when they were playing a little game with each other. They'd be humming it or singing it to themselves. Sometimes my two granddaughters would be doing it, doing the motions together and everything. And I'm like, where'd you guys hear this or learn this?
Because I've seen it on Facebook all over the place. And then I found out that they were learning it during vacation Bible school. And so I was like, I'm just so thrilled that they're learning this stuff. And so I started thinking, preparing for this last message. And I felt like God told me something in my desire to communicate to you that worship is a priority in our lives.
I felt God simply say, act more like a kid.
That's what I feel like God said, act more like a kid. And so I started thinking about that, and I found this scripture in Mark, chapter 10, that says that if we want to receive or even enter into the kingdom of God, we have to be like a little child. We have to be like children if we really are going to grasp the enormity of what it means to be a part of the. Of the kingdom of God. And so I just wrote a couple of things down that seem to go hand in hand with what we've been teaching over the last six weeks.
Number one is this worship is about youthful exuberance. It's about youthful exuberance. So Friday, I took my grandkids to the train station in Inverness, and it has this little bowling alley in the back. Have you guys ever seen a miniature bowling alley before? So I had done it once before in my life.
Obviously, my grandkids have never done it. It's a bowling alley that's only about 20ft long. The balls are like 3 pounds or less, and you can hold them in your hand and you throw them down at these. These pens that aren't normal pens. It's kind of electrical and different things at the same time.
And I had two grand boys, two of them, and for one straight hour, this is what they did.
I mean, I know it says we're supposed to jump for joy in the psalms, okay? But literally, I could not calm them down. I commanded them, I begged them, I positioned them, and no matter what I did, they would say, spring back up. Bribing didn't work either. I offered money and candy and ice cream, and literally within one or two minutes, this is what they're doing.
Because they were so youthfully excited, they were experiencing something for the very first time. Number two, I wrote down, worship is a willingness to look silly. Sometimes it's to not care what other people think. Remember one of those praise words that we've been talking about for the last is halal. And it means to even act foolishly at times, because in some traditions, it's irreverent to raise your hands.
In some traditions, you would never dance, you would never sway. In some traditions, spinning around like these kids were doing is showing disrespect for God. But that's not what it says in the Bible. In the Bible, it says that David danced before the Lord. Who can say amen?
There is an excitement when it comes to praise and worship. These kids were clapping, they were dancing, they were twirling, they were doing all of these different things. The next thing is this is that worship involves our entire bodies. It's not just about singing, although we're gonna get into that in just a second. It involves our minds, our hands, our feet, our hearts.
Everything about us. Worship literally comes from the heart. Number five. Worship is a desire to please the Father. Have you ever thought about that before?
I mean, my five grandkids, oh, they can make mistakes. They can do the wrong things. They can disobey. But they're always trying to please me right now. They're always looking for my favor.
They're always looking for an approving nod, a wink of some kind. Listen to what it says in Psalm 147:11. The Lord is pleased only with those who worship Him. Only. That's how you please God, is by worshiping him and trusting in his love.
The scripture says we still need the approval of the Father, who can say amen. We still need it today. This morning, we're concluding our series called More Than a Song by talking about singing. Ironically, I've been talking about all the other things that we do and trying to try and make singing not as important. While today we're going to talk about it being the most important.
This is literally the number one way that we can involve our whole selves in worshiping God. Singing is one of the clearest and most natural ways to, to express our worship for God from our hearts. And here's why. Saved people are singing people. Saved people are singing people.
So let me share four different things with you today that I want you to take home with you. That isn't in one particular passage. It's in a bunch of different scriptures that are found in the Bible. So number one is this singing is woven into the very fabric of creation. Singing is literally woven into the universe itself at the beginning of time.
Do you understand that there was a cosmic chorus being sung by everything at the very beginning. The Bible reveals that singing was present before humanity even walked on the earth. Literally, a choir was present at the very beginning of the world. Job, chapter 38, verses 6 and 7. This is when God is challenging Job about his understanding of the creation of the world.
And this is what he asked him about the foundations of the earth. To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone? When the morning stars sang together and. And all the sons of God shouted for joy.
Think about that. At the very moment of creation, as God laid the foundations of the world, all of the angelic beings were singing praise and worship to God. Who can say Amen? This is a normal and natural response. Singing predates humanity.
It's a part of the original design of the cosmos themselves. And that song has never stopped being sung. When you go to the book of Revelation, you find out that today, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there are angelic beings worshiping God every day, every moment, every second. And it goes even more than that. Anybody using AI A tiny bit.
Anybody else using AI I got on Gemini this week and I said, Gemini, I understand that the universe sings a song. Can you help me understand that? It spit out a 50 page report on the hum. The song, the roar. Say roar.
The roar of the universe. And I'm like, what in the world? And it was talking about electromagnetic pulses and gravitational pulls. And I couldn't even understand most of what it said. But listen, this is one little sentence or two sentences that I gleaned from this report.
The sound of the universe. Remember, this is according to Gemini. The sound of the universe is described as being somewhere between a cord and a roar, featuring specific notes, but with a significant spread of pitch. And listen, if you're a musician, you're gonna love this. It is 47 octaves below the lowest note on a piano.
In other words, you and I can't hear it. But this exact instrumentation can hear an echo, literally from the creation of the universe. Who can say am that original angelic song is still being heard all of these years later. God is truly magnificent and awesome. And it makes sense because in Psalm 148, the Psalmist instructs the sun and the moon in the skies to praise the Lord.
Who can say amen. It's still happening today. This is what really freaks me out, though, and that is God's a singer. Did you know that God himself is a singer? Zephaniah 3:17.
The Lord your God is in your midst. The mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with his love, and he will rejoice over you with singing. God is a singer.
I don't. I mean, my wife loves the singing shows on tv. Anybody else watch American Idol? The Voice? How about the Masked Singer?
There's some who watch that. That seems a little odd to me, the Masked Singer. But, you know, it's three different songs and everything. And everyone's looking for the greatest singer of all. But you know who the ultimate singer is?
It's God himself. Could you imagine the melodies we could hear when he sings? Can you imagine the lyrics, the tunes, the ideas for songs? And if we are created in his image, it's no wonder that we too have a deep seated urge to sing. It's how we're made.
We're made in his image. It's a part of God's nature. Therefore, singing is a part of our nature. If you look at any culture, every generation, people sing. We sing lullabies to babies.
We sing songs at weddings, mournful dirges at funerals, fighting anthems before a battle. It's an innate response to life, to joy, even to sorrow, to victory, even to defeat. It's hardwired into our very nature. And that's why. So singing number two has a holistic impact on our body, our soul, and our spirits.
Singing is not just a physical manifestation created when air passes through vocal cords. Singing is a spiritual experience. It is an emotional experience. It is a physical experience. While we're not here for a health lecture, it's worth noting that science confirms what God's word implies.
Singing has physical benefits. It's good for us physically. It literally reduces our stress. It improves our breathing. It can even improve the immune response to sickness and disease.
There is a natural, healthy release that happens every single time. We really engage with this thing called singing. But it's not just physical benefits. There are emotional benefits with this also. Singing literally helps us to express our emotions.
How many remember this song?
You are so beautiful to me.
You are so beautiful to me. Can't you see Better yet? You are so beautiful. Right? No, no.
What's his name? Joe Cocker. Yeah. You've got to do it with that gravelly voice. And I mean, there are times when I've sung this song to my wife.
Do you know why? Because words can't express how I feel. I need something more than a word. I need a song. I need to express how I feel in the moment.
Recently I had oral surgery and the sutures are still in my mouth. I've got them on my right side, on my left side. I think they're starting to come out because I'm eating food and I'm not supposed to be eating food. It's hard to go two weeks without eating anything solid. I'm just telling you.
And they warned me and they told me, but I literally got serenaded while this woman is doing oral surgery. I sat in that dental chair at 1:00'. Clock. I got out at 7:00pm that night. Yes, yes.
It was brutal. It hurt. I got over 50 shots of pain, of novocaine or whatever. I got a shot again and again in the roof of my mouth, like 20 times. Tears are running down my face and.
And the periodontist and her assistant are singing. Now, I don't know if they're singing because they love what they do or they knew what they were gonna charge me because, man, it cost a lot of money. But they were expressing their true joy in song in that moment. Sometimes singing actually ignites our emotions. In other words, you can walk into a praise and worship service and you have no joy at all.
And when you walk out, you're filled with joy. Who can say amen? Now, this is scriptural. Look at Psalm chapter 149. I've got it coming up here.
Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song in his praise or sing in the assembly of the saints. So anything that's underlined is a praise term, and anything in red is a word that either means to sing or is the word sing itself. Okay? So praise the Lord.
Sing to Lord a new song and his praise or song in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their king. Let. Are you hearing this phrase?
Let. In other words, I'm not joyful when I walked in, but when I start rearranging my focus and taking it off of me and placing it where it needs to go. In the first five verses, there are five exhortations to praise and there are five responses of joy that when I praise God, I will be joyful. Who can say Amen? It is a natural response to corporately especially, but even individually singing praise to God.
But it's not just joy. All of our emotions are greatly affected by music. Any movie fans in the house? You like a good movie? Okay, quite a few.
All right. Have you ever watched your favorite movie with no music score? Okay, so sometimes there are specials on TV and the special is, what would this movie be like without music? And they show Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and they show that big rock coming down to squash him. And it's not scary at all.
There's literally no action and no adventure because there's no music. It's the music that amplifies the emotions. It's the music that exaggerates or ignites or gets those emotions going. It's not the scene that you see. It's literally the music, the musical score that's behind it, which speaks to the power of music.
We need to understand that music does that. And God listen. God designed music to break through our apathy and our hardness of heart and to help to encourage us emotionally in His Word and in his presence. We need songs that stir us, that move us, that help us to celebrate and bring us to repentance. In Jesus name, who can say Amen.
Amen. That's why we can walk into church feeling like the weight of the world. The world is on our shoulders and we walk out skipping. We walk out because the circumstances haven't changed. But guess what?
The way I feel about those circumstances has changed. God has done something powerful in my life. It even goes a step further. Singing is literally a pathway to both physical and emotional healing. If you need healing, the best practice place in the world to be is in a praise and worship service.
I'm just letting you know you don't need to be home in bed. Now, if you're contagious, maybe you should stay at home in bed. All right? But if you're just feeling bad and you choose not to come to church, understand you are giving away your best case for being healed in the name of Jesus Christ. In 1st Samuel, chapter 16, verse 23, when David would play his harp.
The evil spirit would depart from Saul, and Saul would instantaneously begin to feel relief. Music has a way of ministering both to our emotional and our physical states. But that's because it is a total impact medium and gift that God has given us. It impacts our physical bodies, our emotional souls, and even our spirit spiritual being, because it is a spirit generated form of worship. When we sing from the heart, we're obeying Jesus words to worship God in spirit and in truth.
And there are spiritual benefits to this also. Listen. Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 18 to 19. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation or excess, but be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. So there's this connection between the Holy Spirit and us singing melodies to God.
There's a connection here. So he says, do not be drunk with wine. Have you ever wondered, what is Paul doing? Why is he comparing drinking alcohol to experiencing the Holy Spirit? And it's because there are similarities.
At the beginning, when you first start drinking wine, most people get happy. I know none of you have ever done this, all right? But alcohol induces a feeling of euphoria at the end beginning, okay? The Holy Spirit induces feelings of euphoria and joy and goodness and gladness. They're both called spirits, distilled spirits and the Holy Spirit.
There is a spiritual connection that we need to understand that when we drink to excess, we are inviting into us something that is not of God. Are you hearing this? Okay, this is why it says, be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Here's where it diverges. Alcohol is a depressant, okay?
Alcohol, literally listen. It causes you to lose awareness of reality. And that's what a lot of people want. They want to lose reality. They don't want to be confronted with their problems, their struggles, their difficulties.
So they drink. But watch this. The Holy Spirit is a stimulant. He gives you energy and joy. And listen.
He gives you more awareness of reality. He helps you see things where you can have the victory over your circumstances. In Jesus name. He introduces you into the very presence of God himself. And you become aware of him in a way that you've not experienced previously.
And he can give you the victory again and again and again. Who can say amen? We don't have to turn to worldly devices. God has the answer in every single situation that we face. So a spirit filled Christian has a mouth and a heart that is filled with praise.
This passage also highlights three different types of songs. And I want to make sure there's no confusion here because Psalms talks about a lot of these and it adds one or two other forms of songs too. So what specifically is a psalm? A psalm is nothing more than a song built on Psalm 1 through 150 on Wednesday nights. We've been talking about the fact that the Psalms were the Jewish people's playlist of life.
It was the ones that they sang when they were sad. It's the songs that they sang when they were happy, they were celebratory, they were laments, they were positive, they were a little bit negative at times. They were praying. They were all of these things. And then when the early church got formed in Acts chapter two, it became the playlist of the early church.
And it should still be the playlist for you and I today. Amen. We should still be turning to the psalms and singing new songs, spontaneous songs, beautiful psalms. And this is appropriate. Next, it talks about here, hymns.
Please understand that our understanding of hymns and their understanding of hymns are not the same things. Our understanding of hymns are typically songs that were written by Martin Luther, the Wesley brothers. So, so these are songs that are somewhere between 500 and 100 years old. There, there are some modern hymns in our nomenclature, okay. But they're not talking about those songs because they hadn't been invented yet.
When they talk about psalms, they're talking about songs that praise God specifically for who he is. In other words, you are great, you are awesome, you are majestic, you are the Creator. So they focus on him. They don't focus on our feelings. It's not, oh God, you make me feel so good.
And there's nothing wrong with that. But we need more songs that celebrate God for God's sake. Who can say amen? You are beautiful, you are glorious, you are grand, you are wonderful. And then it talks about spiritual songs.
There are some, depending upon your tradition, who believe that those are just new songs that God through the Holy Spirit helps you write a new song. There are some who believe that they're just Holy Spirit inspired songs. And then the Pentecostals, who are the crazy people like me, believe that it is you speaking in tongues to a melody. And I believe it is one of the most beautiful, liberating, glorious ways of praising and worshiping God, where you can just sing a melody in another language that you do not know, and yet you are praising and worshiping God who can say amen.
And of course, how are we to sing? We're to sing with our whole heart. We're to sing as loud as we can at times. There are times, though, when we're supposed to be very quiet and contemplative in our singing. The question isn't, do you have a perfect singing voice?
The question is, do you have a song? Do you have a song? Is there a song of worship in your heart? And I'm here to tell you that if you're saved, you have the song of the redeemed. You have the song of the redeemed, and you should be singing every single day.
Number three, singing is a powerful means of building other people up. Singing is not just for your benefit. Did you know that you're singing for your next, next door neighbor right now? You're singing for the unsaved people in our church right now. You're singing for people who are struggling and don't know what to do.
And your song is going to encourage them in Jesus name. That's what the scripture tells us. Look at Ephesians or, I'm sorry, Colossians, chapter 3, verse 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Now, did you see this?
Ephesians talks about a connection with the Holy Spirit when it comes to psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Okay? Now, Colossians is using those three same terms, but saying that when we sing those songs, people are taught, people are admonished, people are encouraged. When we sing together, we're not just single singing to God, but also to one another. We're teaching each other, reminding each other of God's truth and encouraging one another in our faith.
Sometimes the lyrics of a song will speak directly to a struggling person's heart. Sometimes it's a form of enlightenment where it teaches a spiritual truth. Let me share a couple of things with you. I'm going to start a jingle and I want you to complete it. Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce.
All we ask is that you let us. Okay, so you guys knew that song. Why? Because of the jingle. Because of the music.
I'm going to do another one. Let's do it again. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. Pastor Jeff, this choir needs some help. All right? They need some help.
Just staying together is one of the things we need to do. But. But you guys all have the tune in your heads. I. I mean, there is. I don't Want to use the word magic, but.
But that's how God created us, that when you associate something with a tune, you are going to remember it. They've been doing studies with Alzheimer's patients, and when they use music, they can actually bring back memories. I think it's beautiful. I mean, I remember in children's church learning this song. Jesus loves me, I know for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong. They are weak. But man, you guys did way better with that one. All right. I mean, that was way better.
But there are eternal truths. John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Right? It's been embedded into our hearts because of that song.
But it's not just cute little truths. Sometimes God.
How do I say this? He rebukes us with a song. Have you ever been in the praise and worship service and the Holy Spirit said, you don't mean that. You're singing, but you don't mean it. You're singing, but you're not living it.
I mean, look at what it says in Deuteronomy 31:19. Now, therefore, this is God speaking. Write down this song for yourselves and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths that this song may be a witness for me against them.
Songs are a rebuke at times. It's a reminder that we're not doing what we're supposed to be doing. When the song says, lift up our hands, do you lift up your hands or do you just stand there and go, I'm not lifting up my hands. If you do, you're rebelling sometimes. I just want you to understand.
You don't have to raise them every single time. But there's an attitude in the heart that we need to understand. Finally, I know song. The singing part of our service. Just as many people get saved during that service as during the preaching.
Don't say Amen there. I'm teasing. I'm teasing. I'm teasing. Because we pastors want to think they only get saved when we preach.
But I know of many stories of people who say they got saved during the singing. One of my previous church members in San Jose, she was from the island of Taiwan, and so English was not even her first language. And she comes on over here, she's a computer person. She's single, super, super smart, super intellectual. And someone invited her to the church, and she came not because she wanted God, not because she needed God, but she came because she was just being nice to one of her co workers.
And so she's sitting there in the service and come the second or third song, she's crying. She doesn't even know why she's crying. And so she listens to the message and it doesn't mean anything to her. And so, so she comes back the next week because she's wondering if there was just something wrong with her, you know? Sure enough, during the second or third song, she starts crying again.
And this happens week after week after week. And then one day, the message makes sense. One day she realizes that she is a sinner and she needs the blood of Jesus Christ and she gives her life to Jesus. Why? Because she was convinced, convicted, and drawn to Christ.
During the singing of the service, who can say Amen? We need to understand the power that is happening while we are singing. It's way more than we believe it's not. Oh, that's just the singing part. It is extremely valuable to what goes here.
Psalm 33:3 says this. Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy. What did you know? I've heard the testimony of atheists who have said it wasn't even the words, it was the skill of the musicians that drew me to God.
It was the beauty of Beethoven's fifth Symphony that drew me to God. It was when I went to that Christmas program and they played Handel's movie Messiah and the joy and the glory that I felt I knew right then and there that there was purpose in my life. If something that beautiful can be sung by human beings, someone must have led them to sing it. Who can say Amen in Jesus name? This is why excellence in music is also something that draws people literally to God.
Fourth and finally, I have more to say, but I'm going to number four. Singing a bond that unifies singing is a powerful bond that can actually draw us all together. Psalm 149, verse 1. I already read it once before, but let me read it again. Praise the Lord.
Sing to the Lord a new song and sing his praise in the assembly of the saints, in the congregation of the saints, in the auditorium of the saints. The implication is there's something supernatural that takes place when we gather together and we begin to sing just in human shared experience alone. I've been at a restaurant before. When all of the servers get around a person and they start singing Happy Birthday. I find it very difficult not to sing along with them.
What about you? I mean, happy birthday to you. Before you know it, I'm right there with them. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday Dear.
And I wait for the name Steve. Steve. Happy birthday. And I'm singing. There's something about the music that draws me in.
Literally, if you're at a baseball game, especially a pro baseball game, invariably the middle of the seventh inning, everyone stands up and they start singing, Take me out to the game Take me out to the crowd thank you. Give me some peanuts and I don't care if I root, root, root for the.
It's a shame for it's one, two, three strikes you're out. At the old ball game, everyone stands up and sings. It's silly, it's funny, but there's something about the shared experience. So I'm a sophomore in high school, and we've got a really good basketball team, all right? And so we start off the season like 8, 0, and we lose one game, and then we're like 140 or 14 and 1.
And all of a sudden in the crowd, everyone starts singing, we are the champions, my friend. And then they start going, we will, we will rock you we win. And literally every game, and usually it started at the fourth quarter when we were ahead by five to 10 points and they knew we were winning. But Once you were 14 and 1 and then 15 and 1 and then 16 and 1, they started getting bold. In the first quarter, they're singing, we're going to rock you.
You know, we're the champions. And I remember it's the first game of the playoffs and we are like 23 and 1 and somehow we get pitted against a team that's 240 and we are behind by one point with like eight seconds to go in the game. That's it. And they're shooting free throws, and I'm like, oh. But we start doing the chant.
We start saying, we're the champions and we're about to lose in the first round of the playoffs. And this guy shoots a free throw. It hits the back of the rim. He takes a step in, it bounces over his head. Our all state basketball player grabs the ball and runs to the other end of the court where they tackle him with one second to go in the game.
And he calmly goes up and hits two free throws. We win the game and go on to win the stage state championship that year. All because I think, because the entire fan base believed for 10 or 15 games that we were literally going to win. Now listen. Listen to this.
Scientists have actually found that singing corporately produces a chemical change in our bodies that contributes to a sense of bonding. When we sing with others, our bodies and brains actually start to synchronize. Studies show that when people sing together, their heart rates begin to align. This synchronization fosters a deep sense of belonging and community. I believe it's true in the normal arena, but it's even more true in the spiritual arena.
Who can say amen As a church, when we sing, I want you to think of singing differently than you have in the past. I want you to understand that as we come together and we start worshiping God, that we're literally inviting God into our very presence and that we are bonding our hearts with one another, that we're coming together and we're asking God, what do you desire of us? What do you want us to do? What do you want. Want us to become?
And please understand that what we do here on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights and any other time we gather is really one of the few previews of heaven that we ever get. We're still going to be worshiping God in heaven someday. Who can say amen? Did you know there's no preaching in heaven? No doctors in heaven, no lawyers in heaven?
Amen. Praise the Lord. Yeah, yeah, there's work in heaven. So don't, don't get that wrong. But, but there's no need for, for fixers in heaven because everything's fixed, everything's taken care of.
So praise and worship is, is normal and natural and a consistent part of what we are going to do. There's the song of the redeemed, which I already talked about. This is a song of thanksgiving for what God has done in saving each and every one of us. There's the song of Moses described in the book of Revelation, and it's the song of victory. It's in response to all of the battles that you and I waged here on this planet.
And God saw us through those in Jesus name. And then there's the song of the Lamb. You need to understand that the book of Revelations mentions the lamb 28 different times. I asked the first service, can you tell me what the Book of Revelation is about? And pretty much everyone said it's about end times.
But do you know if you think the Book of Revelation is primarily about end times, you've missed the whole point of the book. The whole point of the Book of Revelation is worship. The reason we're going to go through an end times is because man refused to worship God. Remember, even, even In Revelation chapter 3, he challenges the Ephesian church to return to their first love. Which is just another way of saying, why don't you worship God the way you're supposed to return to your first love.
Love. And then in chapter four, when it really gets into the nitty gritty, listen to what it says immediately. I was in the spirit. And behold, a throne was set in heaven. And one sat on the throne.
And he who sat there was like a Jasper in a Sardis stone. In appearance, that meant he was glorious. He was beautiful. And there was a rainbow around the throne, and in appearance, it was like an emerald. And in other words, it just shone.
It sparkled. And around the throne were 24 thrones. And on the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white robes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices. And seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like. Like crystal. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures, creatures full of eyes in the front and in the back. And the first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like a calf.
The third living creature had the face of a man. And the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. For the four living creatures each had six wings, and the wings were full of eyes. And they do not rest, day or night, but 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They sing, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.
Listen. Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. And they cast their crowns, their authority, their accomplishments, everything that made them who they are. They just give it to God and say, it's yours. And then they sing, you are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power for you.
Cross created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. I could go on to chapter five, which says that there was a scroll that nobody could open except for the one on the throne and for all of chapter five. Again, they worship God all over again. We need to understand that the emphasis in heaven is worshiping God. The purpose of living on this planet is to worship God.
What you just heard me read was a perfect synopsis of the last six weeks on praise and worship. So we've got plenty of time. I just want to encourage you to stand with me and would you sing along with the worship team as they lead us into the very presence of God.
