Word for Today, Thu, 18 Sep 2003: A Heart of Worship

#1 · September 18, 2003, 9:56 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on September 18, 2003, 9:56 pm
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Yesterday we shared about how we can effectively use our time
and energy. Larry Davies wrote part two of a story of how he
missed an opportunity to share with someone in need. The
memory of that event and a conviction in his heart caused a
change in attitude and a deepening awareness of how to really
love others, even strangers, who are in need.

Today we shift gears slightly, but we're really talking about
a similar topic. This message is about being filled with the
Spirit of God and carrying a song in our hearts. Please read
the message with prayer, then think about what's being said,
going beyond the idea of just music, but extending past that
point. What do we think about? What instruments or vehicles
do we use (including music) to influence what we think about
and how we act?

Matt Redmond is a worship leader and a songwriter in a church
in England. Several years ago now, his pastor wisely taught
his congregation about true spiritual worship. This
particular church had a worship team and a worship band, but
at that point in time, they were instructed NOT to play or
sing any music, at least for a short period of time, so that
they could reflect on the many facets of worship besides
music. An output of this time of reflection was the popular
song, "Heert of Worship", which Matt wrote in response to his
own longing and thirst for Jesus Christ. Thanks to a forum
post at jcsm.net/, I was able to extract all the words
to the song, which I think are relevant and worth sharing in
the context of this message. Following the song lyrics, Neil
Anderson shares a useful discussion about "What role does
music play in your life?"

I pray that these words are not mere lines of excess chatter,
but will connect to your heart, right where you are, in
seeking a meaningful relationship with the "God who is", not
merely some expression of "Cultural Christianity".

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come.
Longing just to bring something that's of worth,
that will bless Your heart.
I'll bring You more than a song,
for a song in itself is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within,
through the way things appear. You're looking into my heart.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
and it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it,
when it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.

King of endless worth, no one could express
how much You deserve.
Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours,
every single breath.

I'll bring You more than a song,
for a song in itself is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within,
through the way things appear. You're looking into my heart.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
and it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it,
when it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
'cause it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it,
'cause it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.

All about You.

I'll bring You more than a song.
I'll bring You more than a song ... more than a song.

I'll bring You more than a song.
I'll bring You more than a song ... more than a song.

You're looking into my heart, looking into my heart.

You're looking into my heart, into my heart.

I'll bring You more than a song.
I'll bring You mooooore than a song.

I'll bring You more than a song.
I'll bring You more than a song.

Yours in Christ,
Brian

____________________________

NEIL ANDERSON'S DAILY IN CHRIST
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

September 18

SING AND MAKE MELODY

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your
heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18, 19).

How pathetically unaware we are of the biblical prominence of
music in the spiritual realm. It is interesting to note that
whenever the evil spirit came upon King Saul, David (the heir
apparent to Israel's throne) would play his harp and the evil
spirit would depart (1 Samuel 16:23). When Elisha was about to
inquire of God, he said, "'Now bring me a minstrel.' And it came
about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came
upon him" (2 Kings 3:15). During the reign of David, more than
4000 musicians were assigned to sing in the temple night and day
(1 Chronicles 9:33; 23:5). It is the mark of Spirit-filled
Christians to sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord
and speak to each other in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
(Ephesians 5:18, 19).

On the other side of the truth lies the destructive power of
secular music. A former satanic high priest showed me numerous
symbols on popular record albums indicating commitment and
bondage to Satanism. He told me that about 85 percent of today's
heavy metal and punk music groups are "owned" by Satanists. They
have unwittingly sold themselves to Satanism in exchange for
fame and fortune. Few of these artists actually practice
Satanism, but most are hopelessly lost and lead others astray
through the godless message in their music.

God created sound and formed our bodies to respond to it. Our
ears pick up the sound around us and send a signal to the brain.
Some sounds irritate us; others soothe us. There is music that
makes you want to march and music that puts you to sleep. Even
without lyrics, music with harmony and order can affect the
nervous system positively while discord produces a negative
effect.

What role does music play in your life? Are you filling your
mind and home with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs? Or are you
allowing destructive secular music to rob you of your joy and
vitality in the Lord?

You are the God who sings over me, Lord. Thank You for the gift
of music and for the songs You give me in the night.

-----------
This daily devotional is published and distributed by
Crosswalk.com. It is written by Neil Anderson at
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.14711.1.293748.

Additional devotionals are available from Crosswalk.com:
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.14711.2.293748.
-----------
To read current World news stories, National news stories, and
commentaries, visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.14711.3.293748
-----------
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link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.14711.4.293748

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trust, or just family friendly websites? Whatever you are
searching for on the Internet, www.Crossguide.com will help you
cut through the clutter to the Christian results that you want.

Search today! www.Crossguide.com

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Yesterday we shared about how we can effectively use our time
and energy. Larry Davies wrote part two of a story of how he
missed an opportunity to share with someone in need. The
memory of that event and a conviction in his heart caused a
change in attitude and a deepening awareness of how to really
love others, even strangers, who are in need.

Today we shift gears slightly, but we're really talking about
a similar topic. This message is about being filled with the
Spirit of God and carrying a song in our hearts. Please read
the message with prayer, then think about what's being said,
going beyond the idea of just music, but extending past that
point. What do we think about? What instruments or vehicles
do we use (including music) to influence what we think about
and how we act?

Matt Redmond is a worship leader and a songwriter in a church
in England. Several years ago now, his pastor wisely taught
his congregation about true spiritual worship. This
particular church had a worship team and a worship band, but
at that point in time, they were instructed NOT to play or
sing any music, at least for a short period of time, so that
they could reflect on the many facets of worship besides
music. An output of this time of reflection was the popular
song, "Heert of Worship", which Matt wrote in response to his
own longing and thirst for Jesus Christ. Thanks to a forum
post at jcsm.net/, I was able to extract all the words
to the song, which I think are relevant and worth sharing in
the context of this message. Following the song lyrics, Neil
Anderson shares a useful discussion about "What role does
music play in your life?"

I pray that these words are not mere lines of excess chatter,
but will connect to your heart, right where you are, in
seeking a meaningful relationship with the "God who is", not
merely some expression of "Cultural Christianity".

When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come.
Longing just to bring something that's of worth,
that will bless Your heart.
I'll bring You more than a song,
for a song in itself is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within,
through the way things appear. You're looking into my heart.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
and it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it,
when it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.

King of endless worth, no one could express
how much You deserve.
Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours,
every single breath.

I'll bring You more than a song,
for a song in itself is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within,
through the way things appear. You're looking into my heart.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
and it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it,
when it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
'cause it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it,
'cause it's all about You. It's all about You, Jesus.

All about You.

I'll bring You more than a song.
I'll bring You more than a song ... more than a song.

You're looking into my heart, looking into my heart.

You're looking into my heart, into my heart.

I'll bring You more than a song.
I'll bring You mooooore than a song.

I'll bring You more than a song.
I'll bring You more than a song.

Yours in Christ,
Brian

____________________________

NEIL ANDERSON'S DAILY IN CHRIST
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

September 18

SING AND MAKE MELODY

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your
heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18, 19).

How pathetically unaware we are of the biblical prominence of
music in the spiritual realm. It is interesting to note that
whenever the evil spirit came upon King Saul, David (the heir
apparent to Israel's throne) would play his harp and the evil
spirit would depart (1 Samuel 16:23). When Elisha was about to
inquire of God, he said, "'Now bring me a minstrel.' And it came
about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came
upon him" (2 Kings 3:15). During the reign of David, more than
4000 musicians were assigned to sing in the temple night and day
(1 Chronicles 9:33; 23:5). It is the mark of Spirit-filled
Christians to sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord
and speak to each other in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
(Ephesians 5:18, 19).

On the other side of the truth lies the destructive power of
secular music. A former satanic high priest showed me numerous
symbols on popular record albums indicating commitment and
bondage to Satanism. He told me that about 85 percent of today's
heavy metal and punk music groups are "owned" by Satanists. They
have unwittingly sold themselves to Satanism in exchange for
fame and fortune. Few of these artists actually practice
Satanism, but most are hopelessly lost and lead others astray
through the godless message in their music.

God created sound and formed our bodies to respond to it. Our
ears pick up the sound around us and send a signal to the brain.
Some sounds irritate us; others soothe us. There is music that
makes you want to march and music that puts you to sleep. Even
without lyrics, music with harmony and order can affect the
nervous system positively while discord produces a negative
effect.

What role does music play in your life? Are you filling your
mind and home with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs? Or are you
allowing destructive secular music to rob you of your joy and
vitality in the Lord?

You are the God who sings over me, Lord. Thank You for the gift
of music and for the songs You give me in the night.

-----------
This daily devotional is published and distributed by
Crosswalk.com. It is written by Neil Anderson at
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.14711.1.293748.

Additional devotionals are available from Crosswalk.com:
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.14711.2.293748.
-----------
To read current World news stories, National news stories, and
commentaries, visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.14711.3.293748
-----------
For Copyright Terms visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.14711.4.293748

____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________

Introducing http://www.Crossguide.com
Where Christians find Products, Services & Ministries.

Crossguide is the newest and most comprehensive directory of
Christian websites. Looking for a Church, businesses you can
trust, or just family friendly websites? Whatever you are
searching for on the Internet, http://www.Crossguide.com will help you
cut through the clutter to the Christian results that you want.

Search today! http://www.Crossguide.com

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
sitebuilder.yahoo.com