Songs we will be singing this coming Sunday May the 16th
Hymns we will be singing this coming Sunday, May the 16th, at GCCBG
9:30 Morning Service
- The Creation Song (Psalm 104)
- How Firm a Foundation
- There is Power in the Blood
- Give Me Jesus
My prayer for GCCBG is that we take the time to prepare our hearts for worship.
Within evangelicalism there is often a misconception about worship and music. We believe that worship is music. We often call it that. But that is not true. Music is a tool, an instrument we can use to praise our Lord and also for us to learn about our Lord. Think of music as a carpenter's hammer. A carpenter can use a hammer to build a frame for a door to a house, just as he can use a hammer to build the door to a sanctuary where worship to our Lord is going to be celebrated. Well, music is like that, you can use music as a way to entertain yourself or others, or you may use music, as a way to lift praises to our God. What is it the makes music relevant? The answer to that is: GOD, The Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:3-4). Now, how do we prepared ourselves for worship? How do we accomplish that task? Is it by following certain routines, such as getting the clothes ready on Saturday, or even, making sure you have a good sleep before Sunday? That may surely help but I argue that this routine should be the outcome of what really makes us ready and why we want to be ready. There is something even more important that would surely makes us ready.
Here it is:
Romans 8:1-8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ESV
Verse 5:
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
So what do I mean when I say we need to prepared ourselves for worship? Don't come thinking about the music, or even other things. But come focused in the Spirit of God and that God is whom we worship and we use the gifts He has given us to offer praises to Him. Through reading, praying, listening, singing His word, and giving. We sing as a testimony of what He has done and how He reveals Himself. Romans 8:4-5
Be ready to participate in this Sunday's celebration of our Lord's day. By His grace we are given the opportunity to worship Him. How do I know that, because of the gift of His Spirit of Life. We can praise Him for that! So come and join us.
If you don't know one of these hymns, come and learn it with us! See you then.
C.R