THE ENDLESS SONG
MUSIC AND WORSHIP IN THE CHURCH
CHAPTER 2
THE SONG OF THE CHRISTIAN: (Pages 21-29)
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING
I will praise God’s name in song and will glorify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord… -Psalm 69:30, 31
A New Song and Lifestyle
To become a Christian is to receive a new song for this life and for eternity.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God – Psalm 40:3.
This new song expresses our thanksgiving to God and proclaims His holiness.
A thankful spirit is a mark of Christian maturity.
Our basic attitude toward life is a key factor in our witness and ministry.
Praise and thanksgiving could be described as a response of gratitude for the goodness and blessings of God.
Our Christian Heritage
The foundation of our faith is built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ Himself the chief cornerstone.
It can also be stated that the church of Jesus Christ is built on the blood of martyrs.
Our Present Blessings
Praise [bless] the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Psalm 103:1-2
One important plateau of Christian maturity is learning to enjoy our personal relationship with God and to be content with the life He has given us.
Scripture teaches that we should bless the Lord and remember His benefits. We need to reflect often on the good things about God listed in the passage of Scripture Psalm 103:3-10.
In the Old Testament, a sacrifice or offering was associated with God’s acceptance of man’s worship.
In this New Testament era, believers-priests are also urged to make an appropriate offering-the living, spiritual sacrifice of themselves.
Fundamentally, then, true worship always involves an offering-an attitude of giving rather than getting.
As God’s people may we sacrifice of praise continually to the One “who daily loaded us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19, KJV).
May praise and thanksgiving be the antidotes for depression and self-pity. May our times of worship together be pleasing to God because they come from thankful, praising hearts.
Our Future Inheritance
Heaven is an eternity at home with our Lord! It is as sure as the promises of God in the Scriptures:
I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. –John 14:2, 3
“The anticipation of God’s tomorrow makes it possible for Christians to live joyfully today-regardless of life’s circumstances.”
One of our major activities in heave can be understood, however, because we are preparing for it now-the worship and praise of our Lord.
Heaven is revealed to earth as the homeland of music. C. Rossetti
Knowing and Doing
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for you and I will give thanks to Him in song - Psalm 28:7
Most believers agree that the Christian life should be characterized by such words as “joy”, “praise,” and “thankful.”
Thanks Giving (Page 27)
Summary
The mark of a Christian is a life and song of praise and thanksgiving. This is a joyous response of the blessings God has provided for each believer. “Our daily offering to God should be the sacrifice of praise.” The dedicated Christian is absorbed with God. Praise and thanksgiving ring within and resound from his lips. The pursuit of God’s glory, the Lordship of Christ, and the worship and praise of our Creator-redeemer are his natural way of living.
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