The Music Of The Church - Greg Gay 4/18/07

I realize that the Brundage congregation you've been

studying the very topic I have before you on the board tonight

and I appreciate that. And I wanted to say just a

little bit about the concept of the continual teaching of the

doctrinal truths of the Lord's Church.

Anytime I study with the young preacher, what I asked them to

do is to make sure that at least What I usually suggest is that,

at least every third sermon, be a sermon of doctrinal Nature.

And usually, the question I get, well, what do you mean by

Doctrine? And I usually say, well, that's

a real good thing for you to think about and study on your

own and you come back and tell me what that is.

But by that I always mean those foundational truths of the

Lord's church that we understand from the study of God's word at

that are part of the foundation. Sharon of the church.

There are some foundational truths that we understand from

the word of God, and these are not secret.

You know, they are in the word of God and they are for us to

understand. They offer us to teach and they

if they are for us to repeat so long as the Earth shall stand.

Second, Timothy Chapter 2 and verse 2 gives encouragement

along these lines when Paul told Timothy, the things that thou

Hast heard of me among many witnesses.

The same commit, thou to Faithful Men Who Shall be able

to teach others also. So this is God's plan for the

church to be perpetuated from generation to generation until

the Lord comes again. We need to honor that plan and

understand that whenever the Bible talks about the Lord

changing nod and his his word being sure that we can trust

these things. And we can, we can, you might

say rest? Scholes upon these wonderful

truths. We understand what it means to

find a truth and keep it in order to obtain a desired result

in many areas of life. One of the areas where we

understand that is in the area of cooking.

Now, I am in the midst of having some wonderful meals as I go

from place to place this week and I will admit that, I know

far less about cooking than Naidu about eating but as you

can well imagine I am a good eater.

I've got that one down really really well and while I don't

know that much about cooking. Here's something.

I know if you take an old recipe for an apple pie And you follow

that recipe, you're not going to end up with turnip greens.

Not gonna happen apples, just don't magically transform

themselves into turnip greens. Doesn't happen that way.

We understand, if you follow the recipe, if you follow the

directions for an apple pie, you're going to end up with an

apple pie. Now, that's basic to cooking,

isn't it? Last night?

I introduced the concept of hermeneutics.

And that's a, that's a, that's an eight cylinder word, you

know? But the concept of hermeneutics

has to do with the commands, the examples And the influences of

the word of God and the consistency that we are to have

as God's people in figuring out the basic truths of God's word.

So that we might also obey them. Now, you never want to outrun

your headlights here, you always want to learn what you don't

know, from a foundation of what you do know, and we stepped

through the concept of baptism how that it involved much water.

That was significant when job was John was baptizing.

We also learned and Romans 6, that baptism is a burial, we

know what that is. We also learned in Acts 8 how

that the Ethiopian eunuch who was baptized, he went down into

the water, fill up, and him, went down into the water for him

to be baptized, and then they came up out of the water.

Well, why did they go down into the water so he could be buried.

How are you Barry? It in water, you understand that

has to do with emotion, which is the meaning of the Greek word.

That is transliterated baptism the word baptizo.

And so we can understand what baptism is by taking what we

know and building on it. Now if we get to the end of

these chains of scriptural truths and somebody says baptism

is not immersion. Baptism is just sprinkling, or

baptism is just pouring a little water over.

Somebody you know, what's happening?

Somebody's ending up. Turnip greens, trying to follow

an apple pie recipe. Doesn't work that way.

Because when we follow the Bible's recipe for salvation,

when we come to the water, we want lots of it because we're

going to have to plant somebody. We're gonna have to bury them.

And we're going to have to bury all of them because that's the

way burials work. And we understand those things

commands examples and inferences also are key to our

understanding the word of God when it comes to the music of

the church there. Are now I'll come back to all

this again but there are some basic scriptures that that are

very, very important to us. And And if we are going to paths

past the Lord's truths on from one generation to another, then

these are the types of things that we need to be speaking

about those of us who are blessed and privileged to be

teachers. The reason being we do not do

what we do in worship just because we flipped a coin and

decided to do it this way. That's not what we do.

We do what we do and worship, because that's what the Bible

teaches. And how do you figure that out

by figuring out? Things like the commands and

examples and inferences that apply to our worship.

And so, it is not correct for us to say well we just prefer it

this way when it comes to the Lord's table.

We have the Lord's Supper the way we do because that's what

the Bible says to do. And our singing is done the way

it is, because that's what the Bible teaches.

Our prayers are prayed the way they are because that's what the

Bible teaches. We assemble on a certain day of

the week with a certain frequency because that's what

the Bible teaches. now, if all of this were left up to us, I'm

so amazed at the creativity of our minds that God has blessed

us with my oldest. Grandson is in the sixth grade

and I went to his school open house the other night and they

had science exhibits that those kids probably parents helping a

little had come up with. Well, there was one that one

little kid there that had around board with a hole in it and he

had a leaf blower that he started with a mighty Roar and

he Center that leaf blower down in that hole and he Crank That

Thing Up and that board just rose up the air pressure.

He was light enough to where he could just kind of float around

with that. I thought that was really neat.

There was another kid that had a little motor that he had rigged

up this very, very simple but yet really special thing.

My grandson showed us The effects of the sun on hot dogs

with various degrees of sun blocker lotion rubbed on them.

Now, that was, that was pretty amazing.

I didn't know that hot dogs could sunburn, but but I learned

that I learned that we can be so creative that, you know, if it

were left up to us to come up with how we might want to

worship God, couldn't we think of some neat stuff.

Couldn't we though? I know we could.

Some of us might say well I want to do something every day at a

certain hour. Some of us might say well I only

I want to express my Worship in art.

Some of us might say I want to express my Worship in sleeping.

Thank you. Some of us might say, I want to

express my worship down at the river bank with a fishing pole

in my hand, you know, we we could come up with all kinds of

things. And you know what, when you look

in the word of God, God as for how God wants to be worshipped,

it is far different than how individuals have made up.

That they think God wants to be worshipped.

I told this story today about visiting with some individuals

in Russia who were very concerned about what the Bible

says, about the direction of Crossing yourself, they were

Russian Orthodox and they knew that others did things

differently. And so they said, does the bible

teach that you should cross yourself from left to right?

Or right to left. And they were very sincere in

their question. And I said, I'm sorry, I can't

answer that question for you because it's not in the Bible.

They looked at me now it doesn't make any difference, what

language you speak, when you don't believe somebody, it's

pretty clear, okay? They did not believe me.

It's like I said, I'm sorry, it is not in the Bible.

How you should cross yourself. I said, in fact, it is not in

the Bible that you should cross yourself at all.

Yes. Nyet, not there.

It is not there. Creativity in worshiping, God

has crept into most religions to the point that that's all there

is, is man's creativity at home. There's a big old church there

down the road that has like four Services, a traditional, a

contemporary. A modern, I don't know, all the

words, they use to describe them it's like, hey, I just don't see

that. Don't see that.

And so whenever we come together is the Lord's church.

People who are accustomed to exercising a lot of creativity

in religion are going to say, you know what, the worship down

there at that Church of Christ that meets on plans Road, it's

just pretty simple. And we're going to say, that's

us, that's us. We're just the simple Folk.

Now, I don't mean that simple intellectually.

But I mean simple in that God has designed his worship so that

anyone can do it all over the world.

And so we come together as God's people knowing how her worship

him from his book. And we don't try to get creative

about how we might do this or that or the other because we

find the word of God sufficient to tell us what to do.

And then we find that we are blessed.

If we pass those truths On to the Next Generation and the next

and the next and the next so that it apple pie recipe.

When followed is always an apple pie, the Lord's Church the

recipe for riches in the word of God.

Will always be the Lord's church as long as his word is being

followed. So regarding music, the first

reference to music of any kind in the word of God is found in

Genesis chapter 4 verse 21 where it says in his brother's name

Genesis 4:21

was Jubal. He was the father of all, such

as handle, the harp and organ. So they've been instruments of

Music around for many many hundreds of years.

Just even just a few Generations removed from The first reference

to a song of any kind is when Jacob fled from his

father-in-law Laban. Way been chased after him, and

caught up with him and among the things, he said, included

Genesis, 31 verse 27, wherefore didst, thou flee away secretly

Genesis 31:27

and steal away from me and ditched not, tell me that.

I might have sent the away with mirth and with songs and with

tabret and with HAARP, now Laban wasn't telling the truth, we

don't think, but nevertheless, he gives us an idea.

Idea of what it was like to have a celebration in those days that

we would have had a party and that party would have included

songs singing and the playing of instruments.

Angelic singing is referred to in job as occurring during the

time of creation Job. 38 verse 4, where was I?

Job 38:4

When I laid the foundations of the earth be clarify, hasta

understanding who have laid the measures thereof.

If thou knowest or who hath stretched the line upon it

whereupon are the foundations. There are fastened or who laid

the Cornerstone there. When the morning Stars sang

together and all the sons of God, the Angelic host shouted

for Joy. The first recorded lyrics of any

song is in. Exodus chapter 15 after the

Exodus 15 · chapter mention

children of Israel witnessed what happened to pharaoh and the

Egyptian Army when they tried to follow Israel through the Red

Sea. The song begins in verse 1 and

goes on through verse 20 long. The verse 1 says then saying

Moses are the children of Israel.

The song unto the Lord and spake saying I will sing until The

Lord for he has, triumphed gloriously the horse.

And his rider has he thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and song and he has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will prepare him and habitation, my father's

God and I will exalt him. The Lord is amount of world.

The lord is his name. They Rose chariots.

And his hosts hath. He cast into the sea, his chosen

captains are also drowned in the Red Sea, The Depths have covered

them. They sank under the bottom as a

stone and on an arm, the song Went verse 11 says, who is like

unto thee The Lord among the gods who is like the Glorious in

Holiness, fearful in Praises doing wonders, this song, like

many others, recorded in the word of God is of an actual

event that happened in the lives of the people.

Every generation of people is known by its music and by its

songs and every generation seems to have music that is not

appreciated by the generation before.

Now a few years ago, I was at Tyler, Texas in a meeting and

the the end of the house that I was given to stay in included a

restroom or bathroom with a with a radio in it and I turn that

radio on one morning as I was getting ready and it was tuned

to a station that predominantly played Texas Swing.

Now, some of you have no clue what I just said.

Some of you remember artist like Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys

and so you know exactly the kind of music that I was listening to

now when I was growing up in Missouri 12:30 on your a.m. dial

W Ka K, LW T. If I recall the station letters

played only music for which they did not have to pay.

Which meant old music of the kind of Texas Swing.

So, for a whole week, I was treated to the music that I was

brought up on. I really enjoy it, I really did.

I remember when that newfangled group The Beatles first came to

the United States, some of you are saying he's really old,

that's all right, that's all right.

I remember that music. I remember well what people said

about it, they said it is trash. Nobody should be listening to

music like that but you know, you go back a generation.

Duration before and there was somebody named Elvis.

And that Generations parents said the same thing about him?

And now, you fast forward to today's music.

And what I say It's really not music.

I'd rather call it junk, especially if you land on a hard

rock station. You don't want to hear what they

say if you could understand it anyway.

You don't want to know what they're saying, and it's just

not good. There's all kinds of style of

music traditionally. Historically, the songs of a

generation have told the story of the values of a generation.

Now, that's something to kind of make you shudder, isn't it?

Hmm. Well, we won't linger.

We won't linger there. Now, in the days, when writing

was difficult to carve it on Stone or scratch it on, on the

on a scrolled material, it had to be imported in order to take

the time to write and when things were written, they were

usually trying to keep knowledge of the past alive more often

than not the important events of A people's history were recorded

in songs that were passed on from generation to Generation

The Book of Psalms is considered to be Israel's songbook and

songs were very important to Israel.

As we can see from the preservation by the Lord's

inspiration of the book of Psalms.

That contains 150, Psalms varying in length from the

massive Psalm 119. With 176, verses to the

diminutive psalm, I'm 17 with only two verses.

Now, if that was Israel songbook, can you imagine

somebody getting up and saying we're going to sing?

Psalm 1:19 all versus today. Going to be there a while,

aren't you? David.

The man after God's Own Heart, according to acts 13 Verse 22,

Acts 13:22

at least in his younger days is the author of many of the songs

of the children of Israel in the Book of Psalms second Samuel. 23

2 Samuel 23:1

verse 1 says, now these be the last words of David David, the

son of Jesse said in the man who was raised up on high, the

anointed of the god of Jacob and the sweet psalmist of Israel

Solomon. David's son was a prolific

writer of songs First Kings. 432 says, he spake 3000.

Herbs and his songs were 1005, the one Among Us that has

written more songs. At least the words, they're of

than any one of us that I know of is, of course, Linwood Smith.

There are many talented brothers and sisters throughout the years

that have written songs. Sometimes both words and music

but Linwood is a very, very prolific writer of the words of

the songs that we have been singing.

Now for many decades and what a great work he has done in that

regard, singing is a way to express the greatness of God

first chronicles, 16 verse 9, sing unto him, sing Psalms unto

1 Chronicles 16:9

him talking of Wondrous work singing.

Praises with understanding, Psalms 37 and verse 7, sing

praises to God, sing praises. Sing praises unto our Kings and

Praises, Psalms 47 verse 6. Or indeed, when we look to the

Psalms 47:6

Old Testament, we see God being praised in song again, and

again, over and over, when we look to New Testament times, we

find that singing was an expression of worship and praise

to to God while Jesus was here upon the Earth, after the

institution of the Lord's Supper, before going to the

Garden to be betrayed Jesus and the disciples took time to sing

Matthew 26, verse 30. And when they had sung an hymn

Matthew 26:30

they went out into the Mount of Olives.

This is presumed to be part of the Psalms that were

traditionally song After the observance of the Passover meal.

We could see Jesus doing many many wonderful things.

But how often do we take? Time to imagine Jesus singing,

but yet, he did, he did, he took time to sing.

Watch the church came into existence as recorded in Acts.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Chapter 2 singing continues to be essential and a commanded

item of worship in which to engage.

Hebrews 2 verse 12, says, saying I will declare thy name unto my

Hebrews 2:12

brethren in the midst of the church.

Church will? I sing praise unto thee?

That is what we have done tonight.

We have been engaged in singing, Praise unto God, and it was

appropriate. That these songs Be Sung to the

Lord, paying attention, to the words of them, because we are

singing praises, to our almighty.

God, when we lift up our voices in song, our Brethren at

Corinth, had some issues in many many areas and they were not

doing what they were supposed to do in Psalms, 14, and verse 26.

Paul tells them how is it, then Brethren, when you come

together, every one of you hath, a Psalm hath, a Doctrine hath, a

tongue hath, a revelation hath, an interpretation, let all

things, be done unto edify, Now, all of these are religious

things that are mentioned in 1st Corinthians, 14 and verse 26.

But yet Paul is telling them that what they are doing of

these religious things is not appropriate.

Now, remember, I talked about whether or not we should

exercise our own creativity and worship.

That's what these people were doing.

They were doing religious things, their own way.

And Paul is saying to them, that's not what God wants.

You know what they were doing? And First Corinthians 14 verse

1 Corinthians 14:26

26, it appears to me. They were doing all those things

at the same time. Now, this was in the days of

spiritual gifts, remember that? The days of Miracles, when you

could miraculously do a foreign language, you could

miraculously, teach somebody a new song that had never been

created before. You could miraculously have a

truth from God's word because it wasn't written down here at

that's the days of spiritual gifts.

And so, here's what was happening at Corinth.

All of these people with spiritual gifts were coming

together, And somebody would say, you got to hear this new

song and they just start singing it, somebody else would say,

well, here's a truth that God reveals to me.

And so this person, and that person, and this person, and

that person were singing, and talking and singing and talking

and saying and talking and they were just chaos when the church

came together and passes. What is it?

What are you doing? What were they doing?

They were doing religious things.

But not all religious things have God's approval.

It's only when religious things are done in the right way that

they have God's approval. And so after that, Paul gave

orders for how you're supposed to preach when there are people

there that don't understand. And we do this, when we go to

any other place and need to preach with an interpreter,

verse 27 of First Corinthians 14, we speak several sentences.

And then The Interpreter says what we have said.

And in that regard, what do you have?

You have one person at a time and verse 30 warns our Brethren

and chords. If anything be revealed to

another, that's it. Bye.

Let the first hold his peace and verse 32 says, the spirit of the

prophets are subject to the prophets.

Verse 31 says for you all may prophesy.

One by one that all may learn. That all may be comforted, quit

doing all of this stuff at the same time and don't try to tell

me. Paul is saying, you just can't

hold back. He said the spirits of the

prophets are subject to the prophets men and women.

Both had spiritual gifts in the early days of the church.

Miraculous spiritual gifts and evidently ladies were also

bursting. Now to give a truth or to teach

us a song. And verse 34 says to the ladies,

let your women. Keep silence in the church.

It's not permitted unto them to speak.

The commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

And so verse four, he sums all this up and First Corinthians

14, let all things be done decently and in order, there's a

fitting way. A for God to be worshipped and

we must never be guilty of recreating core.

It's chaos. Now, when anyone would presume

the right to mix items of worship, they're just doing what

Corinth did it was wrong then, and of course, it is wrong

today. And so when it comes to our

singing, it must be done. Done the way that God wants it.

Done in order to be appropriate, First Corinthians 14 verse 15

1 Corinthians 14:15

says, what is it? Then I will pray with the

spirit. I will pray with the

understanding. Also, I will sing with the

spirit. I will sing with the

understanding. Also are singing, is not just

for the purpose of hearing, a sound, but also for

understanding, the message of a song, it is the combination of

sound and understanding that stirs, our hearts in the way God

intended. While we can be stirred by sound

alone, all alone. And while we can be stirred by

words alone, when these two things are combined for singing,

it makes a special combination that is approved and blessed by

the Lord, and is intended to contribute to the joy of being a

Christian. And that is what the Lord wants

us. To understand when he says, as I

read, I will sing with the spirit.

I will sing with the understanding also now,

obviously, in old, Estimate times, there were many musical

instruments used in worship to God.

We find that in various passages.

Second Chronicles chapter 29 says that there were trumpets

2 Chronicles 29 · chapter mention

and the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.

In verse 27, all the congregation worship the singer

sang and the trumpeter sounded and this all continued.

Until the burnt offering was finished.

When the worship of the sanctuary was first established

David. Heard a group of some 300

thousand people to sing and to play instruments.

They were many instruments that were used in worship of God in

Old Testament times. And so, while we see instruments

of music of many kind used in the Old Testament, what do we

find in the New Testament? Well, in the New Testament, we

find such passages as Ephesians 5 and verse 19.

Speaking to yourselves in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual

songs singing and making melody in your heart, to the Lord,

Colossians 3:16, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in

Colossians 3:16

all wisdom teaching and admonishing.

Washing one another in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs

singing with Grace, in your hearts, to the Lord.

Now, we have here a concept Of looking to see what the Bible

authorizes. As far as the music of the

church is concerned. And we have a dissident

difference between Old Testament rules and New Testament rules

and so, in Old Testament times, but can we find that is

authorized well in the end? The last Psalm Psalm 150, praise

evil. Praise God in his Sanctuary.

Praise Him. In the firmament of his power.

Praising him for his mighty acts, Praise Him.

According to his excellent greatness.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet.

Praise him with the psaltery and the harp.

So we find that in Old Testament times, it was appropriate to

play an instrument in order to please God.

And in order to praise him also we find In verse 4, it says,

praise him with the timbrel and with dance.

So here is another way to praise the Lord, praise him with

stringed instruments, praised him with organs, Psalms 139

Psalms 139:1

verse 1, praise ye the Lord, sing unto the Lord a new song.

And so we find that in the Old Testament, when it came time for

them, to praise the Lord. What was authorized playing an

instrument? Yes, dancing.

Yes. Singing.

Yes. And in the New Testament.

So do we find playing an instrument?

Dancing. No.

But we do find singing. And so what do we do in the

worship of the church in music? We sing.

Why don't we play and dance? After all the Bible doesn't say

anything about those in the New Testament.

And actually, that's precisely the reason why we don't because

an additional hermeneutic concept is not only command and

example and inference but also the Silence of the scriptures

and the Silence of the scripture is prohibitive.

You see, we are authorized to sing in New Testament times.

But the Bible says, nothing in the New Testament about playing

an instrument or about dancing and praise to God In Worship.

So we do that, which is named because it is authorized

specifically and we let the Silence of the scripture

prohibit. Everything else.

Now here's what happens to us. And I've had this happen.

I don't know how many times through the years.

Well, meaning people will come in.

See our assemblies and they will say, oh, they must be poor.

They don't have a piano and so, haven't you known as

well-meaning folks, that would say, you know, I I would like to

buy your church, a piano, some of them have said that after

hearing, some of our congregation singing, They've

said, oh, you really need one. You really need one.

Well, I'm sorry. Remember it takes following the

apple pie recipe to end up with the apple pie and so it is in

the New Testament worship. We want to follow what God

authorizes. And so it is very easy to look

at this and say the these little details actually make that much

of a difference do these little details.

Actually, make that much of a difference.

Let me go back to Corinth with you, for just one little thing.

First Corinthians chapter 11, Here's what happened.

1 Corinthians 11 · chapter mention

The church had been in existence, 25 or 30 years.

And, you know, 25 or 30 years of doing the same old thing.

Can kind of get old once in awhile.

This is about the Lord's Supper. 25, or 30 years of the same only

thing Lord's day after large day after large day after Lord's

day, and evidently Somewhere in Time, somebody of Corinth said,

you know, why don't we just spice this up a little bit?

Now this is my very loose translation.

Okay. Why don't we just spice this up

a little bit? And Paul said to them, what you

are doing is not the Lord's Supper.

Verse 20. Now this means they were calling

it The Lord's Supper, but Paul is saying that's not the Lord's

Supper but now, wait a minute Paul, you're a little

old-fashioned here after all, we've been doing it this way.

25, or 30 years. Don't you think it's time to

step on up a little bit at least.

Paul said, here's what I want you to do.

For I have received of the Lord, that which also, I delivered

unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was

betrayed took bread. And when he had given thanks, he

broke it and said, take eat. This is my body, which is broken

for you. This do in remembrance of me

after the same manner. Also, he took the cup when he

had supped saying this cup is the New Testament in my blood.

This do, ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me for as

often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the

Lord's death, till he come Paul said, I want you to go right

back to what Jesus did. Paul has been 25 or 30 years

we've been doing the same thing. Yes.

That's right. But it doesn't say not to do

some of this other stuff. We may say today, Let's go back

to what? Jesus did.

Let's go back to what the New Testament, authorizes beyond a

shadow of a doubt. And let's do those things.

Now, if 25 or 30 years was not enough of the passing of time

for it to be, okay, to change the worship of the Lord's

Church. Neither's 2000.

We have no business tampering with the worship of the Lord's

church. And so when we find, how we are

to have the music of the church, can we enjoy playing

instruments? Oh yes.

Oh I so admire people who can do that but it has no place in New

Testament worship of the church. Can we admire somebody that can

dance? Well from afar please.

There's problems with Christians carrying on That way I so admire

somebody who can do that. Well it's just not me you know

some people they hear music and they just automatically start to

their body, just starts to move mine, just sits there.

I don't understand that one. Some people think, oh, If I

Could Just Dance before the Lord, it would be a wonderful

expression of Praise. Sorry.

Stifle yourself. Or if I could just play my

guitar, it would be wonderful. Praise to God.

Sorry, you're just going to have to do without that one, but I

can't sing a lick. This is not talking about

carrying a tune, this is talking about making a Joyful Noise.

You say, and whenever we come together and we lift up our

voices in praise to God, it doesn't make any difference if

we're all over apart, or if we're not on any part, you know

where I'm from. We mostly have that good part

monotone down really good and that's okay because it's a

Joyful Noise unto the Lord to stories and then I'm through

Most children end up with favorite songs when our oldest

grandson, was just a little little boy, he loved the song.

Holy Holy, Holy, he had a standing request with anybody.

He could influence to lead that song and so anywhere I would go

where he was he would ask me. Papa are you leading a song and

if I said yes he'd say seeing holy holy sing.

Holy Holy. He went to every Body singing.

Holy Holy. And so as often as he could talk

anybody into it, that's what we say.

And I remember one time when I led holy, holy and I sat down

and he leaned over and his sweet little voice and he said, thank

you Papa. All he like that song.

What is Holy? Holy mean to just a little

fella? I don't know.

But it's part of the package of life.

I got to baptize him last summer.

He sings Holy Holy as a Christian today.

And singing. Holy Holy when he was just a

little boy, if that helped him learn to love the Lord.

Oh, I'm glad we sing. Holy, Holy.

And I'm glad he is a child of God and he can sing as a child

of God for his life. Holy holy holy Lord, God

Almighty. So I was rather.

So verse 33 says, I will sing unto the Lord, as long as I

live, I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

For some years, after we went to 64th Street sister floor, helvey

was still alive and she had Alzheimer's.

And Alzheimer is a such a Devastation to one's life, it

Robs a person of their being and of their dignity and it is a

very sad thing to observe along the way.

The family is better off, if they have a strong sense of

humor because sometimes if you don't laugh, you cry, you know

that. And sister floor, couple of

things. One time she would leave the

house and she loved ice cream and she went from neighbor to

neighbor saying. Have you got any ice cream will

give me any ice cream? There was about three neighbors

that gave her a bowl with ice cream for family.

Found her and brought her back home.

Oh! She loved ice cream.

She loved to come to church. She stand to the door where

everybody came through and she knew she was supposed to greet

us. She just forgot what she was

supposed to do. So as people would come through

the door, she'd say, can I kiss you?

One little old lady in her 90s said, no, you'll not be dialed,

get out of the way. Can I kiss you?

All she loved to come to church. And when she was told it was the

day to go to church every few minutes, it's a time to go.

It's a time to go to time to go to church.

Oh she loved to go to church. When she had forgotten her

children's names. When she no longer remembered

how to read. When she could no longer dress

herself. She still remembered her

husband. And she still remembered how to

sing. And one night, I watched her as

we sang, that old song not a step. and she didn't seem very

much in the verses, but when the course came along, She sang not

a step. Will I take not a step without

him. Will I go.

He will lead me along to that beautiful home over there.

And just for a moment she was a child of God who loved to sing

praises to her. God, I will sing unto the Lord.

As long as I live. I will sing praise to my God

while I have my being. As long as she had the least bit

of ability to sing praises to God, she was able to sing.

Not a step, will I take without him?

It's God that precious to us tonight.

Oh, I hope so that as our last memories of being a functional

person, may pass from our lives, we would still concentrate on

God and things of him and how to praise him.

But this side of that, where are we?

Do we want to praise the Lord correctly?

Do we want to praise him as a child of his and the way that he

is prescribed? Oh, I hope so tonight, if you're

not a Christian, there are some wonderful simple steps for you

to take in order to become a child of God.

It's necessary to believe because we know we look before

in previous, sermon, that Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by

the word of God. It's necessary to have the word

of God involved in our learning so that we might have faith.

Faith. It's also necessary for us to

repent Because unless we change our minds about who were going

to serve in life will be lost and we need to change our mind

and our heart that we're going to serve the Lord.

And that's a sorrow followed by a change life as evidence of our

change. We are to confess that Jesus

Christ is the Son of God, because the Bible declares him

to be. And then we are to be immersed

as I talked earlier in the lesson and baptism so that we

might have the forgiveness. Witness of our sins when we do

those things. The Lord's word promises.

That makes us an apple pie. No, it doesn't.

That makes us a Christian. That's how you get to be a

Christian doing what the Bible says.

We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the

Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you

would like any additional information, or you would like

to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail.

Please email us at info at her Church of Christ

Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays

at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our

honored guest.