Rev. David Holwick ZO
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
November 29, 1992
2 Chronicles 5:7-14
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I. God likes loud worship.
A. All the bells this morning may seem out of place.
1) Actually a very biblical way to worship.
B. Examples of loud worship in the Bible:
1) Bringing ark to Jerusalem.
a) Celebrators worshipped with all their might. 1 Chron 13:8
1> David despised by wife Michal. 1 Chron 15:28
b) Prophesying accompanied by loud music. 1 Chron 25:1-7
2) Dedication of Temple. 1 Chron 25:7-14
a) Levitical musicians. 1 Chron 15:16-22,28
b) (Note skillful singing)
c) Psalm 150 sums up their attitude toward worship.
3) Heaven's harps - rushing water and pealing thunder. Rev 14:2
C. Our worship should be exuberant.
1) Jean Lee and rousing Pentecostal worship.
2) Nothing wrong with getting things shook up.
3) But noise is not the key - harmony is.
II. The need for harmony.
A. Noise in and of itself means nothing.
1) My senior high school talent show: show-off with drums.
2) There must be different notes, and they have to be ordered.
B. Christians are not all the same.
1) Tendency to think all Christians should be just like us.
2) Look around the church, and you'll see that most are lacking.
a) In reality, you may be the one who is lacking.
C. We are made for each other. 1 Cor 12
1) Each has a unique part to play.
a) Each believer is a special bell in God's choir.
b) Imagine our bell choir if one or two bells were silent.
2) God made us to need other people.
a) Males and females are different.
1> Put them together and a unique relationship forms.
b) Christians are different.
1> Put them together and the church can blossom.
3) If a few people are doing everything, then something is
wrong in our church.
III. Christians need to cooperate.
A. Be humble and harmonious. Rom 12:16; 1 Pet 3:8
1) "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but
be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited." Romans 12:16
2) "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another;
be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate
and humble." 1 Peter 3:8
a) Have an accurate idea of ourselves (conceited).
b) Build others up rather than tearing them down.
B. Epitome of cooperation (or lack) - our church kitchen.
1) When everyone cooperates, efficiency rules.
2) But often there is bickering and resentment.
a) Few things grate on the ears like disharmony.
b) It's a terrible witness.
c) Young Christians have a good time, it's the older ones
who get uptight.
C. If you lack harmony with someone, resolve it.
IV. To have harmony we must be "in tune" with others.
A. Sensitive to feelings.
1) Different notes, but flow should be the same. Rom 12:15
2) Christians should care how others feel.
3) Focus on their needs rather than your own.
B. Sharing burdens. Galatians 6:2
1) Jesus did not come for healthy people, but the sick and
outcast.
2) He wants his church to have a ministry of healing and helping.
3) Dealing with problems doesn't hurt churches, but builds up.
V. In relation to the world we need dissonance.
A. Dissonance is being out of tune.
1) If we are in tune with the world, we are out of tune with
God. James 4:4
B. Where Christians need to be different:
1) Our ethics and values.
2) Our optimism.
a) Life is like music - a well-ordered composition.
b) The universe makes sense to us. (comp. science)
c) Great things are in store for us.
C. Distinction in our message. 1 Cor 14:7-9
1) Our message is different from world's.
2) Important for us to be understood.
a) We must not compromise or waffle.
b) Take a firm stand for what you believe.
VI. God's music can only be learned by the redeemed. Rev 14:3
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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