THE SONG OF WORSHIP
~ The following is taken in part from a book by Jack Hayford entitled Worship. ~
In one church, a congregation begins its meeting by singing songs that are hundreds of years old. In another place, a church meets in a home and sings a song one of them wrote the day before. In large churches, a full orchestra and choir praise God with song, while in another place, God’s people gather to sing with just a guitar for accompaniment. Around the world, believers gather together with song. This singing tradition goes back to the first century, and some scholars believe that some portions of Scripture were hymns of the early church. Christianity has been called the singing faith. It is a verifiable fact that none of the world’s religions have the kind of song found among those who are alive in Christ.
The Bible repeatedly and directly tells us that singing releases joy. It’s easy to sing when the joy of the Lord fills our hearts. But we are told to do it at other times as well! When we study the Psalms, we see David singing to the Lord in the middle of some difficult situations. It’s not always, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” (Ps 40:3). Sometimes it is, “In my anguish I cried to the Lord” (Ps 118:5). In other Psalms he confesses sin or expresses sorrow. It is clear that we don’t just sing when we feel happy or excited. We do it because the Word commands it and because power is released through singing. Even when we don’t feel like it, and even when it may not be very appealing at a particular juncture in our lives, it’s good to lift our voices to praise and worship Him.
There are 84 places in the Bible where we are directed to sing. Psalm 47 alone commands us to sing five times!
“Clap your hands, all you nations, shout to God with cries of joy …
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise.”
Psalm 150 invites us to use all the instruments and says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
Not all the directives to sing are in the Book of Psalms. Paul tells the Colossians, “Be Thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Col 3:15-16). We are directed to let singing spring out of our joy. James instructs: “Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise” (James 5:13). Psalm 98:1 says, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things…” That kind of song is born out of God’s recent victories in our lives. At times of triumph and rejoicing, come and sing to the Lord. If your prayer now is one of mourning, then sing it to Him. You can sing, “Lord, I give you my pain, but I bring it with a song because You are the one who gives songs in the night” (Job 35:10).
Finally, Ephesians 5:18-20 says, “Be filled with the Spirit, speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.”
The Bible tells us that singing brings forth life. In Isaiah 54:1, song is linked with the birthing of new life:
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Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; Burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; Because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, SAYS THE LORD.”
Singing breaks down walls and open doors. Paul and Silas were chained in a prison cell, but when they sang praises, the Lord brought release, the doors were opened and the chains fell off. Singing is a way to gain victory. 2 Chronicles 20 tells how King Jehoshaphat, though greatly outnumbered, went to battle with choir leading them. Their song of victory brought confusion to their adversaries, who actually turned on each other.
Song is creative. In Job 38:4-7 we are told that the original work of God’s creation was accompanied by the singing of the angelic hosts. “The morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.”
There is power in singing, as in all worship, and wherever we welcome the King through our offerings of obedient worship, He is able to move in our midst.
Pastor BartScheduleforSundayJuly9,2023:
Ruth Class @ 9:00 AM in Room #202
The Saints Class @ 9:00 AM in Room #201
Prayer Room open @ 9:00 AM Room #206
Preschool Worship opens in KID CITY @ 10:15 AM
Morning Worship In-Person & Online @ 10:30 AM in Worship Center
Kidz4Christ dismissed during Morning Worship
Schedulefortherestoftheweek, July10-July15,2023:
Thursday@ 6:00 PM Bible Study in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, July 18th from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
@ Carlito’s Café 6719 E 2nd St, Suite C, PV
$ 20,460.96
Morning Worship at a glance
“Majestic”
“Shout to the Lord”
“10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)”
WELCOME
Welcome & Offertory Prayer
Kidz4Christ dismissed
“Jesus”
“Because He Lives (Amen)”
Guest Preacher: Monty Patton
Associate Executive Director
A Life Giving Church … Giving Life
2820 N. Pleasant View Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 928-772-7218
fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org
www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265
PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org
Worship Pastor Bart Young 928-254-8713
PastorBart@firstsouthernpv.org
“Without Him”
“Because He Lives”
Advancing the Kingdom of God one heart at a time.
Are you interested in technology as it relates to operating our sound system for Sunday Morning Worship? We are greatly in need of a person or persons who would like to learn how things work in our sound booth. Please see Pastor Bart.
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Offerings and Connection Cards will be collected in the Offering Boxes located just inside the two main entrances into our Worship Center, as well as in the Office Hallway.