Why Music? by   Dan Wheeler

   Oreintation

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Why music? Music is worship and we must teach children how to worship. That worship must be exceptable to God. As we worship we must invite God into the house, open the doors of our hearts to which worship is all about.. Jesus.

 The 'heart", our body cannot function without it. It pumps the needed blood, the life giving substance throughout our bodies. It works to give us life, for without it, the brain cannot work, the eyes cannot see, the ears do not hear.

 Ministry and Worship, are two separate words but with one "heart". The word heart appears more than 8 times in Scripture. A few times "heart" literally means the muscle that pumps blood through the body. (Ex, 28-29). Sometimes the Bible uses the word heart as a symomym for the mind. It treats the heart as the seat of knowledge, thoughts, and widsom (Prov.2.2). Working together Music and Ministry bring us to the Heart of it all.

Serving God has always been the privalage and responsibility of human beings.  Before sin came on the earth, Adam served God by working the ground (Gen. 2:15). In this verse the Hebrew word for "work" is abad, the same word translated "worship" in Exodus 3:12.  We use the word ministry to cover the same broad spectrum of activities from work to worship when they serve God's Purposes.  Ministry in the Old Testament was service performed in obedience to God.

  Ministry became primarily the responsibility of the priests and Levites after the tabernacle and temple came on the scene.  The prophets spoke for God, and in tht sense they served the Lord, though the term ministry was not normally used to explain their calling. After his death on Calvary a new prieshood was establihed. We are that preisthood, that now stands before God.  In 1 Peter 4:11 we find that Peter added an important concept concerning our ministry: All our service, besides benefiting others, utimately bring praise and glory to God. 

 So When the music fades, and all things have passed, that one on one, relationship with Jesus Christ is the heart of all Music in praise.  For we were created for that reason. To offer thanksgiving and praise to our living God. 

 I started when I was 12 years old playing in church.  Yes playing the hymns and songs for the choir and that occasional solo singer.  Then over the years of my youth I started to experience something more in music.  I guess if I could put into an illustration it would be like closing your hand and slowly lifting a finger until it become straight up.  As we move further into the presence of our God we become more upright. For worship has not changed since the beginning, it is the way that we present the elements of the music. For worship is simply worship.  My hunger for that intimacy with God grew as the years have gone by.  The seed planted within my heart was always to offer the music I played to God as a gift, a sacrifice, to honor Him and praise him. Not to be on some stage somewhere "Performing" for some event, or special.  To be in the very presence of God, that is where I want to be, where he is. Music is a ministry, it touches the very soul in a way that sometimes is the way God uses this tool to reach into our hearts, to release that which is within, wanting so desperately to come out. So I say put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that we experience in the world we live.  As the Psalmist so did say, Praise him with the timbrel and the harp, let everything that has breath praise him. For that is what Music ministry is all about, Him, Jesus Christ, the heart of it all.  So in music we must minister to people especially our children to bring them into the presence of where he is, Jesus Christ. I have found that good ministers believe the truth, exempily God's grace, and faithfully teach the truth to others as it is stated in the scriptures (1 Tim. 4:6). Christian ministry is not something we do in our own strength: we are dependent on the enablement of the Spirit of God.  Shalom to you in that peace as we strive to "MAKE A DIFFERENCE....one child at a time.

Dan

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