Wow, what a short-changed worship service people must have when they do not know the joy of deliverance from sin and purity of heart.
The hymns don't even make sense if you are not living in victory over sin, self and Satan. I have met believers who have never heard many of the old songs sung by victorious Christians or hymns concerning the Holy Spirit. Astounding. =
This may be why so many folks are moving away from the hymns. They don't want to interrupt their worship with Biblical truth about victory over sin.
Before service this morning I was thinking about
Before service this morning I was thinking about
Hebrews 7:25
(25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
(25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
The Vulgate (Roman Catholic) idea is perpetual (the length of our salvation), but it actually refers to completeness of our salvation. Most people never know the completeness, the uttermost-ness, the entire-ness of salvation.
Paul mentioned this in his first letter to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 2:7-16
(9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
(10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2
(1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
(2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
The power of God to enable us to live victoriously is not even imagined (1 Co. 2:9; 3:1) by the unsaved or the carnal believer. It is beyond the grasp of human understanding. However, it is understood by those who are spiritual, those who are sanctified (2:10).
To see the things of God we must love Him and others, as He loves us (Jn. 13:34-34; 15:12-14; Ep. 5:1-2), we must have perfect love (1 Jn. 4:17-18), which comes from being surrendered and obedient to the Spirit of God (Ac. 15:8-9; Co. 3:12-17; Ja. 1:25).
Verses...
John 13:34-35
(34) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
(35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 15:12-14
(12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
(13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Ephesians 5:1-2
(1) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
(2) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
1 John 4:17-18
(17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Acts 15:8-9
(8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
(9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Colossians 3:12-17
(12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
James 1:25
(25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
