Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

I will bless the Lord at all times.  His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.  Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.- Psalms 34:1-3

One way the adversary is bringing division among God's people is music, praise and worship, etc.  The young ones will say the way the old Saints sing and praise the Lord is out dated.  The old ones will say the way the young ones praise the Lord and  is too worldly. 

If I may, testify in this area for a moment.

I have always loved music.  From my first day in beginners band in middle school.  I was a trumpet player and managed to master the instrument.  The music teacher taught me a love for music.  Not for any particular genre, but just music.  As I got older I found a genre that I loved and was faithful to it.

In college I use to DJ.  I learned or had the gift to put songs in order to tell a story or soothe people on the dance floor.  I was good at that too.  I learned how to flow with the 'spirit' of the crowd.  Any time I gave an event, the kids would come out and fill the place.  Then one day in a church service, I heard another sound.  Gospel music.  And it did not sound like the sound I was making when I DJ'd.

Back then, people did not play with the church like they do now.  Back then, you could not even sing in the choir if you was not living right.  Back then, when you put that choir robe on you could not wear any jewelry.  Back then.

I can remember singers singing with all that was within them to the Lord.  Sweat would be running down their faces and the back of their shirt, suit coat or dress, but that did not stop them from glorifying God.  And when they sang, I felt something I had not felt before.  it was a feeling that I could not duplicate when I DJ'd.  I had to find out what that was.

Back then they would have musicals.  Not performances, but musicals and not one got paid to sing or play the instruments.  Back then it was considered an honor to sing and play for and unto the Lord.  Back then.  The choirs, quartets, soloists did not perform back then.  They praised the Lord.  I witnessed singers sing their heart out, almost to the point of fainting but then some kind of 'power' would over take them and they sang the house down.  Then this feeling/presende would fill the room and people would start praising the Lord.  Some would run.  Some would shout.  Some would dance.  Some would end up on the floor.  I had to find out what was doing that.

Back then you did not hear worldly music in the church, at least the ones I went to as i was trying to find Jesus.  I remember being in a service and an alter call was made.  That same something that had folks running, shouting, dancing was pulling at me!  Scared me.  I would try to sit back and it would make me come forward.  My friend told me it must be the Holy Ghost.  My reaction was, "the what?"  I did not fool with anything with ghost in it.  But I could not fight it any more.  I went to the altar and the rest is history.  The service I was in was a gospel music conference.  I got my first touch from God there.

A lot has changed in the gospel music world since 'back then'. And one of the changes is I don't feel 'that' when I try to listen to what is being called gospel music today.  And, I have nothing against any of the younger ones.  I thank the Lord for them.  But the younger ones now are not singing like the younger ones 'back then'.  For all those musical I went to back then, most of the singers were young people.  But something has happened.  Is it the desire to be well known or wanting record/recording deals, fame/fortune, what?  

Young people, do not allow the desire for a music deal have you singing songs the do not glorify the Lord and honor his word!!

When the gospel is taken out of a song, all you have is music.  And music can make your flesh move, while starving the soul.  When Paul and Silas were in jail because of preaching the gospel, what did they do?  They prayed and sang.  And what was the result?  The Lord sent an angel to free them.  Oh, praise God.  God says He inhabits the praises of his people.  The words and songs coming out of the mouth of Paul and Silas caused God to move on their behalf.  And, as one that is now considered 'old' I know for a fact when the singing is done to the glory of God, He will move for you.  

When you sing, sing because of who the Lord is and what his word says.  When you sing, sing because of the fact that the Lord allowed you to hear the gospel and get free from sin.  When you sing, sing  because you just love him and enjoy singing about him.  Many of the songs today are about the person singing and their feelings and not about the Lord.  Again, when you take the gospel out of a song, all you have is music.

To this very day, I listen to songs that remind me of the word of God.  The Bible teaches that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceededeth out of the mouth of God.  So let's sing about the Lord.  Let's sing about his works.  let's sing about Him and not about them or self.

The old ones are not against you young singers. We love you.  But we need to be able to recognize the God of the Bible in your songs so we know you are singing about Jesus Christ and not some other God.  Anybody can praise God.  But worship has to be done in Spirit and in truth.

Holiness has a sound that the world can not duplicate.  The Saints know that sound.  The Saints look for that sound, not the age of the one producing the sound.  It is jut like preaching.  The preacher can be two years old.  If he or she is preaching the word of God, that is what counts.  The old ones will be able to eat from it as well as the young ones.  For there is no old or young gospel!

Also, the young singers 'back then' did not dress any kind of way.  They did not come into the house of God disrespectful looking.  They did not dress revealing and they were neat and presentable.  It makes a differences.  Love you.

Holiness does not change.  From the cradle to the grave, holiness does not change.

Pastor Webb