Logic tells us that the word “has departed” denotes simply that there used to be glory, and now there isn’t. The term originated in reference to what many refer to as “the Shekinah (SHE’KEE’NA) glory” which is the manifestation of the glory of God in the temple at Jerusalem – the place where God resided. This “Shekinah” was displayed in several ways in Scripture including the burning bush, the bright light when the angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, etc. The Shekinah was only present when the Ark of the Covenant was in its proper place, in the Holy of Holies. Historically, whenever the Ark was NOT in the temple, the temple was said to be “Ichabod.” The real substance and meaning of the temple was missing. It was merely an empty habitation at that point because the essence – the glory of God – was gone.

There are many references to the “glory of God” throughout Scripture. It is the direct reminder of God’s power and interaction with His people. The word “glory” is one that is often misunderstood. Though most would agree that the word implies praise, honor and fame, a more complete definition includes the words splendor, magnificence and radiance. Now, apply that definition to any verse regarding “the glory of God” and it changes its meaning in a powerful way.

Today, in this Age of Grace, the glory of God is manifest through the lives of those truly serving Him. Notice: through the LIVES – NOT the buildings. Our lives are intended to form the visible manifestation of God’s splendor, magnificence and radiance. Until we renew our minds to this truth, it ain’t happenin’. When it does, through the ministry of a relative few, we see them as being “more holy” or “more spiritual” than the rest of us, as if they set the standard to which the rest of us can aspire. That’s unfortunate for, if we are to compare ourselves with anyone, that person should be Jesus. He alone is our standard.

The Scripture refers to us, the followers of Jesus, as “living sacrifices.” This is commonly referred to as an oxymoron (a la “Jumbo Shrimp”, “Found Missing”, “Microsoft Works”) for a sacrifice is dead and, therefore, cannot possibly be living. Notice, however, that the phrase is not “tithing sacrifices”, “preaching sacrifices” or any other kind of sacrifices. No, the term is LIVING sacrifices, denoting life, day to day, moment to moment sacrificial living. In other words, doing everything as unto the Lord God (1 Cor 10:31).

Do you get it? We, the Church – NOT the edifices, but the PEOPLE – are supposed to be the containers of the glory of God. Better yet, the DISPENSERS of the glory of God. Jesus called us “the light of the world” – NOT our buildings and certainly Not our manmade denominations. Too often, even Protestants have the attitude that God is in the church house. Friends, God doesn’t show up anywhere, including church services, until you get there. You bring Him WITH you! Too often, the gatherings taking place within these structures are replete with unscriptural ritualism demonstrated nowhere in Scripture, or they’ve become mere social clubs that rarely reveal lives that have been radically changed. The bodies in there, going through endless motions, and droning worship songs, too often offer lip service with hearts far from God. The glory has gone. The individuals, and the organization which they comprise, have become Ichabod.

So, is your church an Ichabod or is it the house of God?

It’s NEITHER! God doesn’t live in ANY building anywhere on the face of the earth. He lives within YOU. In fact YOU are the Ark of the New Covenant, carrying with you the very presence and power of God EVERYWHERE you go. Problem? The vast majority of those who call themselves “Christian” (literally meaning, “a little Christ”) don’t believe that. Not only that, most of us have never been taught that. Instead, we’ve been conditioned to believe God is “out there” somewhere. We hear songs like “God is watching us” by Bette Midler and “What if God were one of us?” and we base our theology on this stuff rather than the Word of God.

So, is God really within you, desiring to live THROUGH you or isn’t He? Does the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead live within you or is God a liar? Will His disciples REALLY do greater things than He did or was Jesus out of His mind? Does the verse “In Him we live and move and have our being” apply to anyone you know? The truth is, God DOES live within us and He does some pretty incredible things through those who have decided to believe that every Word of Scripture is absolute truth.

Major problem? As I see it, there are three: (A) Preachers aren’t preaching this, (B) Christians are so biblically illiterate, we have no idea what’s Scripture and what’s from Poor Richard’s Almanac and (C) We are so busy doing things the prescribed way that we are oblivious to what the Lord is wanting His Church to do next..

All this can change but it starts with a radical, life altering decision, one that every individual Believer has to make on his or her own. Don’t wait for your pastor or priest to make the choice. Neither should you wait for your denomination to get an edict from headquarters. YOU alone must make the choice to raise your head up from among the crowd. When the lemmings are headed west, go ahead and head east. But be warned: one man’s obedience is another man’s rebellion. The traditional Church is notorious for attacking anyone who follows the cloud. The things we see as commonplace were once considered radical. From church music to altar calls, numerous aspects of church have suffered from “friendly fire” and still do.

It’s Ok, you see, because this is all about you and your personal obedience to what the Father is saying to you, Spirit-to-spirit. Far too often, we have settled for Religion when it’s intimate RELATIONSHIP that God desires from us. How can we get any more intimate than to allow the Creator of all things to live THROUGH us in an effort to lead people from darkness into his glorious light?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael’s mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since 1999, he has broadcast nearly six hundred inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects that will interest the thinking Christian, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God’s people.

He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as “Your Town for Jesus” are reaching millions around the globe WEEKLY. Write team1min@aol.com if you’d like to SUBSCRIBE.

A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is also a Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network and may be available to speak to your church or Christian group

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Tummillo

There are four principles deduced from the New Testament worship which, if applied, will help produce a God-honouring music and worship ministry. These are found in Colossians 3:16,17 and they include the memorandum or message of music; means of music; medium or matrix of music and the motive of the musician.

MEMORANDUM OF MUSIC

The message of church or sacred music must be solidly based on the Word of God (Col. 3:16a). Musicians should be filled with an understanding of the Word of God and then communicate a biblically based text though their music. God’s Word must not only fill our hearts but must permeate the lyrics of the songs we use to worship God as well. Thus, in evaluating music for use in church, we must ask ourselves, ‘is the text of this song consistent with Biblical truth?’ The theology of suffering, for instance, is reflected in song. In the 1970s, most choruses sung emphasized personal confession of one’s faith in Christ and the willingness to take up the cross and identify in the fellowship of His suffering. Today, many messages identify suffering and sin or lack of faith. The chorus ‘Mi a nor go sufa, a nor go beg for bread; God of mirakul, na my Papa O” (”I will neither suffer nor beg for bread because the God of Miracles is my Father”) is very popular. It must be emphasized that even though it would be wrong to crave for or go in search of opportunities to suffer, biblical theology supports the view point that a Christian is a spiritual athlete and suffering is an inescapable part of the training programme.

Another important aspect of this principle involves the quality of God’s Word in the musician (’richly dwell in you’). The Word of God must inhabit and become a part of our being. It should be the controlling aspect of every Christian musician’s disposition. The world teaches musicians to do their thing (aspire for acceptance) and to strive to be ‘great musicians’. For the Christian, however, the Word of God should be his regulation.

The message or memorandum of the music (’the Word of God) is also evident in our lives ‘with all wisdom’. This refers to our ability to discern between right and wrong, proper and improper, ethical and unethical in our selection and use of music. The Christian musician needs the wisdom of God to know what song to use, how to minister (and not perform) it, and what innovations (if any) are appropriate in worship.

MEANS OF MUSIC

Music should focus on a two-fold method of ‘teaching and admonishing one another’ (Col.3:16b). To teach means to instruct, explain and direct. Thus, music directed to God should be far more than entertainment or personal enjoyment. It should be a tool for biblical instruction and training. A common song, ‘Read your Bible pray every day if you want to grow’, is a very clear biblical instruction. Many people have been able to remember the books in the Bible as a result of music being applied to this list of sixty six ‘titles’. This is one of the reasons why music is so important in the ministry of Christian education. Music in the church should be more than the prelude to the Bible lessons or sermon. The right kind of music can be used powerfully to teach the truth of God’s Word. Many of the great hymn writers such as Martin Luther, Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley realized the power of music to teach and that was why they wrote hymns rich in doctrinal truths. Music can also be used to help people know the very words of Scriptures, especially those which seem difficult to memorize. Many choristers know the piece, Rejoice in the Lord Always, even before realizing that the entire rendition is recorded in Philippians 4:4-7. ‘Admonish’ means to invite, encourage, shape and mold. A Scriptural music ministry provides opportunity for musicians to encourage, built up, and spiritually nurture fellow believers. Christian musicians have a responsibility to teach and to train people to understand and perform God’s work. All believers are to be involved in the ministry of music regardless of their musical skills. God desires for us to minister to Him and to one another with our sacrifice of music. No one is to be merely a spectator in the music programme of the local church.

MEDIUM OF MUSIC

Paul instructs us to use “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”. This illustrates that there should be variety in church music. A church which only sings only one set would not be fulfilling Scripture according to this passage. Canticles and choruses could fall under psalms. A popular canticle rendered at wedding ceremonies is Beati Omnes or Psalm 128. Everyone who fears God is regarded as blessed and such an individual would eat the work of his or her hands. The wife is pronounced as a fruitful vine and the children like olive plants around the table. Seeing one’s grandchildren is regarded as a blessing. The chorus ‘I will bless the Lord at all times’ is taken from Psalm 34:1-2. The psalmist proclaims that he’d bless God at all times and would boast in Him. David thanks and praises God for deliverance from the Philistines. Other songs are classified as spiritual songs. Probably this would be a convenient portion to classify gospel songs. It is evident that God admonishes to use different kinds of Christian songs to praise the Lord.

MOTIVE OF THE MUSICIAN

The musicians must have the proper motives in their music – “Singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (v.17). Misguided motives and selfish ambitions have hindered many gifted musicians from communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no room in the service of God for musicians with arrogant, self-righteous, condescending, or self-serving attitudes. For our music and worship to be acceptable to God, it must begin in our hearts. God is more concerned about the music in our hearts than that on the lips. God is in the business of changing hearts – molding, strengthening, developing and sanctifying them for His glory. Music is a means of communicating outwardly what God is doing inwardly. The Christian musician should not aim just drawing attention to his own gifts but to bring praise to God. As we minister to God through music, God will minister to us. Many Ministers of Music, music groups, soloists or instrumentalists have been fooled by Satan into thinking that God is impressed with abilities, talents, technology and ego and that He will bless us according to the level of the compliments we receive for our performance. An old saying paraphrased says, ‘the musical talents you possess are God’s gifts to you. How you develop and use those musical talents are your gifts to God’. Do we use musical gifts to glorify the name of the Lord or for personal gain? Do we concentrate on lifting the name of the Lord with a Christ-like life style or do we exhibit lax moral standards and rely on our musical gifts. Amos 6:23-24 clearly warns us to “take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy voils. But let judgment run as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream”.

AUTHOR SIGNATURE
Oliver L.T. Harding, who obtained his GCE O & A Levels from the Sierra Leone Grammar School and the Albert Academy respectively, is currently Senior & Acting Librarian of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He is a part time lecturer at the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS), Fourah Bay College and the Extension Programme at the Evangelical College of Theology (T.E.C.T) at Hall Street, Brookfields; Vice President of the Sierra Leone Association of Archivists, Librarians & Information Scientists (SLAALIS); a member of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP). His certificates, secular and sacred, include: a certificate and diploma from the Freetown Bible Training Centre; an upper second class B.A. Hons. Degree in Modern History (F.B.C.); a post-graduate diploma from the Institute of Library Studies (INSLIBS, F.B.C) a masters degree from the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS, F.B.C.) and a masters degree in Biblical Studies from West Africa Theological Seminary, affiliate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he won the prize for academic excellence as the Best Graduating Student in 2005. Oliver, a writer, musician and theologian, is married (to Francess) with two children (Olivia & Francis).
Email: oltharding@yahoo.com
Mobile: 232-2233-460-330

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Oliver_Harding

Since the time of Calvin, some churches have continued the practice of singing Scripture, with help from a variety of metrical Psalters. While some modern churches have almost given up the practice, often bypassing the updated Psalm sections in newer hymnals, other churches continue to sing scriptural texts almost exclusively,

There are many reasons to support returning to the practice of singing Scripture today. First, the singing of Scripture allows us to concentrate on the Bible, giving us a deeper understanding of both the words and the mood of a particular scriptural passage. Christians believe that worship should be focused on the Word of God just as it is read and preached.

Another reason for singing Scripture is that it gently reminds us to stay faithful to God’s Word in our church music. When we sing scriptural texts often, we become suspicious of simplistic and inaccurate texts, and we can more fully appreciate those poets who are able to capture the power of biblical images or themes in new hymns and songs. Speaking of this, we must take special care to select musical settings that fully reflect the context of a given biblical text.

Yet another reason to sing Scripture is that it’s a practice that every church or family can enjoy. Ancient chants as well as contemporary African-American gospel psalm refrains can be included in Scripture songs, and the music can be presented in large-scale choral settings or intimate settings for a solo voice, using either Genevan metrical arrangements or contemporary hymns. It’s possible to sing Scripture in every musical dialect.

Finally, the singing of Scripture has a powerful devotional importance. It is a deeply meaningful way of putting us in touch with the feelings and intent of the scriptural writers. Singing Scripture is also a guaranteed way to memorize Scripture, allowing us to etch words of Scripture on our hearts – and the younger a person starts, the better. You probably know an older saint whose childhood efforts to memorize the Psalter still allow them to sing Psalms long after their ability to read has dwindled.

God created music and gave us the Bible. When the two are joined in Bible songs, one can receive many benefits. Click the links to hear free samples of some Scripture songs available online that will aid Bible memorization.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Swanson