Organizing The Music Division
Tommy & Judy Hudson
Organizing the Music Division can contribute much to the growth of the church. Many are drawn to our churches because of the lively, anointed music. Music can reach beyond the walls of doubt, fear, stress and rebellion to prepare a person for the Word of God. Music reaches into the heart and stirs the soul. God created music for worship. He created it to fill the streets of Heaven, ring throughout the ages and glorify God. Music creates spiritual warfare against the enemy and can do for the church what it did for Jehoshaphat in the Old Testament.
Music is mentioned in the Bible over eight hundred times. The Scripture places many emphases on music and the importance of using it in response to God. The Bible refers to the playing of musical instruments three hundred times. Praise is mentioned and commanded 332 times. God places great significance on our response to Him. God commands our response in music. “Come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2). That is protocol. If we come before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we must come singing. Music is important and the Father loves it.
God still requires the praise due Him. Because Lucifer became lifted up in himself and no longer leads the angels of heaven in covering the glory of God with praise and worship, God determined another way. He planned His praise and worship through the church. He wants praise and worship as an act of free will through those He loves. He desires music from pure hearts and spirits that love Him.
During the reign of King David, a man after God’s own heart, principles of music for worship became prominent. David demonstrated his love for God in singing, in shouting and in dancing before the Lord. The Bible indicates (I Chronicles 6:31) that David set priests and Levites in the house of the Lord for the sole purpose of providing music. They ministered to God day and night with singing and instruments. David recognized the importance of singing and praise in the tabernacle. He felt it should take place all the time.
This indicates the importance of music in our church services today. Music was not designed as an icebreaker or a warm, up exercise. God designed music as an important part of the relationship between Himself and His people.
David felt the musical instruments of his day inadequate to manifest the music in his heart. So by God’s inspiration, he designed and made musical instruments for the exclusive purpose of worshiping God (II Chronicles 7:6). Musical instruments have no ability in themselves to convey praise and worship. Their effectiveness depends upon the skill of the musician. Musicians and singers communicate a message through a God�given ability in their nature. Music and song have a tremendous ability to change attitudes and emotions within us. Music can mold and shape thoughts.
There are different kinds of music in the house of the Lord. The Old Testament spoke of the prophetic song. There is a revelation element in the song that declares the purposes of God, His warnings, exhortations and blessings. The prophetic song expresses the mind and heart of God. Elisha expressed the close connection between music and the prophet when he called for the minstrel, a player of a stringed instrument, and asked him to play. King Jehoshaphat needed a message from God, and as the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and gave him a prophetic utterance. This connection between music and the spirit of the prophet is unique. Often the spirit of prophecy will move through musicians more readily than others in the church.
The music leaders of the church need to be anointed. They need to deliver the Word of God in music. They need to be involved in prayer, waiting on the Lord and ask God to help them sing songs that will fulfill the needs in the service.
God’s purpose for every service is that every soul is cleansed as we gather to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
God gives musicians special talents to submit before the Lord and to use as gifts of praise and worship. God does not want them to demonstrate their talents to boost their own egos. There needs to be communication and unity between the Pastor, the Service Leader, the Song Director, the Choir Director and the Singers and Musicians.
A well, organized Praise Team that follows the leading of the Spirit will enhance the service and invite the presence and glory of God. The music sets an atmosphere for the delivery of the Word of God and conditions hearts and minds to receive His will and plan. Worship God with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Instructions concerning organizing the songs and choosing the proper order are included with job descriptions for the participants.
Excerpted from “Dividing To Multiply”
By Tommy and Judy Hudson
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”
