Title: Why music? What happens when we sing?

Colossians 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to
God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

16Khrista Oji talubosa nenok dak lidakjang. Shisatsü ajak nung medemer o medemer na
tenüngsang ken aser temeshi ken aser tanela ken agi sayua ajungshitepang, aser nenok
temulung nung taochi agi Tsüngrem dang tenang. 17 Aser o nung süshia, mapa nung süshia,
nenoki kechisa inyakdir, Kibuba Yisu tenüng nung ajak inyakang aser pa ajanga Tebu
Tsüngrem dang tenüngsang agüjang.

Introduction:

I've been involved with singing for most of my life.

DABA YM kensep vol VI

“Kü Kümzuksang” Yongkum Worship Team

And I can proudly say that we Nagas are blessed with the gifts of singing, if you don’t agree
with me then I will ask you to go outside Nagaland and listen to others sing. Most people are
tone deaf1. Almost 90% of Nagas can sing, not professional but we can sing in tone.

Music is a gift from God.

From the bible we know that God has passion for Music.
Listen to these words, from Psalm 96.

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song.

Sing to the Lord all the earth.
Sing to the Lord. Bless his name.
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
And then we have in Psalm 47 verse 6,
sing praises to God, sing praises,

1
The medical term for this is amusia. it's a neurological condition—the brain's auditory and pitch-processing
systems are wired differently from birth. Failure to recognise melodies.
 sing praises to our king, sing praises .
All total, the Bible contains over 400 references to singing and 50 direct commands to sing.
The longest book of the bible, the Psalms, is a book of songs. And in the New Testament,
we're commanded not once but twice to sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to one another
when we meet.

Now, here's a question. Why Music?

Why does God often tell us not simply to praise him, but to sing his praises?
Some may be of opinion that Christians should only focus on praying and preaching? Not
singing.

But when we look in the Bible, we will see that God's people throughout history was always
singing?

- Moses and the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea
- King David and King Solomon wrote many songs
- Music was central in Temple worship
- Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead into battle
Why does God want us to sing? Well, we can begin by realizing that God himself sings.

- Zephaniah 3: 17 says that God exalts over his people with loud singing.

Jesus sang hymns with his disciples and Hebrews 2:12 applies Psalm 22:22 to Jesus when it
says, in the midst of the congregation, I will sing your praise.

Ephesians 5 tells us that one of the fruits of being filled with the spirit is singing psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs to one another.

So, one sign of being a filled with the spirit of the lord is singing.

Davids says, when the spirit of the Lord is in my heart I will sing, I will dance and shout with
praises.

What is important for us striving Christians is:

The text tells us: 16Khrista Oji talubosa nenok dak lidakjang. Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly
Some Christians think that music supersedes/replace the word. They think that God’s
words without music are dry and, unaffecting. They say things like this, music speaks to
me better than words can. Or this, I can't worship unless I hear a particular style of music
that I like. So, I want to go to a church which is filled with good music.
Let us not forget that Lucifers was an angel with the gift of music.
 Worship in Scripture is not primarily driven by personal emotional experience, but by
truth (John 4:23-24): “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.”

Feelings and preferences must not dictate worship. Instead, God’s revealed Word
should guide our worship, and music should serve that Word (Colossians 3:16): “Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
Music is an instrument through which the Word is taught and encouraged, not a
replacement.

Implications for us as followers of Christ.

Ni tanü asenok Lanurtem dang ajungshinubaji.

- Write songs about the wonderous love of God.

- Every day, from the time we wake up to the night time we lay to rest. God’s care is with
us through and through.
- (God’s love doesn’t have an ad service like Youtube or spotify, His love is through
and through, Jesus paid our premium subscription fee.)

So why not write songs about God’s presence in our life, the way we experience God.

Some of us think that the only church hymns were written 300 years ago. And we can only sing
Hymns which is from like 100 of years old. NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. We too can write the
hymns for God’s glorification. In fact the ABAM gives an award for a song writer every year.

We also have our young generation, who have the tendency to dislike or not willing to sing
the hymnals. Saying BURA manu laga gana.
Youths usually want the current upbeat music in our church. Goes to church where there
is music.

Excuses. Some enjoys full of musical sets wala gana…Music team fullset thaka nai koile
muuja ekta nahe ho… Holy Spirit kam nakure ho…drummer nathakele. Etc I am not
saying this are not good.
But when we shift our attention to what’s not important (only seeing the worship team, the
instruments used, they people. We will to miss what the WORD is speaking to us.

My dear friends.

It’s not only about singing, but what we sing. Gordon Fee, a theologian has said show me a
church's songs and I'll show you, their theology.
And it's true. We are what we sing.

If we sing the wrong songs, wrong theology, our understanding with God will also be
wrong.

Colossians 3:16 says it this way, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and
admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

It is the word of Christ. The word about Christ

God’s word, his character, his works, his sacrifice, his love, his grace, his forgiveness.

Lastly, one question that I want us to ponder. All the songs in our hymn today. The writers, do
you think they wrote it, to get GRAMMY? Or Best ABLUM Of the year award? BEST staff
notation arrangement award? Do you think they knew these songs will be sang till today?

No.

They weren't attempting to write hits. For fame or glory. They wrote it to share God’s love,
God’s word. They wanted to teach and preach through their songs. They wanted to give people
songs that were filled with the word of Christ.

Let our focused, our songs be for God’s glorification. Let us question ourselves whether our
singing serve the purpose for which it was intended. That is to Glorify God.

So, next time we join any service, let’s not simply sit and wish for the singing part to be over,
but part take in singing the word.

Don’t wait for that zing zing moment to let music move you.

Wating for Holy spirit, let the Holy spirit start from you. rise from you as we worship God.