1.Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19.

2.Hebrews 13:15, James 5:13.

B.Examples of Singing

1.I Corinthians 14:15.

2.Acts 16:25

C.These verses show us that God wants three things in our singing.

1.Our hearts be in tune with the song.

2.Our minds understand what we are singing.

3.Our voices raised in praise to God.

III. GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS SPECIFY SINGING WITH HEARTS, THEREFORE, MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTS CANNOT BE USED.

A.To add mechanical instruments is to ignore the specific
Commands of the New Testament.

Definitions:
Specific Command: When the action or object of the command is specified. "Throw a white stone" does not mean "drop a piece of black wood". You could not do this and say you complied with the specific command to throw a white stone.

God specified gopher wood (Cypress N.I.V.) when He told Noah to build the ark. Therefore Noah could not have used any other type of wood.

Generic Command: A general command where the action or object of the command is not specific in nature. "Throw a stone" means you must throw, and you must throw a stone. However, the color, the size, the shape, etc. is left to the discretion of the thrower.

Jesus said "Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to all creation". We must "go", but how we go is left to our discretion. We can walk, run, take a plane, and ride a donkey as long as it is lawful. To "go" is a generic command.

1.Jesus had to establish a new order of priesthood.

2.Because He was of the tribe of Judah.

3.Only Levites could serve lawfully as priests under the Law of Moses.

4. Because concerning the tribe of Judah, Moses said nothing about priests.

D.Illustration of our use of the Law of Silence

1.Suppose you ordered a kitchen stove from a large department store. When the delivery truck arrives, you find they not only have the stove you ordered, but also a T. V. set, dishwasher, chesterfield and chair, coffee table, two lamps and a large braided rug. The delivery van driver asks you to sign a receipt of delivery. Of course you refuse. When you ask him why he has brought all these items, his response is "Well, you didn't tell me
not to!"

2.We understand when we order a kitchen stove (specific command), we are not required to say "and don't bring me ----" then list every other item in the store.

3.Since God specifically commands us to sing and make music in our hearts, He is not required to list all the ways He doesn't want us to worship.

E.The fact that David used mechanical music in the Old Testament has no relevance with Christians since we live under the New Testament.

1.Instruments were authorized under the Old Covenant
(II Chronicles 29:25). When the New Covenant came, the Old Covenant ceased to be binding.

2.Hebrews 8:6-13 and 9:15-17.

3.Galatians 3:15-23, Colossians 2:14.

IV. THERE ARE SEVERAL POSITIVE PURPOSES FOR SINGING AND MAKING MUSIC IN OUR HEARTS.

A.It is an expression of joy.

1.James 5:13.

2.People sing because they are happy.

B.It teaches and admonishes others.

1.Ephesians 5:19.

2.Colossians 3:16.

C.It is a means of expressing our gratitude to God.

1.Ephesians 5:19-20.

2.Colossians 3:16.

D.It is a way to praise God.

1.Hebrews 13:15 and 2:12

V. CONCLUSION

A.Galatians 1:6-9, Deuteronomy 4:2, Rev. 22:18, 19,
Matthew 15:8, 9.

B.Let us not depart from the faith, but worship God as He has directed us. Let us please Him and not ourselves.