I'm going to ask you to reach out in front of you and grab your song book and hold on to it. Stick it up under your Bible and just hold on to it for a little bit. Perhaps something a little bit different this evening, and I just absolutely sometimes sit back and wonder why in the world God does what he does. And when here in a few minutes you'll be wondering the same thing right along with me. And God saw fit to see to it that our sister wasn't here tonight to play piano for us. And so that's just going to make things a little more interesting. Colossians chapter number 3. Let's begin reading with verse 12. Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful." Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to him and the Father by him." This evening I'd like to deal with the subject of, and it will be a brief treatise concerning this, Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. You find these mentioned in verse number 16, where the writer says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Singing and making of music has always played an important part of the worship service. At least as far back as the Exodus, Moses and the children of Israel sang together when God delivered them from the hand of Pharaoh. As they had crossed the Red Sea and God shut up the waters on them, they began to sing a song of praise unto God. From the battle of Jericho through the times of the judges, when Deborah and Barak sang, including the service of the tabernacle and later on in the temple, we know that psalms, hymns and spiritual songs played an important role in the worship service. Many of the psalms were set to music and sung specifically at different times around the Feast of the Lord, all the way up to and including in the New Testament, even in the night in which the Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed, the Lord sang a hymn with his church on that very night, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ, as he is in all things, set an example for us as he was in the midst of the congregation, did sing praises to the name of his Father. Singing and the playing of music has been and continues to be an important part of the service of God right up to this very night. Now, I find it interesting that on this night that we are without a piano player Yet we can still sing and lift up our voices and song to God, can we not? We ought to sing with a purpose and sing heartily unto the Lord. Singing has a purpose. It has a function in the worship of God. Songs ought to be more than just words on paper. We should sing with emotion and with passion. When we lift up our voices in song, it should be more than the repetitive, and often I'm afraid that it is, the repetitive singing of songs out of our hearts instead of a heart filled with joy to be able to sing songs of adoration to our King. So I encourage you, lift high your voices and sing praises to our great God. I wonder sometimes what people will do when they get to heaven if they don't like singing now, because there's going to be a whole lot of singing then. There are a number of new songs that are going to be sung in heaven, and as one old preacher said, this is getting us ready for that. And we ought to be getting ready for that in singing of songs, hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody is a part of the worship, and it should help to prepare us to worship. It should steal our minds from the busy events of life. It should center our hearts on the hour at hand. It should focus our attention on the Christ of the Psalms. Hymns help to tell a story. And in fact, if they are rightly written, they tell the old, old story. Some hymns are in and of themselves the story. And such is the case with the particular hymn, and some of you may be familiar with this story and some may not be. But I will relate it to you this evening. There lived a man by the name of Horatio Spafford and his wife, Anna. They had five children. They were devout Christians, and really they were fairly well-to-do. He often opened his home to D.L. Moody and other famous evangelists. In 1871, they lost their four-year-old son to scarlet fever. Later that year, Horatio had invested nearly all of their savings into real estate and then lost nearly everything in the Great Chicago Fire. They were left with nearly nothing. He planned to travel to Europe with his family and four daughters on a ship called the Villa But business kept him from joining them, so he sent his four daughters and his wife ahead while he was delayed behind. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and this is not a make-believe, this is real story, while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship collided with another vessel and sank in less than twelve minutes. All four of his daughters drowned, and his wife alone survived. As soon as she could, she sent him a telegram to tell of their desperate plight with these simple words, Saved Alone. Horatio quickly boarded a vessel to reach his heartbroken wife. During his voyage, The captain of the ship called him to the bridge and told Horatio that a careful reckoning had been made and that they were just now passing the place where his family's ship had been wrecked and his daughters drowned. The captain told him the water here is three miles deep. Horatio returned to his cabin. and wrote down and penned some of the greatest lyrics of one of the greatest hymns you'll ever read. Turn to Hymn 73 in your songbook. And though it may seem strange, tonight we'll sing together those first two verses. With this in mind, what this man had been through returns to his cabin. And he wrote these words. Sing with me tonight. When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul. It is well in his world with my soul. Though Satan should befit, though trial should come, let this blessed assurance control that Christ has my helpless estate, and has shed His own blood for my soul, it is well. with my soul. It is worth, it is worth with my soul. Thank you. I hope you notice up there in the top left-hand corner who the author and writer of that song is. Well, it's the very man we were just talking about. I had rather preach twice than sing once, I can tell you that. It makes me nervous to sing. Let me tell you something about Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. When I know the story of this man's life and could think that he could sit down even at that hour and write those words, it increases my faith. It builds me up. And that's one of the things about Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that we ought to give some thought to. Not only should they tell a story, many of them are in and of themselves stories by all alone. Not only could Horatio sing these words, but he felt these words. I can't help but think what it was in his own being to look out over at those sea waves rolling and consider that his four daughters had been entombed in that watery grave. Yet he knew, and it was his confidence, that though their bodies had been swallowed up by the deep, their souls were with the Lord. He could sit down in the midst of life's tempestuous seas and write, It is well with my soul. Though all hell assailed him, he sat down and penned these words, Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well It is well with my soul." The tried and tested faith of this man encourages each one that will lift up their voices in song, psalms and hymns, and praise in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. When tough trials crash upon us, songs will often come to our minds that encourage us. Songs of faith and future. Songs about health and heaven. Songs of Christ and of comfort. Songs like the one we just sang. Songs like Because He Lives. Songs like Because He Touched Me. Songs like I'd Rather Have Jesus or I'm a Winner Either Way. These give us courage and strength in the midst of life's battles. We learn these songs many times at church. But I trust that our hearts are filled with comfort when life tosses us to and fro as the sea bears roll, and find joy and strength in singing songs and making merit in our hearts to the Lord. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs should fill the hearts of the saints, not just fall off their lips, but fill our hearts and give us great comfort. This incredible story that we have read about this evening is only one of many stories associated with the psalms and hymns that we sing. Fanny Crosby, the splendid author of many hymns, was as many of you will know, was blind. She lost her sight as just a baby through the hands of an incompetent doctor. But God still blessed her greatly in his work. These are her words, ìOh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see. I am resolved that in this world contented I will be.î Now, thatís some pretty good words from a child. Fanny Crosby said this, she said, ìIf I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind For when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Savior." Now, that's an encouragement. Not only are they an encouragement, but the history or story that I believe to be accurate of her life is as well. We all stand and sing blessed assurance all the way. My Savior leads me to God, be the very safe in the arms of Jesus. I am thine, O Lord. And many more are the words written by this blind woman who devoted herself to psalms and hymns in service of God Almighty. Let us reflect on these things as we stand and sing. Yet let us not be remiss to neglect to see the God of these songs. Let us see the center of the songwriter's poetry who is indeed the Messiah alone. There is great use in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. And in our text, I believe, and I'll go over these quickly with you this evening, but here I believe are some of the reasons why God gave them to us. Look, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Now, there is one way that I believe God Almighty knows that we can learn of him. One way that the word of Christ may dwell richly in us, and here is this way, by teaching, by teaching. And let me say this, songs and singing are a method of teaching. They are teaching tools. The writer says, teaching and admonishing one another in songs and hymns. So if we would desire to have the word of Christ dwell in us, then let's sing songs. They teach. Songs are teaching tools. Children are taught their ABCs how? By melody. At an early age, children are taught to learn their ABCs in song. Many of the lessons that children learn. Hope knows the twelve apostles. How did she learn them? By song. The books of the Bible. Many of them children learn by song. Songs are a teaching tool, and a good teaching tool, when rightly used. We ought to be very careful that what we sing is scripturally accurate and God-honoring, as songs will teach, and often they'll stick in our minds long after sermons have gone. And I'm thankful for those men that lead the singing here. I'm thankful when I walk in and I see a brother or whichever who is leading that night, to see them lurking over the songs instead of just jumping in at the last minute, prayerfully considering what goes on in the song service. Our songs should teach one another. They should teach us about Christ. They should teach us about faith and point us to the Messiah. And then not only teach one another, but to admonish one another. That's a pretty strong word, isn't it? To admonish means to put one in mind. And that's one of the things that songs will do. To put us in mind of what? Well, one in mind of one another, but primarily we ought to be put in mind of God himself. When we sing together, we remind one another of the great service of God. What a great joy that it is. You know, many people make light of it, but there's nothing to be made light of. To be able to come in here and pick up an old greenback book and stand and sing hymns to the praise of God, there's nothing light about that. That's an honor. It's a privilege that should be considered as such. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs have been used for many a year in the worship of God, and still they are today. And I like them old hymns. I like a few newer ones, but I'm pretty careful about what I take in. I like these old hymns that still sing things that point towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encourage and challenge ourselves, as well as those around us, to be faithful in what we are singing. You know how many commitments we make to God in song? Let that sink a minute. You know how many commitments we make to God in song, but I wonder if we are really serious about them. I read just this past week, a man said, he said, Christian people may not tell a lot of lies, but they'll sure sing them. Now, I want you to think about that with me tonight. Now, I know that sounds harsh, but just consider some of what I say. Do we sing what we mean and mean what we sing? I love to tell the story. If I could sing, I'd sing this. I love to tell the story. But when was the last time you told it? Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing. And then we often don't implore the one we have. Do we actually take time to be holy? Or are we too busy satisfying the flesh? Do we yield not to temptation or run headlong to it? We deem, we deem, how I love to proclaim it, yet we often speak little of our faith. I can go on to the regions beyond. I must go, I must go, but we won't even go next door. Now, we make commitments to God in song, and we ought to be serious about it. I'm not saying don't sing them. I'm saying follow through on the commitments made in song. Sweet hour of prayer. Well, that old verse that says this, O the pure delight of a single hour that before thy throne I spend. And we'd do well to spend a quarter of an hour, a half of an hour, a tithe of an hour in prayer to God. But what do we sing? Listen, it's important. I'm not saying don't sing. I'm saying follow through on what you say. Mean what you sing. Sing what you mean. It is so true that all what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. You want some more? I've got some more. Follow, follow. I would follow Jesus. anywhere, everywhere, I would follow one. Yet have we taken up our cross and followed him? Are we resolved no longer to linger, or are we still charmed by the world's delights? There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb. Yet how many of us doubt that God is ever going to reach down and save us all? Now, Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are important, and I believe we ought to stand up and sing what we mean and mean what we say. Revive us again. Now, I believe we can sing that one in a minute. Amen? We need to be revived again. Indeed, this should be a song sung with great enthusiasm and heartfelt readiness. We must quickly admit that we are prone to wonder, prone to leave the God that we love. So my dear friends, consider that we are to teach, and in Psalms we are also to admonish, and that is to put us in mind of these things. Put us in mind of what we are saying. Admonish one another. Put us in mind of what it is that we lift up our voices and proclaim. Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and then finally, singing with grace. You hear that? Singing with grace in your hearts. Or you can sing with hope, too. I don't want to leave one out. I might get jealous. It's the same thing. Amen? Sing! Our songs should fill us with joy and thanksgiving. Our tongues should be filled with the praises of God. Let these songs of grace be our battle cry as we press with holy vigor on and leave the world behind. We may not have the tongues of mighty men and angels, but let us loosen the one that we have and sing praises to our King. with grace in our hearts, building and edifying one another, speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart unto the Lord. Very close in Ephesians, I believe, to what he says here in Colossians. Singing and making melody in your heart unto the Lord. Sing with grace upon your lips. Sing with joy in your hearts. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. I love to hear people sing that can sing. I love to hear that, but you know what else? I love to hear joyful noise unto the Lord. Some people don't have all the gifts that others have, but if they sing not to be heard by men, but to please God, boy, that's something to listen to. Sing with grace in your hearts. Let what's in you and what God has done fill your mouth and fill your voice in praise. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. I might get in trouble, but I'll say this. I stand back here sometimes and observe while we sing. And I wonder if they've not come out with some new brand of chapstick. And right before we sing, I wonder if somebody hasn't rubbed vinegar and dill pickle juice flavored chapstick on their lips. I'm telling you folks, stand up and sing and praise His name. He's worthy of that. You're going to do it throughout all eternity. You might as well get some practice in right now. Be happy, be joyful. Sing with grace in your hearts, with joy in your hearts. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing in the presence of the congregation. Do what the disciples did and sing with the presence of Christ. Sing before the heathen. You know that old song, I'll sing before the heathen. Sing before a lost war. Sing before them. And if somebody goes and asks you why you're singing, you know what you can say? I sing because I'm happy. If I could sing, I'd sing that. I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me. Well, I'll tell you this. This shouldn't be just an in-church thing. This ought to fill your heart all the time. Sing and make melody in your hearts. It doesn't matter whether we sing two verses or ten songs. Sing with your whole heart. Sing with all that you are. Lift your voices high and praise God for He's worthy. Do you know over 50 verses in the book of the Psalms alone, in the book of the Psalms alone, there are over 50 verses that deal with singing praises to God. You know what that tells me? That God finds the singing of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of great importance. And that matters to Him. Study them, if you will, and you'll find that God places high emphasis on singing and making melody in your heart to Him. David played his harp to the honor of his king. You remember that old story? Old Saul would be all in a twist. He'd say, send David over here and play his harp. And when David started running his fingers across the strings of that harp, it settled him down. I'm going to tell you if David will do that for an old half-rotten king, that's the best thing I can say for him. Man, what ought we ought to do for our king? I'm going to tell you he's worthy of that. Run your fingers across your strings, lift up your voice, do something! Use what God's given you to a greater event. This blessed book emphasizes greatly the importance of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in the worship of God. Shall we put great importance upon it as well? It is an important part of our service. How will you use your voice? You are going to use it. Will it be to, as we read this morning in Psalm 40, to sing that new song that God has put upon your lips, even praise your Maker? While this has been no more than just a few brief thoughts, I trust it will challenge each of us to consider that we are not singing to be heard by men. You're really not. But we're singing to be heard by God and to please Him. And if that's our aim, even if it comes out a little sideways, that's okay. Because I believe it honors and pleases Him. I'm going to close with this. May we sing of the amazing grace of the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star, for he loves me just as I am. May our lives bring glory to his name as we are dwelling in Beulah land. Let us sing of our Redeemer and remind each other that he is so sweet to trust in Jesus. May we trust and obey as we humbly admit we need thee every hour. Let us whisper hope of our blessed Redeemer as we tell them that there is nothing but the blood of Jesus that makes men white as snow. Let us follow the footprints of Jesus wherever they go and pray that Jesus will indeed keep us near the cross. May we each one lean ever more on the everlasting arms as we take the name of Jesus with you. And in the sweet by and by, when we all get to heaven, we will all hail the power of Jesus' name. And in that place where we will never grow old, Safe in the arms of Jesus, we will praise Him, praise Him, as we sing, Love lifted me. That's some psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Now, when we get ready to stand up and sing Wednesday night, you remember that. And I hope to goodness we find us some of that new flavor chapstick, some of that heartfelt joy chapstick. Rub that on your lips, and then stand up and sing. I thank you for your attention today.