(1 Chron 25:1-7; Rom 12:3-8)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2006
(Two sermons: the first considering the place of music among the spiritual gifts, the second considers the gifts as presented in the New Testament)
(Two sermons: the first considering the place of music among the spiritual gifts, the second considers the gifts as presented in the New Testament)
The holidays should bring out the best in us, but the stress that often arises sometimes generates a less than gracious and grateful attitude.
The apostle Paul, especially, talks about the many different gifts God gives to His people.
A few years ago, a family with several children spent Thanksgiving with us. After the meal, while we were still sitting around the table, Faith, the youngest child, crawled under the table. That was not unusual—she was only one and a half—but what she did next was unexpected, at least for me: She began to sing, not in some indistinguishable way but with a recognizable melody. She did it several times that afternoon which, I learned, was common for her. She often sang, and her mother wondered if she might one day have....
I. The Gift of Music (1 Chr25:1-7)
Can everyone sing? Can everyone even carry a tune? Linda's father cannot sing. In fact, he admits that he is musically challenged: "I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket." Thankfully, Linda did not inherit his non-musical trait. If she had, we might not have been married, because my family is very musical:
When Linda and I talked about getting married, my parents were pleased with her commitment to God, but my father had one more requirement. He did not care if she could cook or keep a house clean—a person can learn to do those things—he cared if she could sing, because if she could not, she would not be involved in a very important part of our family's life. So, he made her audition and, after proving her musical ability, he said she could join the family.1
Singing or playing an instrument is not something everyone can do or learn to do well, which is why some people call musical ability a gift from God. The Bible speaks about gifts from God. The apostle Paul calls them spiritual gifts, because they come from the Holy Spirit.2 Is music a spiritual gift? Music is certainly an important part of worshiping God, and we appreciate people who can play or sing to God's glory, but does God give people a special musical ability that makes those who hear them praise Him all the more?
The gifts that Paul names include prophecy, teaching, pastoring, healing, and others. These are all ways that God works through people to help others grow in their faith. In Paul's various discussions about spiritual gifts, though, he does not mention music, either singing or playing an instrument.3 If God gives some people special talents, music, which is so important in worship, should certainly be one of those spiritual gifts. I thought so, but I could not find anyplace in the Bible where it said that...until I discovered a passage that made an important connection.
Whereas prophets often spoke in various locations, both foreign and domestic, these men and those who ministered with them spoke in one particular place, which says something else about the gift of music, something we already know.
The psalmists often encourage worshipers to "make a joyful noise" (Pss 66:1; 81:1; 95:1; 95:2,4; 98:6; 100:1)7 which modern readers of the KJV sometimes misinterpret as any inarticulate but happy sound.8 The various occurrences of the Hebrew word, however, show that while this expression describes worship that has some volume ("shout"), it also has...
What kind of music is properly part of worship? Does anything qualify, or are there certain features that make some songs suitable and others not? In this chapter and elsewhere, the biblical author describes the music of the temple as having two essential elements. Listen to these passages.9
Like my father-in-law, not everyone can be a musician. It requires a certain amount of ability, but to serve in music ministry, being able to sing or play is not enough. 1 Chr 25:7 indicates that those responsible for the ministry of prophecy through music must demonstrate two essential elements:11
Does Faith have the gift of music? ...She may, but it is too early to tell. She is only six years old. Does every believer who sings or plays an instrument have this gift? ...No. I sing and play an instrument—and I enjoy doing both—but I do not think I have the gift of music.13 While the gift of music is rare, the ability to minister through music is less so. Consequently, those for whom a solo would not be appropriate can be effective in a group. They must still undergo the training and develop the skill necessary to make a proper offering, one that represents the best they have, but there is great satisfaction in presenting to God something they have worked hard to master and great satisfaction in being able to direct a congregation's attention to Him.
These verses say that prophesying and music go together,14 that music can be part of prophesying,15 part of that spiritual gift.16 This is certainly how the church uses music, because talented musicians can inspire you to praise the LORD.17 It is also something for which you can and should be thankful.
Do you like to get presents? I think everyone likes to receive them. It is also fun to give gifts, because they bring joy to people...usually.
Last time, I mentioned how a toddler's singing made her mother wonder if she might one day have...
I. The Gift of Music (1 Chr 25:1-7)
While not listed as a spiritual gift in the New Testament, music is identified as such in the Old Testament.
Still, there is a difference between being able to do something and doing it so well that God regularly uses an ability to help others grow.18 For those who do not have the gift of music, He provides...
II. The (other) Gifts of Ministry (Rom 12:3-8)
...such as those Paul mentions.
Having determined that you do, indeed, qualify, there are several other questions.
Most gifts we receive on birthdays or at Christmas are intended for our enjoyment (the man's surprise for his wife not withstanding). Linda will probably make fudge again this year for a friend in Texas. While I may get to sample the scraps, the majority will be mailed to him. Most gifts are for their recipients, for their enjoyment. That is not the case with spiritual gifts. What God gives to you is not for your gratification but for others' edification, "so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Eph 4:12b). While it is God's decision to assign spiritual gifts...
Do you have any say in what gift you receive? ...While it is ultimately God's decision, He is not indifferent to your wishes. In Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, he redirects the fixation some have on the gift of tongues, which functions primarily in cross-cultural evangelism,21 to gifts that are appropriate for the corporate body of the church22 He says...
How is a spiritual gift different from a natural talent? Leslie Flynn addresses that question in his book about the gifts of the Spirit (1974:2224).24
The first group, which has the fewest number, contains the most public and most dramatic manifestations of the Spirit, although they are the least common. A congregation may, in fact, have none of these. Intended to display God's power or to authenticate God's representatives, often for expanding the church, they are...
If you expect the Holy Spirit to zap you with a spiritual gift, you may be waiting in vain, not because he will not give you one but because you already have one.27 As I mentioned before, a spiritual gift is often the supernatural enhancement of a natural talent or inclination, something you possess that God wants to develop.28 Whether the gift is a completely new ability or the amplification of an existing ability, you are responsible to use it to help other believers.
A spiritual gift is like any other gift in that it is free. You do not have to buy it or earn it. All you do is receive it. But a spiritual gift is different from other gifts in that it is from God.29 It is also not just for you to enjoy; it is for you to employ to help others.
God may give that toddler the gift of music. We will have to wait until she is older to be sure, just as we may have to wait until some others here are a little older to know what He will give them. For the rest: What are you doing with your gift?
You can be sure of this: that when you give yourself to the Lord, to love Him and to serve Him, He gives you good things in return, wonderful things, which is why you can always look forward to The Gifts of God.
This year, Jane wanted to be ready for company long before their arrival, so she started cleaning her house right after Halloween. She ran out of cleaning supplies before she finished and had to go to the store. What should have been a quick trip was anything but that, and Jane found herself standing in the checkout line for over thirty minutes, arms full of cleaning solutions as well as a broom. A deepening scowl marked her growing impatience. Finally, Jane reached the cashier, only to find that he needed a price check on one of her items. Sighing heavily, she said with more annoyance than necessary, "It'll be a miracle if I'm out of here and home in time for Thanksgiving!" "Oh I don't think you have to worry lady," the clerk answered cheerily.... "With the strong wind out there and your new broom, I'm sure you'll be home in no time."While waiting in line, Jane could have been passing the time by counting her blessings and not just cooling her heels. She could have prepared for the holiday by reviewing all the ways God has blessed her and the many gifts He has given her.
The apostle Paul, especially, talks about the many different gifts God gives to His people.
- He gives the good news about Jesus as a gift.
- He gives forgiveness from sin as a gift.
- He gives eternal life as a gift.
Jms 1:17a Every good and perfect gift is from above [i.e., from God I....We can always look forward to The Gifts of God.
A few years ago, a family with several children spent Thanksgiving with us. After the meal, while we were still sitting around the table, Faith, the youngest child, crawled under the table. That was not unusual—she was only one and a half—but what she did next was unexpected, at least for me: She began to sing, not in some indistinguishable way but with a recognizable melody. She did it several times that afternoon which, I learned, was common for her. She often sang, and her mother wondered if she might one day have....
I. The Gift of Music (1 Chr25:1-7)
Can everyone sing? Can everyone even carry a tune? Linda's father cannot sing. In fact, he admits that he is musically challenged: "I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket." Thankfully, Linda did not inherit his non-musical trait. If she had, we might not have been married, because my family is very musical:
- My father, a choir director;
- My mother, an organist;
- My brother, a bass soloist, and
- My sister, a pianist as well as a lyric soprano.
When Linda and I talked about getting married, my parents were pleased with her commitment to God, but my father had one more requirement. He did not care if she could cook or keep a house clean—a person can learn to do those things—he cared if she could sing, because if she could not, she would not be involved in a very important part of our family's life. So, he made her audition and, after proving her musical ability, he said she could join the family.1
Singing or playing an instrument is not something everyone can do or learn to do well, which is why some people call musical ability a gift from God. The Bible speaks about gifts from God. The apostle Paul calls them spiritual gifts, because they come from the Holy Spirit.2 Is music a spiritual gift? Music is certainly an important part of worshiping God, and we appreciate people who can play or sing to God's glory, but does God give people a special musical ability that makes those who hear them praise Him all the more?
The gifts that Paul names include prophecy, teaching, pastoring, healing, and others. These are all ways that God works through people to help others grow in their faith. In Paul's various discussions about spiritual gifts, though, he does not mention music, either singing or playing an instrument.3 If God gives some people special talents, music, which is so important in worship, should certainly be one of those spiritual gifts. I thought so, but I could not find anyplace in the Bible where it said that...until I discovered a passage that made an important connection.
1 Chr 25:1 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by [various musical instruments:] harps, lyres and cymbals.... 6 All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.... 7 Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD—they numbered 288.These three men—Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun—along with their families, figure prominently in this book.4 They are from the tribe of Levi, which has charge of the sanctuary, but they are also "musicians" (1 Chr 15:19; 2 Chr 5:12),5 those responsible for worship, whose proficiency in music the author links to a particular spiritual gift, in fact, the most prominent gift in the Old Testament.6
A. It is part of the ministry of prophecy.Often we think of prophecy as predicting the future, but that is only a small portion of a prophet's task. More common than foretelling, declaring what God will do for His people, is forth-telling, declaring who God is, what He has done, and what He continues to do for His people. If these three men ever predicted anything, there is no record in scripture, but the Bible does include examples in several psalms of what they proclaimed.
Whereas prophets often spoke in various locations, both foreign and domestic, these men and those who ministered with them spoke in one particular place, which says something else about the gift of music, something we already know.
B. It is part of the service of worship.Those who have this gift may exercise it in many ways, but the main venue is when the believing community meets for corporate worship ("temple...house" v. 6), to help others focus their attention and devotion on God.
The psalmists often encourage worshipers to "make a joyful noise" (Pss 66:1; 81:1; 95:1; 95:2,4; 98:6; 100:1)7 which modern readers of the KJV sometimes misinterpret as any inarticulate but happy sound.8 The various occurrences of the Hebrew word, however, show that while this expression describes worship that has some volume ("shout"), it also has...
- Specific direction ("to God" or "to the Lord" passim)
- Clear content ("with psalms" Ps 95:2)
- Good music ("song, play skillfully" 33:3)
What kind of music is properly part of worship? Does anything qualify, or are there certain features that make some songs suitable and others not? In this chapter and elsewhere, the biblical author describes the music of the temple as having two essential elements. Listen to these passages.9
1 Chr 16:4 [David] appointed some of the Levites...to give thanks, and to praise the LORD.... 41 ...those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD,
1 Chr 25:3b [They] prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the LORD.
2 Chr 5:13 The...singers joined...as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by...instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang....
2 Chr 7:6a The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks....Those responsible for the service of worship should encourage devotion that has two essential elements:
- Praise, which is boasting joyfully about God's wonderful character and great deeds, as well as...
- Thanks, which is expressing gratitude for God's marvelous attributes and benevolent works.
Like my father-in-law, not everyone can be a musician. It requires a certain amount of ability, but to serve in music ministry, being able to sing or play is not enough. 1 Chr 25:7 indicates that those responsible for the ministry of prophecy through music must demonstrate two essential elements:11
- Training, which entails the preparation (i.e., instruction and practice) that precedes each musical presentation, as well as...
- Skill, which is the proficiency (i.e., blend and precision) that attends each musical presentation.
Does Faith have the gift of music? ...She may, but it is too early to tell. She is only six years old. Does every believer who sings or plays an instrument have this gift? ...No. I sing and play an instrument—and I enjoy doing both—but I do not think I have the gift of music.13 While the gift of music is rare, the ability to minister through music is less so. Consequently, those for whom a solo would not be appropriate can be effective in a group. They must still undergo the training and develop the skill necessary to make a proper offering, one that represents the best they have, but there is great satisfaction in presenting to God something they have worked hard to master and great satisfaction in being able to direct a congregation's attention to Him.
These verses say that prophesying and music go together,14 that music can be part of prophesying,15 part of that spiritual gift.16 This is certainly how the church uses music, because talented musicians can inspire you to praise the LORD.17 It is also something for which you can and should be thankful.
************
Do you like to get presents? I think everyone likes to receive them. It is also fun to give gifts, because they bring joy to people...usually.
A husband asked his wife what she would like for her birthday. She said, "Oh, just surprise me." So, at 3:00 a.m., on the morning of her birthday, while they were still in bed and she was still asleep, her husband leaned over to her and said... "Boo!" (Hodgin 1994:163)Is that the kind of surprise she expected? No, she wanted a good gift. Well, God gives gifts, and The Gifts of God are always good gifts.
Last time, I mentioned how a toddler's singing made her mother wonder if she might one day have...
I. The Gift of Music (1 Chr 25:1-7)
While not listed as a spiritual gift in the New Testament, music is identified as such in the Old Testament.
1 Chr 25:1 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by [various musical instruments:] harps, lyres and cymbals.... 6 All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.... 7 Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD—they numbered 288.These three men—Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun—along with their families, are the "musicians responsible for worship, whose proficiency in music the author links to the most prominent spiritual gift in the Old Testament.
A. It is part of the ministry of prophecy.This is not foretelling, declaring what God will do for His people, but forth-telling, declaring who God is, what He has done, and what He continues to do for His people. For those who minister in this way...
B. It is part of the service of worship....to help others focus their attention and devotion on God.
Still, there is a difference between being able to do something and doing it so well that God regularly uses an ability to help others grow.18 For those who do not have the gift of music, He provides...
II. The (other) Gifts of Ministry (Rom 12:3-8)
...such as those Paul mentions.
Rom 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.How does one qualify for a spiritual gift? ...Because it is a gift, it must be free, so a person neither earns it nor deserves it. God simply bestows it, but...
- Are the gifts only for certain people, like pastors and elders?
- Do you have to be a certain age or reach a certain level of spiritual maturity?
- Is there a waiting list or a waiting period?
- Where do you sign up?
1 Cor 12:7 ...to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.Therefore, the spiritual gifts Paul mentions in Rom 12—many of which are the same as those he mentions in 1 Cor 12—are also available to every Christian. Consequently, if you are a child of God, you qualify for a gift from God.
Having determined that you do, indeed, qualify, there are several other questions.
- What determines which the gift you get?
- Can you choose the gift you want?
- Not to be greedy, but can you have more than one?
- If you do not like the gift you have, can you exchange it for a different one?
A. It is God's decision to assign them (v. 6).
In Rom 12:4, Paul compares the local church to a living organism. It is the same metaphor he uses in 1 Cor 12, where notes the importance of diversity.
- He does this variously and graciously.
1 Cor 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.God does the same for a church. Not wanting everyone to have the same gift, He assigns different gifts to different members of a congregation. In this way, your gift does not compete or conflict with anyone else's gift; rather, it complements everyone else's gift. A church may have more than one member with the gift of mercy, but that duplication is necessary for spiritual balance, just as the body has more than one foot for physical balance.
Most gifts we receive on birthdays or at Christmas are intended for our enjoyment (the man's surprise for his wife not withstanding). Linda will probably make fudge again this year for a friend in Texas. While I may get to sample the scraps, the majority will be mailed to him. Most gifts are for their recipients, for their enjoyment. That is not the case with spiritual gifts. What God gives to you is not for your gratification but for others' edification, "so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Eph 4:12b). While it is God's decision to assign spiritual gifts...
B. It is man's duty to apply them (Rom 12:6-8).
Because God does not force people to serve Him, He does not force them to use whatever spiritual gift He may give them. So, for each of the seven gifts in Rom 12:6-8, Paul offers a simple exhortation: Whatever a person's gift, "let him use it" for the benefit of others.20
- He must do this willingly and appropriately.
Do you have any say in what gift you receive? ...While it is ultimately God's decision, He is not indifferent to your wishes. In Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, he redirects the fixation some have on the gift of tongues, which functions primarily in cross-cultural evangelism,21 to gifts that are appropriate for the corporate body of the church22 He says...
1 Cor 12:31a ...eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Cor 14:12c ...try to excel in gifts that build up the church.Some gifts are more productive than than others in church growth.23 Moreover, the distribution is not arbitrary; God may even grant a particular manifestation of His Spirit's ministry in response to your request.
How is a spiritual gift different from a natural talent? Leslie Flynn addresses that question in his book about the gifts of the Spirit (1974:2224).24
Non-Christians have talents [sometimes] present from birth. Many unbelievers play the piano well, paint beautifully, sculpture realistically, master languages easily, orate eloquently, write effectively. But these are talents, not gifts. No unbeliever has a spiritual gift. Only believers are gifted spiritually.... Talents depend on natural power; gifts on spiritual endowment....
Talents instruct, inspire, or entertain on a natural level. Gifts relate to the building up of the saints.... Something supernatural happens in the one who is ministering when a gift is exercised. Nothing supernatural happens in one who is performing when a talent is displayed. And though God may minister His grace, because He is sovereign, even through an unsaved person (who sings a song well, for example), that person has still only shown talent, not a gift....
Talents and gifts are related.... [T]he Holy Spirit may choose to use our talents as avenues for the exercising of gifts He may bestow upon us.... Gifts often build on a natural foundation. A person who is by nature a man of vision may be given the gift of faith....
However, the possession of a natural talent doesn't mean God will necessarily choose to use it. Likewise, the Holy Spirit may choose to give a gift to someone lacking natural aptitude in that line....
[Nevertheless, t]he Spirit may more likely give the gift of preaching [for example] to those who have a talent for speaking. However, caution must be exercised...lest they depend on their natural ability instead of diligently developing their gift....
[When a] person becomes a Christian, the Spirit may intensify [a] talent with a supernatural power, heighten, reinforce, and transcend it [for] the edification of the saints. [While] spiritual gifts by their supernatural source, nature, and purpose, are [different] from natural talents...often they may be interrelated.Several other New Testament passages treat the subject of spiritual gifts. While there is considerable overlap, the various lists are not identical, which means they are illustrative not exhaustive. (Expanding the search to include Old Testament passages would yield others, like the gift of music.) Collecting and collating the various gifts in the New Testament gives a sense of their diversity and offers an overview of the different categories, of how we can organize them in three groups. For now, I will just list them, leaving a detailed description for another time. Here is...
A Partial List of Spiritual Gifts25
(Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:7-10, 28; Eph4:11-12; 1 Pet 4:10-1 1)26
- Signifying gifts
The second group contains public but less dramatic manifestations of the Spirit. A congregation often has some of these. They are...
- Miracles
- Healing
- Tongues
- Interpretation
- Speaking gifts
The third group, which has the greatest number, contains the least public and least dramatic manifestations of the Spirit, although they are the most common and are among the most important for a church's spiritual health. A congregation often has several of these. Usually operating behind the scenes, they are...
- Prophecy (includes preaching and music)
- Evangelism
- Teaching
- Exhortation (or encouraging)
- Knowledge
- Wisdom
- Serving gifts
Some gifts entail a direct working of God's Spirit and, as such, require no development by us. They are usually sudden or unexpected manifestations (e.g., the signifying gift of tongues). Other gifts entail an indirect working of God's Spirit and, as such, require careful development by us. They are usually gradual and anticipated manifestations (e.g., the speaking gift of teaching or the serving gift of administration).
- Pastoring
- Helps (includes hospitality)
- Giving
- Administration (or leadership)
- Mercy
- Faith
- Discernment
If you expect the Holy Spirit to zap you with a spiritual gift, you may be waiting in vain, not because he will not give you one but because you already have one.27 As I mentioned before, a spiritual gift is often the supernatural enhancement of a natural talent or inclination, something you possess that God wants to develop.28 Whether the gift is a completely new ability or the amplification of an existing ability, you are responsible to use it to help other believers.
- Do you know the gift God has given you?
- Do you use the gift God has given you?
A spiritual gift is like any other gift in that it is free. You do not have to buy it or earn it. All you do is receive it. But a spiritual gift is different from other gifts in that it is from God.29 It is also not just for you to enjoy; it is for you to employ to help others.
God may give that toddler the gift of music. We will have to wait until she is older to be sure, just as we may have to wait until some others here are a little older to know what He will give them. For the rest: What are you doing with your gift?
You can be sure of this: that when you give yourself to the Lord, to love Him and to serve Him, He gives you good things in return, wonderful things, which is why you can always look forward to The Gifts of God.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
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Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs