The sermon library
Sermons, verse by verse
and book by bookSermons,
verse by verse.
At Huikala we preach through books of the Bible, one passage at a time.
Ready to play
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”
Proverbs 23:7
The series
Messages on questions our church family asked to hear preached, taken straight from the Scriptures.
Throughout history, the human experience is inseparable from music.
“What entertains us, trains us.”
Music is also inseparable from our relationship with God.
Genesis 4:21: Jubal, “…he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.” “Organ” in this instance was a flute of some kind.
Exodus 15: The Israelites sang in response to the Red Sea crossing.
Joshua 6: Joshua and his men are instructed to blast their ram horns in a final step of faith and show of obedience. The walls of Jericho fall!
The entire book of Psalms: We often lose sight of the fact that every single Psalm is a song.
1 Samuel 16:14-23: David was to appear before Saul and sing and play the harp. This is a Biblical example of music therapy.
Acts 16:25: Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison prior to a miraculous earthquake that frees them.
Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16: Paul’s direction to early churches included using music as a part of the corporate worship time. “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.”
The effects of music on the “Heart” (by way of the brain!)
Your brain on music
Frontal Lobe: Critical thinking, decision making, and planning.
Temporal Lobe: Part of the brain that analyzes what we hear as sound. Language and words are processed in the left hemisphere. Music and sound are processed in the right hemisphere.
Occipital Lobe: This is the portion of the brain that processes sight.
Cerebellum: This portion of our brain controls movement and muscle memory.
Nucleus Accumbens: This part of the brain is where we have our pleasure seeking mechanism; a key component of addiction in our brains as it is the area that releases dopamine.
Amygdala: Processes and triggers our emotional responses.
With all of this in mind, music has a profound ability to break into our heart.
Because of the addictive nature of music, it is something we consume. It becomes a part of us!
Why is music so influential in this world, and what is the connection with Satan and music?
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:Ephesians 2:2
With the profound ability to break into our hearts, music has exponentially proliferated with technology and globalization.
The idea that Satan has a particularly special connection with music comes from Ezekiel 28.
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.”
Ezekiel 28 :13-14
Tabrets are tambourines and pipes would be a kind of flute.
The enemy knows how music affects our brains and inward being and uses it to normalize sin and distort truth.
Satan doesn’t need you to worship him, just to worship something that isn’t God.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Romans 12:2
Is all secular music bad? What about Christian rap or metal?
Think of music on a scale. “1-10”
At the bottom is music at its most worldly, sinful, and base levels.
In the middle is music that is neutral.
At the top of the scale at ten is music that is specifically written with Biblical truths or verses themselves and also used for corporate worship.
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.Colossians 3:16
We must consider our emotional response to all music across this spectrum. Even music at the top!
For any music we listen to, the Philippians 4:8 test is always best. Is it True? Honest? Just? Pure? Lovely? Noble? Good Report? Is there any Virtue? Is there any Praise?
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.Philippians 4:8
Christian rap or metal may not suit everyone’s taste but consider other members of the body of Christ.
Be cautious to guard your heart and mind, but not legalistic.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:2 Corinthians 5:14
Music is designed to program us, for better or worse.
What do you allow into your heart and mind?
Is your choice of entertainment taking you further from the world and sin, or further from Christ?
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 23:7
Keep exploring
