My spirit was troubled when a certain leader of the church then spoke condemning it as worldly and profane that the children should focus on memory verses and not praise in the form of song and dance of the world
I for one believe that such a rebuke was unnecessary and certainly was not of the spirit in the house of the Lord.
The children performed and the congregation joined in singing and prising in spirit so how can that not be from the lord?
The Bible warns us of such spirits of confusion it is called the spirit of Scribes and Pharisees.
In Mathew 23:13 Jesus rebukes these spirits
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
The scribes and pharisees were appointed by men and they professed knowledge of the law of God. They were guided by the spirit of exclusion to judge and throw the first stone at Mary Magdalene or pour scorn on people like zacheceus and accuse Jesus of breaking the law of God by preaching and casting out demons on a Sabbath.
The spirit of Christ is different, its inclusive, compassionate with a hallmark of love and forgiveness. To lead by example and to practise what you preach.
The spirit of the scribes and pharisees was the spirit that excluded children from coming to Jesus and that is why Jesus the commanded in Mark 10:13-16
13And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
The spirit of the pharisees and scribes will not allow others to get close to God. By being strict in the interpretation of the law to the exclusion of the spirit and the child like love for God they stop others from going close to God. The exodusus of youth from the Church in such circumstances is a curse unto the church.
We may follow the law of the bible to a tee as the scribes and pharisees but if we lose the childlike love for God and the guidance of the holy spirit we will not enter the kingdom of God as stated in Mathew 23:13 being seduced by the spirit of the scribes and pharisees into thinking that by following the law of the Bible we are holier than others or condescend on the spirituality or lack thereof of others.
In such circumstances leaders of the church will lose their anointing as warned by Jesus in Mathew 23.
We should also not blindly follow as stated in Mathew 23 1-3, just because someone sits on Moses seat doesn't mean you have to follow everything he says. Always discern with the Holy spirit within you.
Matthew 23
1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
The scribes and pharisees look and judge on your outward appearance but God looks at our hearts.
Back to worship, our modern day scribes and pharisees infuse culture with religion. Mixing of males and females forbidden, easily forgetting that we are all children of God presumably guided by the spirit, I wonder when Jesus preached on the mount whether males and females were segregated. or where Jesus thought he should rebuke the congregation for the mixing of sexes that the sermon that he gave on edifying the spirit?
Singing dancing praising the lord is without a shadow of doubt from the Lord.
Psalms 150:4 says praise him with timbrel and dance in fact The whole psalm talks about how to praise him.
| 150:1 | Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! | ||||||||||
| 150:2 | Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! | ||||||||||
| 150:3 | Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! | ||||||||||
| 150:4 | Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! | ||||||||||
| 150:5 | Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with crashing cymbals! | ||||||||||
| 150:6 | Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! |
Interestingly God created angels but no where in the Bible does it say that Angels sing. So although every being worships God in the end only us children of God worship him with singing. How lovely those praises must be to God in Song.David knew this and that is why he showed is love for God by his offering of song and dance and God was most pleased. Who therefore is man to come between children offering their praises to God in song and dance.
Psalms 87 :7
As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
Psalms 149 :3
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
2 Samuel 6 : 14
14And David danced before the LORD with all his might;
Therefore we must discern between the spirit of the scribes and pharisees and the holy spirit. just because someone sits on the throne of moses ( or preaches from the pulpit ) doesn't mean he is right. If the words distance from worshipping God for whatever reason, it is the spirit of the scribes and pharisees. God has given us this power to discern through the spirit.feel...
John 14 :24
26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you
AMEN
