Finaghy Baptist

We are ordinary people seeking together to reveal the extraordinary love of God in Jesus’ name

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Pastor’s Page for February

The Song God Listens To

            Did you consider the song ‘Speak O Lord’ that followed my Pastor’s Page in the January FFN?  (see below) It’s a song that is very much a prayer.  And I would suggest a prayer that needs to flow out of a humble disposition that longs for righteousness whereby the Lord is glorified in us and through us.  Such a prayer offered up by you and me in 2012 will certainly lead to God’s blessing upon us and those we seek to serve locally and globally.  2 Chron 7:14, 1 Sam 2:30, John14:13-14. 

            Why not try singing the song to the Lord as you go about?  The Bible has scattered throughout its pages some rather wonderful songs offered up to God by His people.  One that has caused me some serious thought is found in Revelation 15:1-8.  A gentleman called Morris Stuart in the SU Bible notes entitles it as ‘The song God listens to’.  This is because it is sung by believers who have suffered at the hands of God’s enemies. 

            John sees them gathered together on the banks of the sea of purity and tranquillity as they unite in song to worship God.  Have you ever realised that God has given us the power of song to be a weapon with which to defy and defeat the powers of darkness?  2 Chron 20:20-28, Matt 26:26-30, Acts 16:22-34.  Morris Stuart writes ‘What hard headed pragmatists would deploy psalms, hymns and spiritual songs against chariots, horses, bombs, guns and tanks?  Yet it is the nations and empires that crumble and the musicians with instruments given to them by God who endure.’ 

            The amazing truth is that as we do battle with the powers of darkness operating through rulers, authorities and powers God calls us to do so taking to heart the values of the Kingdom of God (Matt 5:3-12) and wielding the weapons of  truth, justice, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and prayer.  Eh 6:12-18.  Scripture teaches us that as astounding as it may seem, that the song, the psalm, and the poem have and always will outlast the empires and their armies.

            And to the ears of God there is nothing more beautiful and glorifying than the songs sung by those who suffer in the cause of Christ.  This is something you and I know little of and I was given some serious food for thought when I read these words in the context of the Lord’s command to be salt and light in the world. 

            ‘Because we know so little of being laughed at excluded or oppressed because of our witness to Jesus, our song lacks depth or reality.  Lovers of comfort, we stoutly resist suffering and death in the name of Jesus.  A curious position for people who believe in eternal life.  The word of God to us may well be, away with the noise of your songs!  I will not listen to the music of your harps.  But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like a never failing stream.’  Having read this, you like me may want to use this prayer I read  in my studies... ‘Lord, deliver me from heaping empty praise on to you.  Help me to follow the Lamb wherever he leads.’ 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  Colossians 3:16

  Pastor Alistair Campbell