Musick-al Notes

Another Musick-al note:     #   26

         Our Pilgrim fathers set aside a day for special thanksgiving for God’s goodness in preserving their lives and providing for them in their new home in this new land.  Later the last Thursday in November was designated by the government as the special day of “Thanksgiving” this making this a national holiday.  This day will be spent by most people in fulfilling their own pleasures by visiting family members, watching football games, drinking and in parties.  Few people, very few, will do more than offer a formalistic word of thanks for the bounty of food prepared for their consumption.  Fewer still will thank God for all the wonderful blessings that they enjoy.

          Christian people ought to be a thankful people at all times and use this season to especially express thanks for all God’s gifts to us.  God has given us His own Son, life in His name, the forgiving message and forgiveness when we obey Him, glorious blessings in the church and a hope that will come to fruition in the last day for He will keep all His promises.  Are we like the nine lepers who were cleansed or like the one who returned to give thanks? (Luke 17:12-19).  Will our children remember us as those who were thankful for these many blessings or will they only remember that we used everything for our own selfish pleasures without thought or thanks to God from whom they came?  Our children learn from our actions and daily living just what we believe concerning God and His blessings.  No amount of words on one day can erase from their minds our lessons of selfish living through-out the year.  Our daily walk (what we say and do) must show that we continually turn our minds and thoughts to the living God and acknowledge His gifts to us.  We can be happy people and at the same time be thankful to the Lord God for His goodness to us.  Thanksgiving Day should certainly be an occasion of happiness for it gives us another wonderful opportunity to express our love and thanks to the Living God who loves us and has given so much to redeem us.

Another Musick-al note:  # 25 

            I have written many of these ‘notes’ and have tried to include the scriptural references to support the statements so that you can study, check my work with the scriptures and recognize their truth.  If I have made any statement that is incorrect, it should be noted and brought to my attention.  Luke said the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians for after hearing Paul preach to them they searched the scriptures to see if his teaching was true (Acts 17:11).  If you are not looking up those scriptures, then you are missing an opportunity to certify the statements and merely accept a man’s teaching about God’s Word. There are many scriptures that warn of false teachers such as Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:11; Acts 20:30; 2 Cor.11:13; Gal. 2:4; 2 Peter 2:1 and 1 John 4:1.  Study these carefully and you will see that Jesus and his Apostles foretold of their coming and warned the faithful to not follow them by proving whether a teaching is false or not (1 John 4:1).  How are we to test these spirits and teachings?  There is no standard than God’s own Word which Jesus said is ‘truth’ (John 17:17).   Please read what Paul said in Galatians 1:7-9.  Do you realize what Paul said?   He said that there would be false teachers and they would pervert or change the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He went further and said that he, himself, could preach no other gospel than which he had preached and no angel could preach another gospel than which he had preached or no other man could preach another gospel than which he had preached without being cursed.  We must recognize that the Lord God will be the one to curse the person who teaches doctrines that are contrary to the Word of God.  Preachers can change the Word of God in three ways (1) by adding men’s doctrine to the Word, (2) substituting a teaching that replaces God’s Word and (3) by simply omitting parts of the Word (Revelation 22:18-18).  Please study my writing carefully and measure it by the Word because I do not want to be guilty of any of such manipulation of God’s Word.  We must desire His Word so we can follow Him.

Another Musick-al Note:    # 24

Ps. 147   Great is our Lord, and of great power; is understanding is infinite.

In other things God has been so very gracious to man:
More knowledge than man can achieve
More bounty than man can accumulate

NOW HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO SUCH A GOD AS THIS?                                                                          Gordon Musick

 Another Musick-al Note:   # 23

          This is a question exemplifying complete submission to our Lord and Savior.  The same thought is expressed in the song, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”.  Such questions and thoughts coming from a pure heart will be followed by deeds, actions and works which display a singular fidelity to the Lord Jesus Christ.  True Christians are uncommonly dedicated to the One who bought them from sin and who redeemed them from the eternal fires of hell.  How precious they must be in the sight of God and His Son, Jesus.  This question has been asked and the thought expressed by some Christians whose actions, deeds and works declare that they also added another phrase within their minds and hearts so that the question should have been, “What will you have me do Lord, that does not conflict with my desires?”  The declaration would be, “I’ll do anything you want me to do if I can have my own way.” There is no submission to the Lord with this spirit and when it is prevalent in any congregation, strife, wrath, hatred and division will result.  If the Lord is not exalted, honored and followed to the exclusion of all else, then we are not true disciples.  Jesus said that we must love Him more than father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister and even our own life in order to be His disciple. A Christian who allows personal desires to become so important to him that he ceases to do the work of the Lord is trying to serve God with reservations.  Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind that his service will be complete and without any reservation to fulfill the desires of the flesh.  By so doing, we will be pleasing in the sight of the Lord and be able to work in harmony with our fellow Christians.

Another Musick-al note:   #  22

        On Saturday, October 6, 2018 in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, at TAHKODAH camp, under fair skies and tall pine trees, friends and relatives watched as Rachel Wiseman and Ben Myatt exchanged wedding vows.  Their wedding brought the families of Randy and Rebecca Wiseman with Scott and Nelda Myatt together in celebrating the union of their children.

       Ben and Rachel had formulated the vows that they wished to be the center of their union.  Both had written them and read them before the gathering of family and friends.  Basing their vows upon the teaching and love of the Lord Jesus Christ they committed their lives to service to Him as well as to each other.  Their vows included the declaration of choosing each other above all others and that they would continue to live with this decision as long as they live.  Their declarations of love included being completely honest with one another, supporting one another and believing one another.  They included such things as never willfully hurting the other by speech or action and to have a forgiving spirit as well as correcting any wrong.  They vowed to never vilify or defame the other in speaking to one another or to others about any trait or mistake but to hold to the high ideals of Christian living.  Their goal was to carry out the way of truth given in 1 Corinthians 13 by being kind and lifting up one another in the love of Christ, rejoicing in their abilities, always believing the best of the other so that their mutual love would continue into old age should God so bless them.

      Knowing that trials, disappointments, losses and sadness would come to them as it has always come to others, they vowed to accept them and yet live through them as Christians in their reverence for God who has always blessed the righteous ones.  Their vows were high ideals but they have committed their hearts to continue to live in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

      May we all strive to have this devotion and purpose in our own marriages as this young couple have vowed to do.

Another Musick-al Note:   # 21

                A covenant is an agreement between two entities be it individuals, groups, or companies whether enemies or friends that is agreed to. Now I speak of a covenant between God who is pure, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent and man who is limited in power, knowledge and length of life on earth.  They are unequal to say the least.  Man has a propensity to sin while God cannot even be tempted to sin.  God has always initiated the covenant relationship with man because He knows what is best for man whom He created in His own image. 

      The covenant with Israel contained the Ten Commandments and with instructions regarding worship and daily living (Exodus 20 through Leviticus 27). Their response was, “All the words that the Lord has spoken, we will do and we will be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7)  God also gave many warnings of destruction should they turn aside to other gods and disobey His commands.  He stated that they would be His treasured possession, and they would be a holy nation of priests to Him. They were given a land and great blessings, even forgiving their sins.

      The New Covenant came through God’s Son, Jesus the Christ.  This covenant called for the love of man by demonstrating the greatest love of all – Jesus death on the cross to take away the penalty of the sins of all men (Hebrews 2:9).  That penalty was death (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23).  Being raised from the dead by the power of God, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).  To obey Jesus, we must repent of our sins, confess His name before men, be buried with Him in baptism and rise to walk in newness of life.  Thus we enter a covenant relationship with God when we believe and obey the Gospel of Christ.  God washes away our sins and gives us new life when we are baptized.  He adds us to Christ’s church (Acts 2:47), makes us His child (Galatians 3:26-27), frees us from Satan (Colossians 1:13) and gives us ability to live and serve Him in this life and anticipate an eternal life in His presence.  The faithful will also be separated from His wrath which is coming upon all the disobedient on the day when Jesus is revealed from heaven to be glorified by His Saints (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

Another Musick-al note:  # 20

                                              THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

     Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:18-19 “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.   Whoever will not listen to him will be brought into account for their disobedience.”  Peter revealed that Jesus was that Prophet (Acts 3:20-23).  John the Baptist testified that Jesus was That One (John 1:21-34).  The Hebrew writer stated that His authority included the ability to take away the Old Law and establish a New Covenant to save those who come to God by Him. (Hebrews 10:9-10). Peter declared that Jesus is the only one who has authority to save men from their sins (Acts 4:12). Jesus said that He is the ONLY way to the Father (John 14:6).  God said we must listen to Jesus His Son (Matthew 17:5). Jesus also said God has given all authority to him (Matthew 28:18). Since He has ALL AUTHORITY, then He has authority to give commands regarding remission of sins, entrance into His church, the organization of His church, the acceptable avenues of worshipping God, and how man is to live daily upon the earth.  No person has received authority from Christ to change His Will in any of these areas.  He has delegated authority to certain men known as elders (presbyters, bishops, pastors) that the church be led by His will today. Read Ephesians 4:12, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7.  These men are to tend the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1-3) so that no one will be lost. This is the only authority that any man has on earth today.  This means that no person, group of men, churches, conferences, elders or “authorities” of one sort or another have any authorization to make new and different religious laws, rules or regulations that change anything having to do with our salvation.  Should they do so and teach men to follow those rules and regulations, they are deceivers and will lead all who follow them into the abyss (Matthew 15:6-14).  No matter what church one may belong to, or what its leaders may say, if the teachings do not conform to what Christ said, as related by Him and His Apostles, that church and its leaders are deceivers.  It is wrong for an individual to stay in and support such false teachings for they do not lead to heaven (2 John 1:9-11).  We must not support and foster religious division, because God and Christ hate such actions.

 Another Musick-al Note:    # 19

      A small child in talking to his companion about the greatness of his father may say, “My daddy can fix anything” to give his friend an idea of how wonderful his father happens to be.  A great tribute to the relationship between father and son that has been developed through the years by painstaking effort on the part of the father in taking time to help the child in difficulties. Whether it be toys, dolls, dishes, bikes, scooters and cars, Dad knows what to do and is able to do it. It might not have been just like it was when new but it is repaired and the child receives it again with joy knowing that Dad “fixed” it.  Such a tribute should be on the lips of every Christian for we have a Father who can “fix” anything.  We so often fail to live correctly and thus sin and ruin our character and reputation, but God is able to “fix” us again so that character and reputation can be regained to be whole again.  God the Father is greater than our earthly fathers in that which has been repaired is better than it was before.  A life repaired is much stronger than it was before conversion.  A man’s faith, once repaired, is greater than it was before the period of unbelief.  A person’s service is more complete and masterful after God’s forgiveness from living in sin. Truly we should look to our heavenly Father as one who can “fix” anything.  Of course we are not speaking of physical things but of spiritual things.  The physical realm has been placed into the hands of man to work, conquer and use (Genesis 1:28).  God could and has on rare occasions manifested His power by physical manipulations of natural things but did so to enable man to believe.  John wrote that these things were written that we might believe (John 20:31).  God still expects man to work, conquer and use the things of the world by doing their best in life.  Our Father can “fix” anything.  Let us then take our cares, desires, grievances, heartaches and failures to Him and allow Him to “repair” our lives, give us strength, increase our faith, comfort our sorrows and guide us to an eternity with Him.

Gordon Musick

  Another Musick-al Note: #18      

                                          IT’S AN ENORMOUS JOB                                                           

          Would you be willing to accept a responsible position with a company that offers amazing benefits, unparalleled opportunities for work, satisfaction in accomplishment and co-workers who have the same goals and desires as you?  It sounds unbelievable doesn’t it?  Yet such a work is open for every man who will qualify for the position! This position is a place for WORK that will demand the very best of your thinking, much of your “spare” time for it demands “overtime” to accomplish all that would be required of you.  It will tax your strength, your zeal, your imagination and your patience for you will be working with people who have obeyed the Lord’s commands. For the most part, these people will help in any way they can, but some will challenge your authority, your judgment, your reasoning and maybe your sanity.  Some of these will also cause strife and discord among your workers, halting every program you seek to do.  A few will become bitter and leave yet continue to agitate those with whom you work, and then deny that they do so. These actions describe those Christians who do not submit to the Divine authority given the elders and become a great trial to good leadership.

          Are you still interested?  Then let me explain a little more. The work is the Lord’s work.  The position is the eldership.  The reward is eternal life.  The satisfaction comes when you see babes in Christ grow to maturity.  Your fellow-workers are fellow elders and fellow Christians.  Elders have the greatest responsibility of all in the church, for “They watch for the souls of men” (Hebrews 13:17).  We who are under their care should help them by willful submission to their guidance and not be in rebellion, that their work will be a joy to them.   Elders must pay careful attention to themselves and the church which they oversee for Jesus paid for it with His own blood. Their primary obligation is to ensure that none will be drawn away from Christ by worldliness, neglect, discouragement, false doctrines, hatred or any other thing. It would be a sad and somber end should an eldership fail in its primary task of protecting the flock.  Paul warned the early eldership lest any of them would become the reason the flock would fall from Christ (Acts 20:29-30).

          Thank God for dedicated and faithful men who serve as elders of the Lord’s church for they help us follow the Master. 

Musick-al note # 17

                           SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS ARE IN CHRIST

     Paul said in Ephesians 1:3 blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessing in Christ in heavenly places.”  This means that if one is to have remission of sins (Acts 22:16), the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), to be accepted by the Father (2 Corinthians 5:18-20), the right to call God his Father (Galatians 3:26) , the right to expect answer to prayer (John 15:16), to be protected from more severe temptations than he can bear(1 Corinthians 10:13), be protected from the wrath of God in the last day (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10) and gain eternal life (1 Peter 3:21), he must be in Christ (Galatians 3:27).  Christ adds all who obey Him to His body, the church (Eph. 1:22-23, Col 1:18).  This is the reason it is important to understand how to get into Christ, for salvation is only in Christ (Acts 4:12, 2 Tim. 2:10).  Romans 6:3-4 and Galatians 3:26-27 are very important verses concerning this subject.  All persons should memorize them.   In order to get into Christ, a person must (1) believe that God sent Him into the world (John 8:24), (2) repent of all sins (Luke 13:3,5), (3) confess His name before men (Matt 10:32-33), (4) be buried with Him in the water of baptism for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:17- 18, Acts 22:16), and (5) walk in newness of life as He directs (Romans 6:4, Titus 2:11-14).  This message is also known as ‘The Gospel’ (Romans 1:16, Romans 6:3-5, Romans 6:17-18) which we must obey to receive the blessings.

Gordon Musick