Church Choir: A church within a church, made up of many of the
church's finest leaders ... the most likely place where a
majority will bond together in friendship and unity, as they bond
with the Lord.
In strengthening it's members, the entire church is strengthened.
And, as they become one in heart, soul, and purpose ... God has
promised His Spirit indwelling.
The entire direction of a church can be changed through its'
choir.
Dear Choir Members,
I want to write to you about the special abilities that the
Holy Spirit gives to each of you, for I don't want any
misunderstanding about them.
You will remember that before you became choir members, you
stayed at home during choir practice (watching TV). Not one of
you were singing a single note. But now you are a meeting people
who claim to sing messages from the Spirit of God. How can you
know whether they are singing for God or whether they are fakes?
Here is the test: no one singing by the power of the Spirit of
God can curse Jesus, and no one can sing, "Jesus is Lord," and
really mean it, unless the Holy Spirit is helping him.
Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is
the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are
different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are
serving. There are many ways in which God works in our lives,
but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us
who are His. The Holy Spirit displays God's power through each
of us as a means of helping the entire choir.
To some the Spirit gives the ability to sing soprano; others
may be especially good at second or alto, and this is His gift
from the same Spirit. To some He gives a special solo talent,
and to others the power to harmonize. He gives powers for
singing tenor, and to others the power to sing bass. He gives
someone else the power to select and direct our music - that it
is really the Spirit of God who is singing. Still another person
is able to operate our sound system, while others are given the
gift of playing musical instruments. It is the same and only
Holy Spirit who gives us all these gifts and powers, deciding
which each one of us should have.
The choir has many parts, but the many parts make up only
one choir when they are all put together. So it is with the
"choir" of Christ. Each of us is part of the one choir of
Christ. Some of us are sopranos or seconds, some are altos, some
are tenors and some are bass. But the Holy Spirit has fitted us
all together into one choir. We have been chosen into Christ's
choir by the one Spirit, and have all been given the same Holy
Spirit.
Yes, the choir has many parts, not just one part. If the
alto says, "I am not a part of the choir because I am not a
soloist," that does not make him any less a part of the choir.
And what would you think if you heard a youth say, "I am not a
part of the choir because the choir loft is running out of room?"
Would that make him any less a part of the choir? Suppose the
whole choir was a director, then who would sing? Or if the whole
choir just sang, who would play the instruments?
But that isn't the way God made us. He has many parts for
the choir and has put each part just where He wants it. What a
strange thing it would be if it only had one part! So He has
made many parts, but still there is one choir.
The alto can never say to the soprano, "I don't need you."
The choir can never say to the director, "I don't need you." And
some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are
really the most necessary. If one part suffers, all parts suffer
with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Now here is what I'm trying to say: all of you together are
one choir of Christ and each one of you is a separate and
necessary part of it.
Sincerely,
X
Paul
(Written by Paul, Chosen by God to be Jesus Christ's missionary,
and from brother Sosthenes. To: All Choir Members everywhere -
whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs.
I Co. 12, adapted for choir.)
® By Joyce C. Lock
.................................................................
About the Author:
Joyce C. Lock founded and maintains the email ministries
"Heavenly Inspirations"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and
"Share a Smile" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/ .
She also has a published e-book, "The Difference",
which can be purchased here:
http://www.theeaglesgarden.com/