Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth was, at times, very pointed. This church struggled with factions (chapter 1, verse 11), immorality (chapter 5), immaturity (chapter 3) and abuse of the Lord’s Supper (chapter 11). To be honest, certainly these are things we struggle with today. But one statement he makes in the 15th chapter can attribute to all these alignments. “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (I Corinthians 15:33)

As a young boy, my daddy kept a live trap line that would snare opossum, raccoons, squirrels and other small ‘critters.’ Each morning before going to school he would check his traps, and on occasion he would find a skunk. When that skunk would ‘leave its mark,’ daddy would go to school without being able to remove the after effects of his morning’s work. (In the 1940’s you took a bath every Saturday night, not Tuesday morning before school.) Needless to say, when he arrived at the school house, everyone knew ‘who’ he had been with. In true fatherly form my daddy left me with this nugget of truth…”Know this, if you’re going to run with the skunks, you’re going to stink.”

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, March 23, 2014

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Come, Thou Almighty King” – 19

A strong hymn of praise as we sing to our God. Asking Him to help us to sing and praise. Asking Him to come hear our prayer, and come and bless His people. These first two verses we’re asking for intersession and His marvels working in our lives. But the third verse is a focus of praise on His ‘sovereign majesty.’ Would that we daily…love and adore Him…

“O Come Let Us Adore Him” – 264

Picking up where the previous song leaves off we sing…“O come let us adore Him…we’ll praise His name forever…For He alone is worthy!” Lift your voice and join us in songs of praise!

“Night with Ebon Pinion” – no book

Night had fallen as Christ and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. In this song, notice the poetry as we sing of the dark wings of night (night with ebon pinon) settling over the valley (brooded o’er the vale). Each verse exhibits a scene in the garden where Jesus prayed. Especially we read verse 3, “Abba, Father, Father, if indeed it may, let this cup of anguish pass from Me I pray. Yet if it must be suffered, by Me, Thine only Son, Abba Father, Father, let Thy will be done.” Now read the scripture… “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36

“Ancient Words” – no book

“Holy words, ever true, changing me and changing you. We have come with open hearts, O let the ancient words impart.” How open are our hearts to God’s word? Do we just sing these words or do we truly understand and come ready to have God’s word imparted upon us?

“Bind Us Together” – 704

Sung since the mid-1970’s, this hymn has been asking God to keep us (His children) be more united. There is only one God, only one King (Jesus) and only one body (the church). Let’s focus on staying together and understand God is not divided…I Corinthians 1:10, “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

“We Will Glorify” – 578

As a ramp up to our lesson this morning we sing…“we will glorify the King of Kings, we will glorify the Lamb.” Written by Twila Paris in the 1980’s, this spiritual song has been the inspiration to many as we sing about God’s glory and majesty. He is the great I AM!

“Take Time to be Holy” – 731

Perhaps not your typical ‘invitation song’, we do sing this song of encouragement to each other. Encouraging each another to pray often (speak oft with thy Lord), read the Bible (feed on His word), fellowship with other Christians (make friends of God’s children) and help those who are less fortunate (help those who are weak). We’ll sing all three verses this morning as we strive to prepare ourselves for our heavenly home (to be ‘fitted for service above.’)

“Blest Be the Tie that Binds” – 711

This spiritual song was written in 1782 by John Fawcett, a preacher who was leaving his church home. This closing song echoes of the love we have for each other. Would that we truly feel pain when we part ways, but it seems more likely we’ll just say, “see you next week.” As God’s family, His children, we share a bond that is deeper than anything on this earth. But if you’re not careful, your friendship with the world will cause your ties with Christian brothers to weaken and eventually break. It’s kind of like running with the skunks, people will know you by ‘how you smell.’ So you see it is true, you really should…Be Careful Who Your Friends Are!