WHEN SILENCE SPEAKS LOUDLY

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THE SILENCE OF THE = SCRIPTURES

(WHEN SILENCE SPEAKS = LOUDLY)

-Introduction

-Quick review of previous = lessons:

&nbs= p; -God=92s=20 patterns - God has established patterns for order and = cohesiveness. They=20 are

&nbs= p; = ; = =20 authoritative and binding. We must conform to them.

&nbs= p; -God=92s=20 pattern for N.T. worship.

&nbs= p; = ;=20 -Lord=92s Supper - when instituted, when to partake, emblems, purpose,=20 etc.

&nbs= p; = ;=20 -Crucifixion - reminder of how much Jesus suffered for us

&nbs= p; = ;=20 -Singing - Sing to God and to one another. God has specified=20 singing. Therefore, all

&nbs= p; =20 other options are eliminated.

-catalog example

-Singing is an issue of authority.

-In this morning=92s lesson, we=92ll = consider the=20 silence of the scriptures. I think we=92ll see that the =

silence of the scriptures = speaks loudly=20 and helps us to determined what is and isn=92t authorized.

-Let=92s begin by looking in the = book of=20 Hebrews.

&nbs= p;=20 -Remember the overall theme of Hebrews =96 Jesus and the Gospel are = superior,=20 preeminent to

&nbs= p; =20 Moses and the Law. There are a number of ways the writer of = Hebrews=20 demonstrates this,

including appeals to = silence.

-Hebrew=20 Examples

-Heb 7:11-17

&nbs= p; -vs 14=20 =96 =93of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning = priesthood=94

&nbs= p; -What=20 is the point? Since nothing was said of those from the tribe of = Judah=20 serving as priests,

&nbs= p; =20 they were unauthorized to do so.

&nbs= p; -Deut=20 17:9, 18; 18:1; Num 1:50-51

&nbs= p; -The=20 point: We know from the standpoint of silence, that not even Jesus = could=20 have served as

&nbs= p; = ; a=20 priest under the Law. Therefore, there had to be a change of Law = (Heb=20 7:12)

&nbs= p; = ; because=20 Jesus is our High Priest (Heb 4:14). Silence speaks = loudly.

-Heb 1:1-5

-In this=20 passage, the focus is on showing that Jesus is higher than the = angels. To=20 do so, the

= writer=20 appeals to silence.

-vs 5 = =96 =93For unto=20 which of the angels said he at any time=85=94 =96 The point is=85He = didn=92t.

-This was only said in regards = to=20 Jesus. (Ps 2:6-7, Acts 13:33, Heb 5:5)

-Jesus is higher than the angels = because=20 God never said this to an angel =96 silence.

-Again, silence=20 speaks loudly.

-Nadab and=20 Abihu

-Perhaps one of the best known = accounts of=20 silence speaking loudly is Lev 10 - Nadab & Abihu.

-vs 1 =96 =93which God = commanded them=20 not=94

&nbs= p; -NAS =96=20 =93which He had not commanded them=94

&nbs= p; -God=20 had specified the manner and method in which offerings were to be made = to=20 Him.

&nbs= p; -He=20 said nothing about the manner in which Nadab and Abihu made their=20 offering. Therefore,

&nbs= p; =20 it was unauthorized.

&nbs= p; = ;=20 -NIV =96 =93and they offered unauthorized fire=94

-Note the results. It was = unauthorized and=20 therefore unacceptable to God.

-Rom 15:4 - And again, silence = speaks=20 loudly.

-Silence = =96 Permissive or=20 Prohibitive?

-Col 3:17

-Some say that silence authorizes us = to make our=20 own determinations =96 permissive.

-I think these previous passages = show that the=20 silence restricted that authority =96 prohibitive.

-However, there are instances in = which silence=20 is permissive:

&nbs= p; -Heb=20 10:25, Acts 20:7 =96 We are to gather together but it is not specified = where =96 a=20 building,

&nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20 a house, a barn=85.? =96 permissive

&nbs= p; -Acts=20 20:7 specifies the day of the week when we are to worship but not the=20 time.

&nbs= p; -Eph=20 5:19, Col 3:16 =96 We are to sing. With songbooks? Songs we = have=20 memorized? All

&nbs= p; = ; = =20 four stanzas or just the 1^st, 2^nd and = last?

-I hope we can see the = difference. When=20 God specifies one thing and is silent toward all else, that

silence = is=20 prohibitive.

-=93Thou = are my=20 Son=85=94 (Heb 1:5) was specifically spoken to Jesus.

-The = role of=20 priests was specified to the Levites, not those of Judah.

-The = specific=20 instructions for offerings were given. Nadab and Abihu didn=92t = follow=20 them.

-What if Heb 10:25 said, =93Do not = forsake the=20 assembling of yourselves together at the church

building = at 10:00 a.m.=20 where you sing out of songbooks=94? We would then have some more =

specific = instructions=20 and all other silence would be prohibitive.

-Singing

-Eph = 5:19, Col=20 3:16

-Here God = specifies=20 that we are to sing with =93melody in [our] hearts to the = Lord=94.

-So, = where is there any=20 authority given for the use of mechanical instruments in = worship?

-There is = not a verse=20 in the New Testament scriptures which authorizes New Testament =

= Christians to=20 use mechanical instruments in worship here on Earth.

-God has = specified=20 =93singing=94. Therefore, the NT silence is = prohibitive.

-Therefore, based upon=20 the pattern set form in the scriptures in regards to silence, we can=20 know

= wholeheartedly=20 that the use of mechanical instruments in worship is unauthorized and=20 therefore

=20 unacceptable.

-Summary and Invitation

-Col = 3:17

-Deut = 4:2, Prov 30:5-6,=20 Rev 22:18-19

-We must = strive to=20 abide by that which God has authorized.

-Hopefully, this lesson=20 has helped you to realize the very important role of silence.

-Indeed, = silence speaks=20 loudly.

-Just = think of all=20 the different forms of worship being taught and practiced around the=20 world.

-So much = of what=20 is done under the label of worship is in violation of the principle of=20 silence.

&nbs= p; =20 -God has specified what He wants. Any additions violate the = silence of the=20 scriptures.

-And, = think about how=20 many different teachings there are in terms of the plan of = salvation.

-Let=92s = see what=20 God=92s word specifies:

-Believe = (John=20 8:24, John 3:16), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Acts 2:38,=20

Luke 13:3,5), Be Baptized (Mark = 16:16,=20 Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Gal 3:26-29)

-We are = then to=20 walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4) putting off the old ways of sin and = putting=20

= on the new=20 ways of obedience to God=92s word (Eph 4:22-24).

-Is that = what you have=20 done and/or continue to do?

Date: January 8,=20 2006

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