Subject: WHEN SILENCE SPEAKS LOUDLY
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Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:54:49 -0600

THE SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES

(WHEN SILENCE SPEAKS LOUDLY)

-Introduction

-Quick review of previous lessons:

-God’s
patterns - God has established patterns for order and cohesiveness.  They
are

authoritative and binding.  We must conform to them.

-God’s
pattern for N.T. worship.

-Lord’s Supper - when instituted, when to partake, emblems, purpose,
etc.

-Crucifixion - reminder of how much Jesus suffered for us

-Singing - Sing to God and to one another.  God has specified
singing.  Therefore, all

other options are eliminated.

-catalog example

-Singing is an issue of authority.

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

silence of the scriptures speaks loudly
and helps us to determined what is and isn’t authorized.

-Let’s begin by looking in the book of
Hebrews.

-Remember the overall theme of Hebrews – Jesus and the Gospel are superior,
preeminent to

Moses and the Law.  There are a number of ways the writer of Hebrews
demonstrates this,

including appeals to
silence.

-Hebrew
Examples

-Heb 7:11-17

-vs 14
– “of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood”

-What
is the point?  Since nothing was said of those from the tribe of Judah
serving as priests,

they were unauthorized to do so.

-Deut
17:9, 18;  18:1; Num 1:50-51

-The
point:  We know from the standpoint of silence, that not even Jesus could
have served as

a
priest under the Law.  Therefore, there had to be a change of Law (Heb
7:12)

because
Jesus is our High Priest (Heb 4:14).  Silence speaks loudly.

-Heb 1:1-5

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

writer
appeals to silence.

-vs 5 – “For unto
which of the angels said he at any time…” – The point is…He didn’t.

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

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

-Again, silence
speaks loudly.

-Nadab and
Abihu

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

-vs 1 –  “which God commanded them
not”

-NAS –
“which He had not commanded them”

-God
had specified the manner and method in which offerings were to be made to
Him.

-He
said nothing about the manner in which Nadab and Abihu made their
offering.  Therefore,

it was unauthorized.

-NIV – “and they offered unauthorized fire”

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

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

-Silence – Permissive or
Prohibitive?

-Col 3:17

-Some say that silence authorizes us to make our
own determinations – permissive.

-I think these previous passages show that the
silence restricted that authority – prohibitive.

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

-Heb
10:25, Acts 20:7 – We are to gather together but it is not specified where – a
building,

a house, a barn….? – permissive

-Acts
20:7 specifies the day of the week when we are to worship but not the
time.

-Eph
5:19, Col 3:16 – We are to sing.  With songbooks?  Songs we have
memorized?  All

four stanzas or just the 1st, 2nd and last?

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

silence is
prohibitive.

-“Thou are my
Son…” (Heb 1:5) was specifically spoken to Jesus.

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

-The specific
instructions for offerings were given.  Nadab and Abihu didn’t follow
them.

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

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

specific instructions
and all other silence would be prohibitive.

-Singing

-Eph 5:19, Col
3:16

-Here God specifies
that we are to sing with “melody in [our] hearts to the Lord”.

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

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

Christians to
use mechanical instruments in worship here on Earth.

-God has specified
“singing”.  Therefore, the NT silence is prohibitive.

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

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

unacceptable.

-Summary and Invitation

-Col 3:17

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

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

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

-Indeed, silence speaks
loudly.

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

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

-God has specified what He wants.  Any additions violate the silence of the
scriptures.

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

-Let’s see what
God’s word specifies:

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

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

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

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

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

Date:  January 8,
2006

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