Why the Style of Worship Music Doesn’t Matter

Many people have an opinion on what style of music churches should play during praise and worship. Some claim hymns are the best; some like anything without a drum beat; some like anything with a drum beat. Some like smoke, lights, and contemporary music while others prefer traditional music and an organ.

I want to encourage you that no matter what style of music your church currently has, you can still connect with God.

The Key to Staying on Course

The Holy Ghost will bring guidance to your life through three primary ways: the inward witness, the voice of the human conscience, and the Holy Spirit speaking directly to you through an audible voice, visions, dreams, or prophecy. The key to staying on course and not getting deceived is not relying on any single one of these as a source.

Three Ways the Spirit Leads: The Voice of the Spirit

The third way to be led of the Spirit of God is found in Acts 10:19: “While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.” From time to time, the Holy Spirit will speak directly to you. The difference between His voice and the still, small voice on the inside is authority. The Holy Spirit’s voice is authoritative. It’s that sense of command inside you that is so strong that you almost look around. It is as though somebody said something to you. That’s the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking directly to you. He commands or speaks with authority only He can speak with that kind of jars you a little bit.

Three Ways the Spirit Leads: The Still, Small Voice

The second way we’re led of the Spirit of God is by what some ministers call “the inward voice.” This can also be referred to as the voice of the human conscience or the “still, small voice.” Let’s look at this in Romans 9:1.

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost….

The human conscience is that sense of right or wrong that comes to you based on this inward standard of values that tends to direct your decision-making process.

Three Ways the Spirit Leads: The Inward Witness

The Spirit of God leads us in three primary ways. The first and most common way is the “inward witness.” Romans 8:14 says:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

If you’re a son or daughter of God, then you are to be led by the Spirit of God. Verse 16 tells us the primary way that’s to take place:

The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

The Mistake of Making Fleeces

And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. (Judges 6:36–40)

Have you ever put out a fleece before God as Gideon did? A fleece is a set of circumstances that must be fulfilled exactly as you’d like to confirm God’s direction to you. “God, if You want me to do that, then please do this so I can know it’s really You. Then I’ll do it.” I can guarantee that if you try to receive direction by putting out a fleece, you’re going to get fleeced.

Being Led of the Spirit

How does the Holy Spirit lead us?

Many people don’t know the answer to this, yet it is one of the most important considerations for us as believers. So I want to show you some of the ways the Holy Spirit speaks to us in my next few blog posts.

The first thing to understand is where the Spirit’s leading is going to come from. John 14:23 says:

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

This is an interesting concept: you are going to become the habitation of not just the Holy Spirit. It says the Father and the Son. This is part of the Pauline revelation—Christ in you, the hope of glory.