Rightly Divided — Mid-Acts Dispensational View
📖 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” (Eph. 5:19)

🔥 INTRODUCTION

Music is powerful—it can teach truth or stir flesh, edify the spirit or excite emotions.
In this dispensation of grace, music must be rightly divided, rightly ordered, and rightly directed to Christ.
📌 Music is not neutral.
📌 Music must submit to doctrine.
📌 Music must glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.

🎼 MELODY — The Message of Music

1️⃣ MELODY THAT MAGNIFIES TRUTH
(Words matter in the Body of Christ)

🔹 Carries the Word – lyrics teach theology (Col. 3:16)
🔹 Engages the Mind – truth before feeling (Rom. 12:2)
🔹 Centers on Christ – not self-expression (2 Cor. 4:5)
📖 Verse: Colossians 3:16

2️⃣ MELODY THAT MINISTERS DOCTRINE
(Pauline truth must lead)

🔹 Teaches grace, not law (Rom. 6:14)
🔹 Explains salvation clearly (1 Cor. 15:1–4)
🔹 Builds faith, not confusion (Rom. 10:17)
📖 Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:8

3️⃣ MELODY THAT MOVES THE SPIRIT (SOUL)
(Not fleshly manipulation)

🔹 Touches inwardly, not carnally
🔹 Encourages worship, not performance
🔹 Reflects thanksgiving, not theatrics (Eph. 5:20)
📖 Verse: Ephesians 5:19

🥁 RHYTHM — The Motion of Music

4️⃣ RHYTHM THAT MUST BE RESTRAINED
(Flesh responds fastest)

🔹 Stimulates the body naturally
🔹 Can awaken carnal desire (Gal. 5:16)
🔹 Must be governed by doctrine
📖 Verse: Galatians 5:17

5️⃣ RHYTHM THAT MUST BE REGULATED
(Order over obsession)

🔹 God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33)
🔹 Rhythm must support, not dominate
🔹 Emotion must submit to truth
📖 Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:40

6️⃣ RHYTHM THAT MUST BE RIGHTLY DIRECTED
(Toward edification, not excitement)

🔹 Moves the body without mastering it
🔹 Encourages reverence, not rebellion
🔹 Keeps worship focused on Christ
📖 Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:12

🎶 HARMONY — The Meaning of Music

7️⃣ HARMONY THAT BALANCES ALL THINGS
(Truth + Order + Beauty)

🔹 Blends melody and rhythm
🔹 Prevents extremes
🔹 Maintains spiritual balance
📖 Verse: Ecclesiastes 3:1

8️⃣ HARMONY THAT MIRRORS GOD’S ORDER
(Unity without confusion)

🔹 God works in unity (Eph. 4:3–6)
🔹 Music should reflect spiritual order
🔹 Harmony supports doctrine
📖 Verse: Ephesians 4:3

9️⃣ HARMONY THAT MAGNIFIES THE LORD
(The final purpose of music)

🔹 Not entertainment-centered
🔹 Not performer-centered
🔹 Christ-centered worship alone
📖 Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:31

🏁 CONCLUSION

🎵 Melody teaches the truth
🥁 Rhythm touches the body
🎶 Harmony glorifies the Lord
⚠️ When rhythm rules → flesh dominates
⚠️ When melody is lost → doctrine disappears
✔️ When harmony reigns → Christ is exalted

📢 CALL TO ACTION

🔥 Examine what you sing
🔥 Evaluate what moves you
🔥 Ensure Christ—not emotion—is exalted
👉 Sing with understanding
👉 Worship with discernment
👉 Glorify God in spirit and in truth
📖 “Rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15)

✨ FINAL THOUGHTS

✅ Music is a tool, not a throne
✅ Doctrine must lead, not feelings
✅ Christ must be glorified, not performers

🎼 MELODY with TRUTH
🥁 RHYTHM with CONTROL
🎶 HARMONY with CHRIST
ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. 🙏📖