Gathered church worship is our offering up together to God the Spiritual, devotional responses of which He alone is worthy.
—Pastor Mark Minnick
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
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This year, my church is reading through The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. For the first reading, we were asked to read until Christian knocks at the house of the Interpreter.
Based on the verse references that Bunyan provides, I have compiled the following texts of the verses in the order that their references appear in this reading. The only ones that I have omitted are references to entire chapters.
Having the texts of all the verses in this reading all in order in one place should help make this reading all the more profitable!
| Isa. 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. |
| Lk. 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. |
| Ps. 38:4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. |
| Hab. 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. |
| Acts 16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, |
| Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? |
| Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? |
| Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? |
| Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. |
| Heb. 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: |
| Job 16:21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! |
| Job 16:22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. |
| Ezek. 22:14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it. |
| Isa. 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. |
| Matt. 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? |
| Matt. 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: |
| Matt. 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. |
| Ps. 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. |
| 2 Pet. 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: |
| Lk. 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. |
| Gen. 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. |
| Jer. 20:10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. |
| 2 Cor. 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. |
| Rom. 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. |
| Lk. 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! |
| 1 Pet. 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, |
| Heb. 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. |
| Lk. 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. |
| Heb. 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. |
| Heb. 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. |
| Heb. 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, |
| Heb. 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. |
| Heb. 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. |
| Tit. 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; |
| Isa. 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. |
| Jn. 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: |
| Jn. 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. |
| Jn. 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. |
| 2 Tim. 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. |
| Rev. 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. |
| Matt. 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. |
| Isa. 15:8 For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim. |
| Rev. 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. |
| Rev. 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. |
| Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. |
| Isa. 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. |
| 1 Thess. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: |
| 1 Thess. 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. |
| Rev. 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; |
| Rev. 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. |
| Rev. 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. |
| Rev. 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: |
| Rev. 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. |
| Rev. 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. |
| Rev. 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. |
| Jn. 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. |
| 2 Cor. 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: |
| 2 Cor. 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. |
| 2 Cor. 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. |
| Isa. 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. |
| Jn. 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. |
| Jn. 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. |
| Rev. 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. |
| Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. |
| Ps. 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. |
| Isa. 35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. |
| Isa. 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. |
| 1 Sam. 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: |
| 1 Cor. 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; |
| Exod. 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. |
| Exod. 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. |
| Heb. 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) |
| Heb. 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: |
| Heb. 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. |
| 1 Jn. 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. |
| Gal. 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. |
| Lk. 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. |
| Matt. 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: |
| Matt. 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. |
| Heb. 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; |
| Heb. 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. |
| Mk. 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. |
| Jn. 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. |
| Matt. 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. |
| Lk. 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. |
| Gal. 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? |
| Gal. 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. |
| Gal. 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. |
| Gal. 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. |
| Gal. 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. |
| Gal. 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. |
| Gal. 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. |
| Gal. 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. |
| Ps. 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. |
| Matt. 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. |
| Jn. 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. |
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Friends, I’m looking for thoughtful feedback on the possible pros and cons of the following train of thought:
I have been studying the subject of the Bible and music intensely for the past twelve years. I have been working on a book on that subject for several years now.
Because I want to profit as many people as possible and as soon as possible with all my work in this area, I am considering disseminating the material of my book in a lengthy series of blog posts instead of an e-book or a printed book.
Doing it as a series of blog posts allows me to instantly make my work available all over the world and gives me total control of everything about how that material is formatted and does so at no additional cost to me. It also allows me to continually revise anything in my work on an instantaneous, ongoing basis.
It also removes inherent limitations that other formats have with what can be included (for example, printed books cannot provide live links to other articles on my site as well as on other sites; illustrations by necessity have many limitations that would not be true on a blog post).
Thoughts?
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
For the past 4 weeks, I have been teaching an adult SS class Written for Our Admonition: A Survey of the Old Testament at my church on the Latter Prophets. So far, we have covered Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, and Isaiah.
I have found the following 5 resources helpful in preparing to teach these classes.
Survey of the Old Testament by Paul N. Benware
How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
A Christian Survey of the Old Testament
The Bible Reader’s Companion: Your Guide to Every Chapter of the Bible by Lawrence O. Richards
The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis-Malachi by David O Dorsey
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
I am getting closer to finishing the first draft of my book, “The Battle for Kingdom Music: A Call to Worldwide Consecration”!
Here is the current layout of the book:
| Section | Page Numbers | Total Pages |
| Title Page | i | 1 |
| Preliminary | ii-iv | 3 |
| Table of Contents | v-xi | 7 |
| Introduction | 1-3 | 3 |
| Part I | 4-12 | 9 |
| Part II | 13-32 | 20 |
| Part III | 33-60 | 28 |
| Part IV | 61-76 | 16 |
| Conclusion* | 77 | 1 |
| Appendices | 78-104 | 27 |
The page counts are for 8.5×11 pages, font size 12. The total length is 42,527 words on 115 pages.
*I have not done very much with this section yet and plan to work on it a good bit more.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
In his work, “Music Through the Eyes of Faith,” Harold M. Best asserts the following:
When people say that rhythms, chords, or textures cause sexual license, violence, or drug abuse; whenever anybody—missionary or tribal person—says that certain kinds of music or rhythmic types are satanic, they are caught up in the same dilemma that Isaiah speaks of (chapter 44). There is really no difference between someone carving a god out of what otherwise is a piece of firewood and someone else who happens upon or makes a certain kind of music, expecting it to govern the actions of those hearing and using it.
—Harold M. Best, Music Through the Eyes of Faith, 48-49
I believe that Best is profoundly mistaken in what he says about “satanic music” through these statements. As a finite human, he has no capability to legitimately declare what he does concerning satanic music.
See my post Resources That Provide Answers to Key Issues Concerning CCM for much more biblical information about issues concerning what music God accepts in corporate worship.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
God has directed me to study what the Bible teaches about music for more than 12 years now. He has also led me for several years to work on writing my book The Battle for Kingdom Music: A Call to Worldwide Consecration.
I have taken this week off from work so that I can do at least 30 hours of work on my book and read the Psalms through for my sixth time this year.
After doing 16 1/2 hours since May 22, I may now be 95% finished with my first draft! I have also read Psalms 1-50 in the last three days.
Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
I have been studying what the Bible teaches about music for more than 11 years now. I have also been working for several years on writing my book The Battle for Kingdom Music: A Call to Worldwide Consecration.
On December 23, I began an extended time off from work. My goals for this time were to do at least 30 hours of work on my book and read the Psalms through twice while doing so to saturate my mind with God’s own thoughts about music.
This morning, I finished my second time going through the Psalms since December 22!
This afternoon, I finished working 30 hours on my book since December 23! God has given me tremendous progress on my book during this time!
It seems that I am getting close to having the rough draft of the book done. Lord willing, I hope to complete the book and have it published by September 2023.
Praise God for His faithfulness!
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
Tonight, I read a quote that I find very interesting:
4.) Rock music is a neutral force. It can be either good or bad, depending on how you use it.
This is an occult concept, not a Christian one. The witchcraft doctrine of “The Force” says that there is a neutral power within all of nature which can be directed by the person controlling it. For example, witchcraft can be either good or evil, depending on whether it’s white or black. Actually, both powers come from the same source — Satan. What does the Bible say? In Genesis 1:31, when God looked on all of His creation, He said, “Behold, it was very GOOD.” No neutral ground with God! According to “The Force” theory, good or evil is in the eye of the beholder. Thus, the concept of Christian Rock cannot be scripturally sound. C-Rockers are so desperate to defend their music, they have even resorted to the use of occultic principles in their vain attempts to do so.
–Jeff Godwin, Dancing with Demons: The Music’s Real Master, 233-234
Thoughts?
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
There is one rule we should never forget. Rock is Rock is Rock is Rock. Whether it’s called “Soft” Rock, “Acid” Rock, “Punk” Rock or “Christian” Rock, we are still dealing with music more ancient than the classics. Rooted in the Druid demon worship of Celtic England, and baptized in voodoo ceremonies of Africa and the Caribbean, Satan’s rock rules the world.
–Jeff Godwin, Dancing with Demons: The Music’s Real Master, 8
Please Note: My sharing of this quoted material does not mean that I endorse all the content of this work, all the views of the author of this work or all the content and views that he expresses in this or in any of his other works. It does not mean that I agree with everything that he says and holds in this work or anywhere else.
See my post Resources That Provide Answers to Key Issues Concerning CCM for much more biblical information about issues concerning what music God accepts in corporate worship.
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
