Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Aug. 27, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE GOD OF HARMONY

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Text: Ecclesiastes 3:11

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Introduction: “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time.” The theme of our scripture reading is that there is a time for every thing, and that God has made everything beautiful in its time.

I want to bring a message to you tonight called, “The God of Harmony.”

When things work together well, they are said to be HARMONIOUS. Harmony is the combination of parts into a pleasing or orderly whole.

The difference between classical art and modern art is harmony. Classical art has harmony; modern art lacks harmony. The difference between classical music and rock music is harmony. Classical music has harmony, not only of sound, but also of volume and of beat. Most modern music lacks harmony. There may be some harmony of sound, but not of volume and of beat. Much modern music is violent in its composition. This is partly due to the fact that 99 percent of music today is African, even if it is called rock music or if it is called country-western music.

When Moses and Joshua descended from the mount, they discovered that the children of Israel, who had interbred with the Africans of Egypt, had fallen into the African culture. They had an African messiah (the golden calf), African morals (they were dancing naked), an African mentality (rebellion against God’s authority), and an African music. Of this African music, it was so violent in its nature that as Joshua heard it from afar off, he mistook it for something else:

Exodus 32:17-18 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

The difference between an intelligent mind and an insane mind is harmony. A crazy person’s mind does not harmonize its thoughts.

The opposite of harmony is disorder.

Harmony is peaceful; disorder is confusing and restless. This is true of harmonious versus disorderly art, music, discussion, or architecture.

God is a God of order. As such, He is THE GOD OF HARMONY.

There are many evidences of God’s harmony, of His order.

I. HIS HARMONY IS SEEN IN THE DESIGN OF A HUMAN

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Psalms 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

A. In its construction

B. In its composition – 1 Thessalonians 5:23

C. In its conversion

The soul is saved.
The spirit is born again.
The body remains unchanged until the Rapture.

II. HIS HARMONY IS SEEN IN THE DESIGN OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

A. The Bible is harmonious in its arrangement

It has two testaments – Old and New
The Old Testament has 39 books.
39 is 3 x 13.
3 is the number of construction or composition.
13 is the number of sin, rebellion, and Satan.
The New Testament has 27 books. 27 is 3 x 9. 9 is the number of fruitfulness.
The last word of the 39th book of the Old Testament is “curse.”
The gospels record the foundation of the church. The book of Acts records the forming of the church. The epistles record the functions of the church. Revelation records the future of the church!

B. The Bible is harmonious in its arguments

It teaches law and grace.
It teaches heaven and hell.
It teaches salvation and service.
It teaches grace and truth.
It teaches strength and beauty.
It teaches the goodness and the severity of God.

C. The Bible is harmonious in its applications

Applications of people – Jew, Gentile and church of God
Applications of periods – dispensations
Applications of purpose – each book

III. HIS HARMONY IS SEEN IN THE DESIGN OF THE HOME

God DOES have a design for the home:

Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

A. God has harmonious ingredients for the home

The head of the home – the man
The helper in the home – the wife
The heirs to the home – the children

B. God has harmonious instructions for the home

Husbands, love your wives – Eph. 5:25
Wives, obey your husbands – Eph. 5:22-24
Children, obey your parents – Eph. 6:1

IV. HIS HARMONY IS SEEN IN THE DESIGN OF THE HOUSE OF GOD

Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

A. God’s people should function as pieces of a building

B. God’s people should function as parts of a body

C. God’s people should function as people in a brotherhood