Of course it's ok sing songs written by professionals,  sung by professional singers and performed by professional musicians  - people other than ourselves.  It's scriptural  - after all, Ephesians tells us to speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs but notice the second half of Ephesians 5:19 - singing and making melody IN YOUR HEART to The Lord - so taken in context, "speaking to yourselves" could mean we, each of us individually,  are to sing songs WE'VE made up - to US, well, to the Lord who resides in us.

The problem with going to church and letting hand-picked professionals lead us in singing -with them picking the songs and we obediently singing them, is that we're disobeying scripture.  We tell ourselves "I'm no singer, song writer or musician. Au contraire! The greatest psalmist who ever lived resides in you! The Holy Spirit! He's full of amazing lyrics and melodies He'd love to share with you! 

It's the same with teaching. We trust that to the "professionals" - those who have gone to a Bible College", or to those with the most experience - the elder who's taught Wednesday night Bible study for the last thirty years but again I remind you - the source of all wisdom and knowledge abides in you! The greatest teacher of all wants to share amazing insights and nuggets of revelation we've never heard before that will delight us all! The pastor who went to Bible School unfortunately limits himself to what he was taught there by men, some of it, sadly,  false doctrine  - even truth, if void of the Holy Spirit's anointing,  can avail us little,  especially when it's spoken from a position of pride. It can do more harm than good! The Pharisees were in just such a position  - taking knowledge,  authority and power from one another  - giving their blessing only to those they approved of - those who submitted themselves to THEM.  When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived they were UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN, THEY MARVELED AND THEY TOOK NOTICE OF THEM, THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

We needs lots more "unlearned and ignorant" men and women teaching,  praising and prophecying in the Body of Christ today - the only qualification we should look for is that "they have been with Jesus".

This truth applies to prophecy too - we respect and honour the prophets of God - we thank God for them but every single saint has both the calling and the anointing available to them to prophecy.  "EVERYONE OF YOU HATH" should be the mantra we live by - "EVERYONE of you has a psalm, has a doctrine,  has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation". Remember to "desire spiritual gifts BUT ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHECY" - do not exclude those not recognized by man or men, rather accept those recognized by God - full of the Holy Spirit  - moving in love.

- Apostle Chris