I Corinthians 14:26 - “How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

Ephesians 5:17-21 - “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord: Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

These scriptures instruct us in HOW to be filled with the Spirit; by letting the song of the Lord fill your heart with music of worship and praise.

Colossians 3:16 - “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

I Corinthians 14:15 - “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”

Romans 15:9 - “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.”

Paul is quite possibly referring to Psalm 18:49 here. The idea of music in praise, that others might know of God’s glory, is a common theme in the Psalms. Psalm 40:3 says, “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” The ungodly will hear the song of the redeemed and desire God for themselves.

Hebrews 2:12 - Christ singing in the midst of the church, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” Zephaniah 3:17 speaks to us of the action of God in our midst, “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy (he will delight in you); he will rest in his love (he will still your soul with his love), he will joy over thee with singing.”

James 5:13 - “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing praises.”

Acts 16:25,26 - “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

Rev 5:9 - “And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

In the early centuries of the church, it is recorded that music played a vital role in expressing praise, and it should be noted that this was a time when many were born into the church. Tertullian, who lived in the second century, reports that early Christian worship was sometimes marked by spontaneous outbursts of praise on the part of individual worshipers. He also records that when a believer was invited to sing a song of praise, he might choose something either taken from scripture or of his own composition (from E.E. Ryden, The Story of Christian Hymnody, pgs. 6-7; Phil Kerr, Music in Evangelism). It is apparent here and from Scriptures already noted that early Christian church worship was marked by Holy Spirit-anointed worship, with the fresh inspiration of new songs.

Around the fourth century, more elaborate forms of worship became the trend, more structured, formal, etc.; the personal experience of worship was stressed much less, and finally around 590—604 A.D., congregational participation in the music of worship was dispensed with. But God is restoring His song in the church once again in this day.