“When you assemble [i.e. church], each one has a psalm, has a teaching...” (1 Cor 14:26)

“we will devote ourselves to prayer” (Ac 6:4)

Obviously singing is a gift because it is listed along with several other gifts that were to be used in the very first Christian assemblies. For example, in his greater context about spiritual gifts, which starts in 1 Corinthians 12:1, Paul concluded, saying, “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble [i.e. church], each one has a psalm, has a teaching [a gift], has a revelation [a gift, specifically prophecy], has a tongue [a language gift], has an interpretation [a gift]. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor 14:26). Therefore, singing psalms in church is a gift. David had this gift. For example, “Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, The man who was raised on high declares, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel, The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me” (2 Sam 23:1).

Evidently prayer is also a form of service or edification to the body of Christ. For example, when the apostles were faced with either serving food to neglected widows or serving the word of God to the church, they desired that other reliable members serve the widows so that they themselves could focus on the word of God and prayer. “Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word’ ” (Ac 6:1-5). Anna also was devoted to prayer with fasting. “She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers” (Lk 2:37). At any time of the day or night, prayer is way to serve the Lord and His people, especially with fasting, for some things should be done with prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21; Ac 13:2; Ac 14:23).

A spiritual song appeals to the spirit of a person, but a sensual song appeals to the flesh, the body. So a spiritual song is the opposite of a sensual song. Of course, some songs are riding the fence, they are not purely spiritual and not purely sensual, they are both. They are double-minded, double-tongued, tainted and impure and unfit to be called a spiritual song. However, Paul said that we should be “speaking to one another in... spiritual songs” (Eph 5:19).

You must understand something here. Jesus said that “sensuality” (fleshliness) is “evil” (Mk 7:21-23). Paul said that it is “evident” (obvious) that “sensuality” is a work “of the flesh” (Gal 5:19) and he concluded that those who practice it “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21). It is obvious, especially with the advent of rock and roll, that many worshipers practice a form of sensuality with the music that they use in their day to day life and in their church [sensuality is not only loving, touchin, squeezin as a popular song expressed, it is not only revealing dress, like at today’s beaches, etc., but is also a way of singing].