Lesson 78 November 2, 2003
Intro Review:
5:19-21 Expression of or accompanying result of being filled by the Spirit
Parallel passage in Col. 3:16
What is the direction, the focus of the action of all of these participles in our context and also Col 3:16??
Point: Since the actions described here are the result of believers being filled by the Spirit; does not this focus directed towards the Lord fit with the H/S's primary purpose of His ministry today?
Back to Eph. 5:19
Paul is not talking then here about private meditation but to believers in relation to one another.
Three types of music is noted; [same in Col 3:16]
1. psalms yalmosj This can refer to the OT Psalter; which was a perennial source of praise not just in Israel but also in the early church.
2. hymns humnosj Songs composed by early believers for the purpose of praise to God!
3. spiritual songs wv|dh pneumatikos, spiritual songs wv|dh, is a general word for songs; here when linked to pneumatiko,j it indicates a song with a doctrinal thrust.
* From the earliest days of the church, music has had a recognized part of Christian worship and praise;
Focus is to be on, praise and worship that edifies! Not just entertains or makes one feel good!
The second way in which the spirit-filled believers express themselves is "singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord."
** The point of vs:19 is praise and worship that edifies!
Observations on Worship!
1. True Worship is based on an understanding of the worth of God!
2. True worship by its very nature is always theo-centric!
3. True worship then is a positive response to revealed truth about God.
** Can see this I believe in the Praise Psalms; start with a command to praise; immediately follow it with a cause or reason for the praise.
Psalm 33 vs:1-3 are a call to worship; the command to praise.
The with vs:4 we find the cause for worship; the reason we ought to do it. (read vs:4-5)
Look also at Psalm 135 vs:1-4 are the call to worship; vs:5 begins the reason for it.
Point: Even the Great Creator, the God of the Universe does not ask for praise without giving us a rational reason why!
So true Worship is truth from the Word understood with an appreciative response being verbalized!
4. Question: Is Praise subjective or objective!
Valid praise - worship is never subjective, how I feel, but is objective, its always related to truth.
5. Praise is not fully realized until it becomes corporate.
- Notice Ps 34:1-3
Rem that an encounter with truth has at least 3 stages:
#1 comprehension stage; that's the thinking stage; where we hear and are learning what is being taught by a passage.
#2 Interaction stage: you see it, you comprehend it; now what do you do with it?
#3 Praise stage;
- point of overflow of appreciation;
5:20 This is a characteristic or if you will, an obligation that we have as a believer that is easier to talk about in the abstract than it is to actually practice.
The point Paul is making is that this kind of response is only possible of the spirit-filled believer!
A good example is in Acts 16 Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten with rods and then jailed;
What does this command represent in the life of the spirit-filled believer?
This ability to express thanksgiving always, in all things also indicates that we have a Romans 8:28 mentality!
Principle of Rom 8:28: Circumstance + truth [mixed] = good.
The attitude we are to have must result from understanding that God uses the adversities, the circumstances of life in such a way as to present situations in our lives where we're going to have to have to make choices.
Choices to mix that situation being faced with the DVPT that God in grace has made available to all who seek it; with the result that we are benefited as we produce divine good.
The reason that God is able to take this mess I'm in and work it together towards a good end, namely His glory, is that He is the Creator, the God of the universe!