Sermon Cloud

The Spirit and Singing

• Thomas Merton (No Man is an Island) “We receive enlightenment only in proportion as we give ourselves more and more completely to God by humble submission and love. We do not first see, and then act: we act, then see… and that is why the man who waits to see clearly before he will believe, never starts on the journey.”

MEANING: Transformation doesn’t happen by knowing more, but action.
• Knowledge alone does nothing; actually, it makes things worse.
• Knowledge ←→ Spiritual Disciplines ←→ Transformation.

o FREQUENCY: Prayer, Scripture, $$$
• SINGING [100+ (Psalms) COMMANDED!]
• PEOPLE CHANGE THROUGH MUSIC!
o Totalitarian govt control music.

 Well Known: Ephesians 5:17-21, “17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Of 5 Participles, 3 Music + Singing (Filled with Spirit)

1. Thanksgiving,
2. Submitting
3. Addressing one another in …

• Psalms (Psalmois): plucking strings→ Psalms sung with stringed instruments.

• Hymns (Humnos): Poetry dedicated to God, recited or sung.

• Song (Hodais): Simply, singing.

4. Singing

5. Making melody (composing) to the Lord with your heart.

• HOLY SPIRIT→ SINGING! THUS, If you won’t sing, He won’t change you.

 QUESTION: Why is music so powerful?
(Bible) Music + Singing is creation’s spontaneous acknowledgment of God.
(CREATION) JOB 38:6-7, “4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
(UNTIL REDEMPTION) Romans 8:21-23, “21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

• BTW: Body is a Wonderland, Secular music is always spiritual.

(RESTORATION) Psalms 96:11-13, “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.”

 THIS EXPLAINS: Why Paul uses the analogy of drunkenness.
ANSWER: There are clear similarities and differences between the two.

ACTS 2:11-13, “11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Similarities between drunks and Spirit filled Xns.
• Happy ←→ Less worries
• Other people look more attractive, YOU feel more attractive (Boldness)

Differences → ML Jones:
• Alcohol = depresses. Happy, joy by making reality LESS REAL.
• Spirit = stimulates. Happy, joy, by making things MORE REAL.
o Music is a witness to the reality that life is not random. That this is not an accident that there is a God of peace, love and joy behind everything, including your life.

APPLICATION SECTION
QUESTION: What is the dynamic between music + being filled with the Spirit?
ANSWER: Singing is both a result + means to the filling of the Spirit?

 • Vs.18 Grammar: “…but be filled with the Spirit…”= Imperative + Passive + ONGOING
o BOTH COMMAND + CONSEQUENCE
o BEGS THE QUESTION: Is singing the RESULT/ MEANS of the HS filling?
• Is singing the result from being filled of the Holy Spirit
• Is singing the means of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
o BOTH! U don’t praise just ‘cuz u love God, u praise in order to love God.
o C.S. Lewis, “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are, the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.”

o Explains DEUTERONOMY.31:19, “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.
o God KNOWS we have rebellious hearts + Gives us a song!

QUESTION: Where do I begin?
ANSWER: The Gospel

 • Colossians 3:16-17, “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

o BOTH PRODUCE THE SAME THING… what’s His Word?

• Zephaniah 3:17-20 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing…