Day 5 - Week 53 - Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your hearts."

Everything about our relationship with God is heart-centered.  We can sing until our throats are sore, but if our hearts aren't involved, we aren't "singing and making music to the Lord."  If our hearts aren't 100% in agreement with the lovely notes and words bursting from our mouths, God isn't impressed.  God wants our hearts.

Think about all the verses that we've covered so far that affirm this... Romans 10:9-10,  Psalm 119:11, Deuteronomy 6:6, Hebrews 4:12, John 14:1, John 14:27, Proverbs 3:5, 2 Corinthians 9:7....these are all verses that deal with our hearts and making sure they are turned toward God.

I think one of Jesus' main points in his discussion with the Pharisees was to try to get them to see that no matter how well they kept the Law, and all of the additional add-on laws they had created, unless their hearts were aligned with their actions, they were not in true relationship with their Father.  Empty actions mean nothing to God, and actions done for man's approval really aren't what He is looking for from His children.   In Job 35:13, we are even told that words thrown up to God without sincere faith, are not regarded..."Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it."

The actions and praises that bring pleasure to God are those that are driven by our love for Him.  When God sees children that are doing His will because of their thankfulness and gratefulness for His grace and mercy extended toward them, and understanding that He is a loving Father designing and planning wonderful things for their future when we comply with His will...THEN I believe He is very pleased, and then, I think, we find the relationship with Him that not only He has desired, but that WE have desired all of our lives. 

Sing from your heart...speak from your heart....act from your heart...live from your heart...making sure that your heart has been given over to the One who loves you!

Day 4 - Week 53 - Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart."

I cannot say this verse without "singing in my heart" the words from one of my favorite spiritual songs, "His Eye is on the Sparrow." 

I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free!

Don't you think that when God hears those words coming out of a heart turned toward Him that He smiles?  When He hears those words, He knows that His child gets it...His child understands His deep love and the freedom that Christ died to give us. 

Are there phrases from psalms, hymns or spiritual songs that resonate in your head?  Do you have favorites that encourage you as you go through tough days?  I'd love to know what they are! 

I seem to keep coming back to the spirit of joy that we should have.  It seems to me that a joyless Christian (that should be an oxymoron!) would not be one that would spontaneously burst into song...even internally!  I know there are things that we, as Christians, should be deeply concerned about; I know that there are world issues that are so troubling; I know that there are times when it seems that nothing is going right, or according to the way we feel that God desires.  But we, as Spirit-filled Christians, need to remember that God is the Victor!  His plan does succeed...and there are parts of His plan that we just don't get.  Faith in His sovereignty and His overriding ability can enable us to be joyful in the midst of this crazy world. 

I'm thinking this morning of the people of southern Illinois (my birthplace) and praying that they are feeling God's arms of comfort around them in the middle of their chaos.  For today has to be one of the worst days of their lives - worse than yesterday, I believe.  Today the reality sets in - for some the reality of a lost home, for some the reality of a lost loved one.  In those times, can we even find a shred of joy? 

The only way I know to do that is to dwell on His words of comfort, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Or from David the Psalmist,

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the skies, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God? Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.  You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.   I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.  My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you have redeemed.  Psalm 71-19-23

Or to find the words of an old hymn...

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.



Or from a spiritual song of today...

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.

God understands our pain, and He certainly doesn't want a false joy, a smile pasted on when we want to cry.  He just wants to hear us affirm that we know He is still there, that He cares and that He loves us, and that, one day, we will wake and find that He has restored our joy, possibly greater than before.





Day 3 - Week 53 - Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart."

"Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs."

Have you ever wondered why Paul bothered to list three different types of worshipful encouragement?  He uses the same triplet in Colossians 3:16. (In fact, Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are the only verses that use the Greek word "humnos", hymns.)

Here is Robert Morgan's explanation, "Experts debate the differences among the three terms, but it makes sense to think of them in epoch terms.  Psalms are hymns from biblical history.  Hymns are those from Christian history.  Spiritual songs are expressions of worship that are more contemporary to our own generation.  Ephesians 5:19 makes a case for what's often called 'blended worship'."

Kind of makes sense to me, does it to you?  We are to come together as Christians and share psalms (biblically based songs), hymns (songs of our past, the great songs of faith, the "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "A Mighty Fortress is our God!" kind of songs), and spiritual songs (songs that come straight from our spirits - our songs).  God wants us to share Him in all manner.

Then the other thing I notice is that we are to "speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs", but we are to sing and make music "to the Lord" in our hearts.  So it seems to me that our actual, verbal, out loud singing is for the benefit of the congregation, while what is going on in our hearts is what God is gifted with. 

Have you ever been in a congregation where everyone is joyously singing?  It is beautiful!  And it is SO encouraging, because you know that you are bonded together with everyone in that room.  It is really a wonderful time of Christian unity as a spiritual family. Now that I have looked at this verse in this manner, it impresses upon me that this really is God-instructed for our benefit. 

And how can you be in that type of worshipful atmosphere and your heart not absolutely be on fire for the Lord?  That's what delights God...when He sees our hearts melted for Him with such love and devotion. 

I love corporate worship.  I love hearing the voices of my Christian brothers and sisters singing around me, verifying their faith in God Almighty, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit, three in One.  And I love it when in those moments, I know my heart is 100% owned by Him. 

Day 2 - Week 53 - Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart."

'Singing I go along life's road, praising the Lord, praising the Lord.  Singing I go along life's road, for Jesus has lifted my load."   Eliza E. Hewitt

The picture of Eliza doesn't quite look like a person that you would think wrote such joyous words, does it?  But you might need to know that Eliza spent most of her 69 (1851-1920) years as an invalid, suffering from serious spinal problems.  During those years she penned many hymns, among the best known are "Give Me Thy Heart, Says the Father Above," "When We All Get to Heaven," "Sunshine in My Soul," "Will there be any Stars in My Crown?" and "More About Jesus Would I Know."  So even though the picture we have of Eliza doesn't depict a stereotypical person of overflowing joy, the testimony she shares through the hymns she wrote tells us that she certainly did know and experience the joy that comes from a soul surrendered to the Holy Spirit of God.  The kind of joy that expresses itself no matter what the circumstances...stating "there is sunshine in my soul today, more glorious and bright", from a bed of misery; the kind of joy that looks beyond life's limitations to when "we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!"  Yes - Eliza's hymns continue to testify that a soul filled with the Spirit sings no matter what!

Some years ago, I went to bed to the sound of a bird still singing.  I went to bed and thought about that bird, and about my life, and about the way I live.  Throughout the night, I would wake and think and by morning the words below had been put together in my mind...I still like to think about this poem.  I hope you can enjoy its words as well...

Night Song

Crawling in bed, I hear a bird singing.
Unusual, I think, a bird singing so lovely,
so clearly, in the dark night sky.
Doesn't it realize that the time for birds
to sing is in the bright light of day?
But this bird continues to sing - not
allowing the darkness to stifle it's song.
Because this bird's song cannot be contained.

And I think of the song inside of me -
the song that I only sing when conditions are right
- when light is shining and those around me are receptive.
The song, that when darkness surrounds me, I keep inside of me
- afraid to allow my song to cut through the blackness of the night.
And I resolve to sing like this bird, to be unusual in the darkness.
I wake in the morning, the bird is still singing.

Thinking about Eliza, and rethinking the night-singing bird, I realize that the words I put together really are saying, "Let His Spirit sing!"  No matter where, no matter when, no matter who is my audience, never restrict His joy from shouting out from my life.  It doesn't have to be in the form of an actual musical song...probably more times it will be in the form of joy when joy doesn't make sense.  Courage in the face of the enemy.  Peace in the middle of the storm. 

I think all of those behaviors come together in such a perfect harmony that God hears it as the most beautiful song coming from our hearts.  For we are blending our voices with His.

Day 1 - Week 53 - It's Sunday!

Sundays!  Aren't they wonderful?  Today we attended our wonderful Bible study group, the Peacemakers, at Hillside Christian Church.  Jim McKee, our teacher, did such a great job delving into very difficult passages of Hebrews.  Passages that create lots of discussion and questions.  But when you have a class of sincere Christians, just trying to understand God's Word and its impact on us and the way we live our lives, and an absolutely dedicated teacher leading us through the Word, then no matter if there are differing backgrounds, opinions, or conclusions, we can study in an atmosphere of Christian love and acceptance.  I just can't urge you enough to join with other Christians in the study of God's Word.

Then I got to have the extreme pleasure of sharing communion with four of my favorite ladies at the Arbors Residential Care Home.  Wanda, Julianna, Betty and Elizabeth just always bring such joy to my heart.  They inspire me with their smiles as they face each day with faith and trust in their Lord.  How good God is when He allows us to make friendships with people we never saw coming into our lives, but who come just the same and make our lives sweeter and more meaningful.

Now it's Sunday evening, and it's time for a wonderful new verse in our section of the Holy Spirit's role in our lives.  You got this past week's verse down...Ephesians 5:18, "And don't be drunk on wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Holy Spirit."  I can't tell you how many times this week I have said this verse over in my head, asking God to fill me completely with His Spirit, to rid me of anything that might restrict His presence in my life.  I want Him, more than any thing else, to fill my life.

So our review....

Promises of God (10)

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 3:-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.

Obedience (10)
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle word turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath."

The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
and the very next verse...

Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart."

Actually, we're going to memorize Ephesians 5: 18, 19 and 20, just to let you know ahead of time!  These three verses convey to us the reality of daily Christian living when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Did you ever think of singing as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit?  Well our verse seems to imply just that, doesn't it?  Robert J. Morgan puts it this way, "As we live in yielded obedience and faith, we're filled with His Spirit, living under His influence.  The first and most natural by-product is a song in our hearts."

Sing!  If not out loud, within your heart.  For when you sing, you can't help but smile...and when you're smiling, someone is sure to ask you why!  And then...always be ready to give the reason for the hope that is within you!