#1471. Psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit (12/3/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God.

From Ephesians 5:19, we reflect on how corporate worship leads to being filled with the Spirit leads to, and is also the result of, being filled with the Spirit. 

To watch this devotional, please select the link below:

In our last devotional, we reflected on what it means to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Today’s text continues directly from that; we see that a community of worship is the result of being filled with the Spirit, and also one of the means by which we are filled with Him. 

1. The filling with the Spirit results in worship

If someone, or a church, is filled with the Spirit, worship and thanksgiving will always flourish. Throughout the book of Acts, when the Spirit comes on a person, the result is often praise. For example, on the Day of Pentecost, we read:

However, following on from this, the people of the variety of people-groups and languages, describe the event:‘“…We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”’ (Acts 2:11)

When they were filled with the Spirit, they worshipped God. 

Another example, would be from Acts 10, where, again, the result  of being filled (along with the gift of tongues) is worship: 

Again,  we can see that when a person or church is filled with the Spirit, they will worship and praise God in a new overflowing manner. 

2. Worship and praise is a means of being filled with the Spirit

As well as the result, worship and praise is also a means by which a person or church is filled with the Spirit. 

This is why it’s so important that we ‘don’t give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing’ (Hebrews 10:25). As we meet together, as we operate in the various gifts of the Spirit, we are filled with the Spirit’s presence. Our minds, hearts and souls are encouraged and freshly filled with faith, hope and love. 

God meets, strengthens, encourages and fills a church as they come together to worship - worship is vertical, but it has a very important horizontal aspect. 

Paul describes the church at worship as: 

i. Speak to one another

Speaking is a reference to singing - as in speaking the words of the song. 

We are to ‘speak to one another’ - although, of course, God is our focus in worship, however, as we hear one another, we are encouraged by one another. 

ii. Psalms (psalmós)

Is most probably to be understood as reference to singing from the book of Psalms. 

iii. Hymns (hýmnos)

These may be songs of praise that have been composed to be used in worship. These songs may, unlike the Psalms, speak directly of Christ and the blessings of the gospel - we see an example of this in the phrase: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ (5:14)

iv. Spiritual songs (pneumatikós ōidḗ )

Many take this to be a description of the previous types of singing - all singing is to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

However, I’m going to suggest that this may well be better understood as a reference to songs that are made up in the moment - for example, we see this in the Magnificat in Luke 1, where Mary begins ‘“My soul glorifies the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour…”’ - this may well have been sung, regardless, it’s Spirit-inspired praise. 

Response

Our lives and church gatherings are to be filled with uplifting worship and singing. 

If we want to please, be filled with, and follow the Spirit’s leading, lets do what we also read about in Colossians:

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Please ensure that everyone is aware and is signed up to our 50-hours of prayer that is starting on 11th March. Here’s the link to get the app:

https://my.jovoapp.com/invitation/?t=aW52aXRhdGlvbjoxMzA1ODpzX2tGTnN4eVNHcnZnZlJ1ZjN6WEhRTHVsVHc%3D

2. Icebreaker

Something that builds relationships and confidence to share; it’s good to regularly use this moment to ask the group: How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday, we continued our new series entitled: Ephesians: to the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

Please read Ephesians 5:15-20 and discuss:

• Personal Reflection – From Sunday’s message and this passage, what stood out to you? Was there anything the Spirit particularly impressed on your heart?

• Get wisdom - How do we get wisdom and why is it important to get it?

• God’s wisdom is to our being under the right influence - Why does God put drunkenness and being filled with the Spirit side-by-side?

• Wisdom with Alcohol - Alcohol is a good gift, but when would you say that it’s become a problem? 

• Be filled - How can one apply this command to ‘go on being filled with the Holy Spirit’? 

• Psalms Hymns… - How, according to our text is worship related to the work of the Holy Spirit?

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• SIV - From our text, what can we learn about how God’s wisdom and being filled lead to our becoming a light in our community?  

• Sharing Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing stories of how we’ve seen God at work through simple faithfulness.

• Practical Next Steps – Who might God be placing on your heart at this time? Are there any “people of peace” (see note) in your life—those who seem open, welcoming, or receptive to spiritual conversation?

Let’s Pray Together

Let’s pray for one another in light of what we’ve studied and bring any other needs before God.

• Pray for courage, wisdom, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in our Serve, Invest, and Invite opportunities.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - that God would open hearts and deepen relationships.

• General prayer: From our study, or from personal needs, how do people want prayer?