First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Lord’s Day February 16, 2003 Anno Domini

Ephesians 5:18-20

The Spirit of Worship

  I.   Be filled with the Spirit.
      A.  The relationship of the believer and the Spirit in Ephesians.
         1.  Eph 1:3 all of our spiritual blessings are in Christ.
         2.  Eph 1:13-14 the seal of God and our guarantee.
         3.  Eph 1:17 reveals God to us.
         4.  Eph 2:18 he gives us access to the Father through Jesus
Christ.
         5.  Eph 2:22 the church is being built up as a dwelling place for
him.
         6.  Eph 3:5 he reveals the gospel
         7.  Eph 3:16 he strengthens us with might in the inner man.
         8.  Eph 6:17-18 we have his sword and in him we pray
      B.  The contrast of two lives: dissipation or godliness.
         1.  Drunkenness contrasts with being filled with the Spirit:
Pentecost, Acts 2:4, 15.
         2.  Darkness: drunkenness, dissipation: the life of the prodigal
son. Eph 2:2.
         3.  Light: filled with the Spirit and under his influence: the
life of the believer.
      C.  The consequences of being filled with the Spirit.
        

Ongoing process, willingness (Eph 4:30), communion with the church and with God.

  II.  The Spirit directs the worship of the church.
      A.  Speaking: he gives us words to speak to one another.
      B.  Singing and making melody: he gives us songs to sing to the Lord.
      C.  Giving thanks: he stirs in us thanksgiving to the Father in the
name of Christ.
      D.  Submitting: he teaches us to submit to one another in the fear of
God.
     

   III. The Spirit has given the church psalms and hymns and songs.
      A.  These terms refer to the “praises” of the Hebrew Bible, the Book
of Psalms.
        

Ps 22:3.

      B.  The praises are of various sorts: psalms, hymns, songs are the
three most common descriptions in the titles.
        1. Psalm
         

Psalm 3:1; and many others e.g., Ps 5, 6, 7, etc.

In the NT Luke 20:42 & 24:44 spoken by Jesus. “Book of Psalms”

Acts 1:20; 13:33; 1Cor 14:26; Eph 5:19 & Col 3:16.

        2. Hymn
                

Mostly translated “praise.” Psalm 119:171. Pss 40:3; 65:2; 148:14. Psalm 100:4

Psalm 72:20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

In NT only Eph 5:19 & Col 3:16.

        3. Song (Ode)
                

Psalm 120-133 A Song of Ascents. Ps 45:1 Song of love.

In NT: Eph 5:19/Col 3:16 and Rev 5:9, 14:3, 15:3.

        4. Combinations
         

Psalm - Song (Ode:) Ps 30:1; 48:1; 65:1; 92:1; 67:1; 83:1; 108:1 etc.

Hymn - Ode: Ps 137:3 & 4

        5. Instrumental sense (not musical instrument but means)
         

Psalm 4:1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. (“in psalms”) A Psalm of David.

Ps 6:1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. (“in hymnns”) On an eight-stringed harp. (“in eigth”) A Psalm of David.

        6. New Song - example of synonymy
                

Hymn: Psalm 40:3, Ode: Psalm 144:9, “Asma” Psalm 96:1 (also in Pss 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 149:

     C.  The compositions are all “Spiritual”, of the Spirit.
     D.    The compositions are the “word of Christ,” Colossians
3:16.
     E.  Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
    

“ Singing,”: used also in Col 3:16, Rev 5:9; 14:3, 15:3.

“Making melody” lit. ‘psalming.’ Also Col 3:16, Rom 15:9, James 5:13.

   IV. The Spirit leads the worship of the church to build up
the saints and to give thanks to God in Christ.
     A.   Christian worship is a spiritual activity, John 4:24;
Eph 1:17-19.
     B.    Christian worship occurs in a covenantal assembly with
God.
       

Eph 2:18; 1Cor 2:12-13; 1Peter 2:5; Hebrews 13:15;

Eph 2:22 Hebrews 12:22

     C.  Teaching and counseling one another through the Psalms.
       

Christ’s example:Psalm 40:9-10; Psalm 22:22; Psalm 107:32.

     D.  Giving thanks to God.
       

Phil 4:6.

Psalm 79:13; 106:47; 140:13.