ALWAYS For ALL THINGS--IV—Ephesians 5:15-21
OR--A Distinctive Walk
Attention:
Fire ants—Solenopsis invicta(spp.)—They build Huge High Mounds particularly in clay soils(to 3ft. in South Georgia!)—
Stings—Ant workers(females only!) generally deliver around 0.66 nl of venom per sting, amounting to 3.1% of the average individual venom supply. Each ant can sting multiple times!
Their Venom contains an alkaloid(high pH) enzyme of piperidine--Solenopsin A. It kills the skin cells & causes the burning sensation. It also contains a minimal amount of proteins(.01%— allergens, phospholipase, hyaluronidase, & neurotoxins), which in certain people, can cause a deadly allergic reaction(anaphylaxis).
By their Distinctive Walk, fire ants command respect.
Christians all have a life-“walk” that distinguishes them from the walk of the world. And their Distinctive Walk commands respect for God & all that is God’s.
Paul exhorted the Ephesian church toward a telling/distinctive/indicative walk.
God’s people have a(n) telling/distinctive/indicative walk.
What is telling/distinctive/indicative about the walk of God’s people?
*When is the walk of God’s people indicative?
7 indicators of a Christian walk.
We have seen that A thankful/telling walk is...
1. An ACCURATE WALK(:15)
2. A REDEMPTIVE WALK(:16)
3. An INSIGHTFUL WALK(:17)
4. An UNCOMPROMISING WALK(:18)
5—A thankful/telling walk is also...
A SHARING WALK(:19)
Explanation:(:19)
:19—“speaking to one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing & making melody in your heart to the Lord,”
When I am filled with the Spirit of God(:18) in public worship or in relation to my Christian brothers & sisters, I do not sing or babble incoherently. I am not to indulge myself inwardly & outwardly. I am rather to surrender all my being to God so that my speech comes to myself & others in the form of singing. “Singing” cannot occur either inwardly or outwardly until my inward “heart” is made “melodious.” Only “the Lord” can make your “heart” be given to such joy that it must be shared or ‘spoken.’
“Many who can’t sing well have the most beautiful melodies in their heart.”—David Guzik
There are various manifestations of joyful Holy Spirit filling, which revolve around the sharing of our individual joy in the Spirit, with the other members of our Christian family. By the Holy Spirit our attitudes become His, & sharing that overcoming attitude is vital to all exposed...particularly among our Christian family.
The believer’s song-speaking incorporates every area of music adopted & appropriate to such communication/employment. All singing in the Lord must flow from a “melody” within the “heart” of the believer. That “melody” which moves us is directed God-ward. It is not so much the music but the message that is important. The music is a variable hook upon which the message hangs.
“Psalms”-singing—Speaks God’s written & living word into & for others.
“Hymns”-singing—Speaks in praise of all that is good in God. It is a term which was used in secular Greek to ascribe praise to their gods, heroes, & conquerers.
“Spiritual songs”—Take into account every other remaining manner of spiritual ‘joy-speaking’ which God affords the believer. It considers the “song” that spiritual truth supplies the believer’s heart.
Why does my commitment to my Lord Jesus flow so well thru song? Songs express the overflow of love from the depth of a heart touched by God. Such an all-encompassing love cannot be shared thru words alone. The words must be set to music in order to declare the fullness of the human spirit’s reliance upon God.
“Speaking”—lalew—Verb—1) To utter a voice or emit a sound; 2) To speak. Strong—a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; To talk, i.e. Utter words.
Lalew means an extended or random harangue, while legw means to relate, in words[usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas epw & fhmi generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while rew is properly, to break silence merely, &].
“One another/Each other”—eautou—Pronoun—1) Himself, herself, itself, themselves. Strong—Him-(her-, it-, them-, also [in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons] my-, thy-, our-, your-)self(selves), etc..
“Psalms”—qalmov—Noun Masc.—1) A striking, twanging—1a) Of a striking the chords of a musical instrument, 1b) Of a pious song, a psalm. Qalmov designates a song which took its general character from the OT Psalms, although not restricted to them. The leading idea of qalmov is a musical accompaniment. It is quite possible for the same song to be at once described by all three of these words[umnov, qalmov,wdh]. Strong—A set piece of music, i.e. A sacred ode(accompanied with the voice, harp or other instrument; a "psalm"); collectively--The book of the Psalms. Used 7X.
“Hymns”—umnov—Noun Masc.—1) A song in tithe praise of gods, heroes, conquerors; 2) A sacred song, hymn. Umnov designates a song of praise, especially of praise to God. Strong—apparently from a simpler(obsolete) form of udew(to celebrate; probably akin to adw[to sing]; A “hymn” or religious ode(one of the Psalms). Used 2X.
“Spiritual”—pneumatikov—Adj.—1) Relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God & serves as his instrument or organ; 2) Belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God; 3) Belonging to the Divine Spirit; 4) Pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing. Strong—Non-carnal, i.e. humanly--Ethereal(as opposed to gross), or demoniacally--A spirit(concretely), or divinely--Supernatural, regenerate, religious.
English=‘Pneumatic’
“Songs”—wdh—Noun Fem.—1) A song, lay, ode. Strong—from adw[to sing]; A chant or “ode”(the general term for any words sung; while umnov denotes especially a religious metrical composition, & qalmov still more specifically, a Hebrew cantillation). Used 7X.
“Singing”—adw—Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To the praise of anyone, to sing. Strong—a primary verb; To sing. Used 5X.
“Making melody/Praising/Make music”—qallw—Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To pluck off, pull out; 2) To cause to vibrate by touching, to twang—2a) To touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate, 2b) To play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc., 2c) To sing to the music of the harp, 2d) in the NT--To sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song. Strong—probably strengthened from qaw(to rub or touch the surface; compare qwcw[to triturate, i.e. to rub out(kernels from husks with the fingers or hand)]); To twitch or twang, i.e. To play on a stringed instrument(celebrate the divine worship with music & accompanying odes). Used 5X.
“With/In”—en—
“Heart”—kardia—Noun Fem.—1) The heart—1b) Denotes the center of all physical & spiritual life—2b1) The soul or mind, as it is the fountain & seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors, 2b4) Of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions, 1c) Of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate. Strong—prolonged from a primary kar(Latin, cor, "heart"); The heart, i.e. figuratively--The thoughts or feelings(mind); also by analogy--The middle.
Argumentation:
Jer. 9:23-24—“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands & knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, & righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.”
Job 35:10—Elihu to Job—“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,”
Ps. 77:5-6—“I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search.”
**Ps. 42:8-11—“The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me-- A prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance & my God.”
**Ex. 15:2—“The LORD is my strength & song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, & I will praise Him; My father’s God, & I will exalt Him.”
**Ps. 18:1-3—To the Chief Musician. “A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies & from the hand of Saul. And he said:— “I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock & my fortress & my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield & the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”
**Ps. 28:6-8—“Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The LORD is my strength & my shield; My heart trusted in Him, & I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. The LORD is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.”
**Ps. 46:1-3—To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.— “God is our refuge & strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar & be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah.”
**1Chron. 16:9, 23—“Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!”.....“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.”
**Ps. 95:1-2—“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”
**Ps. 104:33-34—“I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.”
Isa. 12:1-5—“And in that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, & You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust & not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength & song; He also has become my salvation.’” Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.”
**1Cor.14:12-17—“Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, & I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, & I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.”
**Col. 3:14-17—“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; & be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching & admonishing one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Isa. 58:6-11—“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, & the LORD will answer; You shall cry, & He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, & speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
Illustration:
Worship singing—Our congregational & choir & ‘special music’ singing is not just a ‘warm-up’ to the preaching/It is an act of worship in & of itself!/Our sharing including every aspect of our worship, actively invite you to hear, accept, & live-out the Good News of Jesus Christ!/Singing is a disciple-making enterprise!/It is A SHARING WALK
Whenever I whistle tunes around the church & others are there, I know that it is an encouragement to them/When Jack catches me whistling or singing he will occasionally say something like, “Preacher, If you keep doing that somebody’ll think your happy!”/A SHARING WALK
Some give a certain person here at FBCC a ‘hard time’ for not singing during worship/That person thinks their open singing would be a personal & congregational embarrassment—probably true!—maybe they ‘can’t carry a tune in a bucket’/Public singing is just not their forte, as it were...& that’s okay!/BUT if you ever catch that person ministering in something that is their forte, at something around the church or elsewhere, you might just catch them whistling a Christian tune/That person is “making melody in their heart to the Lord”/A SHARING WALK
Application:
?Does your SHARING WALK speak of trust in Christ?...or of trust in someone/thing else?
?What is your walk Telling others?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Solenopsis invicta(spp.)—Fire ants—By their Distinctive Walk, fire ants command respect.
Action:
We have seen that A thankful/telling walk is...
5. A SHARING WALK(:19)
1. An ACCURATE WALK(:15)
2. A REDEMPTIVE WALK(:16)
3. An INSIGHTFUL WALK(:17)
4. An UNCOMPROMISING WALK(:18)
Pt. 5-only! presented 02/05/2017pm to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
