Application Guide: Hearts of Worship

Be filled with the Spirit.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:18b-19 (NIV)

May 21-23, 2004: "Hearts of Worship Songs of Praise” a Musical Presentation by the Spirit and Truth Choir and the College Park Orchestra directed by Eric Anderson, Worship Pastor of College Park Church. We thank God for the talents of the host of singers, narrators and instrumentalist who filled our hearts with music and praise as we participated together in worshiping our Lord.

Drawing from Ephesians 5:18b-19, we walked along a musical journey of expressing our joy in the Lord as our hearts were lifted up with songs of praise, and we were challenged to live our lives in a way that truly glorifies the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What a joy it is to be reminded that the Lord leads us along life’s journey on a day-by-day basis, as he did the children of Israel as they escaped the life of slavery in Egypt and journeyed through the lands God would lead them. And when our journey becomes difficult and we seem to have lost our way, he gently and tenderly calls us…come to me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29).

And what a delight it was to hear so eloquently presented the thunderous word’s of the Apostle John as he describes the throne of heaven in Revelation 4:1-8. We truly serve a God who is great beyond all our imagination and is worthy of continual praise, for he is truly Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.

Application Questions:

Let us read Ephesians 5:1-21 together, and consider what the Holy Spirit may be teaching and encouraging us to apply to our lives.

As we read this passage of scripture, what does God’s word say are the results of a life that is truly controlled by the Holy Spirit?

By contrast, what are the results of a life that is NOT led of the Holy Spirit.

What is God’s will for our lives?

As you reflect on your life over the past several weeks, in which way would you say you are leaning? Towards being filled with the Holy Spirit or being filled with self?

What do you feel led of the Holy Spirit to do differently as a result of meditating on this passage of scripture, and tonight’s discussion? Write down on a 3x5 card what you would like to do differently, and the scriptural encouragement to do so, and review it daily over the next couple of weeks.

As you feel led to do so, share your insights with one another, and spend some time praying for one another.

How Shall We Then Live?

Contrasts of Life, from Ephesians 5:1-21

Those who live a life apart from God	Those whose lives are filled with the Spirit
Do not desire the things of God.	Desire to be imitators of God, as dearly loved children of God.
Follow their natural instincts and live a life of hatred.	Desire to follow the example of Christ, in living a life of love, just as Christ loved us.
Live lifestyles that engage in sexual immorality, and all kinds of impurity and greed.	Desire to live lives in purity of thought, word and deed, with a generous spirit of sharing with others the blessings of God.
Communicate with frequent punctuation of obscenity, foolish talk, and course joking, which are out of place	Communicate with thanksgiving in their hearts. Desire wholesome uplifting and encouraging communication that builds one another up.
Are cut off from any inheritance in the kingdom of God, and are subject to God’s wrath because of their disobedience.	Have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God, and eternal life with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Are filled with themselves, and are easily deceived with empty words.	Are guided by the truth of God’s word, which holds the key to living a life filled with the Spirit.
Partner with others of like mind and encourage one another to do what they are led by their natural instincts to do.	Partner with those who are led of the Holy Spirit and encourage one another to grow in the Lord and live a life of faith.
Live in darkness of thought, word and deed.	Live in the light of the Lord, and are a light unto others as Christ shines on them.
Bring forth fruitless deeds of darkness, for it is a shame to even mention what the disobedient do in secret.	Bring forth fruit of goodness, righteousness and truth in the full visible light of day.
Are unwise and careless in how they live	Are wise and careful in how they live
Make the most of every opportunity to encourage others to join with them in their deeds of darkness.	Make the most of every opportunity to let their light shine, and positively impact the world around them for the cause of Christ.
View the world as having appeared without the divine work of God, and that it is getting better and better. An evolving world in which the survival of the fittest prevails.	View the world as created by God and for his purposes. A world filled with a contrast of good and evil, of which we have a choice in which direction to follow.
Are foolish, do not understand what the will of the Lord is for them, nor could they care less. Like one drunk on wine, they fill their lives with themselves	Are wise, and understand that it is the Lord’s will that they be filled of the Spirit, living a life that is controlled by the Spirit and not of self.
Are often ungrateful, frequently get caught up in grumbling, griping and complaining, and running others down to make themselves look good.	Seek to encourage and build one another up in the Lord and can frequently be heard in praying for one another, and singing praises to the Lord with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing songs of love, with a focus on the physical aspects, and motives of self gratification	Sing and make music in their hearts to the Lord, with thanksgiving to God the Father for everything.
Live rebellious lives, and often have difficulty in submission to others, and no recognition or reverence for God.	Desire to live faithful lives with reverence for Christ, and submission to one another out of respect and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.