The Truth About The Holy Spirit (Part Seven)

We’re continuing our examination of the consequences of being filled with the Holy Spirit. In Part Six, we looked at the fruit of the Spirit. Now let’s look at worship, thanksgiving and praise. The verse on being filled (Ephesians 5:18) is followed in its context by these consequences, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Ephesians 5:19-20). We have the outward praise of “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” The next consequence of being filled is the inward expression of worship by, “singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” The third consequence of being filled by the Spirit is a thankful heart by, “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” Although the text reads that we are to give thanks “for” everything, the everything must be qualified by its context, namely in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Our thanksgiving is to be for everything which is consistent with the loving Fatherhood of God and the self-revelation He has given us in Jesus Christ. Be encouraged!

Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible teacher & expositor