Be Filled with the Spirit, Singing . . .
Author: Chuck King
September 12, 2024
. . . be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:18b–21, NIV)
When we sing, we engage in the most fundamental music-making: there is no artificial mechanism between our brains and the sounds we make. We use an instrument that we carry around with us—it’s always there, ready to “burst into song” at any time. (Some people carry harmonicas in their pockets, but it’s not quite the same!)
Which is not to say that “there’s nothing to it.” Even when a song spontaneously emerges, there is a lot going on. Our whole being is involved: body, mind, and spirit. The mind must comprehend and interpret the musical ideas and send the appropriate signals to the body. The body responds (at least to the degree that it is able) and presto! out comes music. Of course, the better we have worked both mind and body, the better success we have in that presto! moment. Singing is one of God’s special gifts of grace; it is, in a way, a common miracle that we take for granted.
Singers and choir directors of all stripes talk about the role of the spirit in singing. That means many different things in the musical world. In our world it must only mean one thing: the role of the Holy Spirit in our singing. First, he shapes our hearts so that we are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus; also, he equips us for mutual service so that we are useful in building and strengthening the church. Then too, he must give life to our music in order for it to serve his purposes in the lives of those who hear (not to mention those who sing or play).
The Holy Spirit is as fundamentally necessary to the song of the church as the mind and body. Without that spiritual component, there’s not much point to our singing. But with the Spirit, congregational singing is the most exalted music on earth.
A man reaps what he sows . . . the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:6–9, NIV) When we sing in church we turn the fundamentals of music around: our primary work is to please God through His Spirit. Our goal is to serve others. Not losing sight of either, we fully employ our minds and our bodies to make the best music—and the most pleasing spiritual sacrifice—we can. Presto!
Chuck King is Music Director of New Covenant Church in Naperville.
Photo by Iyinoluwa Onaeko on Unsplash.
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