How Can We Truly Worship God?

Ephesians 5:18-20

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Series: The Book of Ephesians

(Prepared June 17, 2024)

(Revised July 7, 2024)

MESSAGE:

*Today our focus is on worship, and nothing is more important in our Christian life than heartfelt worship of God. But what is worship?

*Melvin Newland gave one of the best explanations I ever heard, and he started by saying, "Well, the English word 'worship' means 'to give the highest worth to'. -- So when we worship, we're saying, 'God, you are number one in my life. You come before anything or anyone else.'

*The main Old Testament word that we translate as 'worship' means 'to bow down, to humble ourselves, to recognize God's sovereignty, and express reverence in His presence.' God's favorite word for worship in the New Testament is 'proskuneo.' I say that because He used this original word 60 times. It has the word picture of an affectionate dog licking his master's hand. And this word expresses the ideas of love, loyalty, and undying gratitude.

*Now when you put it all together, 'Worship is when we come to God and recognize who He is. We say, "God, you are number one in my life." We humble ourselves before Him. We recognize that He is Sovereign and the source of authority. We recognize that God is worthy of our love, loyalty, and undying gratitude, so we express it all to Him." (1)

*God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is always worthy of our worship! He is the only true and living God, eternally perfect in every way. He created us, loves us, and has given us every good thing we have ever received. Best of all, God the Father gave His only begotten Son to become a mortal man, live a perfect life, and die on the cross for our sins. God the Holy Spirit also had a crucial part in this saving work all the way from our creation to Jesus' conception, and His resurrection. God is most worthy of our worship. But how can we truly worship God? Today's Scripture can help us.

1. FIRST CHRISTIANS: LET GOD FILL YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

*As Paul wrote in vs. 18, "Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (or wicked, reckless living); but be filled with the Spirit." Paul tells us to "be filled with the Holy Spirit." And Church: This is a command for us as Christians, not a suggestion. God is commanding us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And the great news is that He wants to fill us!

*Richard Tow explained that "We must have this filling to live a life that honors God. It is the power of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit that sets us apart as God's people. God's command here is not for us to 'try harder'. Trying harder is no substitute for being filled with the Spirit. His influence working in us, and through us brings us the victory.

*It is also very important for Christians to know that when Paul said to 'be filled with the Spirit,' he was speaking to all Christians. Paul was speaking to the whole Church. God commands every Christian to be filled with His Holy Spirit. This is not just for a special few believers. It's for each and every one of us.

*Please also notice that this verb is in the present tense. It is talking about doing something now and in the future which involves a repeated action. It is not a one-time thing, and then you're done."

*Now, there have certainly been some onetime works of the Holy Spirit. His coming in Acts 2, on the Day of Pentecost was a onetime thing. At that time around 120 of the earliest Christians were gathered together in an upper room in Jerusalem. It was 10 days after our risen Lord had ascended back into Heaven. And Acts 2:1-4 says:

1. Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

*On that day, the Holy Spirit came in a brand-new way. And this crucial new work could not happen until Jesus humbled Himself to be born in a human body, lived a perfect life, was crucified for our sins, rose again from the dead, and returned to Heaven to receive the glory He so richly deserved. Then and only then did God send the promise of His Spirit to His Church.

*J. Vernon McGee listed four other onetime ministries of the Holy Spirit in every Christian. For example, we were all born again by the Holy Spirit when we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. That's why John 1:12-13 says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

*At the same time, we were literally baptized by the Holy Spirit into the spiritual Body of Jesus Christ. So 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, "By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greeks. . ." And the phrases "in Christ," "in Christ Jesus," or "in the Lord" are used almost 100 times in the New Testament. At the same time, God the Father and Son came to live in us by way of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 also tells us that we were "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

*But the filling of the Holy Spirit is not a onetime thing. In Acts 3, a beggar lame since birth, was miraculously healed through his faith in our risen Lord and Savior. Peter and John preached the gospel to the crowd gathered to see the healed man, and 5,000 people were saved! But Peter and John were arrested by the Temple guards, and hauled before the religious rulers the next day.

*Acts 4:8-10 tells us:

8. Then Peter, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:

9. If we this day are judged for a good deed done to the helpless man, by what means he has been made well,

10. let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."

*After Peter and John were released, they reported back to the church, and God's people prayed. Then Acts 4:31 says, "When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."

*Those Christians were not filled with the Holy Spirit just once, but many times. Why? -- Richard Tow explained it was "because yesterday's experience is not adequate for today's challenges. Peter, John, and the rest of God's Church needed a fresh filling of God's Spirit for the challenges they were about to face." And Church: So do we.

*But also notice that the verb here in vs. 18 is in the passive voice. It says, 'Be filled with the Spirit.' In other words, 'Let God fill you with His Holy Spirit.' There are no special techniques or formulas. Being filled with God's Holy Spirit is something that God has to do in us. And the good news is that God is ready and willing to do it!

*God wants to fill us with His Holy Spirit! He even commands us to be filled with His Spirit, and we will be, -- if we will yield ourselves to Him." This was part of Paul's prayer for us in Ephesians 3:16-17. There he asked that God "would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (2)

*God wants to fill us with His Spirit. But how can we understand being filled with the Holy Spirit? Church: The best explanation I ever heard was from one of my seminary professors. And he said that it's a matter of awareness and control. The more we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, the more we will be aware of His presence in our lives, and the more we will yield our lives to His control.

*J. Vernon McGee said that we can compare it to the man who is drinking, which is the reason why Paul used it here. The more a man drinks, the more he yields himself to the wine's control, and the more he is likely to do sinful, reckless things. But the same kind of thing can happen whenever we start yielding to our selfish desires. That's why Christian author Kay Arthur said, "If you tolerate sin in your life, that sin will not only take you farther than you wanted to go. It will keep you longer than you wanted to stay. And it will cost you more than you thought you would pay." (3)

*But Christians: God wants us to yield control of our lives to His all knowing, ever present, ever perfect Holy Spirit. He wants us to move over, and put HIM in the driver's seat of our lives. And the more we are aware of His presence, the more gladly we will yield ourselves to His control.

*When we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, both God the Father and God the Son came to live in us by God the Holy Spirit. But we need to be more consciously aware of God's presence. Are you aware of His presence right now? Have you felt the presence of the Lord today? -- Maybe not. -- That's why we need to find ways to intentionally focus on the reality that Jesus is right here with us, and in us. One wise, old Christian used to say: "As Christians, we need to practice the presence of God. -- Then we won't be so afraid when He shows up." (4)

*Of course, the truth is that the Lord is always with those who have put their trust in Him. But whether or not we are aware of His presence is largely up to us. That's because it is possible for us to quench the Holy Spirit. And that's why in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Paul tells us, "Do not quench the Spirit."

*The choice is ours. And we need to find ways to intentionally focus on the reality that Jesus is right here with us and in us. One Christian lady I know had an unusual way of reminding herself. Whenever she was alone in her car, she would also fasten the seatbelt next to her, just to remind her that Jesus was right there with her.

*Frank Laubach and his wife were missionaries who went to the Philippines in 1915. There they started churches and worked among the Muslims on the island of Mindanao. One of the greatest life-changing moments in Frank's life happened in 1930 when he began to cultivate the habit of intentionally turning his mind to Christ for one second out of every minute.

*After only four weeks Frank reported, "I feel simply carried along each hour, doing my part in a plan which is far beyond myself. This sense of cooperation with God in little things is what so astonishes me, for I never have felt it this way before. I need something, and turn round to find it waiting for me. I must work, to be sure, but there is God, -- working along with me." (5)

*Think about the difference it would make if we were that fully aware of the presence of Jesus Christ. So, keep focusing on the truth that Jesus is right here with us. And ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. That's what He wants to do, and that's how we can truly worship God.

2. BUT ALSO LET GOD PUT A SONG IN YOUR HEART.

*We see this command in vs. 18-19 where Paul tells us to "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."

*This command about singing, and every other command in today's Scripture flows out of the main command in vs. 18 to "be filled with the Spirit." Some commentators call the other commands "results" or "evidences" of being filled with the Holy Spirit. (6)

*But notice that God spoke of a variety of music here. And thank God that He has gifted so many Christians with amazing musical ability. There is a great abundance of wonderful music to inspire, encourage, renew, and help us worship the Lord.

*I love the old songs! Too many to mention, hymns like John Newton's, "Amazing grace! How sweet the sound; That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see." Charlotte Elliott's old hymn is another great example. Her song begins, "Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come." (7)

*That song has a special place in my heart, because they were singing it at McClendon Baptist Church when I made my public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. It was also the song they were singing at First Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia when I publicly answered God's call to preach. I love the old songs!

*But God's Word also speaks 9 different times about us singing a "new song." For example, Psalm 40:3 says, "He has put a new song in my mouth -- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD." Psalm 96:1 says, "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth." Psalm 149:1 says, "Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints." (8)

*Today we are blessed with an abundance of both old songs and new to help us worship God. That's what we are supposed to sing, but who we are singing to? Verse 19 says we should be, "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." The KJV says: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."

*It is very important to notice that we are to be making melody in our hearts to the Lord. God Himself is our most important audience. Sometimes, Music Directors will encourage their congregations to sing for the audience of One. It's also important to see that God is listening to the melody in our hearts. That's the most important place where our music lives. God is not pleased with the best voice in the world, if it springs from an off-key heart. And again, God Himself is our most important audience, so sing to the Lord with all your heart, overflowing with love, gratitude, praise, and worship.

*But also be singing to "one another" vs. 19 says. This means when you sing, you can help inspire me, and as bad as my singing is, I might help inspire you. We need to sing for each other's benefit, but we also need to be making melody in our own hearts to the Lord. We should sing for our own inspiration and worship. I do it all the time in the car or around the house. It's amazing how much it can lift my spirit and put my eyes back on Jesus. But we have to let God put a song in our hearts.

*Let me ask you this: Have you ever just gone through the motions when we were singing in church? Maybe you didn't sing at all, because you were bored or concerned about your voice. Maybe you were distracted by something else on your mind. It's so easy to get distracted in church. Maybe you were even in great physical or emotional pain. You may have been singing with your lips, but not with your heart, and that's not really worshiping God. In times like that, ask God to put a song in your heart. That's what He wants to do, and that's how we can truly worship God.

3. BUT ALSO LET GOD GIVE YOU MORE GRATITUDE.

*We see this command in vs. 20 where Paul tells us to be "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." This command also flows out of the main command to "be filled with the Spirit." So, let your heart be filled with the Holy Spirit. That's how to be filled with more godly gratitude. God wants our worship to be energized by thankful, grateful hearts, not grumbling and complaining, but satisfied with the bountiful gifts and grace of God.

*David Holwick pointed out that this doesn't mean we're to be grateful for the bad things in life. It's not, "Praise Jesus! My mother just got run over by a car!" No, -- It's not like that at all. But it is the assurance that even if my mother does get run over by a car, -- God is going to take care of her. And Romans 8:28 is always true. 'We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'" (9)

*God can bring good things out of the worst things in life, so we can surely have thankful, grateful hearts. Over the years, I have discovered that some of the people going through the worst times had the best attitudes. Isn't that amazing!

*Between 1994 and 2005, the Lord let me go on five mission trips to Ukraine. One of my favorite memories was on the deck of a river boat we took to the cites along the Dnieper River. Everywhere we stopped, we'd witness, worship, and pass out Bibles and tracts. That day, we were in the Black Sea port city of Sevestopal. We had invited a group of young Ukrainian Christians to worship with us on the ship. The leaders of that group were three former drug dealers who had been wonderfully saved by Jesus. Then they were called by God to start churches in that city, and God was using all three.

*But those people were so poor compared to us. The average income back then was $50 a month when you got paid, and lots of months they didn't. One of our interpreters that trip was a teacher. She continued teaching that year, even though she had not gotten paid for the last 6 months. The school system had run out of money.

*Though highly educated, most of the Ukrainians were very poor. But those young Christians stood on the back of that ship, singing with all their hearts:

"Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Give thanks to the Holy One.

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.

And now let the weak say, 'I am strong.'

Let the poor say, 'I am rich,

Because of what the Lord has done for us.' -- Give thanks." (10)

*Those young Ukrainian Christians were very poor from the world's point of view, but the Holy Spirit of God filled their hearts with godly gratitude. And God wants to do the same thing for us.

*Even on our worst days, we still have great reasons to give thanks to our Lord! But when I search my heart, I'm often surprised by my lack of gratitude. As Christians, we want to have grateful hearts, and we ought to have grateful hearts. But it's easy to lose our attitude of gratitude. That's partly because it's easy for us to take credit for blessings that have really come from God.

*We can also be influenced by negative people around us. They can make us grumpy and ungrateful. On top of that, it's hard to be grateful when we're going through hard times in life: Like when your doctor says it's cancer, or you lose your job, or your spouse is letting you down, or your child is in trouble.

*The good news is that even in the worst of times, Christians can have grateful hearts. Paul surely did, even though he was chained to a Roman soldier when he wrote this letter. Paul overflowed with joyful gratitude. And God can do the same kind of thing in us.

*So, even if you bring a bad attitude to church, start worshiping the Lord anyway! Start praising the greatness of God. Start praising the goodness of God, and you will likely find your attitude begin to shift.

*Ask God to give you more gratitude. Ask Him to put a song back in your heart. Ask Him to fill you again with His Holy Spirit. That's what He wants to do, and that's how we can truly worship God.

CONCLUSION:

*Let's worship the Lord right now! And if you have never received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, put your trust in our crucified and risen Savior today. Call on the Lord Jesus to save you as we go back to God in prayer. Jesus will save your soul, forgive your sins, and give you a new life that lasts forever. Then, start truly worshiping God!

(1) Adapted from SermonCentral sermon "Worship Is More Than That" by Melvin Newland - Psalm 95:6-7

(2) Adapted from:

-SermonCentral sermon "A Good Way to Live" by Richard Tow - Ephesians 5 15-21

-THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH J. VERNON MCGEE by J. Vernon McGee - Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville - Copyright 1981 - "The Experience of the Church" - Ephesians 5:18-24 - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2021

(3) Sources:

-Adapted from THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH J. VERNON MCGEE by J. Vernon McGee - Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville - Copyright 1981 - "The Experience of the Church" - Ephesians 5:18-24 - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2021

-SermonCentral illustration contributed by Joel Vicente

(4) Original source unknown

(5) Adapted from: KERUX ILLUSTRATION COLLECTION - ID Number: 30281 - SOURCE: Book: THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY - TITLE: "Laubach's One Second Out of Every Minute" - AUTHOR: Dallas Willard - DATE: 1997

(6) Sources:

-BELIEVER'S BIBLE COMMENTARY by William MacDonald - Edited by Arthur Farstad - Thomas Nelson Publishers - Nashville - Copyright 1995 - Ephesians 5:1-21 - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2021

-THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH J. VERNON MCGEE by J. Vernon McGee - Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville - Copyright 1981 - "The Experience of the Church" - Ephesians 5:18-24 - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2021

(7) Sources:

-"Amazing Grace" - Words by John Newton (1725–1807) - Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779), Book 1, number 41. (Exception: The last stanza is by an unknown author; it appeared as early as 1829 in the "Baptist Songster", by R. Winchell (Wethersfield, Connecticut), as the last stanza of the song "Jerusalem My Happy Home." - Music: New Britain, Virginia Harmony, by James P. Carrell & David S. Clayton (Winchester, Virginia: 1831).

-"Just As I Am, Without One Plea" - Words by Charlotte Elliott, 1835. These words first appeared in "The Christian Remembrancer", whose editor Elliott became in 1836. The last verse is from Elliott's "Hours of Sorrow Cheered and Comforted", 1836 - Music: Woodworth William B. Bradbury, Mendelssohn Collection, or Third Book of Psalmody (New York: 1849).

(8) New Song Scriptures:

-Psalm 33:3 - Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

-Psalm 40:3 - He has put a new song in my mouth -- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

-Psalm 96:1 - Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

-Psalm 98:1 - A Psalm. Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.

-Psalm 144:9 - I will sing a new song to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,

-Psalm 149:1 - Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints.

-Isaiah 42:10 - Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth, You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You coastlands and you inhabitants of them!

-Revelation 5:9 - And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

-Revelation 14:3 - They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

(9) "Making the Most of the Moment" by David Holwick - Ephesians 5:15-20 - Thanksgiving Sunday - FBC Ledgewood, NJ - Nov. 24, 1991

(10) "Give Thanks" by Henry Smith - copyrighted in 1978 by Integrity's Hosanna! Music - recorded by Don Moen - released in 1986 by Integrity, Hosanna! Music and Sparrow