10-13-23-ENG.

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you ... singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. "

Colossians 3:16 
EVERYDAY WORSHIP

Read It: Ephesians 5:19-21
Did you know that there's a debate about the meaning of today's verses? Many theologians and Bible teachers say these things Paul lists are the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Others say these verses give us the "how to" for getting filled. Now let me assure you, you can enjoy these blessings to the full whatever your view if you are filled with the Spirit. But I do think it's important to understand as best we can what's going on here. I would like to suggest that both the "how to" and the result are present ent here. That is, while things like singing, giving thanks, and being subject ject to one another are results of the Spirit's filling, they also suggest how you get filled. I think Paul is saying that the way you get filled with the Spirit is by making worship a lifestyle. Here's what I mean. Have you ever left church on "cloud nine"? You were full of the Lord's presence. What filled you was being in the environment of the redeemed, the family of God.

What filled you was the intake of His Word, the inspiration ration of the music, the prayers, and all those things that add up to a worship ship service. We have come to expect that kind of spiritual experience to happen only during a two-hour block of time on Sunday morning. But the way you get filled is to learn to do Monday through Saturday what you did on Sunday. The way you get filled is to make your life a worship service. That's what Paul meant in Romans 12:1-2. Read those familiar verses today and you'll see that what Paul is calling for there is actually a private vate worship service. What Paul is saying is, when worship becomes a way of life, when you make this orientation to God your normal way of living, when you begin to live in the environment of the Spirit as a way of life, when you are perpetually petually in a mode of worship, then you cannot help but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Try it! Think About It God never meant for His fullness to die out by Monday morning. He meant for you to live every day in the Spirit's fullness-and you can.