Ephesians

Three Results

Paul goes on to tell us of three results that we can expect as we live in understanding and live in the Spirit. Please read Ephesians 5:19-20. Notice the three verbs in these verses: speaking, and singing, and giving thanks. These are the marks of one who is drawing every moment upon the well of the Spirit within.

The first mark of the Spirit-filled life is that you will talk about what you have read in the Scriptures, about what the Lord has taught you from His Word. The more deeply you drink from the well of the Spirit, the more a love for the Bible will be manifested in you.

The second mark of the Spirit-filled life is singing, making melody to the Lord with all your heart. Now, I’m sure Paul includes actual singing with the voice, but I am so grateful he talked about making music “in your heart,” singing from the heart. I have a great deal of trouble singing with the voice. I used to sing in a choir until I missed one day and someone thought the organ had been fixed! But I can sing beautifully in my heart. I know well that inner bubbling of a melody to my Lord and Savior. I know the inner joy of knowing that God is in control and He is working things out, even in times of trouble.

The third mark of the Spirit-filled life is giving thanks. Notice how Paul puts it: “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). That statement eliminates all complaining and murmuring.

Notice that Paul enjoins us to give thanks “for everything.” Why does Paul say that? Surely he doesn’t mean everything? Oh, but he does! The will of the Lord is that we be put in difficult situations and have unpleasant circumstances in order that we might have opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus Christ. So don’t complain—give thanks! Because these circumstances will do something to you that nothing else could do. This is what Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

And the writer to the Hebrews agrees: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). God has a purpose in all that happens in our lives. Therefore, we should give thanks in all things.

So we live in understanding of God’s will, and we live in the power of the Spirit. As we do so, the result of our lives will be singing and thanksgiving—the music of praise.