Teaching Our Own to Minister Musically—part 7

Teaching Our Own to Minister Musically—part 7

Verse 18 in chapter 5 of the Ephesians letter instructs musicians to “be filled with the Spirit”.  The Spirit filled musician is not filled with self but rather the Holy Spirit.  This filling allows the Holy Spirit to control the musician.  The drunkard is controlled by drink.  He is filled with strong drink and it affects whatever he does.  The Spirit-filled musician is just that-he or she is completely filled with the Holy Spirit.  Everything he or she does musically should be Spirit controlled.  Colossians 3:16 states, “Let the word of Christ dwell (inhabit) in you richly (plousios 4146-abundantly, completely, to the fullest extent) in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace (charis 5485) in your hearts to the Lord.

In the Scripture lesson of Colossians 3:16, the church musician is admonished to let the word of Christ dwell (stay or live regularly) in the heart and mind of the musician.  How much of the Logos Christos should constantly stay in the heart and mind of the church musician?  The church musician should have as much of the Word of Christ as the drunkard has of wine.  He or she should be filled richly (abundantly or completely).  It should be pointed out that the language and message of this music was easily understood by the people who worshipped.  We have no scriptural reason to believe that it is any way esoteric.  The message from God was for all and was understood by all who worshipped.  It was not glossalic i.e. in an unknown tongue.  It did not need to be interpreted.  God wanted His musical messenger to make the message very clear to the congregation.  The Spirit-filled musician prays and allows the Holy Spirit to direct his music selection and his musicing.