Colossians 3:16 – Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, in hymns, in spiritual songs; singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
Part 3 ~ The Holy Spirit Governs Divine Utterance
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to govern the Church, and to lead us and guide us. Essential for us is to realize how we are only to speak by the Spirit of truth, Who has been given to us (John 15:26, 16:13; Joel 2:28; and Acts 2:4,17-18, 10:45-56, 19:6; 1 Corinthians 14:2). Peter said when we speak, we are to do so as the oracles (bearers of the Divine Word) of God according as God supplies to us (1 Peter 4:11). In Ephesians, Paul instructs us to be filled with the Spirit, which is related by context to the Word of Christ producing the utterances of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19).
There is a message living in our hearts, which can only be expressed by the Spirit of God Who dwells in us. Those utterances come forth from our hearts as rivers of living water expressing the majesty and splendor of Who Christ Jesus is. The Word of Christ is a continual unchanging force in the Church as much as His peace is (Colossians 3:15-16). The result of being filled with the Spirit and having the indwelling Word of Christ is the same, it produces thanksgiving from the heart in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he emphasizes the spiritual song in the context of the language of the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:14-15). He also further reveals to them the dynamic of what teaching and admonition is when he said, “How is it then, brethren, when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation? Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen