Living a Spirit-Filled Life: Worship, Gratitude, and Unity

The call is to enter God’s presence with joy, thanksgiving, and praise, recognizing that we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. The foundation of our worship and our life together is the reality that God Himself has made us His own through Jesus Christ. This identity is not just a theological truth but a lived experience, made possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Unlike any other religion, Christians are walking miracles—God’s Spirit dwells within us, changing us from the inside out.

Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event but a continual command. It means yielding every part of our lives to the Spirit’s influence, allowing Him to lead, guide, and control us. Paul contrasts this with being under the influence of wine, urging us instead to be under the influence of the Spirit. When we do this, it transforms not only our personal walk but also our worship and our relationships within the body of Christ.

Three primary effects flow from a life filled with the Spirit. First, Spirit-filled believers sing. This singing is not just a private act but a communal one, where we address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Our singing has both a vertical dimension—praise to God—and a horizontal one—encouragement and teaching for one another. The variety in our worship reflects the diversity of God’s people, and the content of our songs should be rich in truth, exalting Christ and building up the church.

Second, Spirit-filled believers are marked by continual thanksgiving. Gratitude is not reserved for good times but is a defining characteristic, even in suffering and trials. We give thanks always and for everything, recognizing the countless blessings we have in Christ: adoption, forgiveness, redemption, and the gift of the Spirit Himself. This gratitude is directed to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, and is a powerful witness to the world and to one another.

Third, Spirit-filled believers submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. This submission is not about inferiority but about humility, service, and love. It reflects the very mind of Christ, who humbled Himself for our sake. In the church, this means looking to the interests of others, serving, forgiving, and seeking unity. When these effects—singing, thanksgiving, and submission—are absent, it may indicate that we are not yielding to the Spirit but are instead walking in sin, which hinders both our worship and our relationships.

The invitation is to repent of anything that hinders the Spirit’s work, to yield afresh to His leading, and to experience the joy, gratitude, and unity that come from being filled with the Spirit.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Spirit-Filled Worship Is Both Vertical and Horizontal When the Spirit fills us, our worship is not just directed to God but also serves to encourage and teach one another. Singing together in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is a means by which we build up the body, reminding each other of God’s truth and faithfulness. The diversity of our songs reflects the unity and variety within the church, and our worship becomes a shared experience that strengthens our faith community. [35:54]
• 2. Gratitude in All Circumstances Is a Mark of Maturity True spiritual maturity is seen not in giving thanks only when life is easy, but in maintaining a posture of gratitude even in suffering and trials. Spirit-filled believers recognize that God is sovereign and good, working all things for our ultimate good, and so they give thanks always and for everything. This kind of gratitude is a powerful testimony to the world and a source of strength for the believer. [49:52]
• 3. Submission Reflects the Mind of Christ To submit to one another out of reverence for Christ is to adopt His humility and selflessness. Spirit-filled believers do not seek their own interests but look to serve, encourage, and build up others in the body. This mutual submission is the antidote to division and strife, fostering unity and love that mirrors the very heart of Jesus. [54:48]
• 4. Sin Hinders Both Worship and Community When we walk in sin—whether through bitterness, unforgiveness, or selfishness—it not only disrupts our relationship with God but also damages our relationships with others. The absence of singing, gratitude, or submission in our lives may be a sign that we are not yielding to the Spirit. Repentance is the continual posture of the Christian, allowing the Spirit to restore joy, thankfulness, and unity. [57:13]
• 5. The Spirit’s Filling Is a Continual Surrender Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event but a daily, ongoing surrender to His control. It is a call to give Him complete authority over every area of our lives, trusting that He will produce in us the fruit of love, joy, peace, and all the effects described in Ephesians 5. This surrender leads to a life that is marked by worship, gratitude, and loving service to others. [25:54]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:26] - Call to Worship and Opening Prayer
• [23:12] - The Uniqueness of the Indwelling Spirit
• [24:31] - Sealed and Filled with the Spirit
• [25:54] - The Command to Be Filled with the Spirit
• [27:18] - The Impact of Spirit-Filling on Worship and Relationships
• [29:00] - The Effects of Being Filled with the Spirit
• [30:48] - Prayer for Repentance and Surrender
• [32:19] - Examining the Effects in Our Lives
• [34:28] - Singing as a Mark of Spirit-Filled Believers
• [41:33] - The Variety and Purpose of Worship Songs
• [46:14] - Thanksgiving in All Things
• [53:09] - Submission to One Another
• [57:13] - The Consequences of Sin and the Call to Repentance
• [72:26] - Communion and the Invitation to Faith
• [82:26] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:18–21 (ESV) — > And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 5:18–21, what are the three main effects that Paul says will be present in the life of someone who is filled with the Spirit?
2. In verse 19, what does Paul say about the purpose and direction of our singing? Who are we addressing, and how?
3. What does Paul say about the scope and timing of our thanksgiving in verse 20?
4. How does Paul describe the way believers should relate to one another in verse 21? What is the motivation he gives for this?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event but a continual command. Why do you think Paul compares being filled with the Spirit to being under the influence of wine? What does this teach us about the Spirit’s role in our daily lives? [[25:54]]
2. The pastor mentioned that singing together has both a vertical (to God) and horizontal (to one another) dimension. Why is it important that our worship includes both? How does this shape our experience of church community? [[35:54]]
3. The sermon describes gratitude in all circumstances as a mark of spiritual maturity. Why is it so difficult to give thanks during suffering or trials? What does continual thanksgiving reveal about our trust in God? [[49:52]]
4. Submission to one another is described as reflecting the mind of Christ. How does mutual submission counteract division and strife in the church? What does it look like practically to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”? [[54:48]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to examine whether singing, gratitude, and submission are present in our lives. Which of these three do you find most difficult to practice right now, and why? [[32:19]]
2. The pastor said that sin—like bitterness, unforgiveness, or selfishness—can hinder both our worship and our relationships. Is there a specific sin or attitude that is keeping you from fully yielding to the Spirit? What would repentance look like for you this week? [[57:13]]
3. Spirit-filled worship is both vertical and horizontal. When you sing in church, do you think about encouraging others as well as praising God? How could you be more intentional about building up others through worship? [[35:54]]
4. The sermon described gratitude as a defining characteristic, even in suffering. Can you share a time when you found it hard to give thanks? What helped you (or could help you) to practice gratitude in that situation? [[49:52]]
5. Submission is not about inferiority but about humility and service. Is there someone in your church or life whom you struggle to serve or put before yourself? What is one practical step you could take this week to serve or encourage them? [[54:48]]
6. The pastor encouraged us to repent of anything that hinders the Spirit’s work. Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation or forgiveness? What would it look like to take the first step toward unity? [[59:37]]
7. Being filled with the Spirit is a continual surrender. What is one area of your life where you need to give the Spirit more control? How can you intentionally surrender that area to Him this week? [[25:54]]