A Journey Through Ephesians… Ephesians 5:18-20

(18) Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, (19) singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. (20) And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 5:18-20 NLT

YOU GUYS.

I am so excited to share on this passage! The Holy Spirit blew my lid this morning!

These verses have always been referenced OFTEN in my own life. Being CONSTANTLY filled with the Holy Spirit is a DAILY reminder I need! And the active pursuit of God’s power is 100% worthy of an ENTIRE blog post – and I really thought that’s where we were going today. But He surprised me with a fresh “ah-ha!”

I totally track with Paul on verse 18. Drunkeness is a counterfeit for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. As the Amplified version reads, “wine leads to corruption and stupidity. Instead be stimulated” by the Spirit of God. Love it, love it, love it. 100% AGREE.

But verse 19 ALWAYS had me scratching my head.

I know you all love me, but if I were to walk up to you and begin singing hymns, kind of like Buddy the Elf – I feel I might lose you a little.

Maybe I am wrong – but I think I am right. LOL.

Ummm, Paul. It is 2023. HOW do we make this translate to TODAY?

I obviously have never been asked to sit on a Bible Translation committee. But if I was invited, I would suggest an edit to this underlined part: “Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.” 

Yourselves (Heautou)

NIV Translation: “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord…”

KJV Translation: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…”

I have honestly NEVER noticed that, depending on the translation, verse 19 reads differently. And for good reason.

The definition of heautou in the Greek is kind of ambiguous. Look….

Heautou: himself, herself, itself, themselves. By oneself. Alone. At his home. To himself. In His own mind. reciprocally, mutually, one another

And USUALLY, my concordance is marked clearly which definition goes with the verse of which you are studying.

But here it doesn’t indicate.

Which explains WHY different translations have seemingly opposing renderings.

But I would argue that they are ALL correct!! And if I could throw my two cents in here – I would have it read “Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs in your own mind and to one another, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.” 

Here is why I feel this is VERY important.

I think one of the HARDEST places to be is inside of our own heads. I sit in so much self-doubt, anxious thoughts, condemnation, overthinking, replaying, negativity and insecurity sometimes that I just can NOT stand myself. Granted, this isn’t the case DAILY, but when it happens I spiral really fast.

And as much as I LOVE my community of believing friends, I can not count on them to always know when I am in this headspace – because often I don’t tell them.

So – what’s a girl to do?

Answer: “Be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak to MYSELF in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in MY heart to the Lord.”

Literally on July 16th, I sat right here in this chair and recorded 48 daily confessions of faith on an iPhone voice memo …. My own voice speaking outloud Biblical Truths about WHO God is, WHO I am and WHO I can be to others on His behalf.

Now, I didn’t realize at the time that I was having an Ephesians 5:19 moment, but that is EXACTLY what it was.

In order to continually encourage myself so I can be an encourager to others, I must be “ever filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit and speak out to myself” these truths.

And let us not overlook the last part…. “giving thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Gratitude has incredible power to pull us out of despair and silence the enemy.

Do you see how it all works together?

Oh friend, this scripture wasn’t meant for the “super spiritual” in the Church of Ephesus. These sweet people were not walking around singing like High School Musical.

That isn’t it at all.

This is instruction for us – today.

Let us be continually filled with the Spirit of God and STOP settling for counterfeit fillers – let us build OURSELVES (Heautou) up with Truth through God’s Word add in some really good worship music – and then turn right around and pour out to others.

Mmmmmmm mmmm. Now that will preach.

Love to you all….