SINGING WITH SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING
SINGING WITH SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING:
WITH ONE VOICE IN UNITY OF WORSHIP
A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE CAC ANNUAL SEMINAR AT
AKURE, AUGUST 2025
[REV’D CAN BOLA OMODUN ILORI MPP]
INTRODUCTION
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout aloud to the
Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving
and extol Him with music and song.
[Psalm 95: 1 – 2 – NIV]
Make music in your hearts with one accord
Unto the Lord of all the universe,
Sing psalms and hymns and songs with tuneful chords
In your prayers and praises, when you converse
Clap your hands in joy, He to us affords.
Unite together in one voice of praise,
Let the organ leads the sweet melody,
Roll out the drums, and set the dancing pace
The winds and strings to form the symphony,
The joy of jubilee filling this place.
Sing to the Lord a new song on the flutes
Praise Him with the instruments of Jubal,
Playing on the tambourines and the lutes
And the deep throaty sounds of the tuba,
Let voices combine, Lord’s glory salute.
In the choir stall sing with jubilant tones,
With diverse voices, forming harmony,
And so in concord, and on chordophones,
And in rendering our choicest psalmody
Be tools for noble purposes alone.
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SINGING WITH SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING
Christ the Lord is our music, and our theme
In Him alone we are in tune with God,
He sets the tempo, the pitch and rhythm,
Of our songs in the measure of His word,
And so He is our psalm and song and hymn
[Bola Omodun Ilori].
We worship God, our heavenly Father and Creator everyday by
glorifying Him in our actions, but most importantly with our voices
through songs. Singing helps us to do this in nuanced and
expansive ways that words alone cannot. That is the power of
singing that glorifies God.
Unity is a binding love that doesn’t discriminate or segregate. As
we worship, we embody this love, creating an atmosphere where
everyone feels an awe of God. Unity creates an environment
where peace and love can flourish, enhancing a collective
experience and opening us to the movement of the Holy Spirit. In
essence, Singing to God with One Voice, in Unity of Worship,
incorporates Worshiping Him in Spirit and in Spirit and Truth. This
is a holistic approach which involves:
- A sincere heart: Worship should be motivated by, and
grounded in genuine love, gratitude and thanksgiving to
God for His goodness, faithfulness and loving kindness.
- A mind filled with God’s Word: Worship should be
informed and guided by biblical truth, which is the
hallmark of our canticles, hymns and spiritual songs,
through which we sing praises and prayers to God, and
also admonish and teach one another.
- A life of obedience to God: Worship should be
demonstrated through actions that align with the will and
ordinances of God.
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Worship in songs serves its purpose best when it paints God in
truth and gives us a perspective that causes us to love one another
more. There is no limit to what God and His Spirit can do for us
through Jesus Christ, in worship.
SINGING IN UNITY
Singing in unity refers to the act of people singing together, where
individual voices blend together to create a harmonious sound in
worship, whereby Christians gets the liberty to express the unity they
have in Christ, blending different voices and parts into a unified
expressing of faith. The concept emphasizes the power of music to
connect individuals, foster a sense of community, and express shared
emotion of messages. Singing in harmony, especially in worship,
demonstrates the beauty of unity in diversity, with each voice unique in
its own way contributes to a richer and powerful whole.
Singing in unity is also a powerful expression of worship that
makes for a sense of belonging and camaraderie among believers.
It allows for an environment where individuals harmonize their
voices and hearts in praise, creating a shared experience that
strengthens their connection to God and to one another. When
Christians sing together as one, they participate in an art form
particularly suited to expressing the church’s unity with the Body
of Christ.
SINGING IN WORSHOP
Singing plays a very significant role in Christian worship, serving as a
way to express praise, adoration, and thankfulness to God either
privately or in corporate worship. It is a practice rooted in the Scriptures,
with numerous passages emphasizing the importance of singing as a
form of worship, connecting us with God on a deeper level, both
individually and corporately, and can be a powerful tool for memorizing
scripture and expressing unity within the church. Christian songs
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comprise of canticles, hymns and spiritual songs (Col 3:16) which are
components of Christian music that are rooted in the Bible: Passages
like Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 encourage believers to let the
word of Christ dwell in them richly, addressing one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord".
Singing as a powerful expression of gratitude for God's blessings, grace,
and salvation is a direct way to express praise and adoration to Him,
acknowledging His attributes, actions, and worthiness. It is a means of
teaching, admonishing and encouraging one another in faith.
Congregational singing fosters unity within the church as believers join
together in praising God. Music can aid in memorizing scripture and
spiritual truths, scriptural accuracy, church doctrine, teachings and
theology. Singing engages both the mind and heart, allowing believers
to express their emotions and affections for God, encouraging spiritual
growth of members and of the church, especially when done with
sincerity and thankfulness. Singing in worship is not limited to corporate
worship; it can also be a meaningful practice for individual prayer and
reflection and an overflow of the Holy Spirit, expressing the joy and
fullness of a believer's relationship with God.
Socially and psychologically, singing together in worship can foster a
sense of belonging and fellowship, connection among members of the
congregation and reminding individuals that they are part of a larger
community of faith. It also promotes inter and intra group cohesion and
reduce feelings of isolation. Music when shared can bring about
emotional resonance and bridge cultural divides.
WORSHIPPING IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught worshipper through the Samarian woman
in St John’s gospel chapter 4: 23 - 24, always to worship Him in “spirit
and in truth”. Biblically, singing of songs had been an integral part of
Christian worship from the Old Testament era. St, Paul espoused this in
Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 6:17. Worshiping God in song "in spirit
and in truth" means engaging in heartfelt and authentic praise, rooted in
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a genuine relationship with God and guided by His Word. It's about more
than just singing words; it's about offering your whole being to God with
sincerity and aligning your worship with biblical truth.
Our worship in spirit and in truth means engaging with God through a
heart-felt connection, guided by His Word and motivate genuine love
and gratitude. It is not just about singing songs but about aligning one’s
entire life with God’s will and character. This also refers to internal and
sincere aspect of devotion, genuine emotion and willingness to be led
by the Holy Spirit. It means worshiping from the heart,
Worshipping “in Spirit” connotes heartfelt sincerity in our devotion.
Worship should originate from a place of genuine love and gratitude for
God, not just from rote or formal actions, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide
our worship, leading to a deeper connection with God and infusing our
adoration with passion, not a just repetitive routine performed
mechanically
“In truth”, means that worship should be based on the truths revealed
in the Bible, reflecting who God is and what He has done. This truth is
what Christian hymns and songs teach in relation to the gospel of Christ.
In the same vein, the goodness, holiness, love, mercy and other
attributes of God as revealed in the Bible are acknowledged. Worship
is not just about singing, but also about aligning one’s life with God's
commands and living in obedience to Him.
“In Songs” Singing as a powerful instrument of worship and a way to
express praise, remember God's Word, and testify to His goodness,
while at the same time reflecting the truth through the songs. When
singing, it's important to ensure that the lyrics are biblically accurate and
edifying.
SINGING WITH DPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING
Singing with spirit and understanding, as referenced by Paul in the first
epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 14:15, means engaging in singing with
both heartfelt emotion and a clear comprehension of the meaning and
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purpose behind the song. It involves experiencing the spiritual uplift and
inspiration of singing while also connecting with the lyrical content and
its message, ensuring that the singing is not just an emotional
outpouring but also a thoughtful and meaningful expression of faith.
Singing with the Spirit: emphasizes the emotional and spiritual
connection to the song. It's about allowing the Holy Spirit to inspire and
guide the singing, leading to a sense of joy, peace, and spiritual uplift.
This can manifest as a feeling of passion, inspiration, and a deep sense
of connection with the divine. In the same sense, singing with
understanding: highlights the cognitive engagement with the song's
meaning. It's about understanding the lyrics, the message they convey,
and the context in which they are being sung. This understanding
ensures that the singing is not just a mindless repetition of words but a
thoughtful and purposeful expression of faith. For the unity in our
worship, this sentence emphasizes the need to combine both aspects.
Singing with the spirit alone can lead to a lack of clarity and potential
misunderstanding, while singing with understanding alone can be cold
and detached. True, meaningful singing involves both the emotional and
cognitive aspects of the experience.
When we worship with one mind, we are building up the Church: When
singing is done with both spirit and understanding, it can be a powerful
tool for edification and encouragement within a community of believers.
It allows for a deeper connection with the message being conveyed and
can inspire others to engage with their faith in a more meaningful way.
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL EFFECT OF SINGING IN WORSHIP
Singing in worship has significant social and psychological effects,
fostering unity, promoting emotional well-being, and strengthening faith.
It can create a sense of belonging, reduce stress, and enhance both
individual and collective spiritual experiences.
Social Effects:
Singing in unity enhances social bonds, particularly in worship settings.
This has manifested in strengthening social connections and foster a
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sense of unity among participants. The act of singing together, with
synchronized movements and vocalizations, can trigger the release of
endorphins, promoting feelings of belonging and togetherness. The
second effect is promotion of cultural identity and community building.
Worship music often embodies and expresses cultural identity,
connecting individuals to their religious and cultural heritage. Singing
together in worship can create a stronger sense of community,
reinforcing shared beliefs and values.
Psychological Effects:
Emotional well-being of singers is an aspect of psychological effects.
Singing in worship can be a powerful tool for emotional expression and
regulation. It can provide an outlet for emotions, reduce stress and
anxiety, and promote feelings of joy and peace. The act of singing,
particularly in a group setting, has been shown to reduce stress levels
and increase pain tolerance. The release of endorphins and oxytocin
during singing can have a calming and mood-boosting effect. Some
research indicates that singing in worship can positively influence
mental health, potentially reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety
Scriptural Instruction and Spiritual Experience:
From biblical perspectives singing is explicitly instructed in the Bible as
a way to praise God, express devotion, and edify others. Many
individuals report feeling closer to God or experiencing a deeper spiritual
connection through singing in worship. It can be a means of expressing
devotion, praise, and gratitude. Singing in worship is often seen as a
way to glorify God and express love for Him.
CONCLUSION
Worship music can be a powerful tool for teaching and discipleship,
conveying theological truths and reinforcing faith. In conclusion, singing
in worship offers a rich tapestry of social and psychological benefits,
impacting individuals and communities on multiple levels. It strengthens
social bonds, enhances emotional well-being, deepens spiritual
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experiences, and reinforces faith. While singing ability varies, God is
pleased with the joyful and heartfelt singing of all believers. In essence,
worship in spirit and truth is a holistic expression of love and devotion to
God, involving both heartfelt emotion and a commitment to biblical truth.
True worship extend beyond singing to encompass obedience to God’s
commandments and living a life aligned with His will It is a demonstration
of love of God that goes beyond words and actions. Authentic worship
involves being genuine and vulnerable before God, allowing Him to
shape our hearts and minds. It fosters a deeper connection with God as
we express our true selves to Him.
Make music in your hearts with one accord
Unite together in one voice of praise,
Singing in spirit and understanding,
In worship at all times and every place.
. Christ, the theme of our music is our Lord,
Make a joyful noise unto Lord our God,
Undiluted worship to Him be given
Sing to Him, hymns of everlasting praise
In agreement with the hosts of heaven.
Chant canticles and psalms to our Creator.
[Bola Omodun Ilori].
Rev’d Canon Bola Omodun Ilori MPP
Consultant Hymnographer
July 2025
