The Holy Spirit As Preacher and Musician

We believe that the Holy Spirit is active in the world and in our midst. Is it not reasonable to expect this to be the case — and even to pray for it — as we plan and lead worship? We pray for comfort, for conviction, for strength, for insight; and it is the Spirit who brings these things.

I am puzzled, then, at what I think is our reluctance and even resistance sometimes to allow the Spirit to work among us in worship. The preacher so often prays for Holy Spirit guidance and inspiration in bringing the sermon. Musicians pray (or SHOULD pray) that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of the musicians and the people as we sing and play instruments. But when the Spirit holds up her end of the bargain, we seem reluctant to follow through. We become obstacles to the leading and working of the Spirit.

Example 1: In delivering the sermon, the preacher realizes that the words of "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" provide a perfect illustration or commentary on the sermon, and he begins quoting them. You can see heads nodding in the congregation, even lips moving along with each word. Yet when the preacher finishes the hymn, he goes right on with his next point. If we truly meant the words of the prayer for Illumination that we recited prior to the Scripture reading, and if we truly meant the words of "Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight . . ." just prior to the sermon, and if the unexpected use of a hymn text in the sermon has a right ring to it, then should we not believe that is the work of the Holy Spirit — that God has answered our prayer? Of course we should! And it is an obstacle to the completion of that work if we do not then lead the people to sing that hymn at just that moment in the sermon. I suppose we are so afraid of departing from the sermon notes or the bulletin's worship order that we just can't free ourselves to God's leading to take priority over our own.

Example 2: The musician has carefully considered the lectionary passages, liturgical calendar, and pastor's sermon topic for the week, and has selected the hymns to go along with the sermon. But in the sermon, the pastor takes an unexpected direction. She moves to a main point and conclusion that was unanticipated, and the musician realizes that the concluding hymn, "Lead On, O King Eternal," is entirely inappropriate. In fact, the perfect hymn for the people to sing following the sermon is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." But the organist is ready for "Lead On, O King Eternal," it's in the bulletin, the choir has rehearsed it, and you"ve even brought in one of your high school trumpeters to play along. Whether the pastor's unexpected sermon was worked out by her in her office or by the Holy Spirit in the pulpit, the ball is now in the court of the musician. Do you go ahead with "Lead On, O King Eternal," or do you announce a change and sing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"?

To do the latter requires a number of things: sensitivity to God's leading, a willingness to change everyone's plans and expectations at the last minute (is this really such a big thing?), and the ability to take responsibility for reversing the printed directions in the bulletin. It also requires the wisdom and maturity to say by your actions that sometimes our best-laid plans and intentions can be improved upon by God, even in worship. It may also require the confidence that the relationship between the musician and pastor will allow for this marvelous kind of serendipity. Does it really matter if the hymn change is a work of the Spirit or the decision of the musician? If the change is so clearly a good change for the sake of the gospel and the people's understanding, can you justify staying with the original plans?

God moves. The Spirit leads. Do we listen? Are we open? If so, do we act?