3 ways we ignore the Holy Spirit in worship

Langdon Montgomery Dec. 28, 2019

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Although we try to have godly intentions, I wonder if we sometimes sin by ignoring the Holy Spirit in our planning and leading of worship services. Of course, as we gather in Christ's name, we know that He is among us to comfort, convict and lead into all truth. But are we forgetting something? Here are three ways worship leaders and pastors sometimes ignore the Holy Spirit in worship. 

1. We seldom expect anything different to happen.It's easy to fall into the weekly routine of planning and leading the worship service. However, do we intentionally expect the Holy Spirit to impact or even interrupt our worship services? 

What might that look like? More enthusiastic praise, hushed silence in adoration, a moment when the preacher rises to an unusual height of proclamation or the lost coming to Christ at the end of the sermon?

If we grow weekly in our faith, shouldn’t we also grow in our expectations? “For without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Is there a way to build the faith and expectations of our people so that we begin to look forward to what God might do? What do you expect?

2. We don't pray for or deliberately invite the Holy Spirit into our planning and our worship service.Instead, we assume that He will show up. Jesus told us, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing."  Karl Barth said, “A foolish theology presupposes the Holy Spirit…Only where the Spirit is sighed, cried, and prayed for does He become present and newly active.”

I have noticed in Paul's letters (especially Colossians 4) that he requests prayer in precise ways.  So a few years ago, the senior pastor (of the church where I was working) and a handful of others of us began gathering every Sunday morning for 30 minutes before the service. We fervently cried out for the Holy Spirit to come. We prayed at length for each segment of the worship service.

Soon the senior pastor began to speak more boldly. The Holy Spirit's presence began to be felt more obviously through the entire service. People attested to emotional and spiritual breakthroughs, answers to prayer, reconciliation with family members and much more. I believe it was because we intentionally, consistently and specifically prayed.  

3. We rarely allow time for people to pause, reflect and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit, speaking to their hearts.In contemporary praise and worship, which I led for years and still love, songs often run together without slowing down long enough to wait on the Lord or to pray to Him. Throughout the entire service, there is rarely a gap between the music, the spoken word and videos. 

If we sincerely expected and prayed for the Holy Spirit to move in our midst, it makes sense to deliberately allow time for Him to make himself known during the worship service.  

The pastor or worship leader who has learned to sense God’s presence should step out in faith and call the people to listen and to enter into what the Holy Spirit wants to communicate during the worship service. Otherwise, we may ignore Him and cheat ourselves out of an encounter with God. 

Photo source: istock 

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Langdon Montgomery has served as pastor in several churches over 25 years. He now serves as a hospice chaplain and resides in Hampton Roads. He has a Masters of Divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and has taught three courses at Regent in their Continuing Education and Professional Development Department focused on leadership and preaching. He coaches pastors through Ministry Leadership Coaching, Learn More »

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