The Boy Scout Motto says, "Be Prepared." That's pretty straight and simple. Paul even told Timothy (pastor to pastor trainee), "Be ready in season and out of season..." (See 2 Timothy 4:2)
The latter example involved two Christ-followers who were both filled with the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact, they were full of the Holy Spirit. They knew what it was to flow in Him. They were accustomed to availing themselves to the Spirit in any situation. It was very important to Paul to teach Timothy the importance of flowing in the Spirit. Yet Paul instructs Timothy to be ready. In order to be ready (preach the Word of God in any circumstance), Paul instructs Timothy to prepare. Preparation is a vital key to being effective.
The latter example involved two Christ-followers who were both filled with the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact, they were full of the Holy Spirit. They knew what it was to flow in Him. They were accustomed to availing themselves to the Spirit in any situation. It was very important to Paul to teach Timothy the importance of flowing in the Spirit. Yet Paul instructs Timothy to be ready. In order to be ready (preach the Word of God in any circumstance), Paul instructs Timothy to prepare. Preparation is a vital key to being effective.
The same is true in leading worship. As an individual and as a team, preparation is a must.* For years I've heard folks say, "Well, let's just throw something together and pray the Holy Spirit will anoint it." There are times when we don't have a choice. But the norm should be that we have regular, designated times dedicated to preparing our worship for the next service. God is faithful to bring the anointing, especially when our hearts are sincere. But...what I've learned from experience over the years is that preparation (old fashion practice) is the key to moving forward to higher levels as a team. Preparation equips us to be used any way the Holy Spirit decides He wants to use us. Preparation enables us to flow freely in any direction the Holy Spirit may choose...even one we do not expect.
Preparation in the form of rehearsals gives the team an opportunity to focus less on a music stand, and focus more on what the Spirit is doing in our midst. Rehearsals eliminate surprises for the worship leader, worship team, and the congregation. Practicing the music, lyrics, keys, and chord progressions prepares the team, and enables the congregation to focus on Jesus.
No, we don't "rehearse" the Holy Spirit out of our worship services. Instead, through preparation in rehearsals we make ourselves more available to His leading as we are enabled to focus more on Him during the service.
Be prepared. For what? Well...anything! How do you do that? By rehearsing what you know to do. In the same way a Pastor prepares for His sermon, a worship team must prepare for their ministry. In the same way a minister of the Word prepares for ministry of the Word, we who are involved in worship ministry must prepare for ministry of the Word in worship. If you are a worship leader or team member (all are worship leaders), don't take for granted the significance of preparing to minister.
*My next post will stress the importance of worshiping during a rehearsal. Every team must have regular times of worshiping together as part of their preparation.
"I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven." - A.W. Tozer