"What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."
-- I Corinthians 14:26
Thus Paul begins his summary of instruction on the charismata (grace gifts) of the Spirit: by highlighting their normative operation in Christian worship-services, "when you assemble."
I think we have to understand, therefore, that God's absolute intent is that He ALONE structure our praise-giving, and Alone determine its content.
It's certainly not possible to know the innermost heart of every "worship-leader" and pastor, of course: but it's probably safe to say that few of our "evangelical" churches (even formally "pentecostal" churches) prepare for their Sunday service without some planned "order-of-worship" and sermon-topic.
And we can all testify that God can, and certainly does, work through even the most rigid and traditional orders-of-worship. In addition to their edification of believers, Paul writes that our services of worship must be "done properly, and in an orderly manner" (v. 40).
But I've always admired the raw faith of traditional Quakers that God is "not a God of confusion" (v. 33), and will Himself Sovereignly order our worship in the "Spirit and Truth" He desires of His worshippers. I've often thought a few Quakers sitting together in silence, listening for God to give one of them a word to speak to their waiting hearts, may please God more than any other Christian worshippers.
We often speak of our worship as "waiting on God." How pleasing can it be to The Holy One that our "waiting on God" involves no waiting on God, and rather pre-empting Him ?
