Radical Worshippers -- part 2
Last week we started a discussion on the topic of “radical worshippers.” Specifically we addressed the idea that “radical worshippers” are characterized as bold worshippers. I would suggest you read through last week’s entry before moving on with today’s continued discussion.
As I studied the aspect of boldness in worship, the Holy Spirit shared with me several qualities of those who know how to daringly enter His Presence in worship. I would like to share these with you over the next few weeks.
Bold worshippers are Purpose-Filled.
Bold worshippers know they are on this earth to make a difference. They have a sense of destiny. Esther 4:14 speaks to this concept when we read, “…and who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”
Mothers of Nations, God has placed us here on earth to be “breakers” – bold worshippers who know how to break open the heavens with worship over our cities and nations. As the heavens break open, the glory of the Lord will be revealed and the heathen will come to know Him.
Our bold worship has the potential of revealing Jesus to the world! We need to walk in the revelation that our worship can be a witness of God’s Presence, a vehicle by which He can reveal His purposes and plans. I experienced and learned this truth many years ago when I took part in my first missions outreach to the country of the Philippines. Let me share that experience with you now.
Held in a large university auditorium, our missions ministry team sponsored a three-day weekend conference for believers from all over the Baguio City area and nearby provinces. People traveled many miles to attend this event from the mountains and other tribal areas of the region, coming on foot and by local transportation.
As the praise and worship leader for our team, I was responsible for opening the service and leading the congregation into God’s Presence. As we began to sing the very first song that Saturday evening, immediately a strong Presence of the Lord filled the conference center. Worship progressed and the anointing intensified until our team’s Pastor felt led to start healing lines. As the worship team continued ministering to the Lord, people began to be healed. There was a wonderful and spontaneous flow of the Holy Spirit as He fell upon various musicians and singers to lead out.
I myself sang my first prophetic song that night and danced and played my tambourine nonstop. I led and directed our worship team in fast songs, slow songs, songs with known and unknown words, instrumentals, and much more. The music and ministry time flowed nonstop for over four hours. It was an awesome experience in an intense prophetic flow of the Spirit for me as a new mission outreach minister.
However, I did not find out the scope of the prophetic dimension of that night and all that the Spirit of God was doing in the lives of the attendees. The next day when I sat on the same stage waiting for the Sunday morning service to begin, the Filipino Pastor’s wife, who was our hostess, came to me and began to tell a most amazing report.
She said that many people had been sharing with her from last night’s service what they saw and experienced during the flow of ministry. These people represented ten to twelve different tribal groups that had come from the surrounding mountain villages for the conference services that weekend. All of them had the same astounding question for the Pastor’s wife: “How did Rev. Nola, the worship leader, learn all the tribal dances of our local people?” It seems that as I was boldly and spontaneously moving with the Holy Spirit in praise, worship, dance, and song, at various times I demonstrated ten or more different Filipino tribal dances and movements. The people were astonished that I, a middle-aged white woman from Minnesota, would know so many of their specific local dance customs!
The truth was that through my bold, uninhibited worship of my King, the Holy Spirit performed a sign and wonder before these beautiful people. God had higher purposes and plans to accomplish that evening for those believers, way beyond my own understanding or recognition. I cried when I heard that my unabandoned worship the night before was used of the Lord. This was an extraordinary, first-time mission experience for me. If nothing else, it showed me the importance of flowing in liberty and boldness under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He always has a purpose and a plan. We just need to cooperate and yield to Him!
Next week we will continue with another characteristic of bold worshippers. Until then, be bold and confident in your worship this week. You might just be a sign and wonder to someone who needs a touch from the Lord!
Rev. Nola Beintema
