Radical Worshippers -- part 5

Today we will conclude this five week discussion of the topic “radical worshippers.”  It has been refreshing for me to share with you a few of my firsthand experiences as a “radical worshipper.”  God is faithful to teach us and equip us to fulfill the callings that He has placed upon our lives. I pray through the things we have shared, you are motivated to explore more of what it means to be a “radical worshipper” in your own life.

Let’s now finish our topic with a final quality of the “radical worshipper.”

The Radical  Worshipper is a PASSIONATE Worshipper.

A final similarity I found in the dictionary definitions of the word RADICAL refers to the qualities of being “spirited, original, and marked by verve.”  Verve relates to energy, vitality, life, vim and vigor.

In John 4 we read the account of the encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well. In these two verses following, I think Jesus addresses the quality of PASSION very specifically.

John 4:23-24 (NKJV) --  “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth:  for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:23-24 (Message)  “But the time is coming – it has, in fact, come – when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for:  those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship. God is sheer being itself:  Spirit. Those who worship Him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”

Passionate worshippers are desperate for His Presence. They are Matthew 22:37 (NKJV) people. ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Mothers of Nations, that’s truly radical! It’s not just religious verbiage. It’s lifestyle.

Passionate worshippers walk their talk. Many people have no trouble expressing passion for a cause such as AIDS, abortion, politics, or even their favorite sports team. But when it comes to worshipping their Savior, they lose all passion and fervor! What is wrong with this picture?

The passionate worshipper burns for the Lord at any place, at any time. That passion comes from spending time in His presence, seeking to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

As we close, let me leave you with this thought: Radical worship prepares us for our daily “life.” I heard something one Sunday morning on a religious broadcast that touched my heart and spoke to the benefits of living a radical worship lifestyle. The radio host interviewed a lady named Lisa Henderson, the GTE air phone supervisor who took the call of Todd Beamer from United flight 93 that was hijacked and about to crash in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.

On that fateful day that literally changed the spiritual landscape of our beloved America, Todd was the man whose last words were “Let’s roll.”  The radio host approached the story saying, “You never know when you will be called upon by God as a vessel of ministry.”  Lisa Henderson spent thirteen minutes on the phone with Todd, calmly talking about all kinds of things including his faith, her faith, his family, and agreeing to recite the Lord’s Prayer at his request.

As I listened to this interview. it highlighted to me that radical worship prepares us to be ready for action at any place, any time. The air phone supervisor Lisa KNEW her Lord and spontaneously, instinctively stepped into position on her secular job to “minister” to a fellow believer the final minutes of his life. She unknowingly possessed and pulled from her own well refreshment, a word in season, and a flow of strength and boldness that Todd so desperately needed at that moment.

Her well was full and ready to be drawn from because she had learned and practiced her personal RADICAL worship lifestyle. If we could be challenged by nothing else than to become a reservoir of fresh water for others, it would be worth the discipline and effort to become Radical Worshippers, wouldn’t it? But along with blessing others, we ourselves are blessed through radical worship.

Last, but truly first and most importantly, our radical worship blesses our Lord. He has created us to radically worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Would you join me in this closing prayer now?

Lord, teach me how to become a radical worshipper. Train me to be bold, purpose-filled, pure, confrontive, passionate, and prepared to draw on Your fresh water at any time and in any place.

May we together radically worship our King here on earth and forever in eternity!

Rev. Nola Beintema