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The Radical Christian
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
Sermon Summary: I once heard a preacher thunder from the pulpit, "Let's stop pussyfootin' around!" He is exactly right! God's call upon His people is for radical followers — radical in commitment, radical in faithfulness and prayer and devotion to the Lord and His work on earth.
“RADICAL” = Departing markedly from the usual or customary
•• That’s what Christianity needs — more radicals!
•• A challenge today — Will YOU become a radical Christian? Will you be a Christian not satisfied with “the usual or customary”?
Romans 12:2a Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
•• The radical Christian is one who stands out from the world. He/she is not like the world.
• The radical will “depart from the usual or customary.”
• To achieve that, we need our minds renewed by God and His Word.
Acts 4:23-24a [24a] When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.
Acts 12:5, 12 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.... [12] he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
In Acts 3 we see Peter and John going to the “hour of prayer”.
•• Some radical GROUP PRAYER. I saw this in the awesome preservice prayer room service in a church in Seattle.
• “THEY raised their voices together in prayer” = group prayer.
• Become a radical — departing from the “usual or customary” — and come to preservice prayer!
Psalm 55:17, KJV Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I PRAY, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
•• Radical PERSONAL PRAYER — evening, morning and noon. Try that. Three times daily.
• My first pastor used to say, “You are as spiritual as you are prayerful.”
Philippians 2:14-15 ...[15] so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.
•• Give off some radical moral and spiritual LIGHT that actually shines as light in the darkness of the corrupt world we live in.
• Be willing to take a stand for holiness.
• Be willing to endure the scorn of others if you pursue a “blameless and pure” walk.
• You will shine, and God will be pleased.
Acts 8:29-30 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” [30] Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
•• Take some radical ACTIONS in obeying God’s voice.
• [Philip] Be willing to run alongside some chariots.
• [Peter] Be willing to jump out of the boat when Jesus says, “Come!”
• [Paul] Be willing to try something entirely new, like going over to your “Macedonia.”
• [Philip] Be willing to open some conversations in order to share the Lord.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
•• Some radical CHURCH ATTENDANCE!
• [JF in Alaska, 1971] I attended Abbott Loop Chapel's Sunday morning and evening services, plus Thursday evening, plus Peters Creek Chapel's Wednesday evening service.
• We were a bunch of churchgoing radicals!
• It was a time of rapid spiritual growth.
• SVC 2004 = 31% of Sunday attenders back for Wednesday night service
• SVC 2005 to date = 25% back on Wednesday night. That is not a good trend.
•• Jesus prophesied that the love of most believers would grow cold.
• Consider a radical countermeasure: attend midweek church service!
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
•• Some radical READINESS to SPEAK about your Christian faith.
• Ask the Lord for ONE “TOUCH” in someone’s life today and every day.
Let me summarize these six radical recommendations:
1) Determine to PRAY THREE TIMES daily — morning, midday, and evening.
2) Become faithful to PRESERVICE PRAYER.
3) Resolve to be in CHURCH SUNDAYS and WEDNESDAYS. Faithfully, week after week. Even when you’re tired.
4) Determine to live a BLAMELESS life, the exact opposite of the world’s ways.
5) Be willing to take some radical ACTIONS when the Lord speaks to you.
6) Ask God for ONE PERSON EACH DAY to whom you can extend the blessings of the Lord.
Preached at South Valley Church, Phoenix, Oregon, May 15, 2005
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© 2005, James H. Feeney, All rights reserved.
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