Final Message 2 Tim 1v7 — George Verwer

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, of strength, and of specialness. Who can tell me where that is?

2 Timothy 1, 7. Good, because I couldn't find it. And let's turn to that. I often memorize a verse and then forget the address. In this New American Standard Bible it says, for God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and love, and discipline.

In this translation it says, God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love, and discipline.

I'm going to try to talk soft again tonight, because that helps my voice. And I think actually, after listening to Nigel's announcements, there's plenty of volume in this loudspeaker system. And it helps if we can also just be completely quiet.

I think this is one of the verses God wants you to take with you very deep in your heart as you go from here. I want to talk to you about victory over fear. A number of people have shared that they are afraid.

Maybe going to the ship and you're afraid of getting seasick. Now that's a legitimate fear. I've seen people so sick on ships that they wanted to commit suicide on the spot. Of course, there's a little bit of problem on the doulos, in that you don't sail very much.

Very short distances, generally. So it's all over very quickly. And it's difficult to get sick, in port, though some have managed it through various mental gymnastics. But other people's fears, of course, are much, much greater than this little thing.

You know, it's hard sometimes for people to be honest about their fears. And often it's an area of great hypocrisy and great phoniness among Christians. Because we all feel the dedicated Christian is the courageous, tough, afraid of nothing, man or woman, launching into the work of God.

Because we all feel the dedicated Christian is the courageous, tough, afraid of nothing, man or woman, launching into the work of God.

Especially the missionaries. And some of you, when you go back to your home church, they look at you, wow, here's a real disciple, a missionary. Courageous, courageous people. Ready to take on invading hordes of cockroaches with their bare hands.

Without a flick of the eyes to squish one under your thumb. And if in a desert, difficult situation, to eat it in order to survive.

And if in a desert, difficult situation, to eat it in order to survive. So always have your salt and pepper with you.

But the fact is that many missionaries are actually very fearful people. I've had great struggles in my Christian life with fear. I don't think we should talk a lot about our fears and dwell on our fears.

That's not good. But sometimes it's encouraging and helpful to just really be honest about some of your fears and some of your struggles and then pray together with someone for the victory and for the deliverance that God can give.

Some have shared the fear of failure. This of course won't be anything new on OM, failure. A brother shared with me today that he thought a particular experience he had was a failure. I had never thought of it that way.

I pray that you will understand that in God's work, failure so often is the backdoor to greater victory and greater success in your Christian life. Don't be afraid of failure. Do the best you can in God's strength.

Leave then the results with Him. And if God sets us free from this fear of failure, we're going to pray better, we're going to feel better, we're going to witness better, we're going to relate to one another better, and I just pray that if any of you are yet in the grip of some fear, especially this fear of failure, that tonight by faith you may take a stand against it.

And stand on this verse. Write it down right there in your Bible. Underline it. I believe it's so good to memorize verses like this. Often when Satan is trying to get me into a fear trip, I quote the scriptures, I quote the scriptures.

And you know, most of the problems that we have are very common to large numbers of Christians. I beg of you, don't magnify your problem. Don't allow the intimidation, the intimidation methodology of Satan to get you to believe that you're a special kind of sinner.

The Bible says there's no temptation given you that isn't common to man. And God is able to give you victory over that temptation. I've had people come to me to share at times some really, what they thought was the most important thing that they thought was a really big problem.

Sometimes it's taking them time to say what they wanted to say. And they've been amazed when my answer has been, do you realize I've got that same problem? I wonder if you'd pray for me. You know, I speak on many different subjects all over the world to God's people.

I don't have, you know, just one message. And it's certainly not just missions. But I find today, so often the message that brings the most response is when I just say, I've got this problem. And I just share openly and deal with this whole area of honesty.

A lot of people have shared with me that they feel Christian leaders by the way they speak, give false impressions as to what they really are like in their personal life and in their family life and in every secret area of their life.

But sometimes I think especially as Christian leaders we find it a little difficult to rip the mask off and to really say it as it is. In fact, sometimes we as Christian leaders are deceived people who no longer even know what the real issues are in our own lives.

And if in these coming months you learn to be more honest about yourself, more objective about yourself, it will be a great victory for the kingdom of God. There are a number of verses that burn in my heart this evening, especially from the book of Philippians.

That can help you deal with fear. For example, that verse that says, I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I think it's in chapter 4, verse 13. Is that right? Maybe I can just read it in this new translation I have here.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. And we have many Bible studies, don't we? And we study these verses. How many of us really believe that verse?

How many of us really believe that this verse is true? People have told me that they are afraid of selling books. It's not the fear of selling books. It's the fear of people.

I've experienced that rejection many times and do not find door-to-door work super easy. But the problem isn't book selling. That may be part of it. Fear of what people will say. Fear of rejection. Some people may have a fear of offending a person.

Someone else may have the fear that they will turn somebody off and they will end up further away from Christ than when they started. You know, if I didn't believe that God could overrule my mistakes in the evangelistic work, I think I would be paralyzed from ever doing it again.

And some of the greatest evangelists of all times have made some big mistakes and have done some very foolish things even twenty years after, much less in their first year of training. But I pray that if you are having struggles on the doors or in any aspect of the work, you're not experiencing the victory and the grace that you'll be honest enough to talk about it to your leader and to seek a solution together with someone.

Others have shared that they have a fear of relationship. They've had a lot of broken relationships. And they're afraid that they're going to get on a team and that they're going to somehow be the, you know, irregular person we talked about yesterday and the whole team is going to suffer because of them.

I think that's a normal struggle for many people. And I just know that God can give victory over that fear. Many people on OM enjoy that team life and enjoy living together with other people and are greatly stimulated in their faith and their vision through that experience.

They are, yes. You know, it's especially difficult to be a team leader. I wonder if all the team leaders could just stand up, if you know who you are. Some of you don't know yet. You're right with the team.

You're the team leader. Just stand up. Women? Any more women? Some of them get appointed later on. And I hope that we will pray for these men. There are many more. You can sit down.

I hope that we will pray for these men and women. There are many more.

Because in counseling team leaders for 27 years and having led many teams myself, I have this little word for the team leaders. With you, it's impossible. Isn't that encouraging? It's impossible. No matter what you do, somebody doesn't like it.

You serve them a particular kind of food, somebody doesn't like it. You let them sleep a little longer, somebody doesn't like it.

You let them sleep a little longer, somebody doesn't like it. You let them get up early, somebody doesn't like it.

You have a one-hour study program, somebody doesn't like it. You have a short, ten-minute study program, nobody likes it.

There are so many different people on the team. Maybe there were four nationalities in one team. And now you have a team with maybe ten people. One Brazilian, one Argentinian, one Korean, one American, one Englishman, one from Hungary, one from Germany, one from Italy, and one who doesn't know where he comes from.

Sometimes when I read articles on anthropology, I read one some time ago, a real heavy article on missionary anthropology, I thought we in OM are completely bananas, we're completely crazy. Here we are wanting to launch into nations like Pakistan and communicate cross-culturally but it takes massive cross-cultural communication even to talk to our own team.

And we seem to get a wide range of political viewpoints on OM these days. We get people who have actually voted for Ronald Reagan, and fellowshiping with someone who belongs to the anti-nuclear club of West Germany, fellowshiping on the same team.

And of course when we think of how some of our countries really are not getting on with each other very well, and yet here we are lumped together in this mobilized pressure cooker. And I believe this above all else should just cast us upon God and cause every one of us to determine to be patient, tremendously patient with our leaders, with the pastors of the churches we work with, and with one another.

Without that patience that God alone can give, this thing can become an ugly, chaotic mess. And yet here is the beautiful thing, that if you fail in the area of patience, and you maybe hurt somebody on the team, God has the answer to that.

The broken part of the team is the forgiveness that we've been talking about these days.

The repentance, the humility.

The great problem in OM is not when somebody sins, not when somebody does something impatient on the team. That of course is a problem, and it's wrong. But the problem is when people refuse to apologize.

They throw aside that beautiful little message of Calvary Road. They throw it aside as if they'd never seen the book. And pride, that's what it is. Pride causes them to dig their heels in and say, I'm not going to apologize.

Let him come to me. He owes me an apology.

And if he apologizes to me, I will definitely forgive him. After all, I know that forgiveness is a basic truth in the Bible. Every one of us here is going to be tested this year in the area of the pride factor.

Very few will escape that kind of testing this year. And I say this, I don't believe it's an exaggeration. Without the emphasis in OM on brokenness and the cross and Jesus reigning and ruling in the heart in a practical way, I don't think we could ever, ever do what God wants us to do.

I believe there's been some powerful ministry from many different people along these lines, so I'll not tarry there any longer. We're warned about having even a root, allowing even a root of bitterness in our own hearts.

I want to ask you this question. I want you to answer it tonight to yourself. Do you have anything against anybody, anywhere? Somebody that maybe really walked on you? Somebody who maybe really rejected you?

Someone that hurt you? Someone that did the worst possible thing you can think of? Maybe he lied to you and ran away with your fiance? Or something ten times worse? The Bible has a clear message. As Christ has forgiven you, you must also forgive him.

That doesn't mean the memory will be erased from your mind. Don't be surprised by old memories that pop into your head. That's as human as anything that can happen to you. I often get memories right back from when I was even ten years old.

I used to get in a lot of fights with my fists. Some of those fights and the hatred that spewed out of my temper and my mouth, it's almost like it happened last week. But when it comes, I deal with it immediately and let it go under the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

You know, there are certain people that you think, well, they do have a hostility problem. People like George Verwerth. He has a hostility problem. That's pretty clear. To use a simple example, a stronger word, before we're saved, what would be called hatred, after salvation, comes out in a more subtle way as just sort of hostility.

And I just so thank God for the victory he can give in this area. But some of you don't appear to be hostile at all. You don't have this volcanic problem of wanting to really get a hold of somebody by the neck.

You are very gifted at repressing that hostility down into your stomach or some other part. You might never shout outwardly at someone, but you'll feel it. You'll feel it and you'll repress it. And often that does more damage to your health than if you let it out.

You don't want to do either one, of course. I feel often as Christians, we are very naive and very idealistic about our emotions and what to do with them and how to handle them and what's right and what's wrong.

And we've got to deal with that. That's why my goal for the last three years has been to get every OMer to read that powerful book, Healing for Damaged Emotions by David Siemens and the second book, Give Up Your Childish Ways.

And hundreds, I believe, have been blessed just within OM through those two powerful books. As we gather around the Lord's table, let's realize there's victory in Jesus Christ. There's healing in Jesus Christ.

There's forgiveness in Jesus Christ. There's renewal in Jesus Christ. There's victory over every form of fear in Jesus Christ. Why is this victory? Because of his precious blood. Because of his word. Because of his death and resurrection.

And when Satan comes moving in on you like a flood, you have to learn how to claim the power of the blood of Christ. You need to learn how to use the blood of Christ.

You need to learn the word of God, the sword of the Spirit.

You need to learn how to stand on his promises. You need to know how at that moment to be sure you're filled with God's Holy Spirit. Most of you have stood to your feet sometime in the last three, four months and asked God to fill you with his Holy Spirit.

Most of you have done that. Some of you experienced great power and deliverance last Friday night. Many of you have had some heavy experiences with the Lord during these weeks, months. But you know that now the main thing isn't the crisis, it's the process.

Daily. What about tomorrow? It's a terrific transition day tomorrow. In OM you've got to learn how to redeem the time and survive transition days. When you put your luggage in the wrong place and never, ever see it again.

And I pray that when you awake tomorrow morning you'll by faith stand on his promises and claim the power of the blood of Christ. The mind of Christ which is yours by his grace. That even on a practical level you may experience the reality of the mind of Christ delivering you from fear and enabling you to function more effectively as a person in this great testing ground.

We saw a film about thinking. And to survive on OM and in God's battlefield you've got to keep the brain turned on most of the time. Some people say, oh but we're so tired. Do you know many men have had to fight the greatest battles with less than two hours sleep in the previous two days.

I don't recommend that, but history shows it's taken place.

Many men have had to fight the greatest battles with less than two hours sleep in the previous two days. I don't recommend that, but history shows it's taken place.

A man just sailed across the Atlantic Ocean alone in a balloon. He hardly did any sleeping for all the days that he was in the air. One man in a balloon. Just happened last week. Nah, we're not going to do that to you.

If we do that we're going to put at least two in the balloon. And actually we believe very strongly you should get a good night's sleep. Every night. And the word of God even speaks about that. There is victory over fear.

A lot of people now have fear of the future. People are always asking you, aren't they?

What's your long-term plan, man?

You know, everybody at 19 years of age has got to have a long-term plan. If the Lord has given you a long-term plan, praise Him. Be ready to see it disappear. If you don't know what God's full plan is yet for your life, that is nothing to feel guilty about or to think you're some kind of a weirdo.

You get what God wants to give you this year in terms of character, and holiness, and discipline, and He'll lead you the next step by next August or next September or whenever. Then a lot of people have written to me, especially the women.

And their fear is that they're not going to get married. And we don't talk about this too much in OM because it wouldn't be really spiritual, would it? You know, I had that fear when I was 19. And I, at night, after I read my Bible, I would grab my pillow and say, Oh God, nobody's ever going to marry me.

You had the same fear. But you know, this is what the Christian life is all about. Trusting God. We don't know what the future holds. We trust God. Most of you don't know yet who you're going to marry.

Some of you got some ideas in the last couple of weeks.

But you don't know yet who you're going to marry.

Leave it with God. Some of you have been thinking today. You've got some plan in your head today. You've had your eye on somebody. You've been in much prayer about this. And you know what this social policy says, and well, you never really agree.

It's not really mature, is it, this social policy? No, it isn't.

And you think, this social policy isn't really for mature people, is it?

But you know what we discovered about the last night at the conference? Sometimes five minutes of impatience has caused many months of heartache and grievous situations. And wise is the young Christian who knows not to act on impulse, but to wait, to wait upon God, and to get God's clear direction and go ahead.

And that usually doesn't happen as quick as most people sometimes hope. And then some people have a tremendous fear of death. It's actually quite normal. Because no matter how much faith you have, you don't know what lies behind death's door.

You say, yes, I do know. That's right. You know by the mind of faith what's behind death's door. I know by faith. And struggle with a fear of death is a very normal thing even for the most dedicated believers.

And as one who has struggled often with this, I thank God that I can put this totally, absolutely in His hands. I know that when I die, whatever is there, I will be with God. Amen. Amen. And we can say as the Apostle Paul, by faith, some of us not easily, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Yes, we are a victorious people. We are a praising people. We are washed with the blood. We are set free by His power. And as Romans 8 says, we're more. We're not just conquerors.

We're more than conquerors.

Let's live in the light of this. Let's exhort one another along this road during these coming months. And I believe this is our inheritance in Jesus Christ. Let us pray. Father, we thank You for this great inheritance we have in Your Son, Jesus.

We thank You that You can deliver from the grip of fear. We pray that You'll set people free tonight by Your power and by Your grace. Just pray your own private prayer. And ask God in faith to break that chain of fear that may be gripping your life in any area whatsoever.

And maybe something else completely different from what I mentioned, but it's not too much for God. Will You purpose right now by faith to cast every care upon Him because He cares for you? Some of you have worry about your money that hasn't come yet.

There's half a dozen things you could be worrying about tonight. Will you obey God? Cast every care upon Him. Cast every care upon Him. He cares for you. Will you do that right now? In your own prayer?

You pray your own prayer. Father, You have set us free and we are free indeed. And we worship You because You have not given us a spirit of fear but of love and of power, discipline and of a sound mind.

We stand on Your Word. We appropriate this truth by faith. And we believe that we can do all things through Christ, Your Son, who strengthens us. And we pray in His precious Name. Amen. Peter is going to come and just lead us as we just have this final breaking of bread and worship together.

Let's turn in our handbooks to number 65, Jesus, the name high over all in hell or earth or sky. This is the name that deals with all our fears, the name of Jesus. Number 65, that's from our experience as a person, Jesus Himself.

And the really important facts are that He died 2 ,000 years ago. It wasn't just a spiritual phenomenon, it was a physical act. He went to a cross. We praise God that He didn't stay there. Death couldn't keep its prey when it came to Jesus, our Savior.

He tore the bars of death away. And up from the grave He arose. We want to try and put as much as possible everything else out of our minds for the next few moments. And we just want to think of Jesus Himself.

He's worthy of the absolute commitment of our minds. To help us to do that, I just want to read some scriptures to you. I suggest that rather than turning to them, you just close your eyes and try and meditate on these words.

They're all from the Old Testament. They're prophetic words. And they speak of the agony, the suffering of the Lord Jesus. I'll read in English, and I'll ask Clarence to translate as well. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

All who see me mock me. They hurl insults, shaking their heads. He trusts in the Lord. Let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him. Many bulls surround me. Strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water. And all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax. It has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a pot's herd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me. A band of evil men has encircled me. They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. People stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Isaiah 52 Verse 13. See, my servant will act wisely. He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him. His appearance was so disfigured. Beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness.

So he will sprinkle many nations. And kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see. And what they have not heard, they will understand. Who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. Nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men. A man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.

Yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. And by his wounds we are healed.

Maybe I can just read that fifth verse again. He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him.

And by his wounds we are healed.

Let's remember the Lord Jesus for a few moments.

Let's remember the Lord Jesus for a few moments. You too can pray and thank for what he has done for us.

In a worship which will gladden your heart. In your name we pray. Amen.