Lukewarm No More - Part 7 — George Verwer

Overcoming Bitterness Through Forgiveness

The most foolish thing many Christians are doing that is blocking the flow of energy to the mission fields of the world is guarding bitterness in their heart against a brother a sister a pastor a mother a father a friend a Former spouse and that's why when I preach missions, I preach great.

When I preach the uttermost parts, I preach forgiveness. When I talk about Uzbekistan I talk about the blood of Christ which cleanses from all sin. When I talk about the Tibetans of North India and South China I speak about the reality of total forgiveness and the grace awakening that can set us free from Rejection can set us free from hurt and put us up on the wings of eagles.

The Normal Christian Life of Spirit-Filled Service

So that we can be God's men and we can be God's women and move across the world touching people for Christ. Say is this pie in the sky? Is this some kind of super spirituality. No, it's just basic normal Christian living that's described from Genesis to Revelation.

In fact, Jesus said in John's gospel. I have come that you may have life and that you may have it in abundance being filled with the Spirit. Knowing the reality of as we used to call it in Bible college being on fire for Christ is the normal Christian life as I've already quoted from Hebrews even God is described as a consuming fire.

Spiritual Fire as Love, Faith, and Consecration

There was a great man that joined William Booth many years ago. He wrote a book called resurrection life and power and in that book is one of the greatest Definitions of fire That I've ever read and so I want to read it to you as we bring this message to a close.

What is fire. Talking about spiritual fire talking about what we read about in Revelation chapter 3. What is fire? God's fire it is love. It is faith. It is hope. It is passion and purpose and determination.

It's utter devotion. It's divine discontent with formality ceremonialism lukewarmness indifference sham noise parade and spiritual death. It's singleness of I its Consecration on the death. It's God the Holy Ghost burning in and through a humble.

Holy faithful man, or woman. I want to ask you. Is that a description of your life? It can be. Not in the absence of struggles out here. As those flags came up and that's one of the best little flag ceremonies I've ever been to and I've been to a lot of them.

Missionary Discouragement and Pastoral Care

Because of the way you've covered most of the missionaries or a lot of your missionaries and the flag as you touch that country. Came down and as I've been involved in almost all of those countries and many more I couldn't help but to start to weep as the flags came down and I thought of the needs and I thought of the struggles.

50 of all the missionaries in the world probably right now are discouraged. That's my whole life is ministering to missionary almost 40 years of it. It's rough out there. The disappointments are heavy.

The news that comes from the home front if it does come isn't always pleasant and In our own work with our ships with our people scattered across the world. One of the main tasks I have my first task really the pastoral care of our whole movement.

Of course working through other pastors and teachers across the globe is to somehow see our people. Encouraged even as I say that I feel a twitch in my conscience. Because something I've said probably this morning may have discouraged you.

Rebuke, Repentance, and the Danger of Lukewarmness

Of course, if if God is trying to rebuke you if God is trying to bring you to repentance. It's because he wants to bless you. It's because he wants to fill you. It's because he wants to use you. But there's no gain without pain.

The pain of acknowledging where you really are spiritually. The pain of Acknowledging that you're drifting in your spiritual life. The pain of facing that that you become lukewarm in your Bible study.

Maybe lukewarm in your relationships, maybe lukewarm and in your family life. Maybe lukewarm in the whole area of missions. Maybe lukewarm in terms of basic prayer and and love which is the greatest of all the gifts from God.

We have whole chapters about it. Brothers and sisters what we're sharing about this morning. I know is very basic and probably some could easily say Oh, there's not enough content in this for our missions conference.

And this is why I'm glad I'm here for more than just one little message. So please do stick around. But the basic bottom line of missions is your heart and my heart. Are we filled the Holy Spirit? Are we living in reality?

Personal Holiness and the Universality of Sin

Purity. Godliness, whatever our temperament. I know most of you probably are rejoicing that you're not similar to me in temperament. Fine, but they're every temperament is highly gifted in sin. We are all sinners.

God’s Grace Transforms the Most Broken Lives

As I was hiking Grand Canyon two days ago I was listening to a tape of the woman known as the late Liz Dobson played her testimony on the radio again for the second time. The tape that brought more response than almost any tape he ever played.

Her name was Gert. She was a millionaire. She went through three marriages and became an alcoholic before God touched her life around 53 years of age. This tape I was listening to was recorded 20 or 30 years ago.

And I had a flashback because I read the book the late Liz in Spain as a missionary in the early 1960s. What an amazing story God taking such a oh complete messed up alcoholic. Turning her in to a trope of his grace and of his power.

That's what it's all about. Nothing is too hard for God. You're not too hard for God. Your heart's not too hard for God. Your hurts are not too hard for God. The terrible things that have happened to you in your life already.

Disappointments and whatever else are not too hard for God. This grace awakening that started at Calvary. Is yours? When you know it walking Beyond fire every day. Every day the rest of your life. Don't miss it.

Rejecting Cultural Conformity and Choosing God’s Way

Don't play the fool. Don't swallow the American cultural pill to go with a crowd. Be filled and go God's way every day, whatever the cost. Let us pray Lord Jesus, we thank you for the power and the reality of your Holy Spirit and Lord.

A Prayer for Fresh Grace and Spiritual Renewal

I know I don't know about others, but I stand before you so weak. So without a quick wear of my own knees. That without your grace and without your filling. That I can't do much. Step get in a mess. Lord, I would ask that in these days you'd meet with me afresh.

Show me what books I should be reading. Show me who I should be sharing with and telephoning and loving. That I may know not just in word, but in reality. This fire that lives within and comes from above.

The Church’s Role in World Missions

Through your blessed Holy Spirit and through the Lord Jesus Christ through whom we pray. Amen. Well, I feel sorry for those of you who just are only able to come to one service. I've been able to have three Services already and just starting to really get off the end of the runway.

I Praise God for your church. I don't just say that glibly or to pat you on the back because that wouldn't be right. But I believe the churches like this are the backbone of what God is attempting to do in world missions whether it's in Brazil or I've just been or whether it's in Korea one of the fastest growing new missionary sending bases in the world or wherever it may be and I know it's going to be a battle.

Faith Promise Giving and the Mission of Loving Others

To maintain this tremendous impetus that you have. And I'm excited about the way you use the faith promise System for seeing the funds come in because probably the second most influential person in my life was Oswald J Smith who really discovered or Launched that faith promise program and I would just encourage you get involved in that.

Even if it's just a small amount. Maybe you've never given a missions before missions by the way is people people loving people people helping people. People saying to the rest of the world, that's what we do at a missions conference.

It's a time to vote and we're voting to serve and love and give to the rest of the world. The Bible says it's more blessed to give than receive. It's also easier. By the way I remember having a big meal in Norway one day with one of my Norwegian workers with their parents and I was so overwhelmed by their hospitality.

And this food and they were really really laying it on and I I said well I find this just Overwhelming and the girl just shot across the table. She said don't worry. It's just your pride just eat up.