======================================================================== TESTIMONY by George Verwer ======================================================================== Summary: George Verwer shares his journey from a life of sin to a transformative faith in Christ, emphasizing the importance of genuine belief and growth in the Christian life. Duration: 1:01:22 Topics: "Personal Testimony", "Spiritual Conversion" Scripture References: Matthew 6:33, Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, Ephesians 4:22-24, 1 Peter 1:14-16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal testimony of growing up in a family with atheist and alcoholic backgrounds. He talks about his early interest in God and attending churches where the gospel was not preached. The speaker also mentions his involvement in worldly pleasures such as dancing and pursuing money. He highlights the lack of discussion about important topics like sex in his upbringing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Bible, āmāne, nityoṁ sa bhāgavata kriyāpāya kautiḥ? The 2nd Corinthians, Dūtya Karanti, Chapter 5, verse 17, sattvara pada. 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 5, verse 17, Dūtya Karanti, pāra pāñca parvara sattvara pada. Therefore when a man be in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away, behold, old things are become new. Verse 18, sattvara pada, all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did be seek you by us, we beg you in Christ's name be reconciled to God. For He hath made us, for He hath made Him who knows Him, that's Christ, to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. For God and Father open our hearts, make us to be the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. And he went to live near New York City. He left Holland and went to the great new land to make money. On my mother's side, my grandfather was a drunkard. The drunkards drank too much. You have plenty of that in India as well. Especially in certain cities like Goa. So this was my background. And I was brought up in this kind of home. Everybody did that. I mean, we weren't heathen. So we say Christians. Purely a name. And I knew almost nothing about Jesus Christ. Except when I got angry, it was a swear word on my lips. And I, at a very young age, began to live for money. I went in business when I was about 11 years of age. I learned how to lie, I learned how to cheat, and I learned how to steal. And I soon was finding myself in some interesting situations. Of course, it was nothing that big. I was only 12 years old. But I had this great love of money. And then another strong passion came in my life. That I didn't quite understand. This tremendous lust toward women. Now, we never talk about that here in India. We were so mad to talk about these things in India. So you better not read your Bible. Because there's over 200 verses in the Word of God on the subject of sex. Then someone said to me, oh, don't speak about these things in mixed groups. Of course, in my Bible, there's no reference that says not for reading in mixed groups. So when I was about 13, I began entering into this very interesting world. And by 15, 16, I was in the nightclubs in New York almost every weekend. That was a very dominating thing in my life. Then there were many other desires in my life. Great love for pleasure. Great passion to be someone. This caused me to do many foolish things. Say many foolish things. Then I started going to church. There were some nice girls in this church. So I thought this was a good place. Plus, there was some small interest in my heart about God. I was wondering, what is this about? Now, I went to a church where the man, the pastor, did not preach the Gospel. He just had a job. He was getting good pay. So, of course, we were all very wonderful. He made me president of the young people. Now, I thought I would bring revival to this church. Of course, I didn't even know what revival was. But I thought at least I could teach them how to dance. I used to be dancing every few nights. And if I couldn't find a woman, I would dance with a stick. I had music going from very early morning. I had a special clock that ticked off the record player before I was awake to get me out of bed and get me going in the morning. And so I told the pastor, I said, let us get a good record player into this church and we will get this place going. So many more young people were coming. Of course, none of us knew Jesus Christ. All kinds of things were happening. The pastor, nor our parents, knew what was going on. You know, I think he was a fool people. I used to think I was so clever. That poor mother, she is really mean. My mother is thinking I am such a good fellow. And I would stay out late at night. I would do so many things. She would never believe I was doing anything wrong. I was stealing from her very pocket. But they were so happy they had such a good little son. Of course, in the house. I never said any naughty words. Out in the streets I was cursing and blaspheming all the time. I thought I was so clever. I had many dirty stories. I was going to produce a dictionary of dirty words and dirty stories. So I was trying to get a little bit of religion and a lot of the world together. Then came the year just before I was to go to university. I was sixteen. An old lady had sent a gospel of John to me through the post. And I had begun to read. She had prayed for this particular school. For fifteen years. For a menace woman of Christ. She had heard about me. Because of the trouble I was causing in the school. She began to pray for me. She prayed for me for three years. And I believe I am here today because of the presence of that woman. At that time I didn't know she was even French. I did not know it was she who sent this gospel. I thought it was her son. And then on March 5th, 1955. Billy Graham came to New York City. Just for one night. Many of you have read his book, How to Find God in Orient. So partly out of curiosity. I went. Maybe some of you have come to the ship like that. That's a hungering for God. Wanting to join the army of Jesus Christ. I was curious what kind of ship this was. So I went to this meeting. I took my binoculars. I used to use it to rate this. And this Billy Graham was a hypocrite. I mean hypocrisy. And that people would be emotionally caught. And just question everything. Billy Graham gave a very simple message. He explained how all men were lost. Whether they were religious or whether they were atheists. They were lost. He explained the deadly perils of playing with sin. As a young man I had begun to play with sin. But by 16, sin was playing with me. I no longer had the power to stop habits that had gripped my life by 16 years. I was unable to stop lying. I was unable to stop swearing. I was unable to control my mind. And I began to peddle and to sell pornographic filthy literature to my schoolmates. And I knew that what Billy Graham was saying that night was true. I knew that I needed courage. I was talking about pride really. That made me worse. That made me into a hypocrite. I was failing in the church. My little next child. We will now have the Lord's praise. We will now sing one hymn. Let us all sing Jesus loves me. Let us all sing Jesus loves me. And people called all these lovely young men my little heroines. Even sitting there in the church the whole time I was watching this beautiful girl up in the balcony. So I was a hypocrite. And Monday through Saturday I was living like the devil. And my friends would have never known that I had even ever entered a church building. My friends would have never known that I had even ever entered a church building. Religion cannot help you. Religion makes things more confusing. We begin to live a double life. We begin to pretend. We wear the little Christian mask. Of course very easy. We don't have the little Christian mask? We say oh praise the Lord. Oh praise the Lord. Isn't Jesus wonderful? Then when we go with our other friends. We forget to take the mask off. Then the real person. So as I listened to Billy Graham that night. I knew something was wrong. I did not like the words seen. I am no sinner. I never murdered anyone. Of course I wanted to. I am not a gangster or some thief. I mean I don't steal much. And so I didn't like this word sinner. I was from a good family. We were good people. But he quoted oh I have sinned and come short in the glory of God. And he kept reading the Bible. He didn't give man made philosophy. He said the Bible says. And it went like an arrow into my heart. And I knew I needed help. Now I had brought a girl with me. Before I went I took a girl with me. This is one of these girls who pours peroxide on her head. Turns her hair all blonde. It's chemical they put on their hair. And she was not a very nice girl. So I thought boy this is just what he needs. He had some salvation. And so when Billy Graham asked people to pray. I bowed my head and I prayed for her. But even as I was praying. There was a sense something was wrong. There was a sense there was something wrong with me. That I needed this salvation. I needed forgiveness of sin. I needed to know that I was on the way. So when he called people to make a decision. To get out of their seats. I did that as a simple act of faith. And I trusted him. I believed in him. You see believing is not with the head. We all believe in the head. But the bible says the devil believes. He does more than we do. He believes he even trembles. But the faith that the bible speaks about. Is something very revolutionary. When you really believe on Jesus Christ. As it says in this verse you become a new person. And that night. I became a new person. And that person. Got some of my problems. They went very quickly. Like for example all the literature I had. Evil literature. That was easy. Like a match. But my mind. For many years. Had that continual cleansing. And renewing by the word of God. It says in John 1.12. As many as receive him. Receive Jesus Christ. Then he gives power to become a son of God. And that's what I did that night. I received him. And his power came in my life. That was many years ago. It has never died. Only for a few minutes. When I sinned. With my mind. With my eyes. But I learned as a young Christian. That if I confess my sins. Immediately God is faithful and just. To forgive me and cleanse me. And I believe. Many who think that they are Christian. They only have it in their head. Their lives have never been changed. Their tongues have never been changed. Their thoughts have never been changed. Selling is a sin. We are all sinners. We have a chair here. Now this is a very nice chair. Very strong chair. And I can say I believe in this chair. That's the kind of faith a lot of people have. I believe in this chair. But that faith is no good. I will show you the kind of faith. That saves a man's soul. This is the kind of faith. Now I'm trusting this chair. And if this chair breaks. It will be quite funny. I'm trusting this chair. I've committed myself to the chair. And I'm trusting this chair. And I'm really believing. The Bible's kind of believing in this chair. That's the kind of faith we need. We put our trust in Him. We yield our lives to Him. It's no longer our will, my plan. But it's God's will and God's plan. Now I never found a Christian like you. I know many of you are already believers. Maybe you're like I was. That kind is very easy. And I believe this is for one main reason. That after we're born again. We fail to grow. Look at 1 Peter 3.18. 1 Peter 3. 2 Peter 3.18. But grow in grace. 18th verse. 2 Peter 3.18. But grow in grace. And in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May Him be glory both now and forever. Now this is very important. When a baby is born. When you were born. Your mother didn't say oh well here he is. And throw him into the street. No. She nursed you. And fed you. And took care of you. You needed air. You needed food. You needed love. And in that environment. You grew. Being born again. As wonderful as it is. As important as it is. Is only the beginning. You must grow. And this has been one of the main entropy. Of the work of O.M. To help young people grow strong. In Jesus Christ. Let me give you a little history. How the work began. You see the ship there. Oh what a big work. But it started with just two or three of us. There was no organization. There was no vehicle. Just a few kids. In that very high school. We were seventeen years of age. We began to have prayer meetings. One of the best things you can do. If you are serious about the things of God. Is to form prayer cells. So at seventeen we learned to pray. And God broke into that school. And within one year. About a hundred and fifty people. Gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Through the weak work of just a group of young people. Then I went to college. There I met one or two of them. We began to pray. We began to go out in evangelism. And God worked. And that summer. Three of us. Went four thousand miles to Mexico. That was the first O.M. team. Though we had no name O.M. I was only eighteen. I was nineteen. And we were very young. We were in a foreign country. We didn't know the language. I was learning the Spanish language. I had trouble knowing even my own language. So we prayed to God. And God answered prayer. And did great things. And that was the beginning of this work. The next summer there were five of us. The next summer there were fifteen of us. The next summer I went to Spain. And God began to worship. In Europe. And there were about twenty. So we prayed to God. And God answered prayer. And did great things. And that was the beginning of this work. The next summer there were five of us. The next summer there were fifteen of us. The next summer I went to Spain. And God began to worship. In Europe. And there were about twenty five of us. And we prayed. We asked God to give us two hundred Europeans. He gave them in sixty two. Even though we were told this is impossible. They said this may happen in North America. But it will not happen here. And in 1963. He gave us two thousand. We never tried to raise any money. There were no big church. We had no great source of money. But day by day. Daily prayer. Weekly nights of prayer. God answered. He gave us people. He gave us literature. Literally lakhs and lakhs of people. Never so much literature in the history of world ministry. And then he gave us this. We didn't have any money. We got very old vehicles. Nobody wanted it. Our first big truck. The man said it means take it. Free. Nobody wants this 1949 truck. And one man said. This truck will not reach city limits. So that truck. Twenty thousand kilometers. For the glory of God. For the first seven years. We didn't even have a mechanic. Not one mechanic. But God heard our prayers. I remember once driving a truck. Water started to leak out of the engine. I didn't know what to do. But I had some chewing gum. And then I. And to my amazement. The water stopped. And so God helped us in so many ways. Many times we did not have food. We had no money. One team was in the south of France. They had no food. They were sitting by the side of the road. All of us started. Down the hill. Dozens and dozens and dozens. Of pieces of fruit came down the hill. Rolling down the hill. Apples, oranges, rolling down the hill. They just started praising God. And eating his sandwiches. They discovered later. That one truck up the hill. Had lost his load. Now someone can sense. That these are not answers to prayers. This is just coincidence. But my friend. I am also a skeptic. I have to see. Nineteen years. Nineteen years. Of this kind of thing. Every day. It is impossible to believe it is coincidence. Day after day. Every day. I am a skeptic. I need much more faith. To believe it is coincidence. Than I do to believe. That God hears and answers prayers. So many ways God supplies. When I first met the girl. Who is now my wife. I tried to explain to her. I am committed to what she discussed. She was also committed. But she did not understand. Some of my convictions. I explained I had sold all my possessions. My business I had no money. I told her if she married me. She would be poor. All of her life she would be poor. Because I was giving all my money. To print Gospels. She was somewhat afraid. Because girls like material things. Even more than men. So we were discussing. Maybe we should not get married. Then I became a man. One day we were sitting by one lake. I had no money. Time was coming for food. So I said. I don't think we should buy any food today. She looked at me. She was not quite sure this was the best way. So I was praying. Then a group of young people. Sat behind us. And they had sandwiches. The way they eat. Wrapped in paper. And some fruit. And they were eating away. Here I am kidding. Then they put everything in the bag. And they threw it in one barrel. Like the parks they have a dust barrel. So I didn't know what to do. This dear girl would never understand. So I said let me just go and see in the barrel. And when I took out this bag. There was much food they had not even touched. There was fruit they had not even touched. And so I presented this meal to the girl. Who later became my wife. We have been seeing God so far. I would not spend even five paisa without teaching. I would not spend even five paisa without teaching. At college I lived in a YMCA. I didn't want to spend any money for soap. I prayed Lord God of heaven. God of all soaps. Every time I went down to the shower room. Every time I went down to the shower room. There was no soap. They left it there. They left it there. Sometimes it was a very small piece. But I am not a very big fellow. But I am not a very big fellow. So I began to learn. That God is His breath. Not everybody is the same. Not everybody is the same. We all grow in faith. Some people God says you work. That's good. Other people God says you must go out completely. Other people God says you must go out completely. Preaching the word of God all day long. And so as I began to share these principles. And so as I began to share these principles. And I wrote articles and then books. And I am very happy that my book has just been published in ODIA. And I am very happy that my book has just been published in ODIA. And I am going to give you one of those tomorrow. If I can find enough copies. More and more young people. More and more young people. Soon we were moving all over Europe. Then to the Middle East. Turkey, the Arab world, Iran. Then India and many other places. When we came to India. When we came to India. What salary are you paying? What salary are you paying? No one is paying me. What future is in this kind of situation? Only unemployed people will join. And they will steal everything you've got. And it's true in the early days. But as we prayed. But as we prayed. Facing our prayers on Matthew chapter 9. That he would send labourers. That he would send labourers. Some for short time. Some for longer time. Praise God for some of you from this state of Odisha. Praise God for some of you from this state of Odisha. Who have worked with these people. You understand it's just extreme work. We find men learn things by doing them. They learn things even by making mistakes. The only man who has never made a mistake is the man who has never done anything. We as young people. We need to come out of our fear. Stop worrying about making mistakes. And get on with world evangelism and spiritual revolution. Now I have 250 men here in India. About 70-60% in India. Also Indians moving out to other countries. Many of these other countries are much much more needy than India. And India is very needy. And India is very needy. And family is needed. Prayer. Evangelism. Fellowship with one another. Loving one another. That just causes us to grow. And so in the habits that grip our lives. The evil things that control our lives. We have found that decision is Christian, so negative. Don't smoke, don't go to cinema, don't look at the girls, don't do this, don't say that, don't go near. That is not the Christianity of the Bible. That is our own imagination. Many, many people have been driven away from Jesus Christ because we presented him a negative, negative God. We have a positive message. I myself can never stop doing those things. So many Christians I know, they are just scared. That is why it is so hard not to listen, not to that. The harder they try, the more they fall. They get discouraged. They say, this is all nonsense. They throw everything away. God has given us a path. A revolutionary path. Where we love one another. We help one another. We invade the world for Christ. We give our lives, we give our time, we give everything. And in turn we experience many things. I have not had a day in 19 years. It was that last day. God! The Bible says, Jesus Christ. So much time. They want to be happy. They want money, vaccines. They want money. If they get it. They are not happy. But the man who falls into the ground and dies. Who is buried with Jesus Christ. Who surrenders his life to Christ. He gives his money. He gives his time. He gives his heart. He falls into the ground. He brings forth money. And the experience of the joy. Unspeakable. Oh my God! This great secret of spiritual life. May we give our lives to him. May we submit to his pattern of growth. See every day on the Word of God. That's what I began to do. As a young Christian. And every week. For 19 years. Another 60 books. Now some 500, 600 books. And of course more on the Word of God. Such great help. And then witness. As we give to others. God gives us more. And as we give. And every believer. Even the youngest Christian. Can be a witness. When I was just a baby. Only one year. I was winning many people's hearts. And this helped me so much. I saw their lives changed. I went down and worked among criminals in jail. I was living there. But here I went into the jail. I began to share the Word of God. I was sharing the Word of God. Behind the bars. Surrendered to Jesus. Life was changed. The tremendous things. That we see God's change in our lives. This is the Bible. And the inside. And nobody's too hard to find. I've seen drug addicts. So many people. I think of Tom Skinner. He was a terrible gang leader. He had bad ATVs. He was the gang leader. So many gangs. He was constantly beating people with his fists. One day he was planning a large war. They used to carry guns as well. They used to use bottles. Bottle like a whiskey bottle. They smashed it into a man's face. The man's face would never be the same. Filled with hatred. Some of you have read his stories in many Indian languages. He was listening to the radio. He was going back to the gang. His voice was the same. One day the guy killed him. But his arm froze in the air by the power of God. That's what he would say. Eleven years ago, Tom Skinner has been preaching everything. He's one of the great American black evangelists. He's been preaching everything. If any man being fine, and he does being fine, then he or she is a new creation. That's the problem. We have born. Like Jesus. I look at all of you as one, and I know many of you, but the strategy is to meet me. Because I know you. I know all of you. I have a plan for your life. Give me your heart. Give me your all. I will give it to you. I believe God is saying that. I pray you will respond. Living and true God, you know each one of our hearts. Search us as we wait upon you. Take a moment of silent prayer. You can pray right where you are. Building your life to try. Maybe for the first time. Maybe for re-dedication. God will hear your prayer. Let's take a moment for silent prayer. To do serious business with God. Thank you God, did you hear and answer prayer? Hear the prayer of these young people tonight. Work in their hearts and lives. That they may never be the same again. That we may be true disciples of Jesus Christ. Living holy for him. Going in a deep way of his grace helping. Praying Jesus' name. Amen. Did you get your hands around my neck? Fortunately I'm in London. Did you just realize God is building character. Don't kick, don't run the wrong way. Watch what he said. Circumstances is one of God's greatest message. To make you what God wants you to be. So if you fall off the sea truck and we have to fish you out with a fishing pole. And you lose your story in the process. God is still alive. It's never happened to anybody in Oang yet. But I can tell you I was preaching in a meeting in Kerala with my dhoti. And when it started to move through my shoes I became a mighty nervous preacher. And we had another brother down in Kerala. He was preaching and his dhoti did go with the wind. That started a new legend in the Marathon of Church. Once I tried to use him, now he uses me. Don't use God. Don't try to push God into your mold. We get some people I know, they try to push God into their little theological mold. Don't make God into a Baptist. Please. Don't make God into a Flemish Brethren or a Pentecostal or an Anglican. Let your God be faith. Grace. The God of all believers. Don't try to use him. Don't use his word in a deceptive way. Once the power I wanted, now the mighty one. People go wild speaking for power. I want to tell you if God gave some of us too much power prematurely we'd blow the church down with it. Misplaced power is a great problem. I just pray in my own life. I want power when I preach. I pray that God will give it to me in accordance with the humility that I have to control it and absorb it. It's very important. Once it was the power, now the mighty one. Once for self I labored, now for him alone. I think I'll just read the rest of the Joseph Times. Once I opened Jesus, now I know he's mine. Once my lamps were dying, now they brightly shine. Once for death I waited, now his coming hail. My hopes are anchored safe within the veil. You know one of my favorite songs is the one that is in this new film about the second coming of Jesus Christ. I wish we'd all been ready to get a chance to listen to that song sometime. I wish we'd all been ready. I wish we'd all been ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. And I don't know if that great doctrine has been mentioned here in your girls' conference, but it should be. Because it's one of the greatest, most challenging, encouraging doctrines in the word of God. That Jesus Christ is coming again. That these old clay vessels, and that's all we've got, clay vessels, weighs 123 pounds. I don't know what yours is, but if it's much over 123, you better go on a diet. Unless you're pretty tall. You know someday this clay vessel is going to be changed for a new body. Jesus is coming again, do you believe that? You do. You're going to get out with the work. You're going to be praising him. You're going to be keeping your eyes off the material things, and not be getting too worried about the future. You're not going to be too worried about what people are thinking of you. Not too worried about what your uncle is saying, and what your grandpa is saying. But you're going to be living for Jesus. And wondering, oh that day, when I stand before him, will he be able to say, Sally, or Susie, or Joan, or Elizabeth, well done. By good and faithful servants. That's what we live for. Give shout. His final words concerning our lives. Let us pray. Living Lord Jesus, we thank you for this little poem. Help us to think upon it many times in the years to come. Keep us from tangents. To keep us from foolishness. From selfishness. And to keep us seeking after you. Communing with you. And developing a deeper and deeper love relationship with you, Lord Jesus. For even if everyone else leaves us, or everyone else misunderstands us, you will be with us. For you have said you would never leave us, or forsake us. And on this strength we go. Into the backs of these old trucks. Into the years behind and gone. Into the problems and the difficulties of the days ahead. We believe that with your presence, all things are possible. And we go forth in your name. Through Jesus Christ. Amen. Can we sing as the closing word of this conference? When I survey the wondrous cause. ======================================================================== Audio: https://sermonindex1.b-cdn.net/17/SID17480.mp3 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/george-verwer/testimony/ ========================================================================