The Revolution of the Love / Die Revolution Der Liebe - Part 7

Praise God. Well, you're people who are serious about God's work. It's been a real blessing to meet many of you and to see your commitment and your seriousness in the things of God.

In the last session I mentioned a book. Serving as senders, there it is. There was one copy in the whole building.

And I can assure you my friends, God's people do not have a great vision for Christian literature. And, first of all, literature for non-Christians. We should always have such literature with us.

I never go anywhere without literature ready to give to someone that I'm talking to about Jesus. And then literature to give to God's people. So many of God's people are not reading Christian books.

Watching way too much television. I'm not against television. There's a small place for television.

It's good for the news. But we need to get into great books. We need to distribute these books to other people.

One big church, when they saw this book and read it, they made it required reading. For everybody on the missions committee they had to read this book. So write down the title and hopefully you might be able to find a copy somewhere.

Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for the power of the printed page. We thank you for what you're doing in so many lives.

Thank you for many steps of faith that have been taken here. Help me in this sort of final session that I have to really have a word from yourself. In the name of Jesus.

Amen. Thank you. Wow, that's great.

I want to take a few minutes to give you the opportunity to ask a question. You've had to listen to me three times. I need now to listen to you.

And I find that often when people ask questions, we can get to some very, very important issues. So who would like to ask the first question? Way in the back. The lady in the back.

Yeah, but I can't hear it. Can you come forward? I can't hear it. If she speaks English, you interpret it into German so that they know what the question is.

Okay. Yeah. Do you believe it's really important for people before they go in the mission field to get a specific word from God? Because I've heard different teaching in my life that we need foundational words from God for ourselves before we go somewhere and do something specific.

But other people have said, well, Jesus already said go into all the worlds. Okay. That's a very good question.

And if you listen to me in my last hour, you will know already what I'm going to say. I wonder how many know what I'm going to say. God leads different people in different ways.

Even if I say one particular thing right now, thousands and millions of other people are listening to someone else at this time. They're not listening to me. So we are bound to have a great variety of responses to that important question.

Many great missionaries that I've known have had a very real sort of word from the Lord. They've had some kind of a call. At least that's what they called it.

But many others just attempted to know God's will for their life in a very down-to-earth, basic way. Many people would say, you need just as much a word from the Lord to stay in your town and work in a local business as you need a word from the Lord to go church planting in Turkey. My old friend Keith Green got even more extreme on this issue.

He said, if you don't have a specific call to stay, then you must go. We are never going to get unity on this tough subject. But I think we have to be willing to take risks.

And I think a lot of people are using that as an excuse. The fact that they've never had a big bang emotional push, they're using that as an excuse to sit on their bottom and do nothing. I've tried to emphasize that often we have to take one step at a time and the Lord will continue confirming as we take those different steps.

First maybe a summer program, then maybe a year, then maybe a four year commitment. We have in the church the battle between the mystical and the practical. There are wonderful, very mystical people in the church.

I hope that I, though I'm not a mystic, I pray that I have some kind of mystic streak. My trip to Florida of one month ago was very sort of practical, normal way that I get my guidance. My wife needed to see her father who lived there.

There was a huge conference of Christian leaders and missions right next to where my wife's father lived. There were a number of other people in Florida I felt I needed to talk to them, especially about money. And so I booked a ticket to Florida.

Sort of a practical, logical, thought through thing. My going to New York City one week later after I got back to London definitely more mystical. I actually sensed the Holy Spirit was directing me.

I didn't like it. So I tried to dodge it. But God through His Spirit kept impressing on me, you need to be in New York.

Of course He also put reasons. It wasn't unreasonable, just totally existential mystical. And even as I got on the airplane to go to New York City because this is the way I am I thought maybe I made a mistake.

Maybe I'm just doing my own thing. And I had to cast that on the Lord. And here's one of the things that really helps me.

God is bigger than my mistakes. And so if I went to New York and it was a mistake God doesn't disappear. He doesn't say, you little jerk, you've made a mess, so just do your own thing, I'm out of here.

He doesn't say, you little jerk, you've made a mess, so just do your own thing, I'm out of here. He was just there. He was with me when I was standing in front of this pile of rubbish with 5000 dead people in it.

He was just there in His grace. Question number two. This handsome young man there.

So the question is, is it important to have a kind of a Bible school training before you go into missions or is it enough if you go with your own talents and giftings, etc. Again, God will lead different people in different ways. But I believe in Bible college.

I made a cassette tape. There are a few thousand George Werber messages floating around the world on cassette tape. One of them is, why go to Bible college? I made that tape because some of the Bible colleges on the continent, it's not true in England, are decreasing in their numbers.

And I thought that that was not good. And so I did this tape and that has gone into print in French and in English. And if you send me an email, send you that tape or the booklet, why go to Bible college? Most people, not everyone, spending at least one or two years in a good Bible college that has a strong focus on world missions, like say All Nations in London, it is a good thing.

Of course, YWAM has its discipleship training school and that is a great preparation. How many of you have been through that, DTC? So what are you all doing here? How come you are not in China and India and Turkey? But you are in God's place, don't worry. No, at least a few of you.

Many, many people would say that five or six months is of course not enough. I had two years, plus every Christmas and every summer in Mexico, putting it in practice. So I think generally two years is a little more sensible than six months, but you also have on-the-job training, which both YWAM and OM, that is our specialty, on-the-job.

And let me say something that I think is very important. If you choose to move rapidly into world missions and say bypass the general German way of developing a skill, a career, then you need to realize you are taking a risk. You must decide that if things don't go the way you are dreaming, that you are not going to become bitter against God or against the people that may have challenged you to go on this more radical road.

Let me give an example. Someone decides not to go to university to become an engineer, which his parents would like him to do. He goes on OM and goes to Central Asia.

He meets his wife in Central Asia. Pretty soon they got three children. He never has been very good at raising his personal support, but as he was single, he didn't need much.

Now he's got a wife and three kids. He has to rent a house. He generally may need a car.

So he returns to his home country to raise support. Well, his home church is just split. So they are not going to support him anymore, but they will say, God bless you, go in peace.

And so he is not able to raise the support. And then he meets these people, and they are everywhere. Who give the idea that if you are in OM working in Central Asia, and you have to return to try to pray for money and raise money, they say, why is OM not paying you a salary? What kind of weird organization is this? You are working for them? They are not giving you any money? Who is this George Werwer? You see, the average person has never heard of Hudson Taylor or George Werwer.

They don't know what faith missions is about. They don't understand that. Many people do.

And they believe a missionary is a real career job, and it is worth giving them money so they can do that work. So then you get someone else who says, when are you going to get a real job? We know you have sort of been out there on a glorified cook's tour, visiting foreign special countries. We saw that picture of you in Hawaii, going through that advanced training program there on the skis, the water skis.

So when are you going to get a real job? You have three children now. This is time for you to become a little more serious. What kind of work can you do? And people feel intimidated by this.

And they start to think, well, maybe God never did call me. And then if they can't find the support to go back to that country, this is absolute truth. They will be happy to get any job at all.

And many former missionaries are working at minimum wage and barely supporting their families ten years after the meetings like this meeting. So when you launch out in something more radical, we must count the cost, because some of us have seen 40 years of horror stories. Increasing numbers of former missionaries are now divorcing their wives and husbands, including people who met on the mission field.

I have to, every other month, get information of another divorced person who met their husband or wife on Operation Mobilization. If you don't think that breaks my heart, then you haven't understood anything about me, I can assure you. We found especially on our ships.

They became love boats. You're out there for two years. You have a limited number of people.

And pretty soon, in the first year, we're quite strong with people. In O.M., the first year, we don't allow a lot of romance and dating. People know that before they come.

Of course, you can't ban them. Plenty of social contact. People know that they can't maintain this relationship in the first year.

But, of course, there are lots of contacts. But, of course, people are on the ship for 2, 3 or 4 years, on this ship. And we've had a lot of great marriages, and we've had a lot of great marriages, Not even one in twenty would end.

And of course that story I told you sounds worse than it is. Because we had 100,000 people on OM. And in our movement we have had very little divorce at all in 45 years.

So I'm just trying to bring the balance. Twenty years from now you're not a defeated, bitter, cynical person because you didn't count the cost and realized the challenge you were going into. So often, not always, we tell people finish your career, get your career and then go into world missions.

I did not do that. And a lot of people that I challenged over the years did not do that. But other people did.

And again, seeking and knowing God's will is not always easy. And ultimately we have to take those steps of faith. And ultimately we have to take those steps of faith.

Another question. I'll make my answers shorter. Trouble with a preacher, you ask a question, you get a sermon back.

Yes, over here this dynamic looking disciple of Jesus. He's coming up. Dynamic looking disciple of Jesus.

My question is not so dynamic. You pointed out the problems and difficulties over the last 24 hours. Can you change the microphones? Can you take the microphone away? Or is it empty? No, you exchange with him.

That's why it's whistling up here. Okay. Yes, go on.

Are there any costs, problems, or how do I get people who... the 50% from here, from us, who won't go? And, well, basically, what about the 50% of us here that will not go, will not be called? How will they end up? Yeah, I'm trying to make it clear that that is just as important as those who go. And those who remain here, they also have to count the costs. Because we're calling people not firstly to geography, we're calling people to reality.

I am only here because I have all these people back home in different countries working and giving the finance that my wife and I might carry on our ministry. I stay in contact with all those people, I pray for them all, I phone them all, I write them all, I'm involved in their lives, in their businesses and profession through prayer and in other ways. That's another very important issue.

We never have enough godly leaders to lead the work of God, whether we're talking home church or the ends of the earth. And in the spiritual warfare, especially through the fiery dart of immorality but also pride, we are losing great leaders. In Brazil, one of the very top leaders in the nation, Chris committed adultery and left his wife.

Nationwide publicity. Same thing in Argentina. Same thing in different parts of the United States.

Some of these people have ended up in prison. And it's my conviction that people got into ministry and blessing before they had the basic foundation, moral and discipline foundation in their lives. So suddenly it looks like God is really using you in a special way.

And suddenly you're very successful in ministry. That is not a time to pat yourself on the back. Oh Lord, you're really using me.

Boy, that's a time to get at the foot of the cross. Oh Lord Jesus, crucify yourself. May you only be magnified in all that I do and say.

There's another very interesting book you're all going to want to get. You will not believe this book. I have never seen a book like this.

Number one, it's written by a woman. And we men need to listen to women. Because we men without women, I tell you, we're hopeless.

So this woman has written a book. Called The Snare. In Espanol, La Trampa.

The Snare. What's it about? It's about how easily sexual immorality comes among those who are ministering in the name of Jesus. She was a married woman.

She gave her husband, they had a wonderful marriage. A hot balloon, you know these big balloons go up in the air? You have those in Germany. She gave him a balloon ride for his birthday.

Happy birthday! And she went up in this balloon. My wife never gave me any balloon rides. She once gave me a balloon.

A small one worth about one mark. Unfortunately, the balloon exploded. Right before her eyes, on his birthday, he fell to his death.

She walked out in the field and stood next to her dead husband. And the grace of God just poured into her life. And now she was single.

A very attractive woman. Very available. Single.

And she discovered what's going on in ministry. She had the courage to write a book about it. See, as Christians, sometimes we're more naive than non-Christians.

We're just having a little prayer time together with our secretary. We're feeling quite, just getting some little kind of vibration here. Just the Lord blessing us.

But one month later, it's gone beyond that, and that old-fashioned immorality comes in. It happens all the time. Billy Graham was so strong on this, and he taught me what I practiced.

He would hardly go anywhere with another woman, unless he had a man with him or his wife. So as someone gets famous, the battle gets more intense. And these girly magazines tried to push girls into the arms of Billy Graham, get one photograph of a good-looking chick in the arms of Billy Graham, and I will tell you, that would be worldwide news.

So whether you go or whether you stay, the spiritual warfare is still going on. And we need to be committed people. And I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

But I also believe in what I call a baptism of Holy Ghost reality. And I am praying you're going to get that baptism during these days. And you're going to go from here a little smarter when you arrive.

You're going to go from here realizing the importance of common sense in ministry, and of discipline in ministry. You know what one of my favorite mystical authors said? A.W. Tozer. Incredible writer.

Christian leaders from all different sides of the church have esteemed A.W. Tozer now in heaven as one of the greatest prophets and mystics in Christ that has ever lived. And A.W. Tozer said this. I've read about 20 of his books.

He said, in the present Christian environment, it's good to develop a little bit of reverent skepticism. And especially if you read some Christian magazines and Christian reports about what's happening, it's good to have sometimes a little bit of reverent skepticism. Because some of the things that are said, they never have happened.

Certain revivals that broke out, when you go there you find the revival has gone. May God give us wisdom, grace, discipline, and power from on high. One more question.

The lady in the back. With her hair tied up. Here she comes.

She's on the move. What's your name? Monique. From Switzerland.

How many Swiss are here? Okay. I'm sure we've all been praying for Swiss Air. That's had a little bit of difficulty lately.

Okay. Monique. Yes, I have a very important question.

How or what can you do to encourage the congregation to get on fire for Jesus, especially mission? Wonderful question. You get a free book for asking that question. Because I answer the question in that book.

There's a whole chapter about that. How to mobilize people for missions. The biggest thing is your own life and your own love.

They need to see the reality in your life. But that means that usually you need to also work on your own communication skills. How to listen to people.

How to understand people. Then, how to talk to people. How to win them over to what's burning on your heart.

Of course, there needs to be lots of prayer in the first place. That God will soften the ground. God will prepare the heart.

A lot of my work, as this has been my life work, is just one person at a time. Now, I used to especially go for the pastors. I can win the pastor.

And I've had the joy of winning over a few thousand pastors. So that they were ready to send their people on OM. And be ready to preach missions from the word of God to their church.

That's the key. And we must never allow the idea that missions, well that's OM and YWAM, they do that. No, missions is the church.

We need to do this together. Now, we can do many other things. Getting leaders to go on short term trips.

Having outreach in our own community. We've got to show the people in the church that what we want to do will not only bless the people out there, it will bless the church. And trying in any way possible to get good books, good tapes, good videos in their hands that are going to help promote this great challenge.

Like if you get anybody in your church to read that book, it will almost surely change their lives. But unless they see some reality in you, they may not be willing to even read the book. Also making use of the internet and the websites.

Many leaders, church people are into websites. If they can get into some of these great YWAM and OM and mission websites, that can be a motivator for them. So let me know after you read the book.

Amen. Turn with me now in your Bibles for my final word, the book of Isaiah chapter 6. Back in the Old Testament. How many of you have not yet finished reading the word of God, the Bible, once? You've not yet finished reading through the whole Bible.

Raise your hand. Be honest. Be honest.

Be honest. This is good. Let me reword the question.

I think maybe we got the interpretation wrong. How many have never read the Bible through? The word of God, you've never read it once. Raise your hand.

Is that not a revelation? That's the highest response I've ever had to that question anywhere in the world. I would challenge you to read the whole Bible. You can do it in one year.

Now, I was in a meeting not long ago. And I said, because some had not read the Bible, I think it was on the ship last week in Glasgow. A lot of young people.

And I get sort of carried away when I'm speaking. None of you have noticed that, so I tell you. So I think I said, if you start reading the Bible through tonight, and you finish in one year, you write to me, I'll send you a hundred pounds.

I am definitely not saying that this afternoon. I might give you another free book. But I urge you to make that decision.

Read the whole Bible through. In a Christian book store or some other place, you can get a Bible reading plan that can help you do that in a systematic way. And I recommend you start in four different places.

Don't just start in Genesis. Because you might get bogged down in Leviticus. So start in four different places.

So you'll always have some variety. I actually did this when I was one year in Christ. It may have actually been just before my conversion.

To be honest, I can't remember. But in this liberal church I was telling you about, they still thought the Bible was a good book. So as a youth fellowship, we read the whole Bible through, out loud, from beginning to end.

In the church, from the Pope, 24 hours a day. It was such an unusual thing. A newspaper article went throughout the whole nation about this youth group that read the whole Bible through non-stop, out loud.

I think it took about 60 hours. When you're reading silently, you can read much faster. Would you give 40 hours to God in the next year? God's holy word? I hope you will.

Now just go to the book of Isaiah. Here God is moving in the heart of his servant. And he is experiencing the glory of God.

That's one of the greatest themes in the Bible. The glory of God. And let's just read this in German.

And let's just read through verse 8. 1 through 8. 1 through 8. 2 through 8. I wonder if you've ever prayed that prayer. Here am I. Send me. I know.

Many of you have. Maybe not in the exact same words. But 1 third of you have indicated you're trying.

you know, somehow you're trying to get into missionary work. Now, I'm not a person to over-emphasize Satan. My motto is for every one look at Satan and his work, ten looks at Jesus.

But I don't think we should go to the other extreme, where we pay very little attention to Satan's fiery, tricky strategies. And I can tell you, Satan is not happy about what's happening here. Satan is not happy about this church, and he's going to counter-attack.

You think Bin Laden has a lot of power? At the snap of his finger, five, six thousand Americans are dead? There's nothing next to Satan. And we have, as the Bible says, Satan as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.