At Wiler with YWAM 50+, we spend a week in November with a variety of missions people. All had different locations and experiences. Daniel was an amazing teacher with brilliant visuals. I recently shared a photo of me standing in a GIANT pair of boots. I would never get far in these (especially if a bear or dog were chasing me) but the thought was that serving the Lord is stepping into something not easily managed in the flesh. It is in the spirit that God draws people unto himself. Willingness is the only answer because none qualify. Jesus carried something beyond His words. A group of friends recently completed a tour of the seven churches in Revelation. I’m a bit jealous. Laodicea, mentioned in Rev 3:14-22, encourages us to not be complacent or lukewarm. We are charged to be zealous for others to know Christ. Don’t offer anyone a dog bone when we have the real thing the dog wants/needs – a sausage. Pass it on. Make students of Jesus. The church is a club to pull others into the club. If we leave evangelism to the pastor we have not found the pearl of great price and sold our field to make that purchase. Who wants to follow a passion-free Christian? Daniel listed six steps for a believer: the first encounter, believing friends, receive Christ and receive a new heart, newborn phase (time to grow), growing up (many people influence and shape us), and maturity. You can’t really fail at sharing your faith unless you fail to try. Then we practiced telling why we believe. Write your’s out. Then (I recently learned) make a short then shorter (15 second version). “There was a time in my life when…then I asked Jesus into my heart…and now… – done! God does not need Goliaths when He has Davids.
Next we met with missionaries, the Meisters, who had served in India and took communion Indian-style. Confession is explained in I John:8-9. They used a coconut, cracked it. We ate the flesh, and drink the milk. Philippians chapter 2 outlines right living that is necessary to living abroad. It is harder to deal with ongoing brokenness in another country. Stay home until life is in better order. Our Disciple Training School outreach was described as; spirit-led, evangelistic, compassionate, positive, fruitful, challenging, faith-stretching, passionate, about partnering with locals, and preparing for a new and different kind of life. Also expect chaos and lots of prayer. I love the mission of YWAM, “To Know God and To Make Him Known”. Jurg Meister also shared another list of teaching and recommended some John Piper books.
2 Pet 3:8, “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”. Isa 6:8-9, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’. Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!'” Rev 5:9-10, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.. And thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
The rest of our evangelism emphasis at YWAM 50+ was led by Keith and Marion Warrington. They are effective worship leaders. John Piper is often quoted, but this I have heard over and over, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t”. Psalm 105 begins with a list of specific actions God took on behalf of His chosen people. This list is worship. We are now all chosen people, both Jews and Gentiles. This is saying that we should be less fascinated with our problems then we are with the goodness of God. That is worship. We cannot change the past but God can change our future. It is not how we start but how we finish. We follow God instead of pushing Him in the direction we wish to go.
Marion wove teaching with worship. She taught from the Sermon on the Mount which is a treasure of teaching on reasons to worship. Our position with others should be that we love them because we love God. We also love God because we love others. We will run into limits but should ask God about His plan. Knock, ask, and search. God has the authority but still gives us rest to seek Him in all efforts to share our faith in Him. God help me to have peace in whatever circumstances or city or people group I am serving. She also shared Prov 4:23, Matt 12:34, 15:18-19, Mark 7:21, and Luke 6:45.
