No More Silence

 

As I write, I am listening to the song Break Every Chain, by Jesus Culture and the line keeps repeating There is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.... The more I listen, the bolder my heart grows for the calling He has placed on my life as a missionary to the people of Italy.

 

Since October 3, 2008, God has branded me for this purpose. At times, I have fought it, cursed it, run from it, wept in it, shouted for joy in it, and finally embraced it and called it my own. Sometimes I feel like the prophet Jeremiah when he tried to get out of preaching, "But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. - Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV)

 

No matter how many times I tried to put this call on someone else’s shoulders and made excuses for why I can't do what God has called me to do, he has kept scooping it up, and placing it on me. I don't run from it anymore. I don't curse it anymore. I wear it like a garment of mourning as I weep for the lost souls in Italy who are yearning to be free from the bonds of unbelief that the enemy has for too long used to keep eyes blinded, ears plugged, hearts hardened, feet bound from running to the truth, and arms and hands tied so they cannot reach out and receive the free gift of life that God longs to give them.

 

But like Jeremiah, I cannot hold it in any longer. I am a dam bulging at the weight of a mighty river ready to surge forth. No longer will I be silent or ashamed of my call. I run with God into the fight, with NO FEAR of the consequences. I have chased all the other false lovers; soul mirages that have left me dry and broken - money, sex, power, complacency, self-indulgence, etc. I am ruined but for Christ. I am good for nothing but to be broken like an alabaster jar at His feet in a life of total sacrifice. Indeed, I am already oozing the sweet perfume of His Spirit. I long for the day that this prophecy is fulfilled in all the earth - Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV) - "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."

 

However, it seems frequently that when I share about my burning passion and ask others to join in with me, I get the same response that Moses gave to the burning bush - “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” – Exodus 3:3. Why is my passion so strange? Why do people pat me on the back for my courage, and shake their heads in disbelief?

 

Isn’t this a reasonable act of worship – Christianity 101? Romans 12:1 (NIV) says – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Why is total sacrifice strange or noble or admirable? Stop applauding, put down your hands, and run courageously with me into the fray. When God calls out in our generation as he did to Isaiah in 6:8 (NIV) - “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”…..will we not answer him as Isaiah did? “Here am I. Send me!”

 

Maybe your spiritual battlefield is not Italy. Maybe yours is the office where you work, the neighborhood you live in, the school where you take classes, or the community where you shop. We must be compassionate conquerors, as we hold the banner of Jesus high, crushing the enemy under our feet, and taking the liberated captives into the shelter of the wings of an Almighty God who in Luke 61:1-2 and again in Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) declares- “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”

 

This is truly the gospel. This is truly Good News! Truly there is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain. So no more silence. No more fear. No more complacency. God is calling us to action. What will we choose to do? In life you will inevitably burn for something. Why not burn for God?!

Portrait Of Power

I am a man of strength. At 6’ 2”, 220 lbs., not many people question my physical abilities. Gifted with strength and an unusual ability to tolerate pain, even as a child playing sports doctors marveled at the courage I exhibited under the stress of injury that would make most a puddle of tears. Endurance is a gift that helps me go beyond the physical limits of most people.

I am a man of knowledge. A college graduate with an IQ above 130, not many question my cognitive abilities. Gifted with an ability to think on my feet and create solutions faster than most has earned me a reputation in my field of audiovisual technology. When the seconds are ticking off the countdown clock before the curtain goes up and issues are flaring, I’m the guy on the technical delta team that runs in and gets the job done before anyone knows a problem has even occurred. Problem solving is a gift that helps me excel where most others fail under the pressure.

I am a man of passion. A poet of sorts with a command of the pen, not many question my ability to communicate. Gifted with an ability to speak, write and sing, I’ve always had the confidence and ability to sway others’ opinions with a crafting of words or persuasive emotional appeal. Passionate expression is a gift that helps me stand out from the crowd as a leader.

So when God called my family to Italy as missionaries on October 2, 2008, I thought to myself, “OK God, which one of these gifts that you’ve given me will make the most impact in fundraising now and on the Italian people once we arrive in Italy?” After more than 30 years as a believer, I should have known his response already. His answer was the same as it has always been –  ”But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV). However, I wasn’t ready to give him the correct reply – “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV). I was a victim of my own pride.

Our culture teaches us and our churches sometimes unintentionally reinforce the message to mask our weaknesses by overcompensating in our strengths. This is image protection in its purest form.  It’s not that we are dishonest with others, but it’s just counter intuitive to gain influence with people and have them instill confidence in you by publicly trumpeting your weaknesses. That’s not a good resume building technique.

However, especially in the last six months since I resigned the staff position I held on the technical team of my church, God has been taking me through a molting process of sorts, helping me understand the difference between self-reliance and God-dependence. Last year our fundraising efforts were producing amazing results, and we had a reserve of cash in the bank to fund our immediate needs for several months. Therefore, when I resigned my job last August, I honestly thought God would be impressed with this noble act of faith and sacrifice and bless us with the rest of our funding in just a few months. Other missionaries just didn’t have the faith, marketing savvy or tenacity that we had. We were going to beat the 2 year Bell Curve for European missions support raising, write a book on our humble success, and publish our findings so others could be inspired by our story! OK, so maybe I am exaggerating a bit about the book idea, but honestly, we thought we had found some secret missions fundraising portal that would propel us past expectations and really prove to everyone that God has His hand on our family.

The reality set in when the money started running out and the funding started to slow down. We started pushing harder, asking more frequently, praying more earnestly, but all the while never really trusting God to come through in a way that we did not expect. I had created only one solution scenario and God was not following my script. Why had God spoken to us to leave our jobs, if He wasn’t going to rain down fire on our altar and show those Baal-ers who was boss?

To be honest my personal embarrassment started to drive my decision making processes more than the Bible and the Holy Spirit. I started to become less God dependent, and started looking for ways to solve these problems on my own. I secretly polished up my resume and posted it on Monster. Not a single hit. I thought, “God, are you kidding me? What was I thinking in August? I put up the public challenge, posted all the billboards about the good vs. evil showdown, but it seems that you are not going to show up at all! Thanks (sarcasm implied), knowing my ego was about to take a huge hit.”

I was able to keep up the faith charade for a few months, but by the time the Christmas holidays hit and nothing had really changed, I literally gave up the vision inside. I had set out for the Promised Land with high hopes and a sprinter’s pace. God had parted our Red Sea, but now we felt lost in the desert. As most marathoners know, if you pick too fast of a pace, you’ll eventually hit “the wall.” I had hit it alright, but kept backing up and hitting it again with the hopes of knocking it down.

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

God had not forgotten me, or the calling He had placed on my family. He just needed me to change my attitude to come in line with Him.  Now I truly understand the reason He took me through this process. If I am ever going to really fulfill the calling he has placed on me in Italy to reach the lost, disciple and train leaders, plant churches and see them grow from missionary dependent to God dependent, then He needed to get out all of that false hope that is based on self-reliance and replace it with true faith built not on my abilities but firmly on Him.

Recently I read a statement that really put the graduation cap on this whole lesson in humility. I think it sums up the way God wants to communicate the saving message of His Son – “If you want to impact people, don’t talk about your successes; talk about your failures. - John Maxwell, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect. Now I understand what God was trying to communicate in 2 Corinthians 12:9 when Paul wrote, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” God’s power is the portrait, and my weakness is the frame on which it hangs for display. If that’s the case then make me a museum for your glory, Lord for all to see just how great You are!

THE CHOICE

For my bride on our 14^th Anniversary

We could have chosen to leave, but instead we stayed.

We could have walked away, but instead we prayed.

When given the choice, we considered ours made.

We had made our vows. There was no turning back now.

How different our lives could have been,

If one or the other had decided to just cash in.

But instead of giving up, and moving on,

We chose to forgive and that has made our love strong.

Now let’s not get lazy or nonchalant,

And forget the price that was paid to get what we’ve got.

Let’s keep giving ourselves in love for each other,

Not letting our hearts stray to another.

On this day let us chose to invest,

To give more to the other and take away less.

Let us promise today to always give to each other our best,

And not just what’s left over after we’ve served everyone else.

We could have chosen to leave, but instead we stayed.

And I’m so glad that was the choice that we made.

But it wasn’t just for then. It’s also for now.

So let’s keep choosing each other and live out our vows.

Burning Ones Don't Just Shine a Light They Light a Fire In Others

If God wills the evangelization of the world, and you refuse to support missions, then you are opposed to the will of God. - Oswald J. Smith


I love Jesus, and I write this because I love His church, and want to see it come fully alive in every part of the world!


I think the church in general (not every congregation or member) has become addicted to short term mission trips so much that they can barely understand the vague notion that the Great Commission is not a part time job no matter your vocation! Short term trips have there place, but we can't save the world in 10 days or less! They should be done no doubt, but not in place of long term missions. Both SHOULD and CAN be done simultaneously.


We start with the grand idea of Judea, Samaria and uttermost parts of the earth. However, we jump out of the gates with a sprinters pace and fade by the time we've reached our own neighborhood. Instead we should have the strategy of a marathon runner, who knows the race is longer than just what's around the first turn!


Instead of having the understanding and wisdom that God's funds are unlimited (Ephesians 3:20), we are happier to balance the budget and only dream what we can fund. We might take the church beyond the four walls but the real impact goes no farther than the newly paved parking lot!


I'm not saying we are to be fiscally irresponsible. However, we must apply the wisdom of Scripture, remembering our mandate to reach the WHOLE world and not just OUR world. At the end of the day, I believe the church of Jesus Christ is suffering from a corporate lack of faith.

We seek without vision, we listen without conviction, we pray without expecting so we do only what's comfortable. If it's the least bit risky or there's a chance for failure, we lower the bar of expectation. After all, why should we trouble God, He's busy running the universe, right?

I think we all need to be reminded that we serve the God of the impossible, the God of the infinite, the God of the immeasurable (Genesis 18:14). What is God telling you to do that you are not currently doing?


****NEWSFLASH******


If Jesus Christ is your Savior, then the Great Commission IS YOUR JOB! Yes, that's right. It's not just the work of pastors and missionaries. So let's get busy doing God's work in the world.

There are only 3 positions when it comes to the Great Commission - go, send or disobey (John Piper). Which one are you currently doing?

The Irony Of Italy

When you think of Italy, what comes to your mind – great food?....picturesque landscapes?...ancient monuments?...maybe, beautiful art…or inspiring music?...how about some the fastest sports cars in the world? Sounds like an incredible place to visit, right?

But there’s another side to Italy; one that most never see. Today I invite to you take another look, not through the eyes of a tourist, but through the eyes of God.

Contrary to popular opinion, Italy is actually a mission field. It have be “Christianized”, but it has NEVER been evangelized. It’s time to wake up Italy!

Of Italy’s estimated 60 million inhabitants, 95% identify themselves as Catholics, but only 5% actually attend mass regularly. Unfortunately religion is more tradition and convenience than a life-changing choice. Today even the veneer of religion is being worn away by ever-increasing secularism and materialism.

This leaves millions searching for answers about life. Instead of relying on a personal relationship with a loving Savior many turn to the occult. Last year alone Italians spent over $8.5 billion consulting with physics and clairvoyants for advice!

Those who are still searching in Italy for an authentic community of believers, will have to look very hard. Of Italy’s 33,500 cities only 1500 have an evangelical church of any Protestant denomination. 32,000 cities still have no church!

With so few churches is there any wonder why many in Italy have completely turned away from God? God has called our family to Italy help point others to the light of Jesus. We want to offer the millions in Italy who are familiar with Jesus, the son of Mary the chance to know him as Jesus, the risen Son of God!

However, we can’t do the work alone! We need your support through prayer and financial giving to go forward in sharing the gospel with the Italian people.

Will you pray and ask the Lord how you to respond? Will you help us to… Wake Up Italy?

In Pursuit of God

Today I wanted to share something I wrote during a very tough time in my life about 5 years ago. No matter how strong and prepared we think we are,  we are all vulnerable. For 30 years, I've walked with God, or should I say He's walked with me. It seems the more I get to know Him, the more I understand my need for Him.

Human nature says that maturity is equal to less dependence on others and more reliance on self. I think God defines maturity quite differently. It seems the longer You go with God the more dependent you (should) become on Him. As a result of more God dependence, you become more mature in your faith, and the less you depend on your self.

Didn't Jesus say that we couldn't enter heaven without the trust of a child? How crazy is that? Now I am not advocating throwing a temper tantrum in light of this revelation. Instead, I am suggesting a reflection on how much you are currently depending on Him and how much of your life depends on self reliance.

Jeremiah 2: 13 says that God's people had turned their backs on Him, stopped seeking Him for answers, and dug their own wells. I believe at the center of every sin we commit is pride and self reliance.


13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
   the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,    broken cisterns that cannot hold water. - NIV

We don't say it out loud, but our attitude and actions shout "I got this one God. It's cool. You can relax and go help some drug addict, pimp, prostitute, gambler, adulterer, etc. You know, some bad person. I'm good God. I'll call you if I need you."


Personally, I don't think a man can truly be saved until he realizes the depravity of his own soul apart from God. Paul said it in Esphesians 2:8-9 this way:


⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. 


Salvation is truly a miraculous work of God in the human spirit. It's from this revelation that God helped me articulate the following. Enjoy - 

In all my wanderings, in all my sins, in all my piousness, in all my pride, in all my weakness and humility, in all my joys, in all my sorrows, disappointments, fears, doubt and unbelief……….YOU WERE THERE.

IN PURSUIT OF GOD

I expected a parade and a speech, loud music and excitement; but somewhere in all my disillusionment you quietly slipped in the backdoor of my life. Unnoticed, you sat on the last pew.

You waited and waited and waited some more. Until I had spent my last effort, last dollar, last fear, last word, last breath. Without much ado, you knelt beside my lifeless body; enveloping me in a grasp that brought security and hope, and restored my faith and strength.

Ironically in all my efforts to find you, you found me. And so where I thought the journey ended, I found that I had just begun….MY PURSUIT OF GOD.

Until All of Italy Hears,

Stephen and Brandy Verner

TEAM Missionaries to Italy

706-201-5570

www.theverners.org

vernerverbiage.blogspot.com

speedofthepen.blogspot.com

www.teamworld.org

When I Look Upon Your Face

WHEN I LOOK UPON YOUR FACE

© Words by Stephen D. Verner – Wed. 5/25/11 – 9:35am-10:40am

VERSE 1:

There’s a longing deep inside my heart

I couldn’t tell you when it began

Or how to find its start

All I know is that I love You now

And that will never change

I’d go anywhere, do anything

In the power of Your name

CHORUS:

Jesus, name above all names

You’ve changed my life forever

I’ll never be the same

And though I cannot see you now

I look forward to the day

When I look upon Your face and hear You call my name

VERSE 2:

There’s a desire deep inside my soul

To see others come to know You (the way that I do)

Lay down the rights to their lives

And let You take control

All I know is that they need You now

Though through veiled eyes they can’t see

The way, the truth, and the life or they would believe

CHORUS:

Jesus, name above all names

You’ve changed my life forever

I’ll never be the same

And though I cannot see you now

I look forward to the day

When I look upon Your face and hear You call my name

BRIDGE:

Awake O Sleeper, awake now Dreamer

For your day has come

To see the light of Jesus shine

Your victory He has won

Put down your heavy burdens, let go of guilt and shame

Let Freedom sing a brand new song

“He’s broken ALL your chains!”

CHORUS:

Jesus, name above all names

You’ve changed my life forever

I’ll never be the same

And though I cannot see you now

I look forward to the day

When I look upon Your face and hear You call my name