Dr. Willmore praying with the men from the Colony of Mercy, America’s Keswick 2014.
A Note from Kim: Dr. Roger Willmore is one of the favorite speakers at America’s Keswick. It is through this ministry that I met Dr. Willmore several years ago, although I can’t recall the event or conference where I first heard one of his messages.
Almost immediately, I identified with his story and experience. Being married to a pastor for over thirty years, I understood the struggles and burdens of ministry that no one but a pastor or pastor’s wife can understand. I appreciate Roger’s transparency in sharing some of his personal experiences and challenges in the church, as a pastor. And I appreciate his heart. Roger has a deep and passionate love for his Lord and the for His Savior’s bride, the church. He also has a strong desire to obey the Lord in reaching the world with the good news of the Gospel. I am honored that Roger accepted my request to write for ProverbWise this month, and you will see why as you read his article. He is a man of integrity and wisdom, exuding humility and grace in his life, his ministry, and his writing.
A Man and His Heart
by Roger Willmore
Proverbs 4:23
The writer of Proverbs dispenses words of wisdom to live by. When I read the Proverbs and the Psalms, as well as the Bible as a whole, I see a great emphasis on the heart. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he…” This is a pretty strong word on the power of our thought life. One of the most profound texts on this topic is found in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” It cannot be much clearer. The word “keep” in Proverbs 4:23 is a word which carries the idea of building a garrison or a fortress around the heart. This indicates that there has to be some intentionality on our part. There has to be a conscious, disciplined effort made to protect the heart from influences which would corrupt it. Such protection will not happen fortuitously. It takes discipline and at times, costly discipline.
I enjoy going to Japan where I preach in the Keswick Christian Life Conventions. The Japanese culture is one of discipline and determination. When I am there I love to see the Japanese Gardens. The gardens are always so beautiful, manicured and healthy. When I stand gazing upon a beautiful Japanese garden my mind always goes to one thing…the gardener. It is apparent that the garden did not just happen. Behind all the beauty a gardener will be found weeding, tilling the soil, pruning, fertilizing and more. The garden I admire is the product of a gardener working each and every day to protect the garden from anything that would rob it of its beauty.
When the writer of Proverbs admonishes his reader to put a fortress around his heart this is exactly what he is saying. Do all that is necessary to guard and protect the purity of your heart.
My mentor for over 35 years, until he went home to Glory in 2004, was the late Dr. Stephen F. Olford. He taught me so much about the Christian life…and life in general. I was first introduced to Dr. Olford in 1969 by way of an old reel to reel tape player. A wonderful Christian in my hometown held a “Bible Study” in her home once a month. However, the Bible study was conducted by way of playing the sermons of some of the great preachers of that time. Most of the sermons were recorded in Keswick Christian Life Conventions or a similar Christian Life Convention. I heard the voice of Stephen Olford many times before I ever met him personally. As a teenager, young in my relationship with the Lord, and also sensing at that time a call to preach, I was riveted by Dr. Olford’s preaching. He was powerful. I had never heard a man open the Scriptures like that before. As the younger generation would say today, “Dr. Olford was awesome.” He was an absolute lion in the pulpit. I was captured by his power. I began to think about being a preacher and I wanted to preach like that…with great power.
In 1970 the host of the Bible study and her husband took me, as their guest, to a Keswick Christian Life Convention in Birmingham, Alabama where I would see and hear Dr. Stephen Olford in person for the first time. I was like a child in a toy store. I was thrilled beyond words to have the opportunity to hear the world class expository preacher. I listened very attentively to the first sermon. I was fully focused on the message. My focus was on the message and the manner in which it was delivered. However, I found myself, rather quickly I might add, shifting my attention from the “message” to the “man.” In order to be brief I will go directly to my point. I observed that the power displayed in the “message” had its origin in the “man.” I learned a valuable lesson that the power I saw displayed outwardly was rooted deep in a holy, pure, devoted and disciplined heart.
Years later I heard Dr. Olford say, “God is more concerned about who you are than what you do, and if who you are does not please Him then what you do is virtually useless.” Think about it! Good deeds from a dirty heart are essentially negated. God looks on the heart. He wants our hearts to be pure. Or, as the writer of Proverbs puts it, “For out of it spring the issues of life.”
I like to put it this way, the Christian life is more about “being” than it is about “doing.” Living the Christian life should not require painful effort and exertion of energy. Living the Christian life should be an overflow of a disciplined and guarded heart. It should be the overflow of our walk with God.
I think this is especially true for those of us in ministry. Ministry is very demanding. It can be very draining. If the well is dry, then the bucket is going to come up empty. We must have a disciplined walk with God that enables us to maintain an overflow. Remember the beautiful Japanese garden. It does not just happen.
Early in my ministry, when I was a newly wed and still in college, I was burning the candle at both ends. I was pastoring a great church and preaching three times a week, going to school and I was running on empty much of the time. One Sunday night, following the evening worship service, a dear lady in the congregation approached me with expressions of concern. I knew her. I knew her heart. Her concerns were genuine. She said, “Brother Roger, I can hear the dipper hitting the bottom of the bucket.” Then she cautioned me to guard my heart and my study time and other spiritual disciplines. I heeded her admonishments and made the necessary adjustments, but I will never forget hearing her say, “I can hear the dipper hitting the bottom of the bucket.”
Could I ask you? Are you guarding your heart? Could it be said of you, “I hear the dipper hitting the bottom (of an empty) bucket? Are you keeping a fortress of protection around the very source of your spiritual life? Remember your heart, “For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Dr. Roger D. Willmore, Director of Missions
Calhoun Baptist Association (SBC)
Anniston, Alabama USA
Articles can be found via web search of Roger Willmore
Roger Willmore at America’s Keswick – Summer Week #5 August 13, 2015
Roger Willmore was born in Gadsden, Alabama on August 14, 1951. He grew up in Arab, Alabama and in 1973 married his high school sweet heart, Sandra Carroll. They have one adult son, Andrew. Roger received Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Luther Rice Seminary. He has been awarded two honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from the University of Mobile and Judson College respectively. He has written numerous articles about preaching and pastoral ministry. He is a regular speaker as the Summer Conferences, America’s Keswick in Whiting, NJ. He has preached in over 15 countries and speaks in Keswick Christian Life Conventions around the world. His passion is to see Christians experience the fullness of life in Jesus Christ. He currently serves as the Director of Missions for the Calhoun Baptist Association in Alabama, a Southern Baptist Association of 89 churches.
5/2016