SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #106 ---- 1/24/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #105 ---- 1/17/00
TITLE: "Vision ---- It's Demand" (Part Three of Series)
My Dear Friend in Christ:
How are you doing? Well, I hope. It's great to visit with you again.
Even though it occupies several hours of my week, I cherish these times
when I can share my heart with you, hopefully about something that will
lift your burden, put a new spring in your step, and perhaps put a song
in your heart. I pray that happens to you today.
PRAYERS ANSWERED:
Many weeks ago I asked your prayers regarding a friend, pastor Gary
Taylor, and his battle with cancer. I thought you might like to read the
following report I received from some of his church members.
"GREAT NEWS!!!! The cancer in Pastor's bone marrow is GONE!!!! PRAISE
GOD!!! The mass in his abdomen has been reduced by 95-97%!!!!! PTL!!!
His 2 doctors will meet next week to determine the next stage of
treatment - could be radiation, more chemotherapy, or both. Please
continue to pray for him and Joyce and please keep those card/e-mails of
encouragement coming!!!!"
TEACHING OPPORTUNITY:
God initiated our ministry to eastern Europe in early 1995 by allowing us
the privilege of teaching at St. James Bible School, meeting in a former
cultural center used for Communist propaganda in the city of Kiev,
Ukraine. Our hearts have been with that school since, and we continue to
maintain close ties with them both on site, and through their home office
in Colorado Springs, CO.
There is a great need for pastors and other qualified teachers to go over
for a two-week stay of intensive teaching on specified subjects.
Would you consider going? Especially if you have extensive ministry
experience or have done graduate level studies. There is even immediate
need for this Spring, as well as next Fall and beyond. You do not have
to know the Russian or Ukrainian languages because you usually teach
through an interpreter.
If you have interest, I will be more than happy to send you additional
information. Include your mailing address.
A GLANCE BACK:
Continuing our examination of vision, we have covered two of the
following twelve elements of a Biblical vision:
+++ The Definition of Vision ---- what it is and isn't.
+++ The Description of Vision ---- what it is like.
The Demand for Vision ---- why it is necessary.
The Discovery of Vision ---- how to "see what God sees".
The Development of Vision ----required "ground rules" for a true vision.
The Decisiveness of Vision ---- a line-in-the-sand "no turning back"
requirement.
The Danger of Vision ---- dangerous to have; dangerous to not have.
The Distractions from Vision ---- things that interfere with your focus
on your vision.
The Destruction of Vision ---- things that will kill a vision.
The Death of Vision ---- the necessity of letting it die.
The Demonstration of Vision ---- what happens when you're "right on" with
your vision.
The Determination for a Vision ---- pursuing it until it comes.
+++ The Definition of Vision ---- what it is and isn't. I tried to
explain how God confronted my own diluted version of vision by finally
helping me understand that a true and pure vision, the fuel that
constantly motivates us to faithful and expectant service, is being able
to "see what God sees" rather than what we see.
I can have the loftiest of aspirations, but if all I see is what can be
seen through human eyes and filtered through human intelligence and
logic, I will seldom move into the realm of divine revelation and
anointed power. I will, for the most part and except for rare occasions,
operate in the human realm trying to do things For God rather than moving
into the realm of the Holy Spirit and plugging into what God Himself may
be doing.
Vision Defined is becoming so fine tuned to the heart and voice of God
that my soul is released to see what my spirit has received through the
eyes of God. In other words, a real vision is "seeing what God sees".
+++ The Description of Vision ---- what it is like. Likewise, I tried
last letter to describe what your life and ministry can be like ---- what
some of its characteristics will be ---- when you have finally seen what
God sees. I mentioned ten things ---- Focus, Intensity, Steadfastness,
Perseverance, Joy, Single mindedness, Confidence, Boldness,
Fruitfulness, and Peace as elements that would characterize your life,
your demeanor, and your ministry when you were really seeing what God
sees for you.
The reason for such characteristics is because when you see what He sees,
you know . . .
1. Who you are, and are comfortable with it,
2. Why you are here, and motivated by it,
3. Where you are going, and confident in it.
That's a man or woman with a vision ---- a visionary.
A leader is a visionary who knows those same three things, but also knows
. . .
4. How to get there, and
5. How to get others to go with you.
I am anxious that this not be an excessively long and tedious treatment
of the subject, because it has already been written about often, and,
frankly, I'd rather you Have a vision than Discuss a vision. So, while
we hopefully won't consume twelve weekly letters, I do want to cover
today the DEMAND for vision ---- Why it is Necessary. We will try to
quickly look at the other elements soon thereafter.
THE DROUGHT OF NO VISION:
Again, I'm taking the back door into the subject by identifying some
things that happen when we are not living by and ministering with a
vision.
Two of the saddest scriptures in all the Bible are Proverbs 29:18 and I
Samuel 3:1.
Proverbs 29:18 ---- "Where there is no vision, the people perish [run
around like an unrestrained mob]."
I Samuel 3:1 ---- " . . . Word from the Lord was rare in those days,
visions were infrequent."
How pathetic! How sad! How discouraging! You would think that Eli (I
Samuel 2 & 3), as old and wise as he was, would have had a vision from
the Lord ---- even if his son's were moral bums and spiritual paupers.
Yet, there was nothing within him that would instill in young Samuel
something of vision sufficient enough to drive him into the very presence
and power of God. He had to go outside Eli ---- and even his own parents
as well ----to discover what God had for him. At least he was in the
right place for that to happen.
Sadly, I'm afraid Eli's condition is the way it is today with many who
are in ministry. There are no Samuel's coming up through the ranks
because there are too many Eli's with visionless eyes and godless
offspring.
THE DEMAND FOR VISION:
When a minister of the Gospel, or any person for that matter, tries to
serve the Lord without a vision, it's like trying to run a race with no
finish line or win a game with no time clock. A vision is both a
destination point and also a driving force that propels one toward that
destination.
Some 25 years ago I heard this quote: "A man that shoots at nothing hits
it every time." That's what it's like to try to serve God without a
clear vision. Many of us, as a defense mechanism, choose to shoot a
scatter load, open choke, shot gun, just praying that we hit something
along the way. God wants us to have a more direct and specific
comprehension of what we're all about.
Action without vision is drudgery and danger. Vision without action is
dreaming. One without the other is incomplete and unfruitful.
There is a Biblical mandate that any man or woman who serves God needs a
vision of what it is that God wants, makes provision for, and expects
from our efforts. If there is no such vision, one or more of the
following will happen in your life and ministry.
There is an implicit demand for vision by the very nature of being called
of God to ministry. If you do not demand of yourself the existence of
and clarity of a vision for ministry, you will suffer one or more of the
following consequences.
A ministry without vision . . .
1. Creates Distortion ---- When I do not have a real sense of vision
and purpose, my perspectives can become distorted. I don't see projects
clearly. My sense of values can be twisted. My concept of priorities
and what's important or not important can be greatly affected.
I can find myself placing too much importance on certain activities and
projects, thinking that to do so means I'm spiritual, centered, and doing
a great work. I can conclude that activity is synonymous with ministry
or that the bigger it is the better it is. I can find myself placing
more emphasis on statistical measurements than on fruitfulness.
This type of distortion can easily derail a true ministry, just because
I'm looking at the situation without having seen what God has seen. I
will inevitably see less than, other than, and perhaps even more than He
sees.
Vision keeps things clear in our minds, free from distortion.
A ministry without vision . . .
2. Allows for Distractions ---- When I minister without vision, I will
be more easily distracted, will chase more rabbits, jump on more band
wagons, and follow down more wrong trails than my mind can comprehend.
When I don't have my eye on the vision's goal, I will be distracted by
other teams, by the failures of my own team mates, by the officiating, by
the time clock, by the score board, and by the crowds.
And, I'll find myself beginning to conduct myself with the motivation of
satisfying the officials, tricking the other teams, badgering my team
mates into better performance, always trying to meet a deadline, keeping
track of my own scores, and impressing the crowds.
Paul was very clear when he said, "This **One** thing I do ---- not Many
things, but One thing. All you are responsible for, my dear friend, is
the "One Thing" which God has put in your heart ---- not the "other
things" Too many of us are like Martha, encumbered with "many things",
when we need to be like Mary, focused on the "needful thing" ---- the
vision.
Vision, like blinders on a horse, protects us from being distracted.
A ministry without vision . . .
3. Conceives Deception ---- There are many things out there designed
to deceive us. Few of them will capture us as long as we know the vision
God has given us.
We can be deceived into practicing efforts of the flesh, "sweating" our
way into taking the kingdom by force. We can be deceived into using
tactics of the world with which to persuade people into a false response.
We can be deceived into thinking we're more important than we really are,
or that our church can't get along without us. We can be deceived into
thinking our brothers and sisters in Christ are our adversaries rather
than just other believers who happen to wear another label than ours.
We can be deceived into thinking that our goal is one of statistical
numerics rather than simply being obedient. We can be deceived into
thinking certain forms, styles, and statistics are the standard of
measurement rather than humility, obedience, and compassion.
Vision keeps us from being deceived quite so often.
A ministry without vision . . .
4. Generates Dilution ---- When we lose sight of the vision, we settle
for something less or something else. We are tempted to dilute the
message in order to gain the masses.
We are tempted to dilute the method by compromising it with the approach
or strategy of the world. We are tempted to dilute the standard by
lowering it so more people can meet it.
We are tempted to spread ourselves too thin, and therefore do a poor job
at everything we do, rather than focusing just on the vision and doing it
well.
A diluted vision is like living on skimmed milk and stale crackers. It's
like trying to paint a house with the solvent left over after the brush
has been cleaned.
Nothing is more damaging to the cause of Christ than a diluted message
carried on the back of a deformed method.
Vision protects us from the compromise of diluting what God has demanded
of us.
A ministry without vision . . .
5. Fosters Drudgery ----Take it from me; nothing is so boring and void
of challenge as ministry without vision. When I lose sight of the
vision, everything I do becomes obligatory, and I find myself in the
middle of joyless tasks and meaningless duties.
The one thing that keeps my ministry responsibilities fun is vision.
Vision answers all the questions about ministry responsibilities.
When I ask, "Why am I doing this?", vision answers clearly. When I ask,
"Where should I do this?", vision says, "Over here!" When I ask, "How
long?", vision replies, "Long enough to make a difference."
Vision, more than anything else, drives drudgery from our duty, and makes
it a delight. Vision gives reason for responsibility. No assignment by
committee can do it as well.
A ministry without vision . . .
6. Causes Disillusionment ---- I don't know about you, but I am easily
disillusioned about things I do when I lose sight of the vision.
Consider Isaiah in chapter 6. When Isaiah finally sees what God sees,
and then God tells Him that he's going to have to keep doing what he's
being called to do even though the people won't understand or respond,
how long do you think he'd have lasted if he hadn't had the vision?
Maybe just a tad bit longer than you and I would have lasted.
Friend, have you ever seen so many disillusioned ministers as what you
see today? I talk by e-mail, telephone, or in person with some minister
nearly every week who is so disillusioned with his church that he doesn't
know what to do. He has concluded that he needs to either leave, settle
for just playing the game and going through the motions, or get out of
the ministry altogether.
Never has there been such an epidemic of disillusionment within the
Church in many years.
The only thing that will protect you from the same thing is to keep the
vision fresh in your mind, and forefront in your heart.
Vision will keep you from confusion and disillusionment.
A ministry without vision . . .
7. Encourages Discouragement ---- Disillusionment is usually followed
by discouragement unless the vision is renewed or reborn.
You see, vision gives you a toughness and a tenacity that whisks you past
discouragement with hardly a glance. You have no interest in being
either distracted, derailed, or destroyed like a train wreck by
discouragement.
However, if you have no vision as the driving force in your life and
ministry, you'll see every train wreck, every side track, and every
detour as an excuse to give up and quit ---- move on to another field, or
give in to another calling.
Vision reminds me of who I am, why I'm here, where I'm headed, and Who's
in control of it all. Vision reminds me that it's about Him, and not
about me.
A ministry without vision . . .
8. Surfaces Disgust ---- Discouragement unresolved ultimately leads to
disgust. There can come a moment in your life when you want to simply
throw up your hands, throw in the towel, and walk away in disgust.
You've had it with these people!
Take it from me, my friend ---- I've been there many times. And the only
thing that kept me going was the vision, and the promise that accompanied
it.
"Faithful is He Who called you, Who will also do it."
"He Who began the good work in you will continue it until the Day of
Christ."
A ministry without vision . . .
9. Leads to Depression ---- This is a serious matter. Whether your
agree with the practice or not, more ministers are suffering from some
stage of clinical depression today than anytime in modern history of
vocational ministry. More men and women are leaving the ministry every
week than ever in the 2,000 year history of the Church. More pastoral
families are disintegrating today than anytime on record.
Depression has become an epidemic among people in vocational ministry.
More men and women are questioning their identity, their worth, their
personhood, their purpose, their effectiveness, than at any time known to
man.
Of all people, the last you would expect this from would be people who
are serving God in ministry.
Why is it happening? Because many are losing sight of the vision God has
given them, and they're beginning to cave in to man made standards of
performance, and are beginning to doubt their own worth, their own
calling, and even their own salvation.
If a person experiences drudgery long enough, disillusionment often
enough, discouragement strongly enough, and remains disgusted long
enough, he'll get depressed ---- and so would you.
Have you ever heard the phrase ---- "Impression without Expression leads
to Depression."?
Well, it's true. If the impression of your vision cannot be effectively
expressed through venture, it will lead to depression and all its
vulnerability. Too many ministers crash and burn after they have lost
their vision.
Vision, on the other hand, protects one from being depressed, because he
knows that no matter how bad things are, the vision was from God, and God
promised to make it happen.
Habakkuk 2:3 reads, "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it
hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait
for it; for it will certainly come; it will not delay."
Vision protects us from depression, because we know beyond doubt that God
is faithful.
Finally, A ministry without vision . . .
10. Results in Death ---- the death of effectiveness, the death of
motivation, the death of faith, the death of joy, the death of your
ministry, perhaps even the death of people around you who were not
touched by the power of God because of the absence of vision in your
ministry. It's a scary thought.
When we take our eyes off the vision, everything we see around us will
remind us of total failure and death. And, death is the final conqueror
of the man or woman who has lost or never had a vision for his life. He
just becomes an "also ran", or another name on a tombstone with a
sentimental epitaph.
IN CONCLUSION:
Have you noticed a sequence here? I didn't try to create one, but I see
one. When we have no clear vision, we are vulnerable to . . .
Distortion of who we are and why we're here, which leads to . . .
Distractions that keep us focused on wrong factors and things, which, in
turn, create . . .
Deception that pulls us away from our real calling, and causes a
knee-jerk reaction resulting in . . .
Diluting our service to only please people and gain acceptance, all of
which eventually becomes . . .
Drudgery with the whole mess, taking away our joy and peace, and causing
deep . . .
Disillusionment that makes us question God, others, and ourselves,
therefore generating . . .
Discouragement over our work and all our efforts, eventually thrusting us
into angry . . .
Disgust with the people, the locale, the system, ourselves, and (perish
the thought!) even God, causing us to feel intense . . .
Depression over the futility of it all, the hopelessness of it all, and
the fact that we feel things we know we shouldn't feel, eventually
leading to some form of . . .
Death ---- the death of vision, of ministry, or of our very lives.
What a terrible tragedy it is to either have never had, have lost, or
have seen die a vision for ministry.
WHAT TO DO:
What do we do in such cases? Well, I could give lots of theoretical or
theological answers, but let me simply say, dear friend, that if you're
there, the road back starts at the same place.
1. Seek the face and presence of God.
2. Cling to the promise of God.
3. Live only for the rebirth of the vision from God.
It would be nice if I had some neat pre-packaged pat answers for you, but
I don't. The older I grow, the less I know and the fewer answers I have.
But what I do know and the answers I do have are much simpler and
practical.
My simple suggestion is ---- go where Isaiah went.
And wait until God reveals Himself to you.
God is a God of vision. It is in His heart for you to see what He sees.
It just may take some time for the scales of the world to fall from your
eyes and the sins of the flesh to be flushed from your soul.
Give it time. "The vision IS for the appointed time. Though it tarry,
wait for it, for it will surely come."
I love you, my friend, and I pray that you will see the vision clearly
and will embrace it fully.
Drop me a note and tell me how things are going.
In His Bond,
Bob
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright January, 2000. All rights reserved.
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.
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Hang in there! I'm with you!
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