SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #109 ---- 2/14/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #109 ---- 2/14/00
TITLE: "Vision ---- It's Decisiveness" (Part Five of Series)
Dear Partner and Friend:
I write you today from Des Moines, Iowa, where Jo Ann and I have just
concluded a weekend conference with one of my "Timothy's" in the church
he pastors. We've had a great time, and have even been blessed with some
unexpected reunions with friends, former church members, and former board
members of our own ministry. It has been a delightful time.
To be totally honest, I'm dumbfounded at the responses I'm continuing to
get on this series. God is blessing me so much by the encouraging words,
and is really confronting me about whether or not to consider putting
some of my thoughts into published form.
Just Saturday my "Timothy" told me I should do that. When I used the
argument that my writing style was too "conversational" to warrant
publication, he told me that was what made it so applicable. So ----
maybe you wouldn't mind praying for me that I'll accurately hear the
promptings of the Holy Spirit.
"Bearing witness one with another" is a great means of encouragement.
With that in mind, here are some comments *just as I received them* last
week. I hope they will bless you as they have me:
#1. "I recieved a copy of God's Vision from a friend in Houston and was
so bless when I read it. I just write to let you know how much this
article will help me in my christian life. I am a christian twenty years
and is very excited about the christian life. I am also a father of
six,five girls and one boy our family is serving the lord please pray for
us. I am also the assistant Postor at Bethany . . . church in Belize
City. Belize. Central America."
#2 "Greeting Bob. I was impress by what you had to say concerning
VISION. I've always been keen on wanting to perform my responsibility as
a minister based on the vision of God. I would have it no other way.
"I am convince that the direction of the church cannot necessarily be the
sole direction of the pastor. I've come to the conclusion that burn out
takes place when we follow that line. I needed what the Lord had to say
about vision through you. I am a BI-vocational pastor (I also have a
secular job) and some times because of lack of time, I find myself
looking for quick fix and solutions rather than waiting on the Lord's
vision. I ask that you will pray for me and my church."
#3 "Dear Bob: I have followed the vision series and appreciated your
insights. Today the account of your Dad was really a blessing. He is a
special man and I rejoice for the fire remaining in his "belly." I am at
a stage where I am
about to transition. The pace here is too much and there is restlessness
within the church. Your Dad's vision and passion inspire and encourage
me.
"The person who encouraged you to write a book on this subject gave good
advice. Go for it, Bob. To turn what you said to your Dad."
IN REVIEW:
Thus far we have addressed four major aspects of 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".
Today I want to discuss "Vision ---- It's Decisiveness"
THE ABSENCE OF DECISIVENESS:
One of the major hindrances the enemy places before us is indecisiveness.
So often we just can't make up our minds; we struggle with making
decisions ---- especially those that are costly or have long-term
effects. Try as we may, we still are prone to play it safe when it comes
to following Jesus. There are few real risk takers in today's Kingdom
Army.
By its very nature, when we "see what God sees" (which is my ongoing
working definition of a real vision from God) it will call us to
decision. When the vision is revealed, God expects action. Otherwise,
He wouldn't give us the vision in the first place. The whole concept of
salvation and subsequent discipleship is built on a moment of decision
and the ensuing growth and development that follows.
Jim Hylton is a long time friend and mentor. It was my honor to serve as
his associate in a church years ago, and our paths have intersected in
ministry a number of times since then. I value his counsel and insight.
He sent me the following which I felt was absolutely appropriate to
today's topic. I have broken his comments down into something of an
outline.
"Let me share an outline with you.
"Vision creates passion and passion creates discipline. Discipline
creates risk taking.
"Risk taking without discipline is recklessness. Discipline without
passion is legalism. Passion without vision is hype. I think James Ryle
shared that with me, but it is a great insight.
"The church today is basically without passion and that is due to the
lack of vision."
Isn't that powerful!?! Look at it again ---- "Vision creates passion and
passion creates discipline. Discipline creates risk taking."
Somewhere in the process of the discovery and development of your vision,
you will be faced with the necessity of drawing a line in the sand and
stepping over ---- or, in turning around and walking away.
True vision is impossible to receive, understand, or sustain without some
type of definitive response on your part. When God gives a vision, He
does not intend it to be squandered or go unattended.
Which response have you made? ---- drawn a line in the sand and stepped
over it, or turned around and walked away?
Which will you do tomorrow?
CAUSES OF INDECISION:
I've often wondered just what it is that causes indecision. Then I
remembered ---- indecision is normally caused by one or more of several
things.
1. Lack of information. This is a logical and reasonable explanation
for not toeing up to the line of vision and stepping across. ---- but
it's not an acceptable explanation.
So frequently we want all the facts before we will make a decision, when
the Bible is clear that we make decisions by receiving revelation through
the witness of the Holy Spirit. You don't have to have all the
information available in order to make a commitment to embrace the vision
God has given you. It's true that adequate information is important to
formulating the course of action, but not for deciding to embrace the
vision.
In fact, at least in my own personal experience I'd have to say that I
had more questions than answers most of the times I had to step up to a
new version of the vision.
It's also been my observation that the facts usually follow the decision
because, once God sees that you're serious and can be trusted with
further information, then He reveals more and more detail.
This, in my opinion, is what Romans 12:1-2 is all about (something I've
written about before). Three key words ---- Presentation,
Transformation, and Revelation , in that order. We present ourselves
(that's crossing over the line), then He begins transforming us and
getting us ready for the Revelation to come.
I believe this principle is illustrated in the lives of most leading
Bible characters and other great Christian leaders of past and present.
Nehemiah had limited information when the vision was formed in his heart
for Jerusalem. In fact he had almost no information ---- only a brief
report from a few visitors from Jerusalem. The vision was born without
much information.
Moses is certainly another illustration. How much information would have
been enough in order for him to be convinced to embrace the vision?
Where do you draw the line if you're going to use information as the
criteria?
If you're waiting on information in order to decide about the vision,
you're making a mistake. Information follows rather than precedes
acceptance of the vision.
2. Lack of focus. Distractions and preoccupation with other lesser
things will deter us from decision. This is a special tactic of the
enemy that is often successfully used in keeping some of God's choicest
servants of ever realizing the fulfillment of their vision. They just
don't focus of the essence of the vision, but get side tracked with all
the "what if's", "maybe's", and other secondary factors.
The point of decisiveness regarding the vision is much like target
shooting. You must blot out all extemporaneous noises and peripheral
movement and shadows if you're going to hit the bulls eye. You cannot
allow yourself to hear a faint "sneeze" or see a speck inside even the
nearest ring to the bulls eye. If you do, you'll be lucky if you hit the
target, much less one of the inner rings.
And a near miss is a total miss.
If you're going to be decisive in stepping across the line into the
reality of the vision, you cannot be distracted and lose focus by some
nay sayer's confession of unbelief, by some circumstance's disruption of
the vision, or by some unexpected invitation to something else.
3. Lack of Passion. Passion must embrace the vision ---- otherwise
you'll never step across the line with a "no turning back" decision. If
you don't really believe in the vision, and if it doesn't consume your
heart with a passion that cannot be denied or deterred, the vision will
soon die on the back shelf of neglect and indecision.
Remember the statement Jim shared? "Vision creates passion and passion
creates discipline. Discipline creates risk taking."
If you do not act on the passion your vision has generated, you will
never have the discipline to choose the vision, embrace it, and act on
it.
4. Lack of faith. Faith is best demonstrated through taking risks. But
that raises a question ---- "can God be trusted to undergird me, support
me, strengthen me, and direct me in this venture? What if He doesn't
come through?"
Consider again part of Jim's comments ---- "Vision creates passion and
passion creates discipline. Discipline creates risk taking. That kind
of passion is impossible without explicit trust in the Lord Jesus Christ
---- you can't survive that process with only "hope so" faith. And, with
that type of faith comes the necessary discipline to enable you to make
such a decision ---- one that says, "I'm drawing the line in the sand,
I'm crossing over, and live or die, sink or swim, with you or without
you, I'm going with God."
Parenthetically, I also like the next statements ---- they are pregnant
with truth.
"Risk taking without discipline is recklessness. Discipline without
passion is legalism. Passion without vision is hype."
How very true! Have you ever seen a reckless minister trying to
accomplish things for God? There's more wreckage and carnage along the
way than there is lasting fruit. What was the reason? No discipline.
Have you ever seen a minister who was highly disciplined and well ordered
in his life, but a man with neither passion nor compassion? He's
legalistic through and through.
Have you ever seen a minister who was all big talk with no results? He'd
blow and glow at the monthly ministers' meetings, but you never se any
real results. It's because he's trying to create his own vision and then
convince both you and himself of its validity.
5. Lack of healthy self esteem. I really believe this is perhaps the
most fundamental reason why so many in ministry never get beyond just
seeing the vision without ever experiencing its fulfillment.
I was shocked to learn years ago that one of the basic characteristics of
low self esteem is indecisiveness. If a minister doesn't see himself
from God's viewpoint, how can he see, embrace, and act on the conditions
of others in need? If his own needs and insecurities stand in the way,
how can he ever reach out to others?
Let's visit Isaiah again ---- he first saw God as He was, and then saw
himself as he was. Out of the brokenness and humiliation of that
encounter, he received God's forgiveness, healing, and restoration. It
was only then, after he saw himself as one who could "do all things
through Christ who is my strength", that he was able to embrace the
vision and make the decision.
"Here am I! Send me!"
THE ACT OF DECISIVENESS:
As I see it, much of our hesitation and confusion about deciding to
embrace the vision lies to some degree in the process itself. Because of
that we often settle for less than the completed transaction.
This will not be new to you, but let me take you through a familiar
process. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 10:5-6 of three disciplines of
the soul necessary for visionary victorious living ---- the mind, the
emotion, and the will.
1. Deal with the intellect. It is alright to approach the vision
through the process of analysis and logic. However, you cannot leave it
at that, and you cannot allow it to remain once you have processed that
information.
Paul is clear ---- "We are destroying . . . every lofty thing raised up
against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to
the obedience of Christ."
Praise God for our minds and the important role they play. But ---- if
you don't take them to the cross, you'll never move into the realm of
divine revelation ---- you'll settle for just the logic of man, the
prowess of knowledge, and the analysis of worldly assessments.
Deal with the intellect ---- at the cross.
2. Deal with the emotions. Frankly, I believe emotions are far more
important to our Christian growth that we have often been taught and
instructed to believe. What you feel about something is urgently
important. The intuitive "gut feeling" is as important, and perhaps more
important than what you know as facts.
If all you have to go on is your knowledge of the facts, then you're
nothing more than a humanoid computer that spits out statistics and facts
---- with no heart, and no compassion.
So, embrace the feelings, the impressions, the intuitions you have.
Relish them; savor them ---- and then send them to the cross, for Paul
also said, "We are destroying speculations . . ." Speculations are
emotional fantasizing and imagining things from the source of feelings.
As good and special as they are, when it comes to crossing the line to
embrace the vision, they most also go. There are too many emotions that
will want to hold you back from crossing the line, and yet others that
will try to propel you forward across the line for wrong motives.
Deal with your emotions ---- at the cross.
3. Deal with the will. Friend ---- this is where it's at.
You never cross the line and embrace the vision with your intellect. You
prepare for it, you analyze it, you study it ---- if you must. But it
doesn't get you across the line. It just tells you there is good reason
to do so, and you should. Or, it tells you not to.
Nor do you cross the line and embrace the vision with your emotions.
That's what the Holy Spirit uses to stir you up and create a craving
desire, but if there is no action taken, it is nothing but hype,
emotional frenzy, and eventual let down and depression. Ever hear the
phrase, "Impression without Expression leads to Depression?"
It's true.
No, ---- it's the will that draws the line in the sand. It's the will
that steps across. It's the will that embraces the vision and clutches
it as a precious gift from a benevolent God.
The bottom line? ---- You must choose; you must decide. Nobody else can
do it for you, and God will do nothing until you take the step. Faith
without obedience is ---- D-E-A-D ! Flat out D-E-A-D !
Paul also says in that same passage, ". . . we are taking every thought
captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all
disobedience."
FINALLY:
Paul then addresses what may be going on in your mind right now. He says
in verse 7, "You are looking at things as they are outwardly. . . ."
That's where the rub comes. There's a lot of "seems right" religion
going around that looks reasonable and logical, ---- but it's not
scriptural. It's man's way of dealing with spiritual principles.
Man's way says the way to live is to live. The Bible says the way to
live is to die.
Man's way says the way to develop a vision is to analyze. The Bible says
the way to develop a vision is to embrace the cross to all your wisdom
and knowledge.
Friend, the way you decide about the vision God has given you is to stoop
down, draw a line in the sand, stand up, take a good deep breath, and
then in confident faith, step across the line, grasp the vision, and
march locked-step with your Captain.
It's an act of the will.
"BELLY UP TO THE BAR!"
That primitive saying from the old American wild west era was first used
to challenge a man who claimed he could out drink every other cowboy in
the saloon. If someone wanted to call the braggart's bluff, he'd say
"Belly up to the bar, then!" It later came to simply mean an invitation
to a free drink.
This is not an invitation to a free drink, but rather an invitation to
make your choice.
So, friend ---- let's "belly up to the bar". Let's grab the courage to
draw the line in the sand and cross over. It's time to get on with it
instead of just talking about it.
What's your vision?
Are you hesitating to identify it? Are you hesitating to admit it? Are
you hesitating to claim it as yours? Are you fearful of owning it? Are
there too many failures of the past? Is there too much ridicule for you
out there? Are you afraid of humiliation or of failure?
Think about if for a moment, my dear brother. What's the best that could
happen if you choose it?
Well, with all the joy, success, challenges, and victories that would
come, I believe the best thing that could happen is you would be filled
with a sense of peace that you were obedient ---- you took the risk.
On the other hand, what's the worst that could happen if you step over
the line?
Certainly it won't be failure on God's part, because He never fails.
And, He's beyond being affected by His reputation being questioned or
ruined. The clay never tells the potter what to do, how to do it, and
when. God's reputation will stand, because it is above and beyond the
reach and the tongue of man.
So, whatever the worst might be, it would have to pertain to you,
wouldn't it. ---- since it can't pertain to God. You would be the one
humiliated or embarrassed ---- not God.
Oh ---- so that's it!
So, in fact, if you choose, my friend, to embrace the vision and assume
responsible stewardship of it, the worst thing that could happen is a
fresh crucifixion of your pride.
And, if that's the worst thing, then it is needed, and should be desired
and welcomed. After all, the major hindrance to God's work is the flesh
---- self.
So, what appears to be the worst thing that could happen to you, is, in
fact, the best thing! How wonderful!
Well ---- the old bar is waiting, my friend. Let's go ---- I'll go with
you. It's time to put up or shut up. Hang out the shingle and start the
practice, or take it down, pack up, and head out of town.
Belly up to the bar, and make the decision to embrace the vision.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Continuing our look at "Vision" next week, we'll look at the next one of
the following topics:
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.
It's my prayer that you have a life-transforming week, filled with the
presence and glory of our Lord as He continues His marvelous work of
"doing everything necessary to you so He can do all He desires through
you."
Have a great week. Drop me a note and share your heart. Share some of
your own insights about vision.
In His Eternal Bond and Limitless Grace,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright February, 2000. All rights reserved.
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.
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Hang in there! I'm with you!
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