SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #110 ---- 2/21/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #110 ---- 2/21/00
TITLE: "Vision ---- It's Danger" (Part Seven in series)
My Dear Partner in the Kingdom:
It's great to be back with you again, sharing what God has been putting
in my heart to encourage you. This past week has been most interesting
in that I've had an unusually large number of requests for subscription
to these letters. Right now we have the largest subscriber list I can
remember since we began just over two years ago. Thank You, Father!
By now you have discovered that I numbered last week's letter incorrectly
---- it should have been "Part Six". So, today's in "Part Seven".
PRAISE:
Praise the Lord for the overwhelming turnout in the Croatian elections
earlier this month. The entire Balkan region has received, through the
elections in Croatia, a signal that democracy, freedom, and peace is
possible ---- but only without compromise and pretense. These dear
people deserve our uninterrupted support.
I just received five letters this past week from Bosnia and Kosovo, all
filled with wonderful reports or salvations, but many reports of
continued suffering and urgent requests for prayer. Please continue
praying.
SPECIAL NEED:
I have a very special need about which I have written earlier. Next
January Jo Ann and I take a group of students to teach at St. James Bible
School in Kiev, Ukraine. We have a serious need for three more
instructors. Several have already responded to my earlier plea, but, for
various reasons, cannot go at that particular time.
May I ask you again to pray? And, consider going with us. It will
change your life. Drop me a note for details.
ABOUT THE "VISION" SERIES:
Your encouragement and comments regarding this "Vision" series have been
such a blessing. A week doesn't go by but what I get deeply appreciated
encouragement to continue writing.
Glen, who hosts my mailing list service, shared a perceptive observation
about Moses never getting into the Promised Land. "I heard a remarkable
statement this week - Moses actually DID get to go in! Matthew 17:3,
'And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elija, talking with him'.
Jesus was in the Promised Land at the top of a high mountain, and Moses
was there! I thought this was pretty neat, and a beautiful gift for
Moses."
Also, I received the following most stimulating letter this past week.
Tell me what you think.
"I have had this 'gut feeling' for several years that I am to start a
home based business in addition to my fulltime job. This entire series on
vision is just screaming that at me, but I don't really see you applying
it to a secular job. Today's letter especially spoke to me about this as
far as quit analyzing the situation and get to work with what has been
revealed. I am an electrical engineer and tend to have 'paralysis of
analysis' and wanting all questions answered before I step out."
Well, we readily recognize that the entire concept of vision applies to
all areas of life. However, this brother's letter points out a mistaken
assumption we also have ---- that life is compartmentalized with a
dividing line between that which is secular and that which is spiritual,
when, in point of fact, no such delineation is found in Scripture. So,
this brother's need for vision for a home-based business is just as valid
as need for vision in any other area of life, whether family, vocational
ministry, or something else.
Now ---- the subject at hand.
VISION ---- ITS DANGER:
This particular study on vision has been intriguing to me, with lots of
unexpected thoughts developing. In fact, I'm not sure if I'm even
heading the direction I intended when I first outlined the study some six
weeks ago. I've had to ask myself the question, "Just what do you mean,
'the danger of vision'?" more than once. Vision and danger are not
typically connected in our minds.
It is an interesting thought, though, isn't it. Just what kind of danger
attaches itself to having a vision of what God wants to do through your
life and ministry? You'd think just the opposite would be true ---- joy,
adventure, success, safety, . . .
Yet, I can't get away from that idea ---- "Vision is encompassed by
danger."
In trying to formulate that concept more clearly, other thoughts have
come to mind.
How's this for one?
"You Are Either A Danger, Or In Danger."
You see, when it comes to "seeing what God sees", you are either
dangerous because of the threat that presents to the kingdom of darkness
because you Do indeed see what He sees, ---- or you are in danger because
you don't.
That's a sobering through, my friend ---- I'm either A danger or In
danger.
You're A Danger in two strategic ways:
1. If you are a man or woman with a genuine vision, you're a danger.
2. If you are a man or woman without a genuine vision, you are also a
danger.
You're also In Danger, again in two strategic ways:
1. If you have such a vision, you're in danger.
2. If you don't have such a vision, you're really truly in great danger.
So ---- with those thoughts in mind, let's develop this idea a bit
further.
You've heard the phrase, "Damned if you do and damned if you don't".
Well, that's a little like danger when it comes to vision ---- no matter
how you cut it, danger lurks for the man or woman dealing with the issue
of Vision.
Let me ask you; if you had a choice, which would you prefer ---- being a
Christian that people ran from, or one that people ignored?
I've had to think about that quite a bit, because I'm one of these guys
who really likes to be around people and wants people to like him and
give attention to what he has to say.
Unfortunately, when you become a real visionary, God often times doesn't
allow you such a luxury. People are either with you, against you, or
afraid of you.
Conversely, if you have no vision, you seldom challenge and motivate
people, your own drive is nominal at best, and, frankly ---- you're
boring to many who observe you. So, they just ignore you.
So, then ---- tell me; which do you prefer? To be ignored, or to be
threatening?
DANGEROUS OR IN DANGER:
Let's look at these two ideas a little more:
First, . . . .
1. Being A Danger ---- being dangerous.
Isn't it intriguing that we can be a danger both if we have "seen what
God sees" in vision, and if we don't see what He sees. If we do have a
clear vision for our lives, then we are a danger to certain people. If
we don't have, then we are a danger to others, and, tragically, we become
a danger to the very cause of Christ, ending up a stumbling block instead
of a stepping stone.
First, the question, . . . .
1) To Whom Are You Dangerous?
A. If you have a clear vision of how God wants to use you, then
you are dangerous, first, to the Kingdom Of Darkness, for that kingdom
specializes in spiritual blindness and deception. If you are walking in
enlightened vision with a sense of purpose and the power of the Holy
Spirit, darkness must flee and a pathway of truth must be allowed to
enter that dark domain with a message of hope.
Therefore, you are dangerous to Satan and his minions.
Conversely, apart from the finished work of Jesus Christ, you would also
be in danger from them. Because, however, of that finished work, you are
well protected and in no danger ---- as long as you continue in obedience
to Christ.
B. If you have a clear vision, you are also dangerous to any of
Your Peers who have no such vision. You intimidate them by your mere
presence.
Your confidence and sense of purpose will be resented, rejected, and
attacked because of their own shallowness, lack of real purpose, and
their portents of playing the game. Many of your peers, even those you
thought were friends, will abandon you and attach themselves to others
who also serve without vision ---- birds of a feather.
Yes, even your peers will find you dangerous and a man or woman to be
avoided or shunned because being around you is too uncomfortable, too
embarrassing, and too costly.
And, of course, were it not for your true identity in Christ, you would
also be in danger from them. But, "if God be for us, who can stand
against us?" Many have abandoned their vision for the sake of human
affirmation. But you must not do that.
C. If you have a clear vision, you will be dangerous to the
hierarchy of your Christian associations, whether it be a denominational
one, a loose-knit unofficial one, a para-church ministry, or any other.
If Jesus was ever a real threat to any human agency, it was most
certainly to the religious system of His day. It is the same today.
Clearly, if anything will be threatened by your vision, it could possibly
be some of the religious systems we have created which so often
substitute logic, rationalization, and reason of the mind in the place of
visionary revelation by the Holy Spirit to the human spirit.
Many religious systems, because they are essentially man made, cannot
bear up under the pressure of true visionaries; they are not designed to
contain the supernatural, but only the natural. Many good ministries
have been started by good men with good ideas ---- but no vision. Such
entities cannot contain within themselves nor accept from others a
ministry mobilized by a vision from God.
Therefore, don't be surprised or grieved when you suddenly find yourself
in danger from the very thing of which you have been a part and into
which you have invested so much, because such systems get very
uncomfortable around people who really know who they are, where they're
headed, and why they must do what they do. They reacted that way to
Jesus, and they will you, too.
D. If you have a clear vision, you will be dangerous to the World
System, for that system operates with no vision, and cannot bear up under
the power and pressure of someone who does. Scripture declared it
clearly when it told us "the whole world lies in darkness".
You will be a major threat to a system that has raised itself up against
God, either mimicking it with its own form of religiosity, condemning it
by its own hypocrisy, counterfeiting it through its many forms of
deception, or creating the antithesis of it with its own religion of
secular humanism.
You will also be In danger, because the world will try to tempt you away
from your vision with fame and riches, will try to envelop you with its
clouded fog of enormity and abstractness, or will try to destroy you with
its domineering attitude of self-elevating power and intimidation. You
cannot give in to that, because you "have been crucified to the world,
and the world crucified to you".
E. If you have a clear vision, the unbelieving world will be in
danger because they know you will pursue them like the notorious "hounds
of heaven". Once on the trail of the scent, you will not be detracted to
other things nor denied the reality of their redemption until you have
followed them into the dens of their most secret hiding places. The very
love of Christ constrains you to "the uttermost", no matter where it
leads you.
For that reason, you will also be in danger as you venture into the
darkness of hell itself, invading the domain of the very one who jerked
the rug of hope and wholeness from under the innocent feet of God's most
prized creation long ago in the Garden ---- and he will not release his
prisoners easily. The cost will be great, but the prize will be worth
it.
Next, let's ask . . . .
2) Why Are You Dangerous?
A. You are dangerous, first, because you know both Who you are,
and Whose you are. You know that you are Christ's, He is yours, and you
are in Him ---- complete, competent, and conquering.
When you know that, and you have a vision to back it up, you are neither
easily dissuaded, distracted, or defeated.
B. You are dangerous, too, because you know what you've seen.
When you've seen what God sees, you know everything else is false and not
to be trusted. Nothing else matters. The things of this world do indeed
"grow strangely dim" ---- they are nothing but vapor trails, imaginary
cloud caricatures, and vain imaginations which have no substance, no
purpose, and no significance.
You know that what you see by divine revelation cannot be matched by that
which is conjured up by human imitation. Human goals and aspirations
never satisfy as does seeing through the eyes of God into eternity.
C. You are dangerous, also, because you know what drives and
motivates you. You have a passion that the world neither understands nor
can counterfeit. You know that you are "more than a conqueror", and that
you can do "all things through Christ Who is your strength".
You are unstoppable, and anyone who thinks you can be stopped is in
danger of being steam rolled by a fanatic for Christ. Nothing thrown
your way from friends, family, fraternity, or worldly influence can pull
you away to other things of lesser importance than the vision in your
heart.
D. You are dangerous because you have the veracity and authority
of God's Word in you, behind you, before you, and in your hand like a
mighty sharp two-edged sword. You have quit asking the unknown soldiers
whether they're for you or against you, and instead, when the Captain of
the Hosts of the Lord asked, "Are you with Me?", you have answered with a
resounding "Yes!"
Nobody can stand up against the zeal and energy of a man who answered
"Yes!" like that. The spiritual adrenalin pumps through your veins, and
you have become "Super-natural".
E. You are dangerous because you already know the end of the
story. You've heard the promise that when seed is planted, it always
produces fruit. You know that endurance and perseverance take you across
the goal, whereas good intentions, quick fixes, and fast starts usually
drain you dry and exhaust you before you reach the end.
Knowing what you know about the end keeps you going until the end.
Finally, let's ask . . . .
3) When Are You Dangerous?
A. You are dangerous when you keep your eyes focused clearly on
the Lord Jesus Christ. All kinds of images will be thrown your way to
distract you from the focus of your vision ---- Jesus. All kinds of
obstacles will be cast before your feet trying to trip you up. All kinds
of burdens will be placed upon you to try to weight you down.
And, if you ever give in to any of them, you will no longer be dangerous
---- but now in danger.
B. You are dangerous when you walk daily in His Word ---- "a lamp
to your feet, and a light to your path". If you ever compromise,
credalize, or neglect His Word, you will cease being dangerous ---- and
you will be in danger of deception, distractions, and ultimately,
dishonor.
C. You are dangerous when you live humbly as a servant. Nobody
can accuse a servant heart of usurping power or authority. He's just a
servant. Nobody can complain that you try to laud it over someone else.
Nobody can attack you because your idea or decision was a bad one ----
you had no idea of your own, and you made no decision on your own.
Nobody can argue with the actions of a servant as long as he is obeying
his Master. However, once you choose to be the master, it's another
story.
D. You are dangerous when you live with an impassioned purpose.
You cannot be stopped because you are motivated by a passion beyond
yourself. You cannot be deterred because you are indeed a purpose driven
minister.
You never run out of gas because you're not driven by human motivations
but instead by divine passion. You never get off track because man made
goals and objects are too small, you answer to a higher call and are
driven by a greater purpose.
Setbacks and road blocks do not exist in your mind ---- just greater
challenges to meet, and bigger mountains to climb. The bigger the
mountain, the more fantastic the view.
E. You are dangerous when you have a vision cradled in the
sovereign call of His voice and the revealed clarity of His divine touch
on your life. Nothing anyone else has to offer comes close to what you
have in your heart.
You have seen what God has seen. And, when He opened your eyes to see
that, He also opened your ears to hear what He hears, and then He let you
feel in your heart what He feels in His for the suffering and wandering
masses crying out for something they cannot have from places they cannot
reach.
Now examine the second concept: . . . .
2. Being In Danger:
Well ---- if being A Danger is all that, then what puts you In danger?
Interestingly, we soon discover that, though it may seem to be so on the
surface, we are never really in danger from others, the world, or the
powers of darkness.
Why is that true?
Simply because Jesus Christ has covered all of those areas with his
completed work. When we have seen eternity, why should be feel
endangered from the world? When we have been forgiven, delivered, and
set free, why should we feel danger from the powers of darkness who were
soundly defeated by our King?
1) In Danger From Whom?
Ominously, the only source of any possible endangerment we may face is
---- God, Himself. And, even that is not endangerment as we commonly
understand it.
The only danger we ever actually have to face is the danger to the flesh
---- to the carnal tendencies. And even that doesn't seem dangerous ----
unless we're trying to hang on to it.
We have already concluded that, because of Christ's finished work, the
worst thing the world can do is kill the body. But, it can't kill the
vision, for if we die, someone else will pick it up.
The world, our enemies, or even our peers can destroy our reputation, but
that's no big deal if we've really been crucified with Christ. What's so
reputable about a dead person?
You see, dear friend, there is no real danger out there. If there is any
somber warning of danger, it is to beware that we be found faithful, or
thus endure the loving but harsh chastisement of our Heavenly Father who
is committed to three things ---- His own glory, our good, and the pure
proclamation of the Gospel to a needy world.
He will do whatever is necessary to preserve, purify, and propagate those
three things.
2) In Danger of What?
If we miss the vision, tamper with it, distort it, reject it, or abandon
it, then we do in fact put ourselves in some degree of danger ---- the
danger of being put on the shelf and no longer used, the danger of
self-inflicted decommissioning or dishonorable discharge, the danger of
wearing ourselves out through the energy of the flesh, the danger of
prostituting the message of the Gospel, the danger of building our own
little ivory towers of Babel, . . . .
As long as our focus is on the Lord Jesus Christ, and we continue seeing
what God sees, none of that other stuff will tear us away. Why should we
leave the fountain of living water in preference to cisterns of stale
rain water filled with rotting leaves and tadpoles?
But, of course, some have been known to do just that.
3) In Danger ---- How?
Are there some ways that can bring us into actual eminent danger from the
Father? Here are a few simple examples:
A. Rejecting God's vision for you. If anything would put you in
danger, it would be to turn your back on the vision God has given you for
ministry. There is no good or acceptable reason for doing so. My
friend, if God has given you a vision, embrace it, nurture it, refine it,
obey it. Just don't reject or neglect it.
B. Substituting something else for God's vision for you. Satan is
so subtle, the world is so appealing, and the flesh is so fickle that it
really isn't very difficult to substitute something else in place of the
real vision God has for you.
Great ideas, superficial motivation, pet projects, visions of grandeur, a
competitive spirit, jealousy toward a more "successful" brother, personal
pleasure, carnal appetites, comfort, convenience, and a hundred other
things can quickly replace a true and pure vision from God.
They will soon prove to be useless, and will fade away quickly ----
leaving you with nothing but regrets and memories of what could have
been.
C. Neglecting spiritual disciplines. Just as Vince Lombardi
constantly drove his famed Green Bay Packer football team back to the
basics of the game, so it is in the Spiritual life. Absolutely nothing
takes the place of daily updating the cross in your life, keeping a short
sin account with God, spending time daily in His presence through prayer,
immersing yourself in and feeding on His Word, living a life of
continuous rejoicing, reveling in His presence through praise and
worship.
These are all necessary if you want a healthy spiritual life driven by a
clear vision. If you neglect them, you will pay the consequences of
spiritual anemia, and a loss of vitality and endurance. You will soon
fall by the wayside, or you'll try to feverishly keep up a good front,
painting an artificial picture of your vision for all to see, though it
has long faded from your consciousness and all you are doing is
pretending to know where you're headed and what God wants you to do.
Filling your life with religious busyness becomes your driving pastime.
D. Preoccupation with lesser things. When we lose sight of the
vision, we are easily distracted to lesser things, and we soon become so
preoccupied with them that we don't even miss the vision any more. We
spend so much time polishing the medals that we no longer wear the
uniform. We gaze so intently at the frame, that we miss the story in the
picture.
We get so involved in religious activity that we let ministry slip
through our fingers. We expel so much energy keeping the machinery
repaired and well oiled that we have none left for empowered service. We
can devote so much time to serving Jesus, there is no time left for Him
to serve us.
E. Yielding to temptations and fantasies. It is indeed true that
man's heart is deceitfully wicked and corrupt above all else. Even when
we become Christians, the residual effect of the flesh lingers on. The
world has lots of bobbles and bangles to dangle in front of our covetous
eyes.
The flesh has many drives wanting to motivate us into unhealthy and
unproductive ventures. The mind has many arguments of logic to make us
"reason" ourselves into tragic mistakes. The flesh indeed still wars
against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh.
Anybody in his right mind would certainly want to pastor the largest
church in the area, or launch the most successful evangelistic crusade
ever known, or perform the greatest concert to the largest audience in
the region.
The temptations to build Babel again are ever with us. And, if you want
certain defeat and disqualification from the vision, just give in to such
temptations and fantasies, my friend.
FINALLY:
Having a vision from God is an awesome responsibility. Maintaining that
vision is absolutely necessary.
Understanding the danger of vision, becoming dangerous, and avoiding the
dangers are all urgent requirements for anyone who wishes to see the
vision become reality.
It is true, my friend ---- you and I are much alike in that we are either
a Danger to the kingdom of darkness, or we are in danger
There's no doubt about it ---- it is dangerous to have a vision that was
born in the heart of God.
But, it is more dangerous to not have one.
My dear partner and friend ---- have a wonderful week ----
And become dangerous!
In His Bond Forever,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright February, 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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