SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #115 ---- 3/27/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
(A letter of Encouragement to People in
Vocational and Lay Ministry)
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #115 ---- 3/27/00
TITLE: "Vision ---- It's Discipline" (Number 12 in Series of 13)
My Dear Partner and Friend in Kingdom Service:
I greet you today from Ephesians 1:3 in the name of our Heavenly Father,
" . . . Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places in Christ, . . . " I hope you are receiving and basking in that
which He has given, and that your week was one during which you found Him
to be forever faithful. He is indeed an awesome God.
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. You know of our love for and ministry to the people of the Balkans.
Earlier you prayed for the elections in Croatia, which radically changed
the direction of the country toward greater democracy, and has given
momentum toward other Balkan countries for the same.
Today I ask you to pray for elections in Bosnia, a country greatly
encouraged by what happened recently in Croatia. I received the
following report Saturday from the "This Week In Bosnia" newsletter.
"International agencies will be overseeing local elections in Bosnia
scheduled for April 8. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe urged Bosnians to vote for change, with the head of OSCE's Bosnia
mission pointing out the positive changes in neighboring Croatia
following elections there. Information on elections is available on the
OSCE Web site at http://www.oscebih.org/ ."
2. The adoption of our two newest grand children from Russia is
complete. Roman and Anya are now officially part of our family.
However, one remaining major need is that their passports did not get
final approval before they left for Moscow, and it will be touch and go
in getting them in time for their Tuesday departure to America. Please
pray for Bob and Cheri and the children for God's intervention in the
process.
JUST GOTTA TELL YOU THIS:
For the past week and a half Jo Ann and I have had our three grand
children adopted from Russia in our home while Bob and Cheri are there
again to adopt Roman and Anya. Because they are home schooled, Jo Ann
has kept them pretty busy with studies, along with church activities and
other things.
Finally, Saturday was a big day of relaxation and outdoor work for us
all. We had a wonderful time.
Just after lunch on the deck, I announced that we were going to pick up
"cow chips" in the neighbor's yard to use to fertilize Jo Ann's flower
beds. It wasn't the greatest way to end lunch, and the boys particularly
let me know of their disfavor.
But ---- off they went, along with Katya, and two wheel barrows, where
they discovered the joy of gathering dried "cow chips" for Grandpa. To
my surprise, it didn't take long for them to really get into the
adventure with laughter and animated fervor. They did a great job.
However, I wasn't prepared for Misha's prayer at supper; ". . . . And
dear Lord, thank you for the fantastic time and all the fun we had today
picking up cow piles for Grandpa." As I looked back into my past, I
could not remember ever calling my many episodes of shoveling that stuff
into a spreader as a "fantastic time" that was "fun".
Supper just didn't seem to be the same after Misha's prayer.
Oh, well . . . . .
ABOUT THIS SERIES:
You probably noted that this series has mysteriously extended an extra
issue from twelve to thirteen. So, next week as my final letter on
vision (at least for the time being), I am going to address the topic of
what you do when a vision you have shared with another (a church, a staff
member, a partner, etc.) suddenly seems to be creating conflict,
misunderstanding, or grief. You each feel you have and understand the
vision, but you are no longer walking in unity ---- that is to say, you
have encountered "The Division of Vision".
What do you do?
That's what I will discuss next week, so I hope you'll look forward to
that letter.
NOW TO TODAY'S SUBJECT:
To summarize, we've covered a bunch of areas in this study ----
1. The Definition of Vision ---- what it is and isn't (#104).
2. The Description of Vision ---- what it is like (#105).
3. The Demand for Vision ---- why it is necessary (#106).
4. The Discovery of Vision ---- how to find it (#107).
5. The Development of Vision ----required "ground rules" for a true
vision (#108A,B,C).
6. The Decisiveness of Vision ---- a "line in the sand" "no turning
back" requirement (#109).
7. The Danger of Vision ---- dangerous to have; dangerous to not have
(#110).
8. The Distractions from Vision ---- things that interfere with your
focus on your vision (#111).
9. The Destruction of Vision ---- things that will destroy a vision
(#112).
10. The Death of a Vision ---- things that cause a vision to die (#113).
11. The Demonstration of A Vision ---- evidences of a living and vibrant
vision (#114).
Today we consider the twelfth aspect of vision ---- It's Discipline; that
is, the necessity of doing certain things to create a duality of
discipline ---- 1) To keep You personally disciplined to follow the
vision, and 2) To keep the Vision itself under disciplined control so as
to not allow for it's distortion or dilution.
So . . . . here we go.
Recently one of my sons-in-law sent me a penetrating quote on the subject
from the great Oswald Chambers, taken from his wonderful daily devotional
book, *My Utmost For His Highest*. Here's what he said:
"When God gives a vision by His Spirit through His word of what He wants,
and your mind and soul thrill to it, if you do not walk in the light of
that vision, you will sink into servitude to a point of view which our
Lord never had.
"Disobedience in mind to the heavenly vision will make you a slave to
points of view that are alien to Jesus Christ.
"Do not look at someone else and say -- 'Well, if he can have those views
and prosper, why cannot I?' You have to walk in the light of the vision
that has been given you and not compare yourself with others or judge
them...You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That
moment marks you for going on as a more true disciple of Jesus Christ or
for going back as a deserter."
Arresting words!
Read them again.
Now . . . . .
Some crucial points come to mind regarding a discipline that is required
to both follow your vision fully, and make sure your vision doesn't
wildly stampede away from God's intended direction for it, much as an
unbroken and rebellious horse.
For you see, my friend, there is always within us a tendency to do both
---- lethargy and familiarity on the one hand, and unchecked imagination
and selfish visions of splendor and grandeur on the other.
There must be a discipline within us that conquers both, once and for
all, and from day to day.
For nearly two weeks we have had three of our grand children with us
while their parents have been in Russia adopting two more children.
Misha, Katya, and Seriozha are an interesting triune force. Absolutely
lovable, cherished, fun, delightful, considerate, (what else do you want
me to say?) precious, a joy to be around, any grandparent's prize and joy
---- and sometimes a great big pain!
Constantly in need of discipline. Not punishment, but enforced
parameters of acceptable behavior.
I see in them the same need I see in being able to keep under control the
vision God gives us. By that I don't mean that the success of our vision
depends on us, because it doesn't. But I do mean that, because the
vision is from God, it requires a strict stewardship on our part to
wisely use that which has been given us through the divine incarnation
from His own heart ---- enabling us to miraculously see what He sees,
hear what He hears, and feel what He feels.
Paul describes having "this treasure in earthly vessels (clay pots), that
the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us." (II Cor 4:7).
VISION'S DISCIPLINES:
So, then . . . . .
What must you and I do in order to be assured the vision we have been
given will reach its expected end and intent as God has planned?
Paul knew the vision God had given him, and he knew what it would take to
stay true to the vision. In fact, several times in Acts that reality is
articulated (Acts 9:5,6,15,16; Acts 22: 10-15; Acts 26:16-18).
Over a period covering more than twenty years, we see his vision and call
progressively develop and become more refined. I believe one of the
reasons is because he recognized some practical disciplines by which to
monitor that vision.
He knew the right questions to ask, and he new the correct answers.
Now, you may expect me to urge you to spend more time in prayer, read the
Bible more, discipline yourself away from things of the world, spend more
time in witnessing and visitation, and the like.
But, I'm not ---- because I don't think that's where the solution is.
While they are all good and desirable, those actions are based primarily
on human performance, and such superficial effort will not result in the
deep levels of discipline needed for a person who has come to see what
God sees. When you have seen what God sees, it takes more than man
initiated efforts.
Looking again at Chambers' quote and pulling out some choice words and
phrases will help us identify some of those disciplines. Consider these
twelve admonitions:
1. **Remember From Whence Your Vision Came.** "When God gives a
vision . . . ":
Never forget that the vision had its origin in God's heart, and He let
you see what He sees, hear what He hears, and feel what He feels.
While the vision may be yours, . . . . it's really not. It is His, and
it will always be His. Even though He's given it to you, it's not yours
to own, though it's yours to possess.
There's something in knowing your vision originated in God that places a
stamp of value on it which makes you want to treasure and respect it at
all costs.
Remember where your vision came from.
2. **Remember How Your Vision Came.** " . . . by His Spirit
through His word . . . ":
While the embryonic formation may have first surfaced in some idea, a
dream, or even a goal, your vision ultimately came to you by the Holy
Spirit as God spoke Rhema into your soul.
Therefore, it cannot be taken lightly. It is indeed a pearl of great
price, to be cherished, not by its own value, but by the value of the One
who gave it to you.
Remember that your vision, if it is genuinely from God, came by His Holy
Spirit.
3. **Remember That It's Always About Him, and Not About You.** "
. . . of what He wants . . . ":
Paul again understood that, even from the early stages of his ministry.
On Mars Hill, he knew what God wanted out of him. "For in Him we live,
and move, and exist" (Acts 17:28).
It's easy for us to get so wrapped up in the vision that we begin to
think everything is about us and our vision. It's Never about us ----
ever. If we can remember that, it will help protect us from expecting
preferential consideration, getting special treatment, or making
unacceptable demands on others.
Whether we fail or succeed in man's eyes is not the point. The point is
---- your vision is all about God.
Remember that.
4. **Check Your Commitment And Level Of Joy.** " . . . your mind
and soul thrill to it . . . ":
Years ago we used to sing a little chorus, "There's Joy In Following
Jesus". It's true ---- more true today than then. Bill Gaither put it
well in his wonderful song, "The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He
Grows".
If you want to know the health of your vision, check to see if your mind
and soul thrill and pulsate when you think of or engage in the vision.
Check the commitment and joy gauges.
5. **Be Obedient To The Heavenly Vision.** " . . . walk in the
light of that vision . . . ":
When it comes to vision, Paul is one of my favorite Bible characters. In
spite of all the odds and adversities, we can see in him a man that
lived, breathed, and walked the vision God had given him, watching it
grow and develop over a period of over 25 years.
When he came near the end of his ministry, he stood before King Agrippa
shortly before being transported to Rome and said, " . . . I Did Not
Prove Disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring . . . . that
they should repent and turn to God, . . . . and so, having obtained help
from God, I Continue To This Day testifying both to small and great . . .
. that Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from
the dead He should be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish
people and to the gentiles." (Acts 26: 19-23)
Walking in the light of your vision in obedience is what gives you
staying power. Be obedient to the heavenly vision.
6. **Never Allow Your Vision To Become A Point Of Boredom Or
Bondage.** " . . . you will sink into servitude to a point of view
which our Lord never had.":
It is urgently imperative that you keep your vision fresh, and free from
either boredom or bondage. Boredom comes from routineness. Bondage
comes from an unwelcomed sense of obligation. Recognizing that
everything in your life, including family, recreation, relaxation, doing
nothing, doing the mundane and routine, is directly related to freshness
and freedom in the carrying out of your vision.
Many people do not recognize that, because they tend to use the oriental
approach to life, which compartmentalizes everything into tidy little
boxes, void of interconnection. If Jesus could go fishing with His
disciples or play musical games in the streets with the children, or take
a break on the curb of a Samaritan well, or go up into the hills to
relax, all the while fully conscious of Who He Was and Why He had come,
then you and I must learn to do the same.
Otherwise, the vision will become boring and burdensome.
Never allow your vision to come to that point.
7. **Never Let Your Mind Choose Rebellion Against The Vision.**
"Disobedience in mind to the heavenly vision will make you a slave to
points of view that are alien to Jesus Christ.":
No matter how long we follow Jesus, we will constantly be in battle
against Amalek ---- the flesh and the mind. Paul declared that the
"flesh wars against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh" (Gal
5:17) because they are constantly in opposition to each other.
He also identified three major areas of strongholds that must be
constantly dealt with by, "destroying speculations and every lofty thing
raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought
captive to the obedience of Christ, . . . " (II Cor 10:5).
Further, he heralded that " . . . those who are according to the flesh
set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according
to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh
is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the
mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God. . . ." (Romans 8:5-6).
Finally, he revealed the way to hold the mind captive to obeying Christ
when he said, " . . . present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove (demonstrate) what the will of God is, that
which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom 12:1-2).
There will be times when your mind wants to purge itself of the vision,
but it cannot do so. Why? Because the vision is housed in your spirit.
However, your mind will continue such attempts. If your vision is really
from God, you must not allow that dangerous rebellion to happen.
Never let your mind rebel against the vision. If you do, your actions
will soon follow.
8. **Never Compare Your Vision And Ministry To That Of Others.**
"Do not look at someone else . . . ":
I know of nothing that will more heavily damage and potentially destroy a
vision than to compare your own to that of someone else.
Why is that true? Because when we play the comparison game, we normally
compare our greatest strengths to their greatest weaknesses, thus
creating arrogance, pride, and a sense of superiority on our part,
whereby we then begin to judge the vision and work of others as being
less important (or of no importance) to God's work.
On the other hand, we also may compare our greatest weaknesses to their
greatest strengths, generating a sense of unworthiness or even
covetousness and envy toward their vision and resentment toward God for
not giving us a vision as glamorous as theirs.
Finally, in such comparisons, we may also try to emulate another's vision
and ministry by using artificial means of producing results, ending up
with nothing but rotting works of the flesh, good for nothing but the
bonfire of judgement.
So ---- don't waste your time comparing. It's an effort in futility.
9. **Act Boldly On What You Know, And Don't Get Side Tracked By What
You Don't Know Yet.** " . . . walk in the light of the vision that has
been given you . . . ":
A vision is much like a muscle ---- it grows when used. It is also like
light. The more you act courageously in light that you have for your
vision, the more light you will receive.
One thing is certain, my friend ---- when you walk in the light you have,
there will be light for the next step as well. Why should God give you
more revelation if you have not yet walked in that which you already
have?
There is an interesting principle in scripture that many people have
missed. Knowing comes from obedience rather than from learning, or even
from faith. If you want to know more, then obey more.
Note that Jesus said "I am the Way" before He said "I am the Truth".
There was a reason for that.
Quit griping over what you don't know about the vision, and start obeying
what you do know ---- boldly.
10. **Guard Yourself About Being Influenced By Others Who Are Not Part
Of Your Vision.** " . . . and not compare yourself with others or
judge them.":
There will always be those, even within your circle, who neither
understand or are a part of your vision. Not everyone will jump on your
band wagon. If they did, it would be too loaded down to move.
Some of the greatest dangers to vision obeying is to spend too much time
listening to people who don't have your vision, don't understand it, and
certainly don't particularly care that you accomplish it.
Good grief! ---- why in the world would you want to be influenced by
people like that? Go ahead and love them, let them be your friend, and
even spend time with them, but be warned ---- the more time you spend
with them, the greater the danger is that they'll influence you away from
the primary focus of your vision God has given you.
Guard yourself diligently from being unduly influenced by those who
aren't on the same page you are. Job had three friends, well meaning
though they were, who came very close to leading him away from God's
purpose for him.
11. **Learn To Live In The Realm Of The Supernatural And Unexplainable,
remembering that you'll never again be the same.** "You can never be
the same after the unveiling of a truth.":
Do you remember, friend, when the vision first came to you? It was so
overwhelming and "other world like" that you felt invincible. What a
sense of courageous thrill!
Well, get used to it.
As your vision grows and is refined, you'll find yourself in the
heavenlies more and more. They will become more like home, and the world
less like it. You'll begin to more fully understand what it means to be
an alien . . . a stranger in a foreign land. The more you are around the
unexplainable and supernatural things of God, the more you'll want to
hang out there, and the less homesick for the world you'll become.
Like Paul, you'll begin to live closer to heaven than to earth. And,
you'll never want to go back. Pure oxygen is free from all other
elements that seem necessary, but all of which have side effects which
dull the senses. The more time you spend in the realm of the heavenlies,
the more of it you breathe.
The more of it you breathe, the more "epignosis" (full knowledge) you
gain and the less "gnosis" (human knowledge) you desire. You
increasingly live with clearer revelatory understanding, and are more
unexplainable you will be to those around you.
Since you'll never be the same, get used to living as an "unexplainable"
---- driven by the Spirit of God.
12. **Be Aware That You Always Have The Choice Of Going On , Or Becoming
A Deserter To The Call To Arms..** "That moment marks you for going
on as a more true disciple of Jesus Christ or for going back as a
deserter.":
What a frightening possibility ---- having received the vision and joined
the army of the Lord, to then become a deserter!
Unthinkable! Yet, it can happen.
Never forget, my friend, that you daily have at your disposal the
capacity to embrace again the vision or to walk away from it. God has
not forced you to seek, secure, or stay with the vision. You can abandon
it anytime you wish.
Of course, the consequences will be painful and costly.
But, ---- why would you want to desert in the first place? (That brings
up a whole new area of topics to discuss.)
All I'm saying, though, is that owning a vision is like trying to handle
a raw egg when you have melted butter all over your hands ---- one wrong
move, and it's gone from your grasp and shattered on the floor at your
feet.
So ---- keep the butter off your hands where it doesn't belong, and the
egg in the carton where it does belong.
Yesterday you had a choice to make. Today you have the same choice.
Tomorrow it will be there again.
IN SUMMARY:
Now ---- how can I make this practical?
How about this? ---- Set a day, a time, and a place every month (or week,
or however often you choose), where you sit down with the Lord and with
paper and pen, and answer the following questions:
1. "Where did my vision come from? Why?"
2. "How did my vision come? Who originated it?"
3. "Who is my current vision about ---- God, or my own desires? Why?"
4. "What are the readings on my commitment and joy gauges? Why?"
5. "Am I obeying the vision I now have? To what degree?"
6. "Am I bored or in bondage to the vision? To what extent? Why?"
7. "To what degree is my mind in agreement with and obedient to the
vision? Why?"
8. "How much time and effort am I wasting comparing my vision to that
of others? Why?"
9. "Am I walking boldly in the light I have, or am I waiting for more
light before I act? Why?"
10. "To what extent are others who don't understanding my vision
influencing me? Why?"
11. "What percentage of my vision's ministry unexplainable apart from
God? Why is that?"
12. "What is my choice today ---- to be a faithful warrior, or a
deserter? Why?"
Friend, if you'll take all the time necessarily to thoroughly answer
those questions, I'll just about guarantee you that you will develop a
discipline that will keep your vision alive, healthy, and ever expanding.
That is what you want, ---- isn't it?
FINALLY:
If you happen to be one who has not yet discovered where God is working,
and then joined Him in it, let me encourage you to go looking.
He's waiting for you ---- anxiously and expectantly.
I love you, my friend, and wish for you a vision unblemished, undamaged,
and filled with resurrection life and hope.
In His Bond of Mercy and Grace,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright March, 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]>.
__
/ |
(_/____)
/ ^ ^
{ (O) (O) }
------oOOO---------U--------OOOo------
Hang in there! I'm with you!
-------.ooooO--------------- Ooooo--------
( ) /
| | /
(_) (_)
TO SUBSCRIBE, send any message to <[email protected]>.
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send any message to
<[email protected]>.