SHOULDERS #108C ---- 2/11/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #108C ---- 2/11/00
TITLE: "Vision ---- It's Development" (Part Five-C in series)
Dear Friend:
Finally! ---- the last installment of the "Development of Vision" before
we move on to the next element in the study. If you've received my
letters for very long, you know I seldom do multiple mailings within a
week. I know you have much more to read and much more to do than just
read my thoughts. I get an average of over 200 e-mails per week, so I
try to be conscious of your time.
RECAPPING:
Up to now we have looked at four elements and are now concluding the
fifth in finding God's vision for your life and ministry:
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 ---- how a vision grows and matures.
As I shared what all is involved in the progressive Development of a
vision, I mentioned six principles that have been so important to my
understanding of how a vision works. They were . . .
1. A vision is only born in a heart prepared to receive it, and it
begins as a seed.
2. Initial vision often comes years before any fulfillment is
realized.
3. A vision is almost always flawed in some way by the weaknesses of
humanity, the carnality of the flesh, and the pressures of the world.
4. A vision is sometimes fulfilled in a location other than the
original setting of it's revelation.
5. There are two types of vision ---- personal and situational.
6. Vision is sometimes never fulfilled in you, but in someone else.
7. Sometimes God links your vision up with that of another person.
8. If vision, for some reason, is not fulfilled at all, it isn't God's
fault.
9. Vision is usually given partially and progressively.
10. Vision is always in need of refining and fine tuning.
CONCLUDING PRINCIPLES:
Now let me finish the examination of this element with the remaining
principles I feel God has taught me.
#11. You must always deal with the container of the vision ---- the
residue of the flesh.
That is both a bane and a blessing.
It is a bane, because we waste lots of time, energy, and resources doing
things we need not do, facing obstacles that do nothing but delay the
work, and getting side tracked or delayed from things God is really in.
I remember many times having to deal with things like the circumstances
around me, the interest or lack thereof from other people, my own
uncontrolled enthusiasm, my unbelief, my fear, my preoccupation with
other things, and a dozen other elements of the flesh that colored or
even contaminated the vision God had given me so much so that I ended up
with either a very incomplete or a highly distorted picture in my mind of
what God was wanting me to see. It was like looking through cracked or
dirty glasses ---- I just didn't see the real picture.
Conversely, it is a blessing because the reality of the flesh and all
it's self centeredness ---- after all, "Flesh" spelled backward without
the "H" is just "Self" ---- constantly can be used of God to drive us to
the Cross of Christ and the Christ of the Cross.
When we, even in our carnality and humanity, have a genuine desire to
hear the voice of God and see what He sees, the agony and heartbreak of
battling the residue of the flesh should draw us into the presence of our
God for comfort, encouragement, counsel, correction, and instruction.
1) At the Cross of Christ we find the historical and judicial
crucifixion of the Flesh. Paul declared in Romans 6:6, "Knowing this,
that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be
done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." In Gal 2:20
he declared, "I have been Crucified with Christ."
It is still hard for us to realize just how dead we really are ----
there's so much of us that still wants to rise up and be in control, in
spite of the fact that such crucifixion was both historical and judicial.
This act of being crucified with Christ is historical in that, according
to Scripture and secular history there was someone named Jesus who went
to the cross for our deliverance, and it is recognized as a recorded
event nearly 2,000 years ago.
That deliverance was comprehensive. He delivered us from sin (I Cor
15:3), from self (Rom 6:6), from the law (Phil 3:8-9), from the world (I
John 4:2-3; Gal 6:14; II Pet 1:2-4), and from Satan (I John 3:8). I
wrote in detail about that in "Shoulder To Shoulder" #84, which you may
request if you like.
It is also judicial in the sense that Jesus had the authority, the power,
and the reason to do it. And, once it was done, it was done. There was
no jury to make the decision, and no higher court to overturn the ruling.
You and I were judicially crucified with Christ, and we no longer live
unto ourselves ---- no matter what our flesh may try to dictate or others
may say. It was a judicial act, carrying all legal authority and
enforcement.
2) In the Christ of the Cross we find the reality of purpose and the
resurrection power to do what we otherwise cannot do. Paul said it this
way: "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your
mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you" (Romans 8:11) Again
he said, "We have this treasurer in earthen vessels (clay pots) in
order that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of man." (II
Corinthians 4:7)
My friend, you are going to spend the rest of your life filtering the
flesh from the Spirit in regards to your personal life and to your vision
for ministry. The question is, though, what are you going to allow to be
the outcome? For you basically will determine the outcome ---- not by
what you do, but what you permit God to do in terms of Your flesh, and
His Spirit.
Just mark it down, though, that the residual effect of the flesh lingers
on ---- and must be confronted ---- daily. Paul reminded us of that when
he said, "I die daily", and that we are to "mortify the deeds of the
flesh" and "put off the old self" and "put on the new self". How many
times do we need to be reminded?
#12. The vision is for a specified time and place in God's plan, but
usually fulfilled progressively, continuously, and segmentally ---- until
we come to the end of life.
Paul said, "I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." But he
never said it until he knew within his heart that he had done all he knew
to do in carrying out the ministry God had given him. And, when that
time came, he was ready to pass the baton and walk off the field.
I wish you could know my Father. He became a Christian at age 12 in
1927. In November, 1934, God called him to preach the Gospel, though he
had known since he was 14 that he wanted to serve the Lord vocationally.
For the next two years he, my mother (not yet his wife) and other youth
and adults helped begin several churches in extreme northwestern Indiana.
On March 19, 1936 he and my mother were married. Some time before my
birth exactly two years to the day after they were married, Dad started
pastoring little country churches in our home territory of Southern
Illinois where they had moved.
His ministry as a pastor and as an itinerant evangelist was that of a
classic shepherd and soul winner, undergirded by my Mother's outstanding
love for people and great skill as a Bible teacher. Both wonderfully
skilled in music and in Bible knowledge, the two of them sang and taught
their ways into the hearts of thousands of people from the corn fields of
Indiana to the cactus filled desert of Arizona.
Of all the churches he ever pastored, he was the first pastor of all but
four. He decided to retire at age 67 in 1982. That didn't last long.
After two years of interim pastorates and many revival meetings with me
in our itinerant work, he returned to the pastorate and stayed at that
church for 13 more years ---- finally retiring the second time at age 82
in 1997.
Dad always said he had three goals he wanted to reach in the year 2,000
---- eat one good steak, play one round of golf, and preach one sermon.
We'll he's had several steaks, has preached several times, and is waiting
for the weather to warm enough to play that round of golf.
But ---- he's not finished. Last Sunday he preached for me in the church
where I'm serving as interim pastor ---- and the people loved him! At
age 85 he still waxes eloquent and drives the nail deep when he strikes
it.
The day before, however, was intriguing. The four of us had gone out for
lunch at our favorite Smith's Berry Farm and Family Restaurant. While
sitting there, he told me that the pastor who succeeded him at the church
from which he had retired had abruptly resigned. Then he said, "You
know, Bob ---- about three months ago the desire to preach again returned
in my heart. I believe I could go another round as an interim pastor."
I wanted to laugh ---- I was so surprised, that's all I could think to do
because of the joy of the thought. I thought to myself, "He's going to
out last me!"
Frankly, I don't know if it will happen, but I sure hope it does. Why
shouldn't it? After all, Caleb, at age 85, told Joshua that mountain
hadn't been conquered yet, and he figured he could get it done.
If Caleb can do it, why not my Father?
It's clear that, while his human eyes have dimmed, the eyes of my
Father's spirit are clear and bright ---- and he still recognizes that
the vision hasn't yet ended, after nearly 71 years since God called him
to preach. Surely the vision has changed, locations have changed, a lot
has changed ---- even the vision.
But it hasn't ended. Not yet.
I figure he's going to eat many more good steaks, preach many more good
sermons, and play many more rounds of golf. (He's signed up for the 17th
consecutive year in a ministers' golf tournament for April.) His
specific times have been added one to the other, his specific places have
moved him around the country, but his time has not ended, and his place
is there. I can hear him saying, "Give me that mountain!"
Go for it, Dad!
#13. God's intent is that the vision He sends will ALWAYS be fulfilled.
The only exception is if you utterly rebel. Then He moves you out, and
redesigns the vision for another.
Why do I believe that? Because, otherwise, why would God give you the
vision in the first place? He's not a prankster! He's not a liar! He's
not a sadist!
He's God!
And ---- He's God with a purpose and plan for you, my friend.
I'll never forget one day in Iowa when I sat alone on a picnic table
overlooking a lake. I had taken my tape player, but I couldn't listen.
I had taken my Bible, but I couldn't read. I tried to pray, but nothing
but a groan would come out. It was at the end of nearly two years of
badgering, criticizing, hating, and the undermining of my ministry as a
pastor.
I wanted to quit more than anything. I needed a break. Everything I
felt was a part of the vision God had given me seemed to have fallen
through, and how I had three families trying to run me off. And, I was
ready to go. I was tired of the battle, and the joy of ministry was long
gone.
Yet, there was something inside me that wouldn't let me say, "I quit!"
It was not until recently, some 21 years later, that I realized what it
was.
It was the whisper of the vision yet unfulfilled. Deep in the dark and
hidden shadows in the back stage, a quiet yet persistent voice kept
whispering, ---- "What about the vision? . . . . What about the
vision?" . . . . . What about th . . . .?"
I didn't know.
But, I too wondered ---- "What about the vision?"
Then the Holy Spirit seemed to imprint a question right in front of my
eyes gazing beyond the lake ---- "Bob, if you could do anything in the
world in serving Me, you knew you couldn't fail, and money was no object,
what would you do?" I've written about this before.
As you may remember, my answer led a year later to the birth and
development of Life Unlimited Ministries, now in its 21st year.
But ---- what was it that caused me to answer that question in the first
place?
It was the assuring statement I heard in my inner being after the
question had been asked.
"I'm not through with you yet, son. You have more to learn, ---- more to
give, ---- and more to do."
That was enough for me to know, for in that moment I realized that, while
the vision seemed to have utterly died and its fulfillment had completely
failed, the vision was still alive ---- faint and barely breathing, but
alive.
As I look back on that moment, I now understand that if God puts His
vision in your heart, He fully intends it to be accomplished ----
somewhere, somehow, sometime, by someone.
It may not be here, but it will be realized somewhere.
It may not be in the way you planned or expected, but it will happen.
It may not be now, but it will be on time.
It may not be you, but God will use someone.
In case you struggle with the assurance of this principle, let me ask you
to consider Moses and the nation Israel. God promised them a land ---- a
land promised hundreds of years earlier to Abraham.
Much had happened between Abraham and Moses. And once God finally got
Moses to where he was available and useable, still more happened ---- and
Israel still wasn't in the land God had promised.
The vision was yet unrealized and unfulfilled.
Fulfillment of the vision was derailed, distorted, and delayed many
times, but God still saw what He saw, and He continued raising up men who
would be willing to do the same.
Moses saw what God saw ---- and when he finally did, he communicated it
to God's people sufficiently that they agreed to follow him.
And off they went in a cloud of miracles ---- only to be delayed time and
time again. Sometimes it doesn't take God long to get us out of Egypt,
but it may take ages to get Egypt out of us ---- whether we be the
leaders or the followers.
Interestingly several very symbolic things kept the vision from being
fulfilled in Moses' day.
First, it was the rebellion and idolatry of the people. Then it was
Moses' own angry arrogance. Then came Amalek. See it through the eyes
of discernment, and you find that the very five areas from which Jesus
has delivered us were the very areas that kept the vision from becoming
reality for so many years ---- sin, self, legalistic performance, the
world's clutches, and Satan's intimidations.
Moses never did see the vision fulfilled. He died on the wrong side of
the Jordan ---- wistfully gazing over, but never going in.
I sometimes wonder what it was that wore Moses down so much that he tried
to take matters into his own hands and take credit for something that God
had already done and that only He could do. Since God had done it, Moses
only needed to speak it. The first time, "Strike the rock". The second
time "Speak to the rock".
Jesus doesn't need to be stricken the second time ---- once was enough.
It was enough for Moses and Israel, and it's enough for you. Take heed,
my friend, lest you crucify Him again ---- for your own glory and
reputation.
Notwithstanding, the vision was indeed fulfilled. God raised up Joshua
("Jehovah, our salvation!"), and Israel entered the land ---- more than
40 years late, but they got there.
God always intends that His vision will be fulfilled. The delays come
proportionate to our spiritual sensitivity, our availability, and God's
timing. But, mark it down ---- He will do what He's going to do ----
with or without you. You just have to decide whether or not you want to
be part of it ---- badly enough.
#14. It is God's intent that the fulfillment of the vision will always
give Him, and not man, both the credit and the glory.
I'm convinced that one reason the vision often becomes diluted or
polluted in outcome is because somewhere along the way, some person, some
group, or some denomination wants to take responsibility for control of
or receive credit for both the vision itself and the credit and glory for
its successful outcome.
Taking credit or receiving glory for something is just another
manifestation of rebellion against Divine Authority. It's just so
"natural" and so subtle that we usually don't see it that way.
When I first accepted the pastorate of that Iowa church, God was all over
the place. The first Sunday I was there as pastor, there were 22 of us
in attendance. That included my family of six, so that meant there were
only 14 people out of a congregation of more than 120 members who
bothered to show up on my "welcome pastor!" Sunday.
I can almost remember them all ---- the chairman of the pastor search
committee, his wife and two children, a red headed electrician and his
family of three, another couple, and a family of three (who eventually
tried to run me off four years later).
The next Sunday things got better. I think we had about 40. And then
the next three years were days of continued growth, joy, and excitement.
One of the first things God laid on my heart was the horrible
indebtedness the church had ---- multiplied thousands of dollars in back
mortgage payments, and thousands of dollars more in local unpaid bills.
The church was known in town as the church that never paid its bills.
I knew in a minute that an immediate priority had to be to get some
$4,000 in local debt paid off quickly. The first thing I did was to go
to every business where we owed money and promise them those bills would
be paid, but to just give us some time.
Then I began challenging the people over the next six or eight months Not
about giving, but rather in Believing ---- in believing God. If we were
to ever have a credible witness in that town, we were going to have to
rebuild the integrity of the church, particularly in the business
community.
The question in the minds of the members was not whether or not God could
provide ---- they all knew He Could. The big questions were, "Will He?"
and, ---- more importantly, "Will We?"
He could, He did, and they did.
When the day came to take the special offering, with a goal of $4,000 to
be raised, 44 people gave, on one Sunday, $4800. By the end of the
following week, $5400 had been given. To this day I have never told the
people that God put in my heart a goal of $5000 even though the church
set a goal of $4000.
The most important thing, however, is not the amount of money that was
given, but the way it was done ---- in such a way that everybody knew it
was God who had done it, and therefore, only He could take either the
credit or the glory.
So they gave Him both.
Friend, if you're trying to see your vision fulfilled so that you'll
receive credit and praise for it, or so you'll feel good, or so you'll
look good among your peers, or so the record will look good on your
resume' you send to the next place, you've missed the whole point, and
you're in for a rude awakening.
God will see to it that the vision He gives you fulfilled in ways that
make certain He is the focal point of its fulfillment.
FINALLY!
I'm sure there are other principles I've learned, and probably many
you've learned that you could share with us all. It's my prayer that my
observations have encouraged and strengthened in your pilgrimage.
Just remember, dear friend ---- pay whatever price you must in order to
see what God sees, and then take every step necessary to follow Him as He
makes it happen. Again, Henry Blackaby says, "find out where God is at
work and what He is doing, and then go join Him in it."
Seeing what God sees is vision. Joining Him in it is to see it's
fulfillment.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Because of such unbelievable interest, we will continue on the subject of
vision by looking at the following elements.
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.
In His Eternal Bond,
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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