SHOULDERS #59 ---- 03/01/99
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #59 ---- 03/01/99
TITLE: "Have You A Word From God (part 3) ---- Isa 54:17. Ministry
Security
My Dear Fellow Servant:
I'm so grateful for the recent comments about this particular series on
God's messages of "Rhema" He gives us at special times in our lives.
The more I write on this subject the more conscious I become of occasions
when my soul was buoyed up on " wings of eagles" by God's gracious and
encouraging words He seemed to speak just for me at those particular
moments.
THE FIFTEEN VERSES:
Last week I listed the fifteen passages in the New Testament where the
word "Rhema" ---- God's revealed, applied, living personal message ----
is used. Since then, I have thought much about one in particular ----
Matthew 4:4.
You remember the setting. Jesus had just been baptized by John,
signifying the beginning of His public ministry. After His baptism, He
was "immediately led [driven] by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil."
It is not accidental that Satan's very first challenge was directed
specifically at what, if there were such a thing in the Son of God, would
apparently be a weakness of the moment ---- hunger.
However, I think it was deeper than that, and I believe God wants to say
something to you and me from it.
As I review my 47 years of ministry, I recall many times when I was
tempted to yield to physical cravings and needs, at the cost of
effectiveness in my ministry ---- food, sleep, clothing, pain, weariness,
etc.
It may come as a surprise that Satan would have the gall to tempt God
Himself at the very same place. "If You [really] are [who you say you
are] the Son of God, [take care of your personal needs and] command that
these stones become bread." Personal need, preference, and convenience
will always be challenged to take precedence over the will and purposes
of the Father.
Jesus' answer, at first glance, seems to be nothing but a fully expected
rebuke by quoting scripture back to Satan in rebuttal.
However, I believe there is something far deeper, richer, and more
significant found in our Savior's rebuke ---- "It is written, 'Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by every word ("Rhema") that proceeds from
the mouth of God'."
This, of course, is a quote from Deut 8:3. I pray that I will adequately
articulate my inner thoughts to you. I see the following principles
imbedded in that simple statement.
1. Man does indeed live "by bread" ---- in the terrestrial realm. We
are painfully aware of our humanity and its related surroundings and
influences. It's not the most convenient thing to do, but we are
nonetheless living "in" the world while struggling to not be a part "of"
it.
2. We also live "by bread" in the spiritual realm. "Bread" in this
verse I believe has a double application ---- physical food, and
spiritual food from God's Word. Jesus is described in John 1 as "The
Word". Words are the verbal and/or written expression of the thoughts,
character, nature, and purposes of the writer. So, it is not out of line
for "the word" to refer to both the Bible and to Jesus Himself. ----
"Logos" written, "Logos" incarnate.
The Bible is the written description of and expression of Jesus. Jesus
in the Flesh was the embodiment of all the Bible contains. As such,He
described Himself as "the Bread of Life". It fascinates me that the
words "bread" and "word" are used in tandem with each other.
I remember clearly my Father's frequent statement about the place of
God's Word in our lives ---- "what food is to the body, the Bible is to
the soul." It's nice to know there is "heavenly manna" from which we can
find nourishment, health, and energy for service.
3. We don't, however, live by "bread alone" ---- there is something more
there for us. It is one thing to feed on the sacred Word of God, to
memorize it, and to make every effort to order our lives by the
principles contained therein.
And, for life in general, there is no equal to what the Bible contains
for us.
But what about those times when we need to have a "special word" from God
that speaks not just in general principles or even in specific truths,
but that speaks "personally" ---- "intimately" ---- "specifically" just
to me? Just for you?
It's wonderful to be a part of the believing masses of the world and hear
God speaking to all of us collectively. But ---- there are times when we
need a personal audience with our Holy God when He seems to call us by
name, sit down with us face to face, look deeply into the inner parts of
our spirits, and say, "Bob ---- this is just for you ---- in this special
time in your life. I am saying to you, . . . . . "
That's a whole new ball game ---- and it will change your life, carry you
through some of the greatest challenges of your ministry, and become an
anchor from which no storm can dislodge or tear you.
MY POINT:
If you have been able to follow this reasoning, then you understand when
I say that I feel Jesus was saying something very deep here ---- "you
cannot live only on the basis of food for your body or from what you get
from 'Logos' alone, but also from every 'Rhema' that proceeds from God's
mouth."
And ---- Every "Rhema" God speaks to your heart you will probably never
forget for the rest of your life.
Therefore, if you are trying to live successfully only on the basis of
what you get from God's Word as "logos", without divine revelation
personally applied to your heart for specific situations as "Rhema", you
are living a weakened and highly vulnerable Christian life that is at
some time likely to crumble under one of life's crises.
You are living far below your privilege and God's expectation of you, my
friend.
If you want to maintain a clear focus on your purpose, a steadiness in
your gait, and a tenacious perseverance in your direction, you need to
build your life, your family, and your ministry on those special
visitations from God when His Word becomes "Living Word" to your soul.
INTIMIDATED BY CRITICISM AND OPPOSITION:
It was in 1972 just about a year after I had begun pastoring a
congregation of some 700 members.
The Pastor Search Committee had been very honest with me ---- the church
had been having problems in the past, it was located in an ethnically
changing area of the city, they were still missing their
pastor-turned-missionary from two pastorates ago, the immediate previous
pastor had stayed less than a year, and they were still fighting and
bickering with each other over a variety of things.
It was a far cry from the church I was currently pastoring. I could not
have asked for a better setting for my first pastorate ---- a rural
community of about 3,000 residents, a church of about 400 happy, laid
back members, great hunting and fishing spots within minutes, 70% of the
school teachers and administrators as Christians, 27 of them in my own
church ---- I had absolutely no reason to leave.
Except one.
God had called me to move.
How can you say "No" to that?
The new pastorate was thrilling ---- challenging. Located in a major
metropolitan area of some two million people, our church building was
surrounded by 25 multi-housing apartment complexes within a mile radius.
The people were excited and growing spiritually by leaps and bounds, many
unbelievers were coming to Christ, attendance was higher than it had been
in over 15 years, the church workers were faithful and hard working, I
had a great group of deacons ---- the sky was the limit.
Then something happened I had never faced before in the previous fourteen
years of ministry ---- a group of about 20 people began to openly voice
their dissatisfaction with one thing or another about my ministry, over
cups of coffee, Sunday dinner, and one of the greatest tools Satan uses
to sow seeds of discord ---- the telephone.
That didn't bother me so much ---- until I found that the whole thing had
been initiated, at the insistence of their wives, by two deacons whom I
had trusted most and whom I thought supported me wholeheartedly.
Their complaints were interesting ---- but not unique in any way.
"Services are too long." "He's always preaching about commitment and
Lordship." "He doesn't visit the members enough." (How many visits a
week would I have to make to visit each member just once a year?)
But the one that really took the cake ---- and hurt me deeply ---- was
"He uses too much scripture in his sermons." That struck right where I
lived.
Now, I didn't use too many "texts", but I did quote many verses
throughout a given message as God brought them to my mind. One of my
deacons, Randall, counted one day and told me he quit counting in one
sermon at 38. Frankly, I thought hearing God's direct Word over my own
was a plus for preaching.
PRAISE GOD FOR AARON AND HUR:
All the other ten deacons stood firmly with me. Two in particular, Aaron
(Carl) and Hur (Noel), however, actually rolled the stone over to where I
was standing, guided me to my rightful position seated on it, and then
faithfully stood beside me and lifted my hands to the heavens ---- week
after week, month after month. In all my 47 years of ministry, few men
have crossed my paths who ministered more faithfully, selflessly, and
courageously than did Carl Lippman and Noel Williams. I will never,
never forget them.
However ---- even their strong and loyal love and support could not bring
peace and confidence to my shaken heart. I needed something more than
words of encouragement from fellow pilgrims on the journey.
I needed to hear from God Himself.
You see, friend, when the attacks came, it was at the height of growth
and promise. Everything was great, and there were no clouds which could
be seen in the sky, even on the distant horizon.
The vision that led me there in the first place was clearer and more
promising than when I first arrived ---- and it was stronger than ever
before, driving me in my preaching, my prayer life, my study of the Word,
in my family life, and in my ministry to believer and unbeliever alike.
I felt like I was breathing pure undiluted oxygen.
So, when the complaining became visible, it caught me totally by
surprise, took the wind out of my sails, and shook me to the very core of
my being, my vision, and my calling. I felt like I had been dropped by a
sucker punch to the back of the head which left me totally breathless and
disoriented on the canvas.
While I didn't realize it at the time, I was to understand later that the
main reason it was so devastating was because it came as an attack from
"brothers", and it was targeted by Satan at the very heart of my ministry
---- the absolute certainty of God's call on my life to pastor that
specific church with all its potential at that specific time in history.
IT'S JUST WILDFIRE:
After several weeks of floundering and questioning my own capabilities to
go on, God used Carl and Noel to show me just what it really was ---- it
wasn't really an attack on me personally.
It was a diversion ---- an attempt by the enemy to divert me away from
the calling and vision God had given. It really wasn't going to lead
anywhere, ---- unless I gave permission to the enemy that I could be
distracted ---- "dis-tracked" ---- away from the direction God was
leading us as a congregation.
Carl and Noel entered my study one Sunday morning and simply said, "Bob
---- you leave this situation up to us; we'll take care of it. You keep
your eyes on the Lord, preach the Word, and teach us. We'll deal with
this ourselves."
And ---- they did!
The next morning ("resignation Monday"), as my heroin secretary, Reva,
steered all the office "visitors" away from my door, I found myself
crying out to God ---- "Lord, I don't have time to spend my energies
trying to stamp out wild fire, and I don't want to have to be doing this
over and over again for the rest of my life. I need to know that You
have called me, that You will sustain me, and that I don't have to worry
about episodes such as this throughout my ministry, because You'll take
care of it."
THE "RHEMA":
With all the comings and goings, money counters, and phone calls going on
in the outer office, my study had become a holy place which God had
chosen to visit ---- and talk to His suffering and bewildered boy.
"Bob, My call to you is sure ---- solid ---- and secure.
"Now ---- if ---- If ---- IF you will stay true to My Word, preach it
fearlessly, and love My people faithfully, ---- then I have a very
special message ---- just for you, at this time. And, it's not just for
Now ---- but for your entire ministry.
"If you will do these things, then I make you a promise I will Never,
ever break ---- under any circumstance."
At that moment, it was as if God took His finger with which He had penned
His Holy Word ages ago, ---- took a bit of that Word on its tip and, like
pressing it into a lump of softened clay, He carefully but firmly pushed
that special promise into the inner recesses of my spirit, dislodged it
from His finger, pulled back His Hand, kneaded the hole away, and then,
with an assuring pat, filled in the space so the promise could never
escape under any circumstance for as long as I should live.
Here's what He promised to me: . . . .
Son ---- "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; And every
tongue that accuses you in judgement you will condemn. This is the
heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,"
declares the Lord. (Isa 54:17)
W-O-W !
Hallelujah!
Thank You, Father!
THE RHEMA REMAINS:
My friend ---- not only did God reassure me then, but He has reassured me
many times since, and continues to this day. Not only was that promise
true in 1972, but it has remained my "Ministry Rhema" for life. I cannot
adequately verbalize just what all God did that Monday morning, but it
changed me forever.
Other storms have come ---- but they have gone. And every time they
came, the Holy Spirit shone into my consciousness with the speed and
light of a laser beam, revealing the promise forever etched in my heart.
every time somebody has raised his voice or his hand in opposition
against my ministry, I have wanted to say, "friend, ---- you wouldn't do
that, if you really knew what you were up against." Some have found out
the hard way.
There have been times when those storms and attacks were the consequences
of my own blunders; there were other times when they were not. When they
were, the Lord said, "See? If you'll obey me, you won't get into these
messes." When they were not my own doing, He seemed to say, "See? I
told you I'd be faithful."
1. "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;" ---- No weapon
---- NO weapon ---- NO weapon formed against you! Absolutely NONE ----
will prosper in any way, shape, or form!
2. "Every tongue that accuses you in judgement you will condemn." ----
Every tongue ---- EVERY tongue ---- that accuses you in any way, shape,
or form ---- you ---- You ---- YOU will condemn!
3. "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord," ---- Son, it's
part of your heritage because you're Mine. You can't earn it, and you
don't deserve it ---- but it's yours! It's part of your heritage and
included in your inheritance ---- just because you're Mine! Receive it!
Grasp it! Live in it!
4. "Their vindication is from Me," ---- Apart from living blamelessly
and above reproach, there's nothing you can do to preserve, justify, or
validate your integrity. It all comes from Me ---- and I will do it!
---- faithfully, daily, eternally.
PUT IT IN THE BANK:
Now, my friend, I don't know what you might do with such a promise, but I
knew I could put it in the bank ---- and write checks on it as often as
needed. And I have done so.
There will always be challenges in ministry ---- that's part of the
package. There will always be challenges toward your calling and the
authority delegated with it. Not one of us is free from criticism,
complaining, undermining, and even outright attacks on us.
One of the major problems in all aspects of life today is resistance to,
rejection of, and rebellion toward all forms of God-given authority.
In the church it is particularly true, because it is the last of five
progressive characteristics of the Spirit of Jezebel, a demonic force I
believe specifically assigned to target the Church of the Lord Jesus
Christ in these last days.
Because you stand in a position of leadership, no matter what you do in
ministry, the "fiery darts" of intimidation, accusation, and destruction
will come your way. After all, we were so warned by Paul in Ephesians 6.
The question is not whether or when they come ---- for they most
certainly will.
The real question is ---- do you have a "Rhema" from God to bolster you
in times of weakness, brace you in the storms, and buoy you up when the
enemy "comes in like a flood"?
If you don't, then I urge you to go somewhere and meet with God ---- and
stay until He gives you His special word ---- just for you, and just for
this time.
It may be different from mine, but I believe with all my heart that God
wants to give each of us His "Rhema" for our personal growth, our
marriages, our children, our ministries, and every other significant area
of our lives.
CONCLUSION:
"Father, in the mighty Name of Jesus, our King, I pray that my brothers
and sisters will hear Your voice clearly in the darkness of storms and
the silence of night times. I pray, dear Father, that You will speak
clearly ---- with compassion and authority.
"And ---- I pray ---- that they will unmistakably hear You speak ----
that they will know ---- and they will rest."
I love you, my friend. Be encouraged. It is not long now. It is not
far now. Hold on!
Don't give in. Don't give out. Don't give up! Our Redemption draws
near.
In His Great Bond of Love and Grace,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright March, 1999. 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, with proper
credits, 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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{ (O) (O) }
------oOOOo--------U-------oOOOo------
Hang in there! I'm with you!
-------.oooo0--------------- Ooooo--------
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Bob Tolliver ---- Rom 1:11-12
Life Unlimited Ministries
E-mail: lifeunlimited@juno.com
Fax: 417-275-4855
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