Quote from Forum Archives on March 14, 1999, 5:52 pm

Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder With You In The Trenches
As We fight The Good Fight

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #61 ---- 3/15/99

TITLE: "Have You A Word From God?" (#5) ---- Ministering to Shepherds
(Ezek 34:1-16)

My Dear Friend in Christ:

I have been greatly encouraged and refreshed through the faithfulness of
our God and the caring expressions of so many who wrote to encourage us
after last week's letter. Thank you, my friend; you have blessed us.
Those of us in ministry are usually equipped to minister to others and
are fairly comfortable in doing so. However, we are seldom prepared or
willing to receive ministry from others ---- we would rather be
"invincible". (That's for another letter at another time.)

Here is an excerpt from a letter typical of several I've received in
regard to my little series on "Rhema".

>Bob
>I've appreciated your thoughts/messages on Rhema. Recently a pastor
>encouraged me to "remember the words spoken over you and fan the
>flame...". I was wondering what YOU have found helpful in the
>discerning process of whether or not it is a Rhema word or simply a
>good logos to inspire us. I get from your personal sharing and this
>pastor's encouragement that words from the Lord can become bedrock
>that we stand firm upon as we weather the storms of life. . . . I find
>myself deeply desiring to hear His voice and for His words for
>direction and for Him.

IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS:

These and similar comments reminded me of questions some have asked
regarding the nature of such special words from God. I am including some
of my response to this brother, because perhaps others have been
wondering some of the same things.

1. My experience has been that those special "implants" from God are
occasionally incomplete in themselves, and are often progressive or
sequential. One "Rhema" may complete or build upon another. Today's
example below illustrates that point.

2. Generally, I'm inclined to differentiate between a verbal "word" that
comes from another person in any given situation and a "Rhema" that comes
directly from the Bible. And, yet, sometimes there may be both ---- one
validating the other.

3. As concerning the "bedrock" idea, that really describes it. In fact,
just today I was thinking of a "Rhema" as being something that I could
build my life on as a solid, ever-present foundation. So, I think that
description is as accurate as any.

Regarding how I personally sense that the passage in question really is a
"Rhema", and not just a favorite verse or one that catches my eye for the
moment, . . .

1. I believe the primary validation is that the Holy Spirit drives it
deep into your spirit with such force that you instinctively know God has
spoken directly and specifically to you, and you know it is more than
just a great "Logos".

2. Also, when there is a "Rhema" I believe it is best explained by
something like this ----- "I don't know how I know; I just know that I
know that I know. I know that I know that God has spoken 'face to face'
with me." It's a witness in your spirit that bypasses, ignores, or
supersedes intellectual understanding or emotional hoping.

3. Another indicator is that it usually has a direct, personal,
specific, and immediate application. It "fits" right on the spot. You
don't have to tailor it, tool it, or reshape it in order to make it
applicable.

4. Then, there will often be some external "validation" ---- an
experience, a repeat reference to that scripture or a similar one, a
comment from another person who may not necessarily know about the
"Rhema" in the first place. Such is the case for the one I share today.

5. Also, I believe such expressions from God are very clear and free
from "static" or uncertainty. It doesn't take long for you to decide
---- this is of God.

6. In addition, I believe such words are not given in generalized
situations where there seems to be no particular need for or benefit from
a "Rhema". God doesn't waste His "Rhema's" on insignificant or
unnecessary situations.

7. Finally, it stands the tests of both witness and time. As you share
it with others, if it is genuinely of God, someone else will immediately
recognize it. It will also endure over the years, and will be drawn to
the surface and your consciousness time and time again in years to come,
particularly when that particular area is challenged or tested. It
endures. Again, today's focus illustrates that. The story about our
daughter in last week's letter also points out how God has used
repetition to shore us up in time of need.

Now to today's example.

A CHALLENGING QUESTION:

"Bob, if you could do anything in the world you wanted to do in serving
Me besides what you're doing, what would you do?" God's question to my
heart was so clear that August day in 1979. I was in the midst of one of
the most discouraging times of my ministry, burdened down with a sense of
frustrated futility and a deep state of spiritual dullness and
depression.

It took three weeks to answer. "I'd have a traveling ministry of
encouragement to pastors, equipping to churches, and evangelization to
unbelievers." It was another year before God's confirmation made it a
reality in the Fall of 1980. While walking on Waikiki Beach at 3:00 one
morning., God seemed to speak to Jo Ann and me, saying, "It's time."

Returning home, I shared this new sense of direction with the leaders in
my church, and then, over Thanksgiving, with my parents. To my surprise,
I found that Dad was preparing to retire from the pastorate and would be
able to join me in the ministry.

After a joyous few days of prayer, discussion, and dreaming, God put in
Jo Ann's heart the name ---- Life Unlimited Ministries. It was the day
before Thanksgiving, 1980.

Two days later, Mother and Dad returned to their Illinois home. Ten
minutes after their departure, I was shocked to see a friend from Upper
Michigan standing at my door, with two men from his church waiting in the
car. I could hardly wait to tell him the news.

Following several cups of coffee and my unabated enthusiasm, one of the
men, turning to the pastor, said, "This is the reason we're on this trip.
We need Bob to come and minister in our church."

That was the first of four major conferences I conducted within less than
two years in that Escanaba congregation. All were outstanding in
content, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and result.

The fourth one, however ---- in 1983 ---- was a "real doozie"!

"A WORD FROM GOD":

The church's pastor was actually away in a conference in Oklahoma.
However, with this being my fourth trip to the church, we were enough
like family that it was totally natural to go on without him until he
returned.

There was a new face, however, that I did not recognize. Following
morning services, we introduced ourselves, and I discovered he was a
former pastor recently fired from his church about 70 miles away. He and
his wife were traveling 150 to 200 miles each week trying to soak up the
fellowship and healing they were receiving from this little congregation.

After our brief discussion, we agreed to go out for fellowship and snacks
after evening service. It was a delightful time. Finally, following an
hour or more of enjoyable but generalized conversation, he turned to me
and said, "I have a word from God for you. Do you mind if I share it?"

Well ---- I don't know about you, but at that time, such an approach was
not part of my background, and my response was probably a little stiff.
"I will receive it in the same spirit in which you give it." ----
whatever that meant. He was gracious, and proceeded to share with me
what he felt God had directed him to say.

I was not prepared for his accuracy. To my utter shock, he was right on
target in every aspect. It blew me away.

He basically conveyed five things ---- three things about our ministry,
and two about personal areas. One I share today; another I will discuss
in a later letter.

A MINISTRY TO SHEPHERDS:

After pointing out a major sense of inferiority I possessed concerning
our ministry and the fact that I didn't believe it would ever have a
significant impact on people like the ministries of some of my friends
had, he made a statement that fully captured my attention.

"You will have a ministry to shepherds ---- to pastors, both to those who
are hurting and those who are straying."

I sat, mouth open. "Have you read my brochure?" was all I could manage
to stammer. (What a ridiculous question!) The reason I asked was
because that area of ministry was clearly pointed out in the brochure, so
I was certain he had read it before.

His response was equally surprising: "I didn't know you have a
brochure."

Most of the remaining conversation and fellowship went by me in a fog as
I mulled over the incredible accuracy of every single thing this man had
said. Nobody had ever spoken even the remotest hint of a "prophetic
word" to me in my lifetime.

I didn't know what to think, what to say, or how to handle the situation.
While I struggled with such things being relegated to the past, I knew
he had read me like a book.

CONFIRMATION:

By the time I returned to the home where I was staying, it was well past
Midnight, but I was wide awake. After taking a shower, I crawled up on
the bed and sat there cross legged with my Bible in front of me.

My prayer again was as it had been on occasions before ---- "Lord, I
don't know what to make of this. The first thing I ask is that you
remove from my memory absolutely everything and everything that was not
from You. Then, I ask You to either confirm the truth of or expose the
lie through Your Word."

Now you may not think my way is the right way and that it may be totally
juvenile, but I did the same thing this time that I had done on those
earlier occasions ---- I simply opened the Bible, like a child in a food
line lifting up an empty plate.

The Bible fell open, but when I saw the spot was too unrealistic, I
reasoned it was because of a broken spine, closed it, and then slowly
leafed through it a number of pages at a time.

To my surprise, I arrived at the same exact page again. But ---- surely
not Ezekiel! Ezekiel is filled with prophecy about Israel and about last
days stuff! There can't be anything in there for me.

But there was ---- Ezekiel 34:2-16, to be exact.

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say
to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Woe, shepherds of Israel
who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the
flock? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you
slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. Those who are sickly
you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken
you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have
you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have
dominated them."'"

The passage is far too long to include it all, so let me ask you to read
the rest.

I closed my Bible, said, "Lord, that's all I need to know", rolled over,
turned out the light, and . . . . .

Tried to go to sleep!

After nearly an hour of restless tossing, I got back up, and God began to
open that passage to my spiritual understanding. Within thirty minutes
my heart and mind were full of incredible truths I knew He wanted me to
share with pastors, encouraging them toward holiness and faithfulness in
the Kingdom's work. "In fact", I thought, "I could preach that at the
state evangelism conference in Des Moines in three weeks.

Then I remembered that I had been asked to preach a specific message by
the program director. "Maybe I can substitute", I thought ---- but I
knew I couldn't. "Well, then; I'll do the next best thing ---- I'll
combine them (which was absurd!), or at least tell them something of the
experience.

VALIDATIONS:

After three more meetings in Illinois, I headed back to Iowa and home, to
arrive before my scheduled preaching engagement at the evangelism
conference the following Monday morning.

Approaching Davenport, I dropped in on a pastor friend there. Finding
him in his study poring over his Bible, I kidded him about why he was
beginning on his Sunday sermon so early, since it was only Saturday
morning. His response shocked me: "Actually, I'm to preach at the state
evangelism conference, and I'm going to preach on 'The Shepherds Of
Israel' from Ezekiel 34."

I was floored! After telling him the story of my experience, I headed
home.

The next Monday, with anticipations soaring, I arrived at the conference
and found I was the second speaker scheduled. "Good; I'll have a chance
to get the feel of things before my time to preach."

As the first speaker, another friend, stood to speak, he said, "please
turn in your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 23. I want to speak this morning
on 'The Shepherds Of Israel'."

Now, friend, the Bible tells us that if something is true, it will be
testified thus by the mouths of two or three witnesses. Well, I had my
three ---- and that settled it for me.

>From that day to this I have known that a major portion of my ministry
was to be to the shepherds ---- the ministers ---- uniquely called of God
to care for the flock of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am nearly obsessed
with the desire to encourage and challenge the men and women of the world
who are charged with the awesome responsibility of leading, encouraging,
equipping, training, and serving the people of God.

IT CONTINUES EVEN TODAY:

God has brought that passage to my attention many times, though I have
actually preached specifically from it only two or three times.

Beginning that month in 1983 I started making a special point to stop and
visit with pastors, staff members, evangelists, and missionaries all
along the highways I traveled from meeting to meeting. Even today, if I
am traveling by auto, I try to stop and see someone like that. As
recently as last Thursday I did so.

I began to search out ministers who were discouraged, hurting,
struggling. If I were to tell you just half the stories of these wounded
warriors, it would fill dozens of volumes of books. Just this week, some
16 years after God gave me that "Rhema", I found myself ministering to
pastors and former pastors.

As I schedule meetings, attend regional or national conferences, or even
write this letter to you today, it is for one simple reason ---- to
encourage you and to challenge you to keep the faith ---- continue in
good works ---- keep your eyes on Jesus.

Someone once said that we minister best when we minister out of our own
scars. I don't know ---- maybe that's why my heart is blessed so much
when our Lord gives me an opportunity to minister to a "shepherd".
There's no doubt that, though my physical body doesn't show any like
Paul's did, there are plenty of scars from which to minister hope, grace,
and perseverance.

Next Sunday I will be preaching to a church that has a history of both
wounding and being wounded by pastors. In it's 40 years of existence, it
has averaged a new pastor every four to five years. The one who just
left, did so under pressure and duress. The one before that was fired.

Having a ministry to the "Shepherds Of Israel" is one of my highest
honors. Nothing I do brings me any greater joy than trying to lift up
the hands that hang down, bind up the broken hearted, pour oil on the
bruised. After all ---- that's what Jesus did; how can I do less?

HOW IS IT WITH YOU?

Friend, every one of us is either a wounded shepherd, a wounding
shepherd, or a healing shepherd ---- or a combination. How is it with
you?

Are you wounded? I tell you, my friend, no matter how severe, how deep,
or how infected through bitterness or unforgiveness the wounds may be,
you can be healed!

Are you wounding others? Almost invariably that happens because our own
wounds were bumped. If you want to cease hurting other people, dear,
dear friend ---- take time to be healed and restored yourself! The cost
is too great for you to continue on doing to your sheep what the
shepherds of Israel did to theirs (Ezek 34:1-16).

Are you a healing shepherd? I certainly hope so! ---- both a shepherd
being healed himself, and a shepherd pouring the oil on the limping,
bedraggled, wandering sheep who have fallen victim to the howls, snarls,
nips, and bites of tenacious pursuing wolves hell bent on stealing,
killing, and destroying.

Don't give up! The cost is to high! The sheep are too precious! The
wandering ones are too lost to leave alone! The reward is too great!

Whatever it takes, wherever it leads, how ever long it takes ---- tend
the flock of God!

I love you, my friend. If you need me for any reason, please let me
know.

In Christ's Bond of Love and Grace,

Bob

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 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) }
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Hang in there! I'm with you!

-------.oooo0--------------- Ooooo--------
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