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JULY 2011

DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

VOL. 11, NO. 3

Equipping Christians to live by truth—veritas—from God.

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In Appreciation for Your Support of

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Learn How the Power of God Can Turn the

Fear of Failure into a Formula

for Success!

IThe Life-Transforming Power of a God-Given Vision for Your Life

by Dr. David Jeremiah

fanyhumanleadercouldhave succumbedtothefearoffailure,itwasJoshua.ImaginehavingtofollowinthefootstepsofMoses,oneofthegreatestleaderswhoeverlived! JoshuanotonlyhadtoassumeleadershipofthenationofIsrael.HewasalsostandingattheborderofthePromisedLand,whichwasinhabitedbyenemieswithwalledcities.It’snowonderthattheLordtoldhim,“Bestrongandcourageous.Donotbeterrified”(Josh.1:9). Joshuaheededthatadviceandexperiencedgreatsuccess.DrawingonimportantlessonsfromJoshua’slifeandministry,Dr.ErwinLutzerdemonstrateshowGod’speoplecanconqueranyfearoffailuretheymaybefacingintheirlivestoday. Conquering the Fear of FailureisthelatestofmanyimpactfulbooksbyDr.Lutzer,aDallasTheologicalSeminarygraduateandpastorofthehistoricMoodyChurchinChicago.Thisbookistheperfectfollow-uptoDr.Jeremiah’schallengingmessageonvision.Sendforyourcopytoday!

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Veritas is a publication of Dallas Theological Seminary for our valued friends and partners, designed to provide biblical encouragement and instruction in keeping with our strong commitment to minister to those who stand with us in prayer and financial support. We are pleased to present the messages of outstanding leaders and Bible teachers, who speak during chapels and at other events, as a way of bringing you “on campus” with us and giving you the benefit of their insights. Veritas is also available online at our website, www.dts.edu/media/veritas.

Distinguished speaker

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1DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Dr. David JeremiahisthefounderandBibleteacherofTurningPointRadioandTelevisionMinistriesandseniorpastorofShadowMountainCommunityChurchinElCajon,California,wherehehasservedsince1981. Inadditiontohisministryatchurch

andthroughthemedia,Dr.JeremiahisaprolificauthorwhosebookshavewontwoGoldMedallionawardsandhaveappearedonthebest-sellerlistsoftheNew York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Dr.JeremiahreceivedaB.A.degreefromCedarvilleCollegeandtheTh.M.degreefromDallasTheologicalSeminary.HecompletedadditionalgraduateworkatGraceUniversityandwasawardedtheD.D.degreefromCedarvillein1981.Heandhiswife,Donna,havefourgrownchildrenandtengrandchildren. ThismessageistakenfromatalkthatDr.JeremiahdeliveredatameetingoftheDallasTheologicalSeminaryLeaderBoard.

ccording to Dr. David Jeremiah, Duke Ellington, the late jazz musician, was once asked to define rhythm. Ellington

replied, “If you got it, you don’t need no definition. And if you don’t have it, ain’t no definition gonna help.” “Vision is sort of like that,” says Dr. Jeremiah. “Someone defined vision as a hope with a blueprint. Vision is the ability to see beyond our present reality to create what does not yet exist, to become what we are not yet, and to have the capacity to live out of our imagination. A vision is an enlivening, Spirit-directed, guiding force that even in the secular world is behind all human endeavors.” Join Dr. Jeremiah for this inspiring message, originally presented at a Dallas Theological Seminary Leader Board event.

A

The Life-Transforming Power of a God-Given Vision for Your Life

by Dr. David Jeremiah

thevisionGodhadforhim.Letmesharewithyousomeofthelife-changingbenefitsofaGod-givenvision.

A Vision Gives You a DynamicFirstofall,visionproducesdynamicinyourlife.Whenyoudiscoverwhoyoureallyareandthatyouhaveauniquepurposeforyourlife,youarefilledwithakindofjoythatcanonlycomefromthatexperience.Eachdayisfilledwithasenseofanticipationasyouwatchyourvisionunfoldandimpactthelivesofpeoplearoundyou. Mostofall,youhavethisgreatsenseofthefuture.Iknowthataswegetolder,webegintowonderifthatallgoesaway.No!Whenyouhaveavision,thefutureisalwaysthere.YouneversensethatGodisfinishedwithyou.

A Vision Gives You DirectionAvisionalsogivesyoudirection.Somepeoplelivealltheirlivesasiflostinamaze.Haveyoueverbeenaroundpeoplelikethat?Theirsisamundaneexistencethatseemstostartnowhereandgonowhere. ButwhenyouarefixedonavisionthatyoubelieveGodhasgivenyou,youcannotjustexist.Visionwillgiveyoudirection,andstayingtruetoyourvisionwillmakethingshappeninyourlifethewaythatGodwantsthemtohappen. SomebodyaskedmeonetimewhatwastheclearestvisionI’veeverhadinmylife.That’seasy.Ihadcancer11yearsago—lymphomaontwooccasionsandastemcelltransplant.Mygreatestvisionwasthevisionofgettingbetter.Itsoundsalittlesimple,buteverydaywhenIgotup,that’sallIcaredabout.Iprayed,“God,Iamgoingtodoeverythingwithinmypowertogetbetter.” Thatvisiongavemedirectionandfocus.Itmade

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heolderIget,themoreimportanttheissueofhavingavisionforlifebecomestome.WhenGodgetsholdof

ourlives,Hehasaplanforus.HeputsadreamintoourheartstoserveHim.ThenGodusesthatvisiontomoveusforwardinlifeandcausesustofindtheencouragementandsatisfactionthatwearelookingforandthatGodalonecanprovide.Whateveryourroleorstationinlife,GodcangiveyouavisionforwhatHewantstoaccomplishinandthroughyou.IwanttohelpyouthinkaboutwhataGod-givenvisioninvolves.AndIneedtotellyouthateverymanorwomanwhohasevermadeadifferenceinlifehashadavisionthatGodhasgiventhemforsomethingHewantsthemtodo. A vision is that dominant factor that governs your life. Itdeterminesallthechoicesthatyouaremaking.It’swhat’sleftofyouwhenalltheotherlayersarepeeledaway.It’swhatyourmindnaturallygravitatestowardwhenit’snotconcentratingonsomethingelse.It’swhatyouareattheverycoreofyourlife. TheBibleisfilledwithstoriesofpeoplewhohadagreatvisionfromGodandsetouttofollowit.OneofmyfavoritesisNehemiah,thebuilderofthewallsofJerusalem.Nehemiahriskeddeathatthehandsoftheenemiessurroundinghim.HismotivationalinstructionstohisfellowpatriotsareatestimonytothevisionthathehadreceivedfromGod.IrememberunderlininginmyBibleNehemiah’sstatementofhisvision:“WhatmyGodhadputinmyhearttodoforJerusalem”(Neh.2:12). WhenNehemiahwentbacktoJerusalem,hediscovered

DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYThe Life-Transforming Power of a God-Given Vision for Your Life

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A vision is what’s left of you when all the other layers are peeled away.

decisionsveryeasy.Isaidnotothings,andIdidn’teventhinktwiceaboutit.Ifitwasn’tapartofmyvisiontogetbetter,thenIsaid,“No,thankyou.”IcouldonlyaskthatthevisionGodhasgivenmeforministrywouldbethatclearanddynamic,becausevisiongivesdirection. Nehemiah’svisiongavehimdirection.HetouredtheruinsofJerusalem’swalls,thencalledthepeopletogetherandsaid,“Come,letusrebuildthewallofJerusalem”(Neh.2:17).Nehemiahknewexactlywhathewastheretodo.Whenyouhaveavision,youknowwhattodo.WhenyouseewhatGodhasputintoyourheart,itenergizesyouandgivesyoudirection.

A Vision Gives You DisciplineHere’sthethirdbenefit:Avisiongivesyoudiscipline.IfyouknowtheBookofNehemiah,youknowthataftertheprojectstarted,someguysnamedSanballat,Tobiah,andGeshemcamealongandbeganridiculingNehemiahforattemptingtorebuildthewallsofJerusalem.Israel’sneighboringnationsdidn’twantthecitytoberebuilt.Itwasathreattothem,andsotheyweredoingeverythingtheycouldtoscuttletheproject. Inthefaceofthisopposition,itwasNehemiah’svisionfortheprojectthatheldhimtothetask:“Iansweredthembysaying,‘TheGodofheavenwillgiveussuccess.Wehisservantswillstartrebuilding,butasforyou,youhavenoshareinJerusalemoranyclaimor

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historicrighttoit’”(Neh.2:20).Nehemiahtoldhisenemies,“Thisisnotyourdeal.Thisisourdeal,andGodwillkeepusontask.” Whenthebuildingprojectwashalfwaydone,thesesamethreecriticsandtheircoalitioncameandtriedtodiscourageNehemiahagain.ItwasNehemiah’svisionthatkepthimontaskagain.Hetellsus,“ButweprayedtoourGodandpostedaguarddayandnighttomeetthisthreat”(Neh.4:9).

A Vision Produces Determination Numberfour,ifyouhaveavision,itwillhelpyouexceedthebarriersthatyouassumedwereimpossiblebefore.Itmakestheseeminglyimpossiblepossible.Someonehassaidthatobstaclesarethosefrightfulthingsyouseewhenyoutakeyoureyesoffyourgoal. Toomanypeoplegetdiscouragedandarereadytoquitorchangevenueswhentheyencountertheirfirstobstacle.Myfather,whowasalsoinministry,usedtotellme,“David,don’tevergotoanotherplacebecauseofproblems.Thesamepersonwhoisdrivingyounutsinthechurchwhereyouarewillbewaitingatthefrontdoorinthechurchwhereyouaregoing.Soyoumightaswellstaytherewhereyouareandseeitthrough.”Determinationleadstothefifthbenefitofavision.

A Vision Produces Durability Long-distancerunnershavetohavevision.Thegoalcanneverbeoutofmind,orfatiguewillsetinandtheywillquit.Thesameistrueforthosewhowanttobelong-distancerunnersfortheLord.Youcanneverlosesightofthevision.Historyrecordsthefailureofmanygiftedpeoplewholosttheirvisionanddidn’tfinishtherace.

5DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYThe Life-Transforming Power of a God-Given Vision for Your Life

When you see what God has put into your heart, it energizes you and gives you direction.

beginningofavisionistherealizationthatIamnotwhereIwanttobe.Whenpeoplecometomeandsay,“Pastor,IamdiscouragedaboutmyChristianlifeandalittledissatisfiedwithwhereIam,”Ilovetotellthemthattheyareinjusttherightplace.IfGodhasgivenyouathirstandahungerforgreatergodlinessandacloserwalkwithHim,that’sthebeginningofavision.Andthattranslatesintostepnumbertwo,whichisdesire.

2. Desire. PaulalsowroteinPhilippians3ofhisburningdesireforacloserwalkwithGod.“WhateverwastomyprofitInowconsiderlossforthesakeofChrist.Whatismore,IconsidereverythingalosscomparedtothesurpassinggreatnessofknowingChristJesusmyLord,forwhosesakeIhavelostallthings.Iconsiderthemrubbish,thatImaygainChrist”(vv.7–8).Youcanhearthedesiredrippingfromhiswords.

3. Dependence. PaulgothisvisionfromGod.Itallbeganforhimwiththisquestion,“Whoareyou,Lord?”(Acts9:5).Ifyouhaveansweredthatquestioninyourlife,thenthenextlogicalquestionis,“Lord,whatdoYouwantmetodo?”Whenyoufindthatout,yourealizethatwhatGodwantsyoutodowillalwaysbegreaterthanwhatyoucandowithoutHim.

4. Detail. Avisionisnotjustastatement.Itiswhatyouseeinyourmind.Somebodyhassaidthatvisionistheprocesswherebyideasandconvictiontakeonsubstance.WhenyoureadPaul’svisionstatementinPhilippians3,yourealizehowspecificanddetaileditis.IfyouaretryingtodiscoverwhatGodwantsyoutodo,youshouldtrytogetthatpictureasclearinyourmindandheartaspossible. Agreatbiblicalexampleofdetailinavisionis

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Iamnow70yearsold.Thisisthetimewhenmostpeoplethinkvisionisforyoungerpeople.ButIwanttotellyouthatinyourlateryears,youneedvisionmorethanyouhaveeverneededitinyourlife.ItmaybetherefreshingofthevisionGodhasalreadygivenyou,butdon’tbetoosurethatHemaynotgiveyouanewone.PerhapsthebestworkCalebeverdidwasattheageof85.Youneedavisionthatwillcarryyouthroughthetransitionyearsandkeepyoufocusedandmotivated.

Seven Steps Toward a VisionThosearesomebenefitsofaGod-givenvision.Nowletmegiveyousevenstepsyoucantaketowardgettingavision,takenfromthatgreatpassageinPhilippians3thatisPaul’svisionforgreatergodliness.Here’sthefirststep:

1. Dissatisfaction. Thefirststepisdissatisfactionwithwhereyouare.Paulwrote:“NotthatIhavealreadyobtainedallthis,orhavealreadybeenmadeperfect....Idonotconsidermyselfyettohavetakenholdofit”(Phil.3:12–13).PaulwasnotsatisfiedwithwhohewasinChrist.Hewantedmore. Jesussaid,“Blessedarethosewhohungerandthirstforrighteousness,fortheywillbefilled”(Matt.5:6).IhavealwaysbeenencouragedthatHedidn’tsay,“Blessedarethosewhoarerighteous.”Iamconvincedthatthe

7DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYThe Life-Transforming Power of a God-Given Vision for Your Life

In your later years, you need vision more than you have ever needed it in your life.

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KingDavid’svisionforatempleinJerusalem.Thekinghadvanquishedallhisenemiesandwasenjoyinghismagnificentcedarhouse.ButGodstirredDavid’sheartwithavisiontobuildHimatemple. Youcanreadthestoryin2Samuel7.AfterDaviddescribedwhathewantedtodo,theprophetNathansaidtohim,“Whateveryouhaveinmind,goaheadanddoit,fortheLordiswithyou”(v.3).Davidhadapictureinhismindofthetemplehewantedtobuild.

5. Demanding. Avisionmustbedemandingenoughtorequiresacrifice.Davidmadegreatpreparationstobuildthetemple,eventhoughhissonSolomonwouldbuildit.ThematerialsandtheeffortdemandedalotofDavid,buthewasreadytodoitbecausehehadabigvision.

6. Durable.Avisionmustbedurableenoughtoresistdiscouragement.Justbecauseyouhaveavisiondoesn’tmeanyouwillneverencounterdiscouragingcircumstancesorsetbacks.IhaveaplaceinCaliforniawhereIgowhenIdon’tknowwhattodo.IdriveupintothemountainsandIsitupthereandsometimesIprayandsometimesIthink.IthoughtIhadthisgreatvisionfromGod,andthenallofasudden,thisbarricadewentupandtheanswerwasno.Thisisnottheendofyourvision.ItmayjustbeadelayinwhatyouthoughtwasGod’stiming.Don’tletdiscouragementsstopyou.

7. Dynamic.Finally,avisionmustbedynamicenoughtorecruitotherstoitsaccomplishment.Ifyouhaveavisionandnobodyelseisinvolvedinitwithyou,takestock.Maybeyouneedtomakesomeadjustments.Avisionthatisdynamicwillattractothers!

The Life-Transforming Power of a God-Given Vision for Your Life

Doing the Things That Matter the Mostby Dr. Mark L. Bailey

Dr. Mark L. Bailey, President DallasTheologicalSeminary

‘mconvincedthatIhavethegreatestjobintheworld.Andseeingtheglobalimpactof

DTSgraduateslikeDr.DavidJeremiahdoesnothingbutstrengthenmyconviction. IappreciateDr.Jeremiah’scalltousnottosettlefortheordinarybuttoseekatransformingvisionforourlives.Thewonderfulthingisthatallofuscanachieveit. OneaspectofDr.Jeremiah’smessagethatIappreciateisthewayhebathedhiscallforavisioninbiblicaltruth.TheBiblesaysinProverbs29:18thatwithoutavision,thepeoplerunamok.Thisisexactlytheoppositeofhavingavisionthatistetheredtotruth.Soinessence,todreambigforGodmeanstodreambigaboutwhatHemightdoaccordingtoHisWord. IalsoapplaudDr.Jeremiah’sexampleofNehemiah.GodgavethisJewishleaderinexileoneoftheBible’sgreatestvisions,asitwere:torebuildthewallsofJerusalemandrestoreGod’sgloryaboutbothHispeopleandthesurroundingnations. We’realsobuildingagreatprojectatDallasTheologicalSeminary—notinbricksandmortarbutinhumanhearts.AndlikeNehemiah,wecouldn’tdoitwithoutfriendslikeyouwhoworkshoulder-to-shoulderwithustocompleteGod’sworkinthelivesofpeoplelikeDr.DavidJeremiah...andultimately,themillionswhoaretouchedbyhimandothergraduates. YourprayersandfinancialsupportforDallasTheologicalSeminaryarehelpingmoldservant-leadersforaworldthatisdesperatelyshortoftrueleaders.Thankyouforstandingwithusinthiswork.

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