From Diversion to Deception-Downfall of a Vision?

From Diversion to Deception

The Role of Idol Worship in your Vision

The faith based visionary. Like Joshua, Abraham and Elijah, your own role as a faith based visionary is based entirely on your relationship with God. Have you made that decision to follow the Lord as opposed to others? The temptation to lift up others as a god is indeed strong in that you see them as success stories and you want what they want. The fame, the money and all the accoutrements that go with it. Many preachers would love to have the ministry of Bishop TD Jakes without realizing what it took to get there and the understanding that the vision God had for Bishop Jakes is different than that which has been bestowed upon you. In a natural sense, the jealousy factor causes us to step outside of the vision God has given to us so that we may idolize those whom we believe are the quintessential leaders we believe we should be. Why didn’t God give me that vision? Why must I be stuck in a small role while others achieve global recognition, respect and visibility? Primarily, you don’t know what God has in store for you on another level. Secondly, the vision you have received is directly relevant to what God needs to see happen and the fact that your inherent gifts, talents and spiritual position are in line with the requirements of that vision to succeed. Jeremiah did not receive the vision Joshua did. John, even while in exile on Patmos, did not receive the vision Abraham did. The wisdom and knowledge of a successful corporate CEO lies in the ability to delegate responsibilities to those best suited to the task in all aspects and are the most likely to successfully carry these responsibilities out yielding the most favorable ROI (Return On Investment.).

The ability to engage and maintain the course of God’s vision for you is predicated on avoiding three major pitfalls:

· Procrastination

· Complacency

· Indecisiveness

Many of us willfully follow up until the point we are out of danger. Essentially, when the bullets stop flying, we stop trying. The attitude of gratitude is quickly replaced by complacency and disregard for what caused the deliverance in the first place. One may see this scripturally as the story of Moses and the Israelites unfolds in Deuteronomy. “¹The we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea, as the Lord spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days. ²And the Lord spake unto me, saying, ³Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.” Deuteronomy 2:1-3. When we feel things are beginning to go our way, we have a tendency to become complacent. We procrastinate. Wandering about without the guidelines God had set forth for the vision, we become indecisive. When we cut the umbilical cord to God, we immediately cut ourselves off from Him. Like an infant in the mother’s womb, the nurturing and feeding we require is critical to that child’s growth and development. When it is terminated, so is our ability to grow and develop. It is then where God must “sit us down” so to speak and redirect us. What, then, is the foundational scripture that sets the tone and establishes our course of action(s) both physically and spiritually? “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.

When we put others in front of God and place in them greater than or equal trust, respect and status, we operate in that manner believing we’ve made the right choice until the moment of truth comes and we find our world crashing down around us. The moment of truth will come when we in fact are put in a position of having to rely on our choice. Elijah found this to be evident in I Kings 18. The first phase of the deception begins when confronted with a challenge, which will come in different forms. Elijah, after being confronted by Ahab, knew he was left with no choice but to be a majority of one. Elijah himself put forth the challenge. “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and all the prophets of Ba’al four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.” I Kings 18:19. Different entities, personalities and ideals that have been falsely elevated to a “God” status by others are put before you. “Why should I toil in the dirt for pennies when I can do this instead and realize money, recognition and a tremendous elevation in my status in the community?” Good question. Why should you? After all, who wants to be seen as somewhat of a lost cause when others are riding the wave of nice cars, exquisite homes, paid bills and no worries? Who puts any real confidence in someone who doesn’t fit the stereotypical “success story” we’re supposed to strive for? Will a poor homeless man follow one who appears to be in the same boat when he sees another who can obviously handle his every need and then some? Probably not. He’ll see the tangible evidence of success and head in that direction. Multiply that by thousands and you have the Israelites or Babylonians worshipping golden images.

Here’s where it can become a problem for you. As you toil and punch it out every day following God, you make no major moves without His guidance because you are obedient and willing to submit to His will. It is slow going and the resources don’t seem to be showing up and the bill collectors have you on speed dial. You find yourself soliciting the food banks of local churches so your family has something on the table tonight. Meanwhile, the one down the street is raking it in doing something else. The crowds are lined up at the door, the money flows like honey and the proprietor drives a brand new Porsche. You? You take a city bus. “Praise the Lord,” You keep telling yourself. What you don’t see is the big picture. The future for you and the one down the street. You see the here and now and your family looks at you like a fool. You were told to claim victory in the peaks and persevere through the valleys, but you can’t remember the last peak you ever saw. Those valleys are the testing grounds of your faith as they were for Job. While God knew beforehand that Job’s faith would meet the challenge, He allowed those valleys to mount up in order to prove something to Satan. Many, by the way, use Job’s story as a means of ridiculing and criticizing God. “Who is this God of yours who would allow someone so faithful to be run down in that way?” What Satan didn’t realize and many of us fail to understand is that God had the whole deal under control at all times.

Secondly, the blessings, healing and miracles Job received as a direct result of that ordeal far surpassed what he had beforehand. At any time, God could’ve shut the deal down and healed Job in a hot second. What does God have in store for you? Are you being made to toil through in order for someone else to see your ultimate victory? Oh, the guy down the street with the new Porsche? He got busted last week by the DEA. They seized the building, his Porsche, his home and froze his assets. So much for success. You, on the other hand, just got a phone call from a major radio station who heard what you were doing for the homeless and invited you to interview live followed by your involvement in a documentary about the homeless which will be viewed on cable and citywide. There’s that exposure and recognition you’ve been waiting on.

Elijah had all that and more to contend with. Ahab was a powerful military man with serious connections and Jezebel? Well, she possessed the ability to manipulate, deceive and devour those for and against her. Every woman’s nightmare and every man’s dream. The rich bad girl who just might be accessible. But, there he was. Up on mount Carmel facing down the whole bunch like a scene from a Clint Eastwood movie. A majority of one. Elijah took the first shot. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions” If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Ba’al, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” I Kings 18:21. He then stated the odds against him “Then said Elijah unto the people,’I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord, But Ba’al’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.’”

I Kings 18:22. As a true faith based visionary and soldier in God’s army, you will be outnumbered but most certainly not overpowered. You will have a direct line to the God who already knows the victory in your vision. He sees the success you can’t see yet. The ultimate boss. The quintessential leader of men. The remainder of I Kings 18 is a must read as you will see what happens when the false Gods in your life are exposed for what they are. This is where the lie that’s been knocking on your door is shown for what it is. When you see what happens when Ba’al’s prophets realize the deception for themselves, you will also see how God backed up Elijah when it counted. Key point? Elijah had the faith God would be there. His faith was in a real God.

All of the above demonstrates the role of false idols and paper gods in your vision. As further support, study Deuteronomy 32 in its entirety. It speaks to false Gods and the many that walk away from God once they get what they want. A trap we can easily fall into.

It is our hope that you take the time to read and reread this article and study the supporting scriptures. The almost insurmountable feeling of betrayal and self-loathing is what you have to look forward to when the false gods and idols in your life seem to drop you like a house of cards in a hurricane. Avoid it all by simply doing as Elijah, Joshua and many others did. Make that all-important decision to follow and obey God regardless of the odds that seem stacked against you.

The end result is? An unprecedented peak you can claim victory in!

"The Jericho Initiative" will be delivered to the publisher very soon. Already requested and recognized from Costa Mesa, CA to Baltimore, MD. Reports based on key excerpts indicate the already expected shift towards the understanding and implementation of God's visions and why they succeed in an economy where tomorrow's dollar is as uncertain for many as life itself. Is there more to a vision than economic deliverance? Find out! From beginning to end, the roadmap to an unprecedented victory in Jesus! Check it out!

http://www.holytruthveteranshousingprogram.com/Jericho/The_Jericho_Initiative.html

We offer this only as a nocost preview of an opportunity to gain a unique insight into the realm of the supernatural visionary operating in today's world.