Violence
for the Vision
by Chad Taylor
Jesus Christ was the epitome of violence for His vision. Though a Roman cross cast its dark shadow across His future He saw what lie ahead and His perfect love for you and I cast out all images of fear and terror. He embraced suffering to see the fulfillment of His Father's will. Yet in this hour it seems very few will taste this fellowship to see their own vision come to fruition. They are satisfied to live in the shadow of another, and never pursue their own. We need violence for the vision! Like Jacob we need to wrestle with Destiny and receive the blessing to take into the land and conquer! Like Paul we need our days in the deep to hear His voice speaking our name. "For this reason I have appeared to you..." (Acts 26:16-18)
"Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint..." King James states, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." (Proverbs 29:18) We are in a state of no restraint in the land! Why? Because of the lack of divine vision and personal prophetic revelation. Not another mans, but our own.
In 1st Samuel we witness an interesting event taking place. The voice of the Lord calls out for Samuel and immediately Samuel goes to Eli and responds, "Here I am!" Not even realizing it was the Lord that was longing for his attention! How long have you heard His voice calling out you name and you have run to the face of man and not the Face of God? He is still calling to you and I, to anoint us and send us even as He did Samuel so long ago. He is still looking to and fro for kings and priests to wait on Him in the inner courts of His presence. "Then the Lord came and stood and called as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears..." (1st Samuel 3:10)
This hour that we abide in demands revelation and vision of the Father's heart. As in no other time in human history, is there a need for a clear understanding of the times. Yet we find ourselves in a moral breakdown and crisis. Might it be said where there in no prayer the people perish!?! "If My people will humble themselves and pray..." "For the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober and WATCH unto prayer." (1st Peter 4:7) Prayer and communion with the Spirit, personally and corporately, is our spiritual eyes to see! Without it we are the blind leading the blind! The revival that must first touch the land, is the revival of prayer and devotion between the church and its Father.
In that we will find the power to effect and transform our streets and cities. In that we will find the violence for the vision. To wrestle not with flesh and blood. But against anything that would attempt to keep us from that most holy place, at His side. On His chest hearing His urgent heart beat.
"And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. When He arose from prayer, and came to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."
(Luke 22:44-46) The ones that will face the giants and slay them, are the ones that have first faced their God and loved Him. The ones that will move nations and principalities have first moved the heart of God with their intercessions and prayers. Only the wilderness of testing will produce a message of power and authority that leaves the masses speechless. Only being with Him will make them say, "They have been with Christ..." Can we do any less now? The Spirit makes intercession for us knowing our weaknesses! I wonder what He says? I doubt if it's any different than what Jesus said! "Rise and pray!" "Spend time with Me and then go change your streets and cities! Every where you go, preach, saying, the Kingdom of God is at hand, (It's attainable, within reach, tangible) pray for the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, now freely give..." (Matthew 10:7&8)
This is the hour that the warriors of the cross will be marked by holy violence. They will not quit no matter the cost to time, money, or any other personal thing. They will endure to the end, and thus be saved. They will climb any mountain, cross any sea, dare any enemy to defy the One Most High God. They are the ones that will cry out with David, "Is there not a cause!" The cause of Christ will beat in their veins as the instinct to fly pulses in the heart of an eagle. They will mount up to do the works of Jesus their Master. They will possess the land. They will occupy till He comes. They will love not their own lives even to death. They will count all things as dung to gain Him. They will be a people that will hazard their lives for the sake of the gospel. Leaving their nets and their living to follow Him. To GO and preach the Kingdom of God! This is you! This is me! YOU are that chosen generation! YOU are that royal priesthood! YOU are that peculiar people zealous of good works! YOU are the ones He has created for good works in Christ Jesus! We are the ones to consummate the end of the age! Let us then go to do this and so much more! Let us run the race with reckless abandonment knowing that "to live is Christ and to die is gain..."
Is there any that wrestle in the night?
That loves Me more than this present life?
That will wait on Me in the secret place,
To touch Me, to see My face?
Who will fly to unknown places?
Who will go with power to the nations?
To take the precious seed,
That the children may believe...
Will any eagles dare the storm?
That destiny and vision can be born?
To fly above the winds of tradition,
To have purpose, to have vision...
Who will give ear for the time to come?
That those that read it may run?
To see the dream and understand,
To be the salt that preserves the land...
Come My beloved to the secret place!
There we will dance; there we will embrace!
I will show you things to come,
In that place our hearts will become one!
And you will be My voice to the nations!
I will take you to the highest places!
Of My Spirit you will taste,
To behold My unveiled face!
You are Mine!
Arise now and shine!
Let the world see your light!
Let the children know that there is hope in Christ...
Violence for the vision... Let divine destiny get a hold of our heart. Let us just get a glimpse of who we are IN Christ, and we will be the ones that they write books about. We will be the ones who do exploits.
Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Ask and you shall receive. All is possible to you if you will only believe! Know that you are chosen and precious to Christ! Realize that you are chosen and beloved, a pearl of great price! A ransom He paid for you. That you could do, the works that He did, and even greater. None are worthless when such a great payment was made!
I only pray that these words take on a life of their own and activate the divine destiny within you. That the shepherd boy will see that he is a king. That the little girl will comprehend that she is a bride, and espoused to a King! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords! That you are the apple of His eye, for you He died. For you He gave His life...
Now, take your vision with violence.
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11:12)
Taking the streets to the church
and compelling them to go out....Lamentations 2:19
Chad Taylor (1/17/99) www.consumingfire.com