Helps Ministry Part 3

Lesson 2

Catching The Vision

When it comes to building anything in life, it is critical that we learn how to follow the blueprints set before us. If we want to be promoted in life, it is even more critical that we don’t just follow the blueprints set before us, but that we also see the bigger picture of what is to be accomplished. In our career, we must follow our boss’s blueprints (vision) and see the big picture (catch his heart). This is the same for wives who want to be a great helpmeet to their husband. The same goes for the ministry of helps. Any Christian who wants to finish their race must learn how to catch the vision of their local church and the heart of their pastor.

• And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  – Habakkuk 2:2

  • • The LORD responded: “Write down the message! Record it legibly on tablets, so the one who announces it may read it easily.”  – Habakkuk 2:2 NET

    • Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.”  – Habakk 2:2 NLT

Heavenly Vision→Leader→Clearly Written/Communicated→Saint Reads→Saint Acts

Any vision, revelation, or direction given by God to a local church must be clearly written out and communicated. This is the responsibility of the pastor and leadership. Once the vision is written and established, it becomes the Christian’s responsibility to read it and then act on it. God doesn’t direct or speak for us to only hear. God’s vision always requires some kind of action. Our life is enriched when we get involved in God’s plan.

CONNECTION BRINGS RESPONSIBILITY

Once God has assigned us to a church, it becomes our responsibility to learn the vision and catch the heart. We mustn’t be afraid to take upon us the flavor, culture, and mindset of the places to which God assigns us. That is part of the reason He has assigned us there. Our lives will be enriched by taking upon ourselves the flavors and disciplines of the local church.

Some things can be taught, but some things can only be caught. Catching the vision isn’t just learning how to do the work required. It also involves doing the work with the same heart as the leader. It isn’t just taking care of a customer; it’s taking care of a customer the same way the boss would. It isn’t just building an engine; it’s building an engine the way the boss would. It isn’t just about the labor at hand; it totally involves the motive, heart, and bigger picture of why we are doing the labor at hand.

DOs AND DON’Ts PAINT A PICTURE

Just like God’s holiness is taught to us through His Law, the heart and vision of your leadership will also be communicated through a list of dos and don’ts. There is simply no other way to begin to communicate a value system or vision. By learning these rules, we can begin to “get the picture.” We must let the rules connect the dots of the bigger picture. The quicker you can get the picture, the greater the asset you will become and the more eligible for promotion you can be.

THE GOSPEL MINISTRY OFFERS MORE

The Gospel ministry and the Gospel minister have more to offer than just teaching and knowledge. There is a culture and legacy being offered from every pulpit and by every church. Because many Christians are oblivious to this fact, they miss out on a beautiful opportunity to catch a spiritual heritage, legacy, and culture.

• So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.  – 1 Thessalonians 2:8

In Paul’s ministry, though the Gospel was paramount, he was also interested in imparting his soul into his disciples. This would have included his views, his hunger, his drive, his humor, his personality, his excellence, etc. A disciple of Paul would have been very different from a disciple of Peter. Their spiritual lineage would have been noticeably different, and this is a good thing. Peter’s disciples were ordained to be like Peter, and Paul’s disciples were ordained to be like Paul. That’s why the disciples were called to their respective disciplers. Are you catching the soul of the leaders God has placed you under?

• But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded (isopsuchos), who will naturally (genuinely) care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served me in the gospel.  – Philippians 2:19-22

This passage reveals many realities about catching the vision in a ministry:

1. Leaders don’t necessarily have a lot of disciples they can simply command.

2. For a disciple to be deemed command-worthy, they must have caught their leader’s own mind (isopsuchos—same soul).

3. “Same-souled” disciples care for the people just like the leader does.

4. “Same-souled” disciples have learned to genuinely serve God’s people.

5. “Different-souled” disciples still care too much about their stuff and not the Lord’s.

6. When a disciple has caught the vision, it will be evident to all. There will be proof.

7. Catching the vision produces a father/son like impression; that is to say, you begin to take on the flavor of your leadership just like a son does their father’s flavor.

MISSING THE HEART BIRTHS LEGALISM

If we fail to catch the heart of the vision with which we have been tasked, we will begin to grow legalistic in our endeavors. We will perform our duties, blindly going through the motions and failing to see the big picture.

• Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.  – Matthew 23:24

In this passage, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their legalism. They were so obsessed with the Law of Moses that they tithed on the spices out of their garden (mint, anise, and cumin). Despite this strict adherence to God’s vision, they still failed to see the bigger picture of the Law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). They knew the Law but failed to catch the heart of the Law. They were adamant to give God 10% of their parsley but didn’t see the point in giving mercy to their neighbor. Legalism will likewise bog us down in the minutiae and rules, while blinding us to the bigger picture.

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN VISION CATCHING

Always, always, always try to find the heart or purpose behind every law, rule, protocol, or assignment. Understanding the why will help you accomplish the task at hand.

1. What’s the heart behind this action, rule, assignment, or protocol? Is it to keep people safe? Save money? Honor the presence of God?

2. What’s the purpose of this action, rule, assignment, or protocol? What is leadership trying to accomplish here? Is it to keep order?

3. What’s the big picture here and how does this action, rule, assignment, or protocol play into that?

CATCH THE VISION TO SEE PROMOTION

Leaders are eager to promote people under their command. The more a leader can promote, appoint, and delegate the workload of the vision, the more freed up he will be to do other things. When a leader looks to promote someone under them, they will always be drawn to the individual who is the closest reflection of the leader. Consider the testimonies of the following people:

• Joseph—He was a master servant, and he knew how to catch a vision. He served his dad to the point of promotion. He served Potiphar to the point of promotion. Then he served the prison warden to the point of promotion. Everywhere he went he caught the heart of his leaders and it brought him promotion.

• Joshua—He faithfully served Moses day after day for 40 years. He saw how Moses met with God and handled God’s people. God promoted him into Moses’ position.

• David—He faithfully served King Saul. His service to Saul permitted him close insights into palace intrigue, politics, economics, and military protocol. He was a king in training before he even knew it.

• Elisha—He faithfully served Elijah, learning the ins and outs of the prophet’s ministry. He learned that there was a big difference between the school of the prophets and the real prophets. His first act as prophet was the spitting image of Elijah’s last act. He wasn’t afraid to take on the flavor of his mentor.

• Timothy—He looked to Paul as the dad he never had, even submitting to circumcision at the apostle’s suggestion. Paul praises him more than any other fellow laborer.

Above all, pray that you will catch the heart and vision of the leadership in your life, whether it be church, family, or career. Amen!