How to Work on Your Pastor's Vision
by Dr. John Tetsola

Many Christians cannot understand why they have to work on their pastor's vision or dream, rather than on their own vision, when they are a part of a local church. Often they think that working on the pastor's vision means a neglect of their own dreams and callings. But that is not true. It takes a revelation of how God operates for a believer to truly and fully understand that when you serve another man's vision, you are indirectly serving into fruition your dream and vision.

Many Christians and leaders cannot commit for the long haul in another man's vineyard or to a leader because they are internally afraid that if they do, they will not be able to accomplish their own calling and dream. So many connect without committing totally and never put their neck to the work of building the vision of the pastor.

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Ephesian 6:8 KJV

Working on the pastor's dream and upholding the vision of the house sets God in motion to accomplish the dreams of the people. There is a double blessing when you become diligent and busy in serving your pastor. God becomes active in fulfilling the dreams of your house. The dream God gave to Joseph did not reveal that the process would take him from the pit, to the prison, then to the palace. But the hidden lesson of Joseph's life was that of dreams. Before God would manifest his dreams, Joseph had to work on the dreams of others and become skillful at it.

Joseph began working on the dreams of the butler and the baker while in prison, so God attended to his loyalty and began to fulfill his dream. As Joseph worked hard on finding the answer to these men's dreams, he was unaware that it had released God to work on his dream. He keenly considered the task before him and performed it with a spirit of excellence.

And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.
Genesis 41:11-13

The butler admonished Pharaoh that no one except Joseph should interpret his dreams. Once the Hebrew starts working on your dream, it happens just as he says. Pharaoh therefore called for Joseph to begin working on his dream, but he also gave a plan of how to make it a dream of victory.

Promotion From Serving Another Man's Vision

Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.Genesis 41:33-36

Pharoah is pleased with Joseph and places him second in authority throughout Egypt. During the first seven years, Joseph worked on Pharaoh's dream, putting up portions of crops for the following seven years of famine. Because of his loyalty in service, the land of Egypt was saved and God brought Joseph's dream into reality. During the famine years, Joseph's brothers came to him for food. They were unaware that by selling their brother, getting rid of him, they placed him on the road to fulfilling both of their destinies. His family came to him while he was in a position of authority. His love for them resulted in Joseph allotting land wherein his brothers and their households settled.

The Result of Faithfulness

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be bearing nor harvest.

And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 45:5-8

Joseph did not answer his brothers in anger. He responded in a manner which gave God glory. He told them that it was God observing his faithfulness in another man's field which ultimately released God to be faithful to fulfill Joseph's dream.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Colossians 3:23

And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
II Chronicles 31:21

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever you do, do it with vigor and vitality. The intensity to which the people serve their pastor determines how bonded and how well connected they become to the vision God has placed in their pastor's heart. As you work on the vision God has given to the pastor, supernatural spiritual energy is released from God to work on the dreams God has given to you.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:7-9

The law of sowing and reaping was given to us from God Himself. One of the greatest ways of initiating this spiritual law is sowing toward the vision God has given to the pastor. Remember it is really not your pastor's vision any way. It is God's vision that He has given to your pastor. As the people work on the vision of the pastor, it sets an unbreakable law in motion - the law of sowing and reaping. If you sow, then you shall reap. You are literally securing your future as you work and sow in the vision God has given your pastor.

Securing Your Future by Serving

The time and money you sow into your pastor's vision leaves your hand, but not your life. It goes to your future and it comes back to you with a harvest attached to it. The bad side of this is some never sow anything at all. Others sow just what they have left over when they are finished paying all the bills, going shopping, entertaining and making repairs. The leftovers are what they have left over after doing what they thought was most important. Just think of needing something from God in the future and all that is harvested is scraps, leftovers and nothing. That's why Paul said in Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived." Some think because they are working good right now, all the bills are paid and everything is doing fine, that there will never come a reaping day, a day they have not prepared for.

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11

And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
I Samuel 10:26-27

Often we think that God does not see what we are sowing or pay any attention to what we are giving. Everyone comes to seasons in their lives when a supernatural harvest from God is needed. That is when it's great to know for years you have been sowing some good seeds for your future. Remember this: You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.

by Dr. John A.Tetsola