The most common problem with Christians is that everything we do in life and ministry is geared around the current activity, situation, or problem with no consideration given to the big picture.
Let me use an example that we can all relate to. What is the most common battle cry in working Americans? Have you ever heard the terminology, “TGIF”?
Most Americans grunge through a week of doing something that they don’t want to do (67 percent of workers dislike their jobs) to get to the weekend to get a little satisfaction in their lives.
For most, their whole motivation for doing anything is the weekend or maybe vacation time that is coming up in a few weeks. Is it any wonder that 10 years later there is no real positive change in their circumstances and their main motivation is still the weekend?
However, if you were to attend the high school graduation ceremonies of the 67 percent of workers, you would experience a Who’s Who in people who were going to change the world.
We all leave high school with high hopes and great ambitions, but so many of us surrender our vision to circumstances somewhere along the way.
No One Said It Would Be Easy
How long have you been a Christian? Is your drive to accomplish as high as it was when you were first saved?
Having vision does not mean that all of a sudden your life and ministry will become easy; however, your vision will guide you through the temporary setbacks toward your dreams.
Joseph suffered major setbacks, but his dreams (vision) kept him moving forward. One problem is that after we suffer a setback or some sort of failure, it is easy to develop a tunnel vision that is focused on survival.
When that occurs, you will find yourself stagnating. When you become consumed with your problem, overrun with your situation, and your focus is on survival, you will never overcome it!
Vision is actually a very simple concept. If you will study men of vision like Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Bill Gates, you will understand that vision simply means “sight” – very clear sight.
However, this “sight” has nothing to do with your eyeballs. It means being able to have a clear picture of your destination (vision) and how you plan to achieve it.
Joseph knew he would be a ruler and stand in authority one day. In order to reach that position, he knew that he had to be found faithful. Therefore, it did not matter if he was in prison or in slavery. Every decision was one of faithfulness.
The vision of where he was going dictated the decision he was making along the way.
The interesting thing about this is that you have to make “vision” a habit. It has to be a purposeful choice; it won’t just happen.
Choosing to “see” and then making decisions based on what you are “seeing” is a discipline and comes by doing it on purpose.
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Pastor David Shipman is one of the founding pastors of Fellowship of Hope and presently serves as the Senior Pastor. He employs a very aggressive and responsive attitude toward the Word of God. Believing whole heartedly Jesus’ Words found in Mark 9:23, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Through a positive focus on the Word to edify and build up believers, Pastor David’s ministry focuses on the power of God in an individual’s life through a personal relationship grounded in faith and obedience with Him.
Pastor David has been raised in church since the age of four. During his life he has been active in many aspects of ministry within the church. Although knowing he was called to a public ministry by the age of 12, the realization of his calling was not manifested until the birth of Valley Worship Center. Until the age of 35 Pastor David was very successful in the financial sector while serving in another church. In 1996, the Lord started moving him towards the fulfillment of his calling.
Pastor David’s public ministry was given birth with the formation of Fellowship of Hope in August 1997. Since that time God has opened many doors extending his ministry beyond the local church. Pastor David has been part of the Board of Directors of Love INC (In the Name of Christ) of Tulare County since January 1999 and on the Western District Board of Directors of the I.M.A. (International Ministerial Association) since 1999 and presently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer.