Exo
18:13-24
The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People
were standing before him all day long,
from morning to night. When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was
doing for the people, he said, "What's
going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody
line up before you from
morning to night?"
Moses said to his father-in-law,
"Because the people come to me with questions about
God. When something comes up, they come to
me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them
God's laws and instructions." Moses' father-in-law said, "This
is no way to go about it. You'll burn out, and
the people right along with you. This is way too much for you--you can't
do this alone. Now listen to me. Let
me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be
there for the people before God, but let the
matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach
them the rules and instructions, to show them how
to live, what to do. And then you need to
keep a sharp eye out for competent men--men who fear God, men of
integrity, men who are incorruptible--and appoint them as leaders over
groups organized by the thousand, by
the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They'll be responsible for the everyday
work of judging among the people. They'll
bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they'll be the
judges. They will share your load and that
will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you'll
have the strength to carry out whatever God
commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also."
Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law
and did everything he said.
The purposes
of God are always much bigger than any one individual can accomplish
themselves. Today, the church is
predominantly run by individuals.
This individualism,I believe, is the greatest hindrance of the fullness of God being seen and
experienced in the world today.
An example of this is seen in the professional sports arena.
Teams that are predominantly centered upon one or
a few seldom go very far in the playoffs, while
teams that are made up of many, each doing there part, go far. Examples
of good team work would be the Pistons and Spurs of the
NBA, and the New England Patriots of the NFL.
On these teams you can’t really point out an individual
as the key to there success. It is the team as a whole
and it is these teams that continue to be successful
each year, while other teams based on individuals vary, depending
on injury, their demands being fulfilled etc. Most every professional athlete
has the same goal and that is to win it all. Likewise this is
my goal. I want to see and experience
all God has for me. However,
I know this is only possible based on how I work together
as a team with those God has placed around me.
God’s plan for me is much bigger than me and that
is why I need each of you, and why each of you
needs me. United we stand, divided
we fall. Professional Athletes
who play year after year, and their team seems to go nowhere, become very unsettled - they want to
be traded, to go elsewhere.
Christians who are really not connected, who are not really
involved, are unsettled, not sure of themselves, easily moved, tossed to and fro.
A good leader, like a good coach, knows
how to get everyone involved and to maximize the potential of every individual
so that the team as a whole is strong. 2007 is the
year to Arise and Shine, to connect with one another and become
stronger. It is time to become
part of the prophetic vision given to many of the
Army of God - a mass of people, the nameless, faceless, placeless
generation going forth throughout the land accomplishing the will
of God together as one. Moses received wise counsel
from his Father-in-law, who observed him trying to carry the load
on his own, and was willing to confront him, and correct him, and
then teach him the right method to fulfill his tasks. Individualism
has arisen because of the lack of fathering in the Body of Christ
today. When one has to raise themselves, they don’t see the need for
someone else to help them. They have been disappointed by others and,
therefore, struggle with trusting others. If a child is not affirmed
in what it does, they suffer with low self esteem. They need attention,
their out to prove to the world what they can accomplish on there
own. God is raising up Fathers those who walk in a Apostolic Anointing
to the Body of Christ today. Before there can be sons and daughters,
there must be Fathers and Mothers. The Bible says that all of creation
is awaiting the manifestation of the sons and daughters of God (Rom
8:19). Loraine and I are here to be a Spiritual Father and Mother
to you. To help affirm you, to guide you, and to teach you the ways
of God. We are here to help you fulfill your destiny in Christ Jesus.
The time has come for each of us to rise up, to take our place, and
do our part, so each of us together can be greater than if one alone.
I don’t want to burn out. The average ministry life in expectancy
for a Youth Pastor is less than two years. I believe this happens,
because like Moses, we try to do too much, and don’t entrust the youth
to come alongside us and help us fulfill God’s call. Well, this year
I am calling out youth to come alongside my wife and I and help us
carry the load. We are in this thing together. It is not about us.
It is all about Him. For the vision God has given me, the things He
has promised me, are not just for me, but for you. We are a team,
so let’s unite together so we can see the victory!
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