Sound Advice for Leaders

Notes
Transcript

Lessons For Leaders

Exodus 18:13–22 KJV 1900
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

Background

Moses had told his father in law all the things the Lord had done in bringing the children of Israel out of bondage.

Jethro now gives praise to God

It was God
++That delivered
++The brought them forth
++That fed them
++That provided for them
Exodus 18:13 KJV 1900
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
Now it is Moses
++Sits to judge the people
++To settle disputes

Moses waited until there was a problem then offered a solution

Exodus 18:14 KJV 1900
14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

How a good thing can be a bad thing?

Moses
++Worked alone
++Let the people wait

The word wait has two connotations

Wait means
++To tarry or sit
Ruth 1:13 KJV 1900
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
Job 14:14 KJV 1900
14 If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, Till my change come.
Wait means
To tarry or sit
++To toil or serve
Isaiah 40:31 KJV 1900
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.
Waiting can
++Bring something to you
++Bring something through you

Jethro asked why do you do this?

Moses said
++The people need me
++To show them the statutes of God
++To dispense his laws
Exodus 18:15–16 KJV 1900
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

Jethro saw a flaw in his reasoning

Exodus 18:17–18 KJV 1900
17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
God never wanted Man
++To look only to man
++To be the source
Man was to be for God
++A vessel
++A voice

The role of leadership was to empower

Empowerment comes
++Not through information
++Not through exhortation
++Through duplication
++Through delegation
Genesis 1:28 KJV 1900
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
God blessing upon Man
++Fruitfulness
++Multiplication
The challenge is that we duplicate ourselves.
Hebrews 12:1 KJV 1900
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

We must what how we live

We must lay aside
++Weights
++ Besetting Sin

The advice of Jethro

Exodus 18:19–20 KJV 1900
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
If you want God to be with you
++Must be with God
++Draw near to him
++Make God your source
If you want God to be with the people
++Teach them the word
++Show them how to live
++Get them to work
Ephesians 4:11–16 KJV 1900
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

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Exodus 18:21–23 KJV 1900
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
Workers for God
++Are not volunteers
++They are recruited

Requirements for service

They must
++Be able
++Fear God
++Be Honest
++Be Satisfied in serving

Leading is hard

Exodus 18:23 KJV 1900
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
Bible Engagement
++Listening
++Learning
++Living
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