Ex. 18:13-26: 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 Godward, 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. 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. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. KJV
As I read these verses I am reminded of the present state of our congregation and how this must apply to us today. Our Pastor being overloaded on a daily basis with nearly ALL of not only the prophetic teaching of this ministry, but the administration, fortification, counseling and logistics as well. Even Jethro, in his natural understanding could see that as high as Moses was in spiritual understanding and prophetic vision for Israel, his natural, instinctive wisdom was lacking in the area of basic administration of the needs of so many people. It is clear by implication that if God had not agreed with Jethro's "counsel" (even though it's implementation would affect His own people) then Moses, being linked with God, would have rebuked Jethro or simply not implemented his suggestion.
In the midst of this transition, a time of reorganization, we have an opportunity to reestablish the "vision" that has been dimmed in the wake of certain events caused by some of those in our own ranks. Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish ...KJV The opportunity to blend the diverse, God-given talents of this body "after the art of the apothecary (or pharmacist)" unto the cause of Christ, our Lord. Ex 30:35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: KJV
To BE the BODY of Christ, "fitly joined together", edifying our self (singular; "as one man") not only in name but in function to become more effective as a body and relieving our Pastor of the burdens he has not been called to perform. Eph 4:15-16...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.KJV
Ezra 3:1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel
were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together AS ONE MAN to Jerusalem. KJV
We, of the body, must rise and be counted among the saints, called according to
God's purpose in the propagation of the precious truth He has given us "unto the ends of
the earth.” Acts 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. Now, the scriptures I have mentioned so far have profound application in the spirit and that is the primary intention of all New Testament authors. But, as St. Paul has pointed out in: 1 Cor. 15:44 There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And… 1 Cor 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritua
l. KJV
He has realized that in order for a spiritual application to be made, a natural application must be in place from which to reference the spiritual application. Once again, the subject St. Paul is dealing with in this text is much deeper than that which we are discussing here. But, the truth of what he has stated still applies, first the natural, then the spiritual. Simply, if we are to truly understand the function of the “spiritual body” we must first function as a “natural body”. This brings me to the point of all this. The NATURAL application of the wisdom of Jethro. In order for us to fully receive the blessing of this divine truth in the spirit we, as the body, fitly joined together by the Spirit of our Lord, must each find our place in the natural operation of the ministry. I, and others in the body have been assembling a list of “departments” spanning from the local ministry to the international ministry that cover a broad range of opportunities for many to step into. As a department head, you will have the opportunity to help the body grow through that department using the many gifts and talents that have been given you by our Father, God.
Some of these positions may require certain qualifications; most will only require a willing heart and a clear vision. All require the following: A person committed to handling the department in a responsible manner. A person that is self-motivated enough to cause the department to be effective in its purpose. A person that is able to document and present the needs and concerns of the department effectively at quarterly meetings. A person that is able to work well with others that have given their valuable time to help them in their department.
It is not our intention to create a law-filled government as source of control of anyone, in fact, any person that would see this as an opportunity to “power trip” would not be a desirable candidate for any of these positions. This is purely, a way for those desiring to serve God on this level to have an opportunity to do so. *For more information on this contact Ken Nault at flospa@comcast.net
Since this article was first written stepping up and “learning to do web work”
has enhanced my own vision. Who would of thought? I am so aware of how this
has kept me (in the last two years) anchored when I would have been one who
without a vision and a means to use God given talents would certainly perished.
Ken has been a man who has stepped up continually to help in any way he can it
has affected many; I hear his heart to encourage others to do so as well if
only to ground us all as one Body. It is a blessing I can not fully describe
.
If you have talents that can be useful contact Peter Demetris at:
pastorpeterd@comcast.net. If you have meditations we can post on this web
site contact me... Joanne Cain at: rosebudfire@yahoo.com with “meditation
in the subject line.” Thanks and God Bless.
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