Leaders who lighten the load

On one occasion a man was coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always was to shake hands. He grabbed this guy by the hand and pulled him aside. The Pastor said to him, “You need to join the Army of the Lord!” The guy replied, What do you mean? I’m saved!” “I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor.” The Pastor questioned, “How come I don’t see you except at Easter, Mother’s day and Christmas?” He whispered back, “I’m in the secret service.” But do you know what Dottie Peoples said? She sings a song entitled “Closet Religion.” Dottie says, “I don’t have a closet religion, I can’t hide the God I serve, I’ve got to let the world know, wherever I go, I’ve got to praise and serve the Lord!” Dottie says I don’t have a part-time religion, but I want to let the world know wherever I go, I’ve got to praise and serve the Lord! God has not called us to be secret service leaders, but servant leaders who live for him openly and without shame. Did you notice how Jesus performed his ministry? Mostly outside or in public view. When he healed the sick, most of them were healed outside. When he raised Lasarus from the dead, that was done outside. He performed miracles outside! When he died on the cross, it was done outside. Even though they buried him in a borrowed tomb, He rose on the world’s first Easter Sunday morning, outside! So where should your ministry be performed, privately, no, outside. People should see the resurrected Christ in your life in public view, outside. My friends, God is looking for men who do not make excuses about being drafted into his Army. He is looking for some men who are willing to come along side the Pastor of this church, or wherever you membership may be. Men who are willing to come along side their Pastor and help lighten the load. The text that we will study for just a few minutes is Exodus 18:13-21. Reading from the New Century Version, it says: “13 The next day Moses solved disagreements among the people, and the people stood around him from morning until night. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What is all this you are doing for the people? Why are you the only one to solve disagreements? All the people are standing around you from morning until night!" 15 Then Moses said to his father-in-law, "It is because the people come to me for God’s help in solving their disagreements. 16 When people have a disagreement, they come to me, and I decide who is right. I tell them God’s laws and teachings." 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, "You are not doing this right. 18 You and the people who come to you will get too tired. This is too much work for you; you can’t do it by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and I will give you some advice. I want God to be with you. You must speak to God for the people and tell him about their disagreements. 20 Warn them about the laws and teachings, and teach them the right way to live and what they should do. 21 But choose some capable men from among the people -- men who respect God, who can be trusted, and who will not change their decisions for money. Make these men officers over the people, to rule over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. That is my subject, “Leaders who help lighten the load. Up to this point, the children of Israel, who are known as God’s chosen