You Can't Do This Alone

[0:00] Thank you.

[0:30] Thank you.

[1:00] Thank you. Amen.

[1:30] Amen. And of course, we've been seeing that in the book of Exodus, just how sovereign God is, even over the ups and downs of the life of Israel.

[1:43] But I say all that to say, we took a break from the book of Exodus in the summer. And I'd like to say that I had the clever genius to start back at a certain spot for a certain weekend or whatever.

[1:57] But we started back at a big time of transition. And the passage that we looked at was grumbling and complaining. And tonight, we've had this fall ministry planned for some time.

[2:10] And this weekend, I didn't force this. I didn't manipulate this. This is just the providence of God that this weekend for our fall launch, we fall on no passage other than Exodus chapter 18, which couldn't be more of a passage for us to think on and teach as we think about ministry and being involved in the mission of God.

[2:36] And so it was an encouragement to me to know that God is sovereign in every single detail, even my preaching. Thank you, Lord. All right, so Exodus chapter 18, we're going to pick up reading in verse 5, verse 5 of Exodus 18.

[2:52] We're going to read on down through verse 18, though we will look through most of the chapter. Let's stand, if you're able to do so, as we honor the reading of God's Word. Exodus chapter 18 and verse 5.

[3:06] Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. And when he sent word to Moses, I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her, Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him.

[3:28] And they asked each other about their welfare, and they went into the tent. Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh, to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that they had come upon them and the way and how the Lord had delivered them.

[3:47] Wouldn't you have loved to have heard that conversation? And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel and all that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

[3:59] And Jethro said, blessed be Yahweh who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, out of the hand of Pharaoh, and has delivered the people from under the hands of the Egyptians. Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.

[4:19] And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. And Aaron came with the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

[4:30] Now the next day, Moses set to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, what is this that you're doing for the people?

[4:44] Why do you sit alone and all the people stand around you from morning till evening? And Moses said to his father-in-law, well, because the people come to me to inquire of God.

[4:55] When they have a dispute, they come to me, and I decide between one person or another. I make them know the statutes of God and his laws. And Moses' father-in-law said to him, what you're doing is not good.

[5:11] For you and the people will certainly wear yourselves out. For this thing is too heavy for you.

[5:23] And you are not able to do it alone. And all God's people said, amen. Let's pray. Lord, we ask you now to come and talk to us.

[5:36] Please do. By your grace, come and speak to this congregation. I pray that we would enter into this moment with sincere hearts, open ears to hear what you have to say to us.

[5:50] Lord, help me preach your word faithfully. And I trust you to do whatever you choose to do by your providential hand. In Jesus' name we pray.

[6:01] And God's people said, amen. You can be seated. Skip Bertman became a legendary baseball coach for the LSU Tigers. Bertman became the head coach at LSU in the summer of 1983.

[6:16] Now, at the time, LSU baseball was an afterthought. They were, and this is putting it nicely, they were terrible. They were at the bottom of the SEC.

[6:27] In fact, they were so bad that at this time, LSU could barely even get five, hundred fans to come attend an SEC baseball game.

[6:39] The program was mired in mediocrity. They hadn't reached the postseason since 1975. But Bertman turned LSU baseball into a powerhouse.

[6:53] I'm from the South. I'm big on SEC. And let me tell you, LSU dominated. They won five national championships between 1991 and the year 2000.

[7:06] They essentially dominated the 90s. They even built a brand new baseball stadium where even today, they will average around 10,000 fans who will come to see a game.

[7:21] They are one of the leading attendances in all of the NCAA. Now, because of all this success, Bertman's coaching philosophy gained him a lot of attention.

[7:34] People were very interested in terms of what his techniques were, what strategies he used, and they discovered as they looked closely at his coaching that there was actually something he would do every single year.

[7:50] Every year before they would start the season, he would gather all of his players together, and he would give them the same speech.

[8:01] The speech was called, and ESPN did a documentary on this, called Hold the Rope. And the speech went like this.

[8:14] Every year a professional team wins a championship. Every year a college team wins an NCAA title. Every year a high school team wins a state crown.

[8:27] All of these teams have one thing in common. No matter how tough it gets during the season, they do one thing. They hold the rope.

[8:39] What does it mean to hold the rope? Imagine that you're hanging from the edge of a cliff. The drop is 20,000 feet. And the only thing between you and your fall is a rope.

[8:53] With the person of your choice on the other end. Who do you know that has the guts to hold the rope? Who do you know that is going to let the rope burn their hand and refuse to let go?

[9:04] How many people do you know who are going to withstand the burning pain and watch the blood drip from their hands for you? If you can name two people, it's not good enough.

[9:17] Because those two might not be around. So look around, men. Ask yourself, who do you trust to hold the rope? Because when you can look at every member of this team and say to yourself that we would all hold the rope, then you are destined to win games.

[9:37] You see, the team that holds the rope when the going gets tough are the winners. When you are down at the end of a game, you won't give up.

[9:48] You'll do everything possible on and off the field to make sure every single one of your teammates knows they can count on you to hold the rope.

[10:03] Every year, he gave that speech to his team. Why? Because Burtman knew something very, very, very important.

[10:15] And that is this. You do not win in the field of sports if you try to do it alone. It's why every player gets interviewed after a game and what do they say?

[10:29] It was my teammates. I got to think, my offensive line. I couldn't have had these many rushing yards without them. Every person knows in sports you cannot do it alone.

[10:43] And every single one of us knows that the same is true in life. Amen? Life is difficult to do alone. You know that.

[10:53] Have you ever tried to move furniture alone? I mean, you can do it, but it's a whole lot harder, right? How many of you have ever tried to do a home improvement project without asking for help?

[11:08] How many of you have ever been at the gym alone and tried to lift too much weight? That looks like that just had to hurt, right? Hey, bro, you might want to spot her next time, all right?

[11:22] Some of you know what it's like to raise kids alone. And you can do it, but it's a whole lot easier when you have help.

[11:34] Some of you know what it's like to have an evening meal every night alone. Every single one of us in this room knows this. Life is not meant to be done alone.

[11:48] Now, listen, I understand there are some of you, you don't have to raise your hand because you wouldn't want to raise your hand. There are some of you in this room who are introverts. Back when we used to do the Myers-Briggs a lot, I ended up being 50% extrovert, 50% introvert.

[12:05] Now, that shocks some of you. Some of you think I'm like 100% extrovert. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. The extrovert is here on the stage. In real life, I can be very introverted.

[12:15] Do I have any introverts in here? Exactly. See, they don't want to say out loud. They're like, don't ask me. I'm trying to be alone. My point is, listen, I get there are introverts in the room and you like your time alone.

[12:27] I completely understand you, but even we know that life cannot be lived alone. At some point, you've got to have somebody that holds the rope.

[12:42] Think about what God told Adam in Genesis 2, verse 18. The Lord God said, say this with me, it is that the man should be, I will make a helper for him.

[13:00] That goes against everything in the male ego, right? I don't need help. I got this. God says, no, you don't. You need help. You're not meant to do this alone.

[13:12] My good buddy, Coeleth, in Ecclesiastes chapter 4. Oh, I love this. Two is better than one because they have a good reward for their toil.

[13:22] For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is, say it, for when he falls and has not another to lift him up, again, if two lie together, they keep warm.

[13:35] But how can one keep warm? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

[13:47] Now, you know, I don't like parachuting in on passages and taking them out of context. You know that Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books. I've written a book on it. I love the book. And that passage is such a familiar passage, and it often gets quoted at weddings and accountability partners, which is totally fine and appropriate, but it's not really the context that Koeleth is talking about.

[14:10] What Koeleth is talking about is a man who sets his eyes on riches, and he works really, really hard to gain everything he can in life.

[14:21] And what Koeleth is saying is, what good does it do if you gain everything in the world and you don't have anybody to share it with? He's essentially saying this.

[14:32] Notice it on the screen. Having someone is better than gaining everything. Because life, are you hearing me, isn't meant to be lived alone.

[14:44] You have to have people that will hold the rope. And if that is true in relationships, and that is true in life, do you believe that's true? Do you believe that's true?

[14:58] I just gave you a lot of Bible passages, so you should probably just say yes. Then is it not also true when it comes to the ministry of God?

[15:09] To put it very simply, faith family, the ministry and mission of God is not meant to be done alone.

[15:23] And that is exactly the lesson that Moses learns here in Exodus 18. Let me set the stage. At this point in Exodus, we've talked about it for many weeks.

[15:35] Man, Israel has been through a lot. Remember Chippy from last week, the parakeet that got vacuumed in? They have been through everything. And we talked about it. They've been through slavery, unmet expectations.

[15:48] They've endured the plagues. They've crossed the Red Sea. Now they think they're going the wrong direction. They are hungering and thirsting for food. And God is feeding them and giving them water daily.

[16:00] And then they just got sucker punched by the Amalekites. Like, it's a tough season. I mean, everything that can go wrong is going wrong.

[16:11] It is one thing after another. They have had it really hard. In fact, they've had it so hard. Do you know what they want to do? Go back to Egypt. After all, we had it better there.

[16:24] We ate steak and lobster and sat around in hot tubs when we were in Egypt. Like, that's how they feel. They've had a really hard go at it. But do you know who also has had a really hard go at it?

[16:36] Moses. Moses. Oh, this has not been an easy journey for Moses. Amen? Okay, I'm just going to be excited enough for all of you tonight, okay?

[16:46] Look at chapter 17 in verse 3. Now, the people thirsted there for water and they grumbled against Moses and said, Hey, why did you bring us out of Egypt? To kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?

[17:00] Moses looks to Yahweh and what does he say? What am I going to do with these people? They're like ready to kill me. Moses here expresses an exhaustion and an exasperation with leading the people of God.

[17:19] God, I don't know what I'm going to do with these people. Literally, they're out for me. Moses here is carrying a heavy weight, a heavy load.

[17:30] It's the heavy load of leadership. Are you with me tonight? Leadership's a heavy load. You know that, right? And I'm surprised.

[17:42] Like, I do a lot of leadership talks because I've got a degree in leadership. Not that that really means all that much. It just means I get to do some talks on leadership. My point is, I'm surprised at how many people don't think they're leaders.

[17:53] But I'm telling you, every one of you in this room is a leader in some way. You might own a company. You may parent children. You may manage people. You may deal with customers or patients.

[18:04] You may be responsible for other people in some way. Or you may have the hardest task of all and that is leading yourself. You are the most difficult person to lead.

[18:15] Amen? Right? All of us are leaders and leading is a heavy thing. And Moses knew the weight of leadership, not just here in Exodus 18, but throughout.

[18:29] Take, for example, the spiritual weight that Moses has carried. Moses has had to deal with the spiritual weight of being called of God to do the mission of God.

[18:41] Do you know how heavy that is? Do you know? I swear sometimes I think I'm talking to an empty room. Do you know how heavy it is that God comes to Moses and says, listen, here's what I'm going to call you to do.

[18:55] I'm going to have you go up against Pharaoh and all the Egyptians and you're going to lead my people out. Say, what? There's no way.

[19:05] There's no possible way I could do that. Look at chapter 3 in verse 10. Come, I'm going to send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.

[19:15] And here's Moses' response. He says, who am I? Who am I that I would go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?

[19:26] I can't do this. The mission is too big. The calling's too high. My skills aren't adequate. Oh, faith family, it is a heavy thing to participate in a calling that you know full well is bigger than you.

[19:41] And if you want to know about it, just come ask me because I carry that weight. Some of you do too. Every single week. And it's not just for pastors.

[19:53] Any of you parents ever looked at your kids and be like, what am I doing? I mean, the call to parent and raise these kids is bigger than me.

[20:04] Amen? And not only does Moses wrestle with the call of God, Moses has to go up against the gods of Egypt. In other words, the spiritual weight of this calling is heavy.

[20:19] Number two, but not only the spiritual weight, there's relational weight. He not only has to battle God over the call of God in his life, but Moses has to battle his own people.

[20:32] Somebody say preach, preacher. Chapter five, verse 20. Israel comes to Moses and Aaron and they're waiting for them as they come out for meeting with Pharaoh and here's what they say to God's leaders.

[20:47] Yahweh, look on you and judge because you've made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants and you have put a sword in their hands to kill us.

[21:00] Moses just stood up for Israel. Moses just put his life on the line. Moses is giving his blood, sweat, and tears for his own people and life gets harder and their expectations of church isn't met and they turn on him like nothing.

[21:23] And now not only is he dealing with the heavy call of God, he's got conflict with his very own people. You brought us out here to kill us. You lied to us, Moses.

[21:34] And there's a real tension that Moses is dealing with and you know this tension if you manage people or if you're a parent or whatever leadership context you're in.

[21:45] It's this question. Notice it on the screen. How do I lead people and love people at the same time? Are you with me?

[21:56] Are you like, how do I lead these people and at the same time let them know that I really love them? Because the reality is those two things don't contradict. Listen, they just appear like they do.

[22:10] You know what I'm talking about. Again, I'm putting a lot of this with a parenting analogy. Like, you've done everything. You know what's best for your kids and you're leading them the best that you can.

[22:21] How many of you have ever had one of your kids give you this look? And they say this, you don't love me. You don't love me.

[22:34] You're like, you have no idea how much I love you. You don't have any idea what I'm sacrificing for you. But because your expectations aren't met, because you can't fully understand the big picture, you look at my leadership as not loving.

[22:50] Oh, Moses knows that weight. He knows the spiritual weight of the call of God. He knows the relational weight of conflict with the people of God. Thirdly, he knows the physical weight. Last week, we saw how tired and weak Israel was when they were attacked by the Amalekites.

[23:07] And we also showed how Moses had signs of physical exhaustion. Chapter 17, verse 12. But Moses, come on, say it, hands grew weary.

[23:21] And they took a stone, they put it under him, he sat on it while Aaron and Hur held up his hands. This man's tired. This man's physically exhausted.

[23:35] In other words, you're beginning to see the weight of all of this surface physically. His hands are shaking and he's weary.

[23:47] He can't even hold the staff up anymore. He's got to have help of people to come along and support him. And can I just say, like I just love how throughout the book of Exodus, which is written by Moses, Moses shows Moses' weaknesses.

[24:02] Because if I were writing this book or if this were scripted in Hollywood, oh man, I'd tell you in chapter 17, I am Superman and I am standing tall. No one's bringing my arm down.

[24:15] I got super powers. No you don't. Moses doesn't. He's physically weak and tired and you can see it all over his body because he can't even keep his hands in the air.

[24:36] Oh, the spiritual weight of this, the relational weight, the physical weight, fourthly, the internal weight. Come on, you know this as leaders. Moses in all of this is not only dealing with all of these external things, Moses is dealing with his own personal insecurities.

[24:54] And you have them too. And let me assure you, your pastor has them. He has more insecurities than you think he does. Look at what Moses says in chapter 4, verse 10.

[25:05] We're being real tonight. Moses said to Yahweh, I'm not eloquent. I'm not a good speaker. In fact, I wasn't in the past and I haven't become a good speaker since the time you called me.

[25:21] What I am is slow in speech and of tongue. What's going on in Moses' heart? I'm not good enough.

[25:33] I'm not skilled to do this. What if people realize who I really am? Faith family, I've said this before.

[25:44] You have no idea how many times I walk away from this pulpit this weekend this sermon saying nobody's coming back. Why would they ever want to listen to that again?

[25:59] It was a train wreck. Can we just be real tonight? There are insecurities internally that bear a heavy weight on us.

[26:11] Amen? And if you can't be honest about it after seeing Moses' then you're just too prideful. Because Moses is letting us in to see his internal struggles.

[26:24] Notice this on the screen. All leaders know the internal battle of personal insecurities. Here's the point that I'm making in all of this summary is that Moses carried a heavy, heavy, heavy weight.

[26:41] Spiritually, the call of God and battling with spiritual warfare. Relationally, all the conflict with Israel all the time. Physically, the impact it's having on his body.

[26:52] Internally, the insecurities he has about himself. I'm going to let one of my favorite, don't judge me and I don't even care, one of my favorite musicians, Tyler Childress, summarized this whole point like this.

[27:07] And he'd call up to heaven And he'd hope and he'd pray But the lion's always busy Since he went straight Oh, Lord, if you care when you answer his prayers Cause the preacher's been drinking again But it's a hard way to go On the straight and narrow When everybody in town Points a finger at you But they ain't had to walk With the weight that you've hauled They don't know you at all

[28:10] They think things that they do I guarantee you Moses would have listened to that song as many times as I have On Saturday nights when the weight of it all is so heavy They ain't had to walk with the weight that you haul They don't know you at all but they think that they do Let me just assure you Fate family I'm gonna be very straight here Here at Fate family with all of our leaders we are not people who have it all together And if you have to be a part of a church where all the leaders have it all together you should probably go elsewhere

[29:11] Because at Fate Family we recognize people like Moses who say I'm carrying a heavy weight and there are times I just don't get it right Amen Now some of you are sitting there thinking is he ever gonna get to chapter 18 He hasn't even gotten to the text he read And it's because I thought it was important for us to understand all of the weight that Moses carries so that then we can see this additional weight I mean as if that wasn't heavy enough Exodus 18 shows us another level of weight that Moses has now they just won the battle over the Amalekites Moses' wife and sons with his father-in-law Jethro remember Jethro from the

[30:12] Beverly Hillbillies anybody any Beverly Hillbilly fans come on yeah here's Jethro see I told you Moses was a redneck his family is from the south so Jethro and Moses' family shows up and they're all excited and they go into the tent and Moses tells Jethro everything that's happened tells him the whole redemptive story Jethro thinks it's amazing in fact so much so he gives a sacrifice to Yahweh and recognizes Yahweh as the one true God who's greater than all gods and then Jethro observes something verse 13 the next day after this conversation happened in the tent Moses sat to judge the people and the people stood around Moses from morning to evening now stop for just a moment we hear that word judging and we think that's a negative word because we're thinking what Jesus said judge not lest ye be judged but that's not what's going down here that's not what Moses is doing here

[31:23] Moses goes on to explain what he means by judging verse 15 Moses said to his father-in-law because the people come to me to inquire of God they want to talk about God but they've got theology questions and then when they have a dispute they come to me and I decide between one person and another and I make them known the statutes of God and his laws and so in other words there's something going down here with Israel they live together they faced all these trials together they're raising families together and something really unique in all of redemptive history is happening it's I mean it's like hasn't happened since what's happening is people aren't getting along I know we have no idea how to relate to that but back here people didn't get along and they've got these disputes and conflicts and guess what they brought it to Moses

[32:25] I mean Israel had disputes and conflicts and needs and theological questions and marriages to officiate and funerals to conduct and conflicts to resolve and relationships that need help and tribes that need to be organized and theology class to discuss and the only person they can turn to is Moses so Moses in a real sense this is true Moses in a real sense is the law he's the government he's the department of motor vehicles and he's Dr. Phil all wrapped in one he's literally doing all of this which leads to a fifth weight that Moses is carrying on top of everything else we've discussed and that's a ministry weight in other words Moses is doing all the work he's solving everybody's problems and the text says he's doing this from what morning to evening all day long he's consumed in ministry look at verse 14 when Moses his father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people he said what is this that you're doing for the people why do you sit alone and all the people stand around you from morning to evening well Moses said to his father-in-law well it's because they come to me to inquire about God and they have a dispute and I decide between one person and the other and help them know the statutes of God and his laws and Moses' father-in-law said to him

[34:01] Moses son what you're doing is not good it's not good now if I'm Moses this is where I push back what do you mean it's not good I'm doing ministry I'm helping people I'm solving important matters I'm making a difference for God I mean seriously what you talking about what you talking about what you talking about what you talking about what you talking about Jethro what do you mean this ain't good this is the ministry of God and listen every bit of that is true it is good it is helping others it is making a difference oh somebody say preach preacher talk to me notice it on the screen what

[35:01] Moses was doing was significant how Moses was doing it was not sustainable what he's doing is significant it really matters but how he's doing it is not sustainable the problem is not the ministry the problem is the method and if it continues this way notice verse 18 you and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out why because this thing's too heavy for you it's too big for you Moses and you're not able to do it alone and all God's people said ouch ouch ouch ouch this is the point of the sermon

[36:01] I should walk off the stage and not preach the rest of this because you don't you don't even have a clue how the Lord has spoken to me through what we see in this word of wisdom from Jethro Moses you and the people if you continue at this pace you're going to wear yourself out I shudder to even read this but I'm going to read it here it is it's a dangerous thing when the ministry meant to help becomes the downfall of your health that might be your spiritual health that might be your physical health that might be your emotional health notice this too when the ministry intended to bring life to others brings death to you you got a serious problem you got a real problem so

[37:16] Moses here's the deal here's the deal take the advice or don't it's up to you if this is going to work you're going to have to have others who will hold the rope you're going to have to have others who will hold the rope Jethro's advice continues verse 21 more over in other words this is a father father-in-law way of saying I'm not done yet more over I got more to say look for able men from among the people men who fear God who are trustworthy and hate a bribe and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens let them judge the people at all times every great matter they shall bring to you and every small matter they shall decide themselves so it will be easier for you and they will bear the burden with you if you do this

[38:17] God will direct you and you will be able to endure and all this people also will go to their place in peace I don't have time to unpack all these verses all I'm going to do is make a few very brief observations and I do mean brief and then I will be done but I think there's a lot here probably a whole other sermon but I'll give you just a few important observations from Jethro's advice are you with me here's the first one!

[38:46] Jethro maintains the uniqueness of Moses's role did you see that this is really important and I want you to be thinking not only in your life but particularly for us as a faith family Jethro maintains the uniqueness of Moses's role in other words Jethro is not saying you know what we need we need another Moses we need more Moses okay we just don't have enough Moses if we just had more Moses then we'd be!

[39:20] Moses you still play the role of Moses there is only one Moses what I'm advising here in no way diminishes! the unique call of God on the life of Moses you still need to do the big stuff you still got to be the leader you still got to cast the vision you still got to lead this thing Moses!

[39:41] Amen! Secondly! Jethro insists! be qualified in other words listen listen this is so wise not only is this not everybody gets to be a Moses it's also not anybody can do anything you may want to teach but you may not be gifted to teach like this is what we've lost this in American culture and even more so we've lost this in the church I think we've lost it in American culture!

[40:18] because everybody's a snowflake and the worst thing you could hurt is somebody's feelings oh no I mean they'd never get over that if you hurt their feelings here's something we have to have the ability in the church to say I want to do that no no this isn't everybody gets to be Moses and it's not anybody gets to do anything you still actually have to be qualified listen to me the goal here at faith family is not to fill space it's to enhance ministry so that may mean being told no right trust me just to be transparent

[41:35] I've told you this before there are things I'm! terrible! at I'm not a good counselor I've told you my counseling is pretty much stop it next stop it next like I'm just not very I don't really want to sit for eight weeks and hear about your thumbnail like whatever it's like that's not my gift okay I'm not good in the kids area I'd climb the ninja gym and never come down like I'd go crazy I love kids but mostly mine all right so you know what I mean like this is not my area and I just have to be honest about that and so do you so do you okay Jethro says listen these people have to be qualified they have to be apt for what they're doing thirdly Jethro connects this is so important the smaller roles with the bigger mission listen handling small disputes is not small

[42:41] I'm going to say that again handling small disputes is not small in the big picture of what Jethro lays out here it actually makes a really big difference let me give you example people might say well I just help with parking that's not that big of a deal I just lead a small group I just hold a baby in the nursery but do you understand how all of that fits to the larger mission of the church somebody has had a very difficult week and the parking attendant helps them find parking and helps their morning or evening go a little bit easier they walk into the door and they're smiled at by a greeter who is friendly they come in a little bit more open to want to hear what's going on they get a coffee and a acted by the gospel their heart gets opened up to worship and my point is it took every part listen we start preaching the gospel from the moment they pull in this parking lot and everything we do along the way matters don't you dare say well

[43:58] I'm only holding a baby in the nursery for God I wish I could do big stuff say that to me and I will slap you so silly no Jethro says listen listen let these people handle the small things because the small things add up to big things and by the way let me just say that God is not limited by any of that we could have terrible parking the worst donuts ever and God still do whatever God wants to do all I'm saying is when we're serving the Lord every part matters there are no unimportant areas in the service of the king lastly lastly and I do mean lastly Jethro makes clear this is the only way to endure Jethro makes clear this is the only way to endure in other words Moses you're not going to last otherwise you're not going to get to the next level in the relationship you're not going to get to the next level in your company and listen to me faith family will not get to the next level of ministry if you don't share leadership if you don't hold the rope if you don't step up and do your part if you don't realize that this is just as much yours as it is anybody else's and at some point it's no longer about just coming and enjoying a donut and a sermon and listen some of you you may be new or maybe you're in a season where that's just all you need right now trust me

[45:36] I get it ain't nobody twisting your arm into anything but at some point if this is your faith family play a part because we're not going anywhere if you don't this is the only way Moses you're going to endure otherwise you and the 20% or less that are doing all the work are going to kill themselves it's not healthy and it's not right and do you know what Moses does he does something you don't even know how hard it is I hope you do it I'm really trying hard to do it here it is and I'm done verse 24 Moses say it listened to the voice of his father-in-law and he did all he said what does this mean for us as we're done what does this mean for us well personally

[46:48] I just want to say outside the context of the church every one of you in different ways are leaders again you may be a parent an employer an employee a teammate maybe it's just leading yourself and right now you're at a point where you are overstretched you are doing too much you're carrying a heavy weight here's my question for you are you listening my question is this for you who's holding the rope for you because you can't do this alone you just can't you're not meant to in whatever area of life it is you have got to have people who are holding the rope but not just personally do I want this message to be applied but specifically to us as a faith family in terms of ministry we have almost hard to believe we've almost been in existence for five years this coming February amen absolutely amen and let me just assure you let me assure you we did not get to this point alone there have been so many people that have carried the burden and served in so many ways and yet it's still puzzling to me that there are still people who don't want to be expected to do anything

[48:15] I've already qualified that by saying if you're new or maybe you're just in a season where you are on empty we get that there are seasons you need to refill I'm totally for that others that are letting everybody else hold the rope and we are in a season now where I'm asking you would you hold the rope would you be a part of this ministry and help make it yours I'm not going to go back through this I mentioned it in the announcements but I would ask you to look through this what are ministries that you could be involved in what are ways essentially saying pastor I'm going to hold the rope whatever I can do however I can serve whatever time I can give you say yeah but I'm just really really busy oh trust me I know you're busy I get it but is the ministry and mission of

[49:16] God not important is being a part of what God has called us to do as a faith family not significant and so I ask the rope no doubt there are some of you here that feel like you can relate to Moses you see this picture right here the man carrying the heavy load and you're like goodness pastor I know what that feels like I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders whether it's the spiritual weight of a calling relational weight of conflict physical weight of weakness internal weight of insecurities ask in Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from and Jethro is right our help comes from one another yes that is true but this is the ultimate answer the psalmist give my help comes from the

[50:23] Lord amen and that's because there is no one who has ever carried! Jesus carried the spiritual weight of having your sin placed on him Jesus carried the relational weight of being hated by the very people he led and loved he carried the physical weight of being crucified to a cross he carried the internal weight of wanting that cup to pass and he carried the ministry weight of accomplishing the father's will Jesus literally had the weight of the world put on him and through it all he had a father who held the rope the bible says it this way in acts 2 god raised him up loosing the pains of death today whatever weight you carry faith family rest assured you have a heavenly father who no matter what will not let you go and all god's people said amen let's pray lord thank you for this thank you for the opportunity tonight to just be real to talk about the heaviness of leadership the heaviness of life there's so many things we carry so many burdens that we carry and we think about what

[52:06] Jesus said come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden! I'll give you rest! Lord I pray that this place would be a place of rest and that we would not only experience the true Sabbath rest that is found in Christ but that we would also experience the rest of doing ministry together rather than alone and so help us learn what we need to learn help me learn what I need to learn from Exodus 18 and may we be the kind of people willing to hold the rope no matter what we now come to a time where we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross where we think about how he took our greatest burden the burden of our sin and he paid for it in full help us now let this time be a time of sweet worship and communion with you in

[53:10] Jesus name we pray amen ход