Equipping the Saints
When God calls a person to a full-time ministry, he does not mean for that person to do everything by himself. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, was used by God to teach Moses this principle.(Exodus 18:19,20) He saw that Moses was wearing out himself and the people by deciding all of the disputes and problems of the people all day long. That was all Moses was able to do, and it made the people wait a long time to hear the solution they needed. We all need to hear what Moses learned from Jethro, because it is very true today.
Moses had a very important ministry in leading God's people. His main need was to hear from the Lord and to intercede for the people. If he had no time to pray and listen to the Lord, he could not accomplish this. By trying to do everything himself, he lacked the time with the Lord and the time for prayer. Also, it is physically impossible for one person or even a group of people to do everything that needs to be done in God's kingdom. We all need to know God's laws, so that we can apply them each day. Therefore, Moses was to teach all of the people God's laws, so they could live by them daily and do the work of God themselves. Therefore, we see that Moses was to pray and to teach. He appointed men to handle the regular needs, and he would handle the very difficult ones himself. He equipped the saints for ministry, and they all did their part.
In the book of Acts we see the same solution to the problem of the widows being neglected in chapter 6. The apostles told the believers that they would not stop praying and teaching the Word of God, but they would select good men to care for the widows. That way, everyone had time to do God's will for them. Also, in Ephesians 4:11-16 Paul shares the same truth. We are to equip all of the saints to do the work of the ministry. This is God's plan. The church will never accomplish God's will unless the pastors have time to pray and to teach the way they should, and unless the people take up the ministry and do what the Lord expects them to do.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 20-22.
Moses had a very important ministry in leading God's people. His main need was to hear from the Lord and to intercede for the people. If he had no time to pray and listen to the Lord, he could not accomplish this. By trying to do everything himself, he lacked the time with the Lord and the time for prayer. Also, it is physically impossible for one person or even a group of people to do everything that needs to be done in God's kingdom. We all need to know God's laws, so that we can apply them each day. Therefore, Moses was to teach all of the people God's laws, so they could live by them daily and do the work of God themselves. Therefore, we see that Moses was to pray and to teach. He appointed men to handle the regular needs, and he would handle the very difficult ones himself. He equipped the saints for ministry, and they all did their part.
In the book of Acts we see the same solution to the problem of the widows being neglected in chapter 6. The apostles told the believers that they would not stop praying and teaching the Word of God, but they would select good men to care for the widows. That way, everyone had time to do God's will for them. Also, in Ephesians 4:11-16 Paul shares the same truth. We are to equip all of the saints to do the work of the ministry. This is God's plan. The church will never accomplish God's will unless the pastors have time to pray and to teach the way they should, and unless the people take up the ministry and do what the Lord expects them to do.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 20-22.