The Barriers And Benifits To Change

Barriers and Benefit of Wise Change

Exodus 18

Introduction:

A. How do you feel about Change?

I don’t know how you feel, but the older I get the more I dread change.

They divide people in several groups when it comes to change.

2.5% INNOVATORS

13.5 EARLY ADOPTERS

34% Early Majority

34% Late majority

16% Laggards

Bottom line is that 16% are quick to change and the rest take time to change.

B. There are several things I know about change.

Change is not easy-I don’t think any of us like change.

Change is necessary-all of us know down deep inside that change is important.

Change is a constant: “One man said that the only thing that you can count on is change.

C. Before I get too far into talking about change, where is an area in your life that you need to make changes?

Spiritual change, lifestyle change, a job change, habit change,

I think there should always be places in our lives where we are growing, improving and changing. If not then I think we are not being disciples (learners) of Christ.

D. Exodus 18 talks about Moses and how he had to face change.

Moses went to Pharaoh and said, Let my people go. Pharaoh laughed at him until God thumped him with 10 devastating plagues, the last one taking the life of his son. He allowed Israel to leave but thought twice about it and chased the people of Israel into a parted red sea and his army was destroyed.

Moses and Israel saw many miracles and had many victories and they were in a time of rest and recuperation when Jethro brought Moses’ wife and kids to him. Moses had left them behind when he confronted Pharaoh.

When Jethro arrived, he took him into his tent and bragged on all God did for Israel. Jethro was so excited about this that he made a sacrificed to the Lord.

(13-23) The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

I love this, this 80+ guy is willing to be flexible and change.

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

D. Lets look at this strategic moment in Moses’ and Israel’s life.

I. The Barriers to Wise Change

A. Pride-Why should I listen to Jethro?

God is doing all this cool things with Moses. Up to this point he really has only had wins. Everything seems to be working for him. Her come Jethro Bo Dean to tell him how to run his country.

It is easier to make changes when things are going poorly but much harder when things are rocking along pretty well. A wise leader-person makes changes and adjustments through out their lives.

B. Fear-What if this does not work?

Moses had to ask himself, what if this thing does not work? What is everyone going to say when I tell them that they need to go to someone else and besides me.