EXODus 18:13-24

13 The next day Moses took

his seat to serve as judge

for the people, and they

stood around him from

morning till evening.

EXODus 18:13-24

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?"

EXODus 18:13-24

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 laws."

EXODus 18:13-2417 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.

Exodus 18:13-2419 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. 

EXODus 18:13-2420 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 

EXODus 18:13-2421 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. 

EXODus 18:13-24 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.

EXODus 18:13-24

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.”

EXODus 18:13-24

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE TODAY DETERMINE THE

STORIES YOU TELL TOMORROW.

DIRECTION, NOT INTENTION

DETERMINES DESTINATION

HEBREWS 12:22 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I DECIDED TO STOP

EXODus 18:17-1917 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.

EXODus 18:17-1919 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 disputesto him. 

BE PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVES

BEFORE GOD – TAKE THEIR

DISPUTES TO HIM.

EXODUS 18:22b-24 22b 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.” 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

MOSES STOPPED DOING

EVERYTHING!

REASONS TO STOP

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE

MISSING UNLESS YOU STOP.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WILL

COST YOU IF YOU DON’T…

WHAT DOES GOD WANT YOU TO

WANT?

* Better care of your body* Spiritually* Family* Finances* Ministry  

WHAT DOES GOD WANT YOU TO

STOP?

WHAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF

WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO

WANT?

EXTERNAL - INTERNAL

SEEK GOD AND CHOOSE ONE THING

HEBREWS 12:1-21 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

HEBREWS 12:1-2

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. 

I’VE GOT SO MANY THINGS TO IMPROVE! SEEK

GOD – LET HIM BE THE AUTHOR.

MY STORY IS NOT PERFECT –

BUT GOD’S NOT FINISHED WITH

IT YET!

1 CORINTHIANS 14:20

20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 

ISAIAH 1:13

13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations — I cannot bear your evil assemblies. 

ISAIAH 1:16-17

…16 Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. 

ISAIAH 2:22

22 Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? 

JOHN 20:27-28

27 Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 

1 Corinthians 15:34

34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God — I say this to your shame.

Numbers 10:33-34 (nlt)33 They marched for three days after leaving the mountain of the Lord, with the Ark of the Lord's Covenant moving ahead of them to show them where to stop and rest. 

Numbers 10:33-34 (nlt)34 As they moved on each day, the cloud of the LORD hovered over them.

Psalm 37:8-9 (nlt)8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. 9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. 

DANIEL 4:27(nlt)27 "'King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.' 

SMALL DECISIONS

IMPACT OUR LIVES IN A BIG

WAY!

BOTH POSITIVELY AND NEGATIVELY

GOOD DECISIONS COMPOUND.

BAD DECISIONS COMPOUND.

HARDEST I’VE EVER SEEN

SOMEONE CRY – REGRETS

MOSES STOPPED TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING!

DELEGATING TASKS –

DELEGATING AUTHORITY!

EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT – NOTHING IS

IMPORTANT; BEST DON’T DO THE

MOST

MOST SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DON’T DO IT ALL – UNIQUELY CREATED TO DO

STOP:

STOP JUDGING BY MERE APPEARANCES.

JOHN 7:24

24 “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

STOP:

STOP DOING WRONG;LEARN TO DO RIGHT!

ISAIAH 1:16

16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.

STOP:

STOP TRUSTING IN MAN.

ISAIAH 2:22

22 Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?

STOP:

STOP GRUMBLING AMONG YOURSELVES.

JOHN 6:43

43“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.

STOP:

STOP ACTING SO PROUD AND HAUGHTY!

1 SAMUEL 2:3

3 “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows,and by Him deeds are weighed.”

STOP:

STOP BEING ANGRY!

PSALM 37:8-9 (nlt)8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.

STOP:

STOP SINNING, AND DO WHAT IS

RIGHT!

DANIEL 4:27(nlt)27 “‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’