Church Killers 3: “I Can’t…” Exodus 4: 1-17; Acts 21: 7-14
We continue our series this week on words and ideas that will kill a church, “The Church Killers,” if you will. Today the idea is all the times we say, “I can’t.” I can’t serve there, can’t lead like that, can’t pray well enough, can’t sing well enough, just can’t. I am reminded of an old phrase. I believe one of my grandparents used to quote it from time to time, but the memory is a bit fuzzy. They would say the quote, “Can’t never did nothing.” It’s a quote from a longer quote by author F. Lee Hayslip, “Can’t never did anything, until he tried.”
One of the things we must remember is where God is looking toward, and where God is planning to take us. Every time we object and say, “I can’t,” we look to a past reality—some circumstance or aspect of our character that we believe only from our past. But God is always looking to move us into a new future. God forgives our yesterday, loves us today, and leads us into tomorrow. Don’t get stuck in the yesterdays, saying, “I can’t.” Trust God to lead and guide whether it’s by a good strong push or through gentle nurturing.
As we read our Old Testament, we see that Moses was full of “I can’t-s.” God realized in the conversation with Moses that Moses needed to be pushed towards his call and mission. This dialogue between Moses and God comes as Moses is standing in front of the burning bush. One would think the burning bush speaking to him would have been enough, but apparently not here. Moses’s first objection is that he’s not good enough, “Who am I to do this?” God promises to be with Moses. Then Moses objects because he doesn’t know what God’s name is to tell them. Moses and many of the Israelites had forgotten the God of their ancestors. But God gives a strong answer to say that God is Yahweh, “I am who I am.”
Moses then complains they won’t believe him. God shows him signs to perform. Moses then complains that he’s a terrible speaker, and God says that if the Good Lord made the human mouth, Moses should be fine. Finally, Moses blurts out the truth saying that he can’t, and God should send someone else. God promises to send Moses’s brother Aaron with him. By this time, God is angry. Moses is doubting and complaining at every turn about his inability to the very God who created him and can give him any and all ability. But, also, Moses’s cries that he can’t stand in the way of the freedom for the Hebrew people and hold them in oppression.
You see, when we say no or we say we can’t, it’s not just a conversation between us and God. Someone, somewhere is held hostage, remains caught in suffering and oppression or is trapped in the sinful systems at work in this world. It’s never just a conversation between us and God. It’s a conversation that involves the whole world to whom we have an obligation. Christ’s grace comes with teaching to take up our cross and follow him. If we don’t say yes, who will? If we don’t act to feed the hungry, love the hurting, clothe the naked, and live as Christ’s saved and mission-minded people in this world, who will? God promised to be with Moses all the way. Having the risen Savior at work in and with us makes that promise all the more powerful in our lives.
But sometimes, instead of a push, we need to simply be nurtured along as we trust God and say yes. In our New Testament, Paul said yes to God, when everyone around him begged him to say no. Paul was headed to Jerusalem where there were bad feelings. Almost certainly Paul knew he faced persecution and death in the city. When the prophet Agabus came to visit, he revealed that the Holy Spirit showed him that Paul would be arrested and turned over to the authorities for death.
When the believers hear this, they weep and beg Paul to say no…just stay there and say no to this journey. But hear Paul’s powerful words: “I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” Paul knew the betrayal which awaited him, and he went anyway because God called him, and Paul had the faith to trust in God.
Doing what is right is not always easy. Sometimes it calls on us to stand and fight for God’s truth. And sometimes we must also suffer—hurting spirits and broken hearts. But in the end, there is no substitute for doing what is right and following where God leads you. We may not all get the same call from God. We may be unhappy with the calling we get—look at how the people around Paul wept and worried over him pleading with him not to go. But in the end, they all agreed, “The Lord’s will be done.” Then they all took care of Paul and ministered to him. Several even journeyed part of the way with him to support and encourage him. They said, “We can,” because Paul said, “I will.”
The truth is Paul did suffer. He was arrested and held in prison unlawfully for years waiting for a trial that never came. He endured murder plots, corrupt leaders, and even a harrowing journey to Rome. But Paul is not so spectacular because of his suffering. He is spectacular because he chose to obey God’s will at any cost even knowing it could cost him deep pain.
Moses and Paul are the same because they both embraced the journey to which God called them. Both endured trials and struggles, doubts from within and without. Both had to stand tough even when they probably felt terrified. One needed a push to follow God because he felt that he couldn’t. The other needed to be nurtured along the way as he continued to have the faith to say yes. Both provided a remarkable and life-changing ministry to the whole world.
Every time we, too, feel like saying, “Lord, no, I can’t,” and every time we feel like the hymn says, “I am tired, I am weak, I am worn,” we remember a precious promise. Can’t never did nothing, but our God can do all things. So then, Precious Lord, take our hand, lead us on, let us stand. Amen.
Worship Video link: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/733913577825987