We seem to be living in a world full of Icantitus. Everywhere we look we see people that are so caught up in this disease of Icantitus that it’s just pitiful.
You know what I’m talking about. I can’t because I don’t have enough money, I can’t because I’ve just had so much happen to me in life, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.
Let’s look at our text for today (Read Philippians 4:12-13)
The truth is a lot of church folks suffer from Icantitus also. We get so caught up in reasons we can’t put God first or can’t commit 100% to our faith that we seem to forget that we have power given to us through the Holy Spirit.
I want to tell you about a couple of folks who had a case of the I cants and God showed them the I can.
Moses was about as full of I can’t as a person could be. In Exodus we find his story. Moses is going along minding his own business and he spies a bush just burning away and not being consumed. Well curiosity gets a hold of him and he has got to get a closer look at this phenomenon, so he starts to walk toward it for a closer inspection when he hears God say “ Moses take your shoes off your on Holy Ground.” So Moses does what he’s told and approaches the Burning bush. Now God tells Moses he wants him to deliver His people from captivity and that’s when Moses gets a case of the Icantitus. He tells God I can’t do that I’m not worthy, and besides that I can’t speak well, you know I stutter and stammer. God tells him don’t worry I’ll help you and you can do this. Moses says basically come on God I can’t do it, I’ll just be a big disappointment. Now the scripture says that the anger of the Lord burned against Moses. God got angry at him for this disobedience this I can’t attitude. Where his faith at, I mean was here Moses is talking to a burning bush and he’s making excuse of why he can’t do what God is asking him to do. God finally tells him that his brother Aaron will be appointed to speak for him and that He would tell them both what to say.
Then we have this young guy named Gideon who God used in a mighty way and he became a great warrior. The thing is at first Gideon had his doubts and was filled with I can’t Itus. In the 6th chapter of the book of Judges we find our hero hiding out threshing wheat in the wine press so the midianites wouldn’t see him. While he was hiding an Angel of the Lord came to him and said to Gideon “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” I imagined Gideon probably looked around and said “Who me?”
The Lord said to Gideon “Go in this your strength and deliver the people of Israel from the Midions.” Gideon started using the I cants, I can’t don’t you know my family is small and I’m the youngest one in the family, Lord I can’t do this” and the Lord said Gideon don’t worry I’ll be with you, you can do this.
When Gideon accepted the task before him he defeated an army that was too large to number with just the 300 men that God had chosen for him.
Now I want to tell you about a young shepherd boy who immediately said I can. Young David went to the front lines where King Saul’s army was fighting the philistines. When he arrived there he saw Goliath come out and issue a challenge to the Israelite army to send someone out to fight. I imagine David must have shook his head when no one accepted the challenge, not even his brothers would stand up to this Philistine. The all had the I cants, I can’t defeat him look how big he is, we can’t defeat him he’s huge, he’s got better armor, has got more strength, we can’t go against him it would be suicide.
Not David this young man said I can. Let me go at him with God on my side I will not be defeated. I can take him, I don’t care how big he is my God is bigger and with His hand upon me I can defeat anything that comes before me.
We all know what happened, David got his sling and some smooth stones and met him on the battlefield and when Goliath laughed David called upon God and was victorious. David had an I can attitude and it followed him throughout his life. Did he make mistakes? Sure he did but he followed God with an I can attitude.
Ii want you to think about something. When God calls you do you start to make excuses?
I can’t do that God I have trouble talking to strangers I certainly can’t invite them to church.
I can’t make church this Sunday God, I’ve got something else to do, besides I went twice last month.
I can’t do that God I’m too small, or to old, or to young.
We have got to stop coming up with excuses and trust in God.
I have days when I think; God I can’t come up with another sermon, I talk a little funny and say stupid things sometimes, And most of all God I am not worthy to stand in front of the people and proclaim your word . When I have days that all I can think of is reasons to say I can’t, I look above my desk at a painting that belongs to Becky that says “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.”
When you think you can’t, when you feel unworthy, when you feel too weak, Christ will give you whatever it takes for you to accomplish the task that God has asked you to do. We are told my grace is sufficient, I’ll help you, and I’ll do it for you just say yes.
We have got to stop acting like a defeated people and step up to the plate and say: I Can
I can invite someone to church
I can make it to church on Sundays
I can do whatever it is that God would have me do.
In the Book of Isaiah we read about his commissioning in chapter 6 verse 8 then I heard the voice of Adoni calling whom shall I send and who will go for us? And I said (Hineni) here I am send me.
God is calling each of us today to go out of these doors and be a witness for him, to be a light for someone. Will you be full of Icantitus or will you say Here I am Lord send me?
Let’s change those I cants into I cans.
