// Craig W. HAGIN

 

We all have "buts." By that, I mean excuses—all the many reasons why we can't do this or can't do that. Unfortunately, all too often we allow our buts to get in the way of God's plan and will for our lives. I believe when we make excuses, it's because we don't realize the kind of God we serve. If we did, we wouldn't be making those excuses.

Our buts get in the way of God being able to manifest before us.

A good example of someone who made a lot of excuses when God called on him is Moses. His journey almost never started because of his buts. He didn't have just one but; he had five ugly buts!

God is always with us and
will cause us to overcome
whatever we face.

Moses was tending sheep on Mount Horeb when God spoke to him from the burning bush and said, " 'Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt' " (Exod. 3:10).

In Exodus chapters 3 and 4 (NKJV), Moses gave God every excuse in the book as to why he was the wrong person for the job. His first but was:

1. But who am I?

"But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?' " (v. 11). God immediately answered, " 'I will certainly be with you' " (v. 12).

God has promised that He will never leave nor forsake us
(Heb. 13:5). If He sends us on a mission, we can rest assured that we won't go there by ourselves. God is always with us and will cause us to overcome whatever we face. He will give us the mountain and the land, but we have to believe that He is with us.

2. But Who are You and can You really do this?

"Then Moses said to God, 'Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they say to me, "What is His name?" what shall I say to them' " (v. 13).

God responded, " 'I AM WHO I AM.' . . . Say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (v. 14).

"I AM WHO I AM" means that God is whatever we need. I AM more than enough. I AM able. Whatever your need or question, I AM is the answer. Not only did Moses have I AM working on his behalf, He is working on our behalf as well. When we have I AM, we don't need anything else.

3. But what if they don't believe me or listen to me?

"Then Moses answered and said, 'But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, "The Lord has not appeared to you" ' " (Exod. 4:1).

In response to this but, God showed Moses how to perform signs and wonders. He showed Moses how to cast his rod onto the ground and turn it into a serpent. He showed him how to make his hand become leprous. When people don't believe, the Lord sometimes gives signs and wonders to show them that He is God.

Notice that although God equipped Moses with a staff, Moses had to stretch forth that staff before the miraculous could happen. A lot of times we aren't using our talents or abilities because we won't step out and let God move. We're too busy with our buts—all of our excuses of why we can't do something or why it won't work.

4. But I don't know what to say or how to do it.

"Then Moses said to the Lord, 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue' " (v. 10).

It really doesn't matter if we don't know what to say. It's not about us; it's about God and His Word coming out of our mouths. It didn't matter to God if Moses wasn't eloquent. God was going to fill his mouth and that would make him eloquent.

God sees potential in all of us. Throughout the Old Testament, God often chose people who weren't qualified. Their willingness enabled Him to qualify them and do great exploits through them.

5. But I just don't want to do it!

"But he said, 'O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send' " (v. 13).

God became angry when Moses said this. He had just answered all of Moses' excuses, and Moses disregarded all of them. He kept asking, "But can't you just find somebody else?"

Whenever God asks us to do something that seems too hard or too uncomfortable, we have to remember how big He is. It isn't about us and what we can't do. It's about God and what He can do through us—if we'll let Him. He will provide us with resources and whatever else we need to fulfill His calling. God knows the potential we have. He knows what's inside of us.

When we're tempted to say, "But God," we have to remember Philippians 4:19. It says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Many people think this verse is just about money. But our needs may be something more than money. We may need confidence, boldness, or wisdom. "But my God shall supply . . ." is the answer to all of our needs and all of our excuses.

If Moses hadn't been able to get over his buts, he would not have led the children of Israel out of Egypt. He would have continued to tend sheep in the desert. What "but" are you holding on to that is keeping you from doing something great for God—something that will help people generation after generation?

My grandfather, Kenneth E. Hagin, didn't really want to start a Bible school in 1974. What if he had said, "But God, it's too hard. It's too much money. I just don't want to do it." Where would Rhema Bible Training College—and the many lives it has touched—be today?

When God asks us to do something, we can't make any excuses. Remember, the Word says, "But my God shall. . . ." Our Heavenly Father will abundantly supply all of our needs. There is no situation or any circumstance we will ever face that can overshadow Him. So let's drop the excuses and go out and do exploits for God!

 

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CONSIDER: What has God been asking you to do? What excuses have you been giving Him? What are you going to do about it?