Discover Your Limits: I Can’t Do This!

Ezekiel 47:1-5

“Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.”

1. The point of surrender: Are at that point? Are at the point where you want to throw your hands up and say, “I can’t do this!”

The water of God’s love, strength, wisdom, provision, help, comfort and so on comes from Him. It helps us through the difficult times. But so does the waters of trials that bring growth, waters that show us where our weaknesses lye and what sins we need to repent of so they stop hindering us. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:2-8)

Sometimes, those trials are to bring passions for purpose out of you and other times, they are to allow God to do what YOU cannot do, so that He may be glorified. “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8) When God is glorified, not only does your situation become victorious, but others are helped as well.

God will allow you to become overwhelmed so you step back, and stop trying in your own might, and allow Him to take over. It is during these times that you grow!

“He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” (Ezekiel 47:6-12)

It is in the deep waters that you need to swim and trust God in, that you grow the most. When you have to step out and your situation leaves you no other choice but to sink or swim so to speak, that you choose to step out of necessity and trust God to hold you up.

“Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)

2. Where do you find strength to carry on?

a. You find strength in His presence! “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3) God will meet you when you call out to Him, when you praise Him He will be there to meet your need, He is “I am that I am.” Meaning whatever you need, that is what He is to you.

b. You find strength and answers in His Word. “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

c. You find strength and answers and wisdom in prayer. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” (II Thessalonians 1:11)

3. You find Peace and confidence in His presence when you step out and trust Him. Go deep, step out, don’t be afraid, you will never walk on water if you do not get out of the boat! Just like Peter, he was the only disciple to walk on water. Don’t you want that kind of faith?

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (II Corinthians 3:4-6)

Stop trying to do everything on your own, out of fear that it will not happen otherwise. Trust God to lead, trust Him to provide and trust God to protect.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)

It is when you step out into the deep waters and go deep into His presence, and stop doing everything on your own, allowing God to take over that you will have a Wow, God moment! How can you experience those sort of moments unless you have a situation that calls for it and you step aside and allow it?

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)