This week we welcome Rev. Mel Finlay to the pulpit. Mel and his wife Susan are National Directors of Nation at Prayer, (http://www.nationatprayer.ca/) a non-issue, non-partisan, trans-denominational ministry that prays with, and encourages Christians to pray for, elected representatives at every level of government in Canada, and, by invitation, First Nations and aboriginal leaders.
Mel also serves as liaison to the Vatican and the Catholic and Orthodox Churches for a global initiative aimed at getting a movie version of The Gospel of John into a billion households by the year 2025. He chairs the Board of Directors of an organization doing development work in Afghanistan. He has served on the Boards of Canadian Baptist Ministries, Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. and YES TV. He has also been helpful to us as he has spent time guiding a group of our leaders through a day long retreat of reflection.
Mel will be preaching on Mark 9:14-29. It’s a wonderful story magnifying the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his authority over the spiritual world. As the story begins we see that the disciples are brought a boy who is possessed by a spirit who has robbed him of his speech. They are unable to help the family, but Jesus soon shows up and engages the father of the boy in conversation. In the midst of it the father pleads with Jesus, “…if you can do anything; take pity on us and help us.”
Jesus responds, “If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes.” To which the father quickly replies, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” (Mark 9:22-24)
Many of us are able to identify with the father – we believe in the power of our Lord but we still have some lingering doubt. We wonder, “Is God really able to transform lives? Will he work in this situation even though the circumstances all point to disaster?” With life as it is, it can be easy to fall into the trap of unbelief. But we must not allow ourselves to rest there. Unbelief rots the soul and hinders the work of God in our lives. It was Charles Spurgeon who said, “Unbelief robs God of his glory in every way.”
If you harbour unbelief in your heart about your situation, crisis, prayers, family situation or anything else – call out to our Lord and ask him to help you overcome your unbelief. Don’t rest until it is fully rooted out of your life. In his grace he will respond and bring us to a place of perfect trust.
Praying that we be a people who fully believe in the one who is Lord over all, Pastor Tom.