Do you believe that I am able to do this?

Do you believe that I am able to do this?

 

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”  ²⁸ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”  ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” Matthew 9:27-29  

 

That’s the question isn’t it?  Do I believe that God is able to plant a church from nothing?  Is he able to build a church where one doesn’t exist?   This second question is easy.  Yes I believe God is able to build a new church.  After all, every church that exists or has existed was a new church at one point.  It is easy to believe that God is able to build new churches.  The evidence is spread throughout history.

 

The problem it strikes me is when the question gets personal.  Like the two blind men.  Is Jesus able to heal their blind eyes?  Is he able to do something miraculous?  I say yes, but for the blind men, it was not 3^rd person, but 1^st person.  Can you heal my blind eyes?   They were desperate, and in their hearts, they believed that Jesus is able.

 

Today, as I peer into the future, I have no doubt that God is able to plant new churches.  But as I personalize the question, I face a polar mix of emotions, fear and excitement.  It is personal.  Do I believe that God is able to do this?  Do I believe that God is able to plant Chesapeake Presbyterian Church?  Yes. 

 

Do I believe that God will use me and a small band of people to proclaim the message of redemption?  Do I believe that he will provide the finances in an economically unstable world for this new church?  Will the Spirit transform hearts, relationships, marriages, families, and a community?  To put it bluntly, will people even come?  Will mercy permeate?  Will grace reign?  Will compassion lead?  And so quickly, it is not about what I believe, but Him who is able.

 

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,  ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21  

~ by chesapeakepc on October 15, 2008.