Luke 19:10, Romans 8:26

Clive Urquhart

• Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those that are lost.


• Romans 8:26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Have you ever read a book that has challenged you, inspired you, encouraged you and then got you on your knees before God wanting to know Him more? Recently, I have been reading an amazing book which has done just that - 'Land of Hope and Glory'. It's an overview of the revivals that have taken place in Great Britain since the dark ages (5th century).

Each chapter focuses on an individual or people who met with God and then what happened as a result. Towns, cities and nations were transformed as these people let God get hold of their lives in a whole hearted and uncompromising way.

One of the chapters is about William Booth who started the Salvation Army in 1878. He had such passion and longing for 'lost souls', he would go out every night to the worst areas of London to preach the gospel. Many times he would arrive home in the early hours of the morning bruised with ripped, blood soaked clothes having been beaten up outside pubs and gin houses. Yet he had a relentless desire to see what seemed to be the toughest of people saved. After one year of hard work and much opposition he had only had a few disciples, but within a few years thousands were being saved and becoming disciples.

As I read this chapter, I sat there in my lounge and thought; I do not have a heart for people who don't know Jesus like he had. Yes, as a church we are reaching many people and seeing people respond to the gospel, but the love, the depth of longing, the way he gave himself for them, no matter what it cost, was something different.

I had to get on my knees. I began to pray and ask God to forgive me for being half hearted towards friends and others we are reaching as a church who are not saved yet. I said to God that I wanted the same heart and longing as William Booth, no matter what it cost, and wanted to see God transform lives in the same way he was seeing. I began to cry and pray from what felt like the depth of my being. It was like God praying His heart and will through me instead of me trying to pray my own words.

God has been doing the same thing in others in our church during the past couple of months. We have begun to see God working in a much deeper and thorough way in the lives of those who don't know Jesus as they have been responding to the gospel.

One of the phrases common to all the revivals in the book was that 'people came under deep conviction and were thoroughly saved'. There were no quick prayers to make a decision for Jesus. There was total repentance, a complete turning away from sin and the way of life that went with it, followed by a wholehearted desire to live fully in the new life that God had given them.

I don't know about you, but that's what I want to see more and more of. It's a bit of a challenge that starts with us on our knees before God. Maybe take some time today and get with God, ask Him to stir you with His heart and will for 'lost souls' and see what He does.

I believe God's purpose is Revival for a Generation - turning the tide of a Godless society. Is there anything better that is worth living for?

Be great to know how you get on.