INCREASE OUR FAITH
20th Oct 2021
Acts 17 describes Paul’s visit to Athens, how he reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue and with God fearing Greeks in the market place. His message was Jesus and the resurrection (v18). Seeing an altar “To an Unknown God” he told them that they were ignorant of the God they worshipped and, “I am here to introduce you to this God, so you can worship intelligently and know who your are dealing with.” (v23 MSG)
When Colin Urquhart arrived at St. Hugh’s Church, Luton he found an almost identical scenario. People who were engaged in religious activity but did not know the God they sought to worship. Starting with his leadership PCC group, he asked the question - “What is a Christian?” Their answers led him to teach a short course, “How to know Jesus and make Him known.” Many received Jesus and then invited His Spirit to fill them and be poured out to the need around. Miracles happened, lives changed and the Church experienced revival. You can read the whole story in “When the Spirit Comes.” (available on Amazon)
We met Colin some years later in Truro, he was speaking at a Renewal Meeting
sharing on the theme “Anything you ask, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24) At the end of the meeting when it would be expected that he would pray and minister, he shocked the gathered company by announcing he would not be praying for anyone as he perceived there was “no faith” in the meeting, and sent the people home to ask God to speak to them about their personal faith level! That took some courage.
Colin and his wife Caroline were staying with us and went straight to bed a little disappointed at the “no faith” meeting they had attended. Early the next morning our daughter Joanna was involved in a horrendous accident which involved molten lead splashing into her eyes and all over her face. We called Colin and he prayed for her. We experienced the power of God flowing into Joanna and saving her eyesight and making her whole. (I will share the story in more detail on this week’s video).
Colin is now with Jesus and we recently attended the Celebration of his life and ministry. His daughter Claire described how her father had prayed, “Lord increase my faith so that I can believe for….” Throughout his life and ministry Colin was always seeking to know Jesus more intimately and to be more available to act upon what he heard. “Listen and obey” characterised him as did biblical faith. The word of God was his answer to every situation. If something was promised then he would be reaching out in faith to receive and to give it away.
My life was greatly impacted by Colin and I am challenged afresh to pray for my faith to grow so that I see more of the power of God breaking into what looks like impossible situations and changing them - “For nothing is impossible with God.”
by Joyce Sibthorpe
