And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire
a still small voice. 1 Kings 19 v12
‘Here Lord?’ I asked. ‘No!’ That still small voice had said ‘No!’
I had been preaching along the south coast, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth then through those smaller towns, Dorchester, Bridport, Axminster, Honiton and down to Exeter, turning north to Tiverton, Taunton, Bridgewater and Bristol. Now I was in the City of Gloucester a cathedral city, capital of its county which was built on a flat spot of land, Gloucester is situated on the River Severn in the south of England. Gloucester was granted its first charter in 1155 by King Henry II.
I had been walking searching for a place to preach the Gospel.
I saw some folk sitting, some of the shoppers standing around talking, perhaps discussing their purchases, I asked, ‘Here Lord?’
The answer was, ‘No.’
I walked on, silently praying giving out tracts as I sought the right place to preach. There was a couple who were busking. I stopped to speak to them. They were Christians and we shared some of our experiences and how the Lord had provided for us. I asked myself, should I stand with them? No, it just didn’t seem right. I walked on,
It must have been forty minutes or so and I still hadn’t found the right place to preach. It was a hot day and I was getting tired. I saw a low wall and sat on it to rest and pray.
‘Lord, I’m in Gloucester. I’m sure You have a reason for bringing me here. Lord, You never make mistakes. Lord, if there is something You want me to do. Please show me clearly what it is.
A Scripture came into my mind. “It is better to obey than to sacrifice.”
(1 Samuel 15:22)
‘Lord, I reasoned, if You don’t want me to preach today, O.K. But Lord if You do, please make it plain to me. How long I sat there, I do not know.
Finally I said, ‘Lord, I’m going to walk out of this City, if there is anything You would have me do, please reveal it to me.’
I started to walk and came across a large Square. There were trees and seats. On one side there was a department store. There were two youths sitting on one of the seats and another three people sitting on another one a little further away
I was standing under one of the trees.
The Lord’s prompting was very strong. ‘Here Lord?’ I queried.
‘Yes here.’ The voice was clear. It was imperative. I was left in no doubt that this was the place the Lord wanted me to preach the Gospel.
I lifted up my voice and started to speak. Bless those folks who were there, they didn’t get up and move away but sat and listened to the Word of God.
I had been preaching for two or three minutes when I heard a distant noise. A buzzing, a ringing in the background. What was it? I continued speaking.
Suddenly a door in the department store opened in front of me. A crowd of people surged out, I guess there were about two hundred people, or perhaps even more.
The sales staff, office staff, restaurant staff, customers and manager all spilled out onto the pavement before me.
The next thirty minutes were pure joy, my heart lifted up, I was exhilarated and astonished that the Lord knew exactly where He wanted me and His timing was perfect.
These folk were not going anywhere, just waiting until the store re-opened. The Lord gave me liberty and love to proclaim the Gospel message.
I remember that part of the message was, “What if a man gain the whole world and lose his own soul?’ I was still preaching when the doors re-opened. And the crowd quickly disappeared. The bomb alert in that store was over.
I know that many of that captive congregation were uncomfortable as they listened to God’s Word and were eager to get away, however, my little congregation of five people were still sitting, having listened and witnessed all that had happened, took the proffered Gospels and went on their way.
I walked on, with those words of Scripture in my ears, ‘And thine ear shall hear a word behind thee saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.’” (Isaiah 30:21).