I am married to a wonderful man – a conservative man, but a truly lovely guy!
This is why the following story has had such an impact on my
life because I know just how conservative he is!
I asked Steven if I could share his story and he graciously
agreed. It occurred in September 2004 when he 'owned up' to knowing God. At that time I asked him to write down what
had transpired and this is what he wrote:
Whilst driving down Voortrekker Road in Maitland I felt the
Holy Spirit speak to me as I passed the Teko Chemical Buildings. This was originally the site for the Cape
Organ builders.
I had often driven past these premises and thought what a
good work site this would be for our company!
I felt God telling me to phone the number on the outside of the
building. I did not – I drove to Atlantis
and carried on working. On my return
down Voortrekker Road and as I was nearing the Teko building I felt God once again saying to me, phone the number that is on the wall. I
picked up my cell phone and dialed the number and asked to speak to the
manager. I had no idea what I was going
to say to him!
I was put through to a guy called Charles so I said to him, "I’m just phoning to inquire if the building is up for sale or maybe will be in
the future". He told me that he believed
the building had just been sold but would check to see whether the sale had
gone through.
He took my name and number and said he would get back to me.
I drove back to our hired premises and told my office manageress that
we had just missed the sale of excellent premises. I had hardly finished telling her about it when my cell phone rang. It was the
other manager, Renier, phoning from Teko and he asked whether I would go in and
see them the following day.
I arrived at the premises at nine the following
morning. I was introduced to the two
partners. I was in jeans and my steel
toe cap boots and they were dressed in suits and ties! They sat me across the table from them and
Charles asked me how I had known that the building was for sale as nothing had
been advertised. I hesitated not knowing
how I was going to tell them that I had heard a voice in my head the day before
telling me to phone and inquire. I heard
the same voice again prompting me to tell them the truth, so I took a deep
breath and told them that as I was driving past the building a voice in my head
told me to phone the company number. I
proceeded to tell them that I was a believing Christian and I believed it had
been God speaking to me.
They both looked at each other and started to laugh, and I thought
“that’s it! They think I am crazy. They are going to throw me out of here!” They
then proceeded to tell me that they were also believing Christians and when I
had phoned the day before they had been praying to God about their situation as
the person who had agreed to buy the building, via a private sale, had just
pulled out of the deal because he had not been able to obtain the finances.
I advised them that I had no money either and would have to
contact the bank but that I really wanted the building! The bank granted me a building loan and when
I phoned to tell them they said that the man who had pulled out of the deal had
walked into their offices half an hour after
I had left them, cash in hand, to buy the building. He had managed to raise the finances after
all. They informed him that the building
had already been sold.
If Steve had not said yes to God by phoning that number and
by acknowledging, before strangers, that he had heard a voice in his head that he
believed was God’s telling him to phone, even at the risk of sounding like he had just escaped from a mental asylum, he would not be in those premises today.
Steve could have just told them that he had phoned on the
off chance it was for sale but would also have had to add that he had no money
and no security to offer for a loan.
So when the gentleman walked into their offices, cash in
hand, they would have sold it to him and Steve would have missed out on an
incredible blessing from God.
Over the years he has told this story to encourage others to
listen to and acknowledge God’s voice and it has been an incredible encouragement and witness to us
of God’s care and interest in our lives.
If he had not said “yes” to God he would have no story to
share and would also have missed out on the amazing business premises he now has.
In Isaiah God says to each one of us who believe in Him “I have chosen you and have not rejected
you. So do not fear, for I am with you,
do not be discouraged for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:9 &
10)
And then He goes on to say “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, I will take hold of
your hand. I will keep you and will make
you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open the
eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the
dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
All we as believers have to do is to 'own up' to knowing Him.
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