Hearing God's Voice

I have felt the need to set down something of the background to this collection of "words" that my wife, Evelyn, has received from the Lord since January 1974. We have so much for which to be profoundly thankful, and our experience of God has significantly been part of our shared life together.

Since our marriage in 1950, when I was still an architectural student, we have been able to work together in Christian service. As we have not had a family of our own, we were able to give ourselves for over 30 years to youth work, and in various aspects of leadership within our church, and in a wide association with other churches. We have found this very fulfilling, finding great encouragement and support from one another, particularly when the way has been hard and costly.

Ours has been a life time experience of endeavouring to be open to all that God has for us, whilst remaining in our local church which had traditional "Brethren" roots. As many will realise, there is much in such a background for which to thank God.

Throughout these years we have valued the enrichment of working with Christians from other denominations, and reading widely in books and periodicals of what God has done, and is doing, in renewal and revival.

Early in the 1950's we had a holiday in Lynton in North Devon, where a pastor wrote a leaflet calling on Lynton and Lynmouth to repent and turn to the Lord, having had a prophecy of imminent disaster brought by floods and boulders. This in fact happened the following year. Many lives were lost, and buildings were swept away, when the River Lynn, following a dreadful storm, cut a new course to the sea, carrying enormous boulders in its flood water. We realised the significance of God speaking through a man, whom many at the time thought crazy.

In 1952 we went to Oban on the west coast of Scotland for a holiday, and whilst there heard various accounts of the revival going on in the Outer Hebrides, and met some Faith Mission pilgrims who had been converted in the revival. Hungry for more information, we contacted the Rev. Duncan Campbell in Edinburgh, who graciously agreed to meet us on our way home. He met us at the station, and drove us to his home, where for two hours he poured out his heart, and shared his experiences with us. Our appreciation of what God did in the Outer Hebrides has subsequently been deepened as we have met others directly involved in that revival.

This all hightened our desire for a deeper personal experience of God, and for an out-pouring of His Spirit in revival.

Over the following years God gently moved us forward, not through dramatic meetings, or ministry from others, but through personal Bible study, prayer, reading, listening to tapes, etc. and by endeavouring to lay hold of all that God has for us through the cross, and the gift of His Holy Spirit. Since 1974 we have proved the value of the gift of tongues in worship, praise and intercession.

Evelyn and I have had different spiritual experiences, but find them so mutually upbuilding and encouraging, especially when others have questioned, doubted, or even opposed what God has been doing in our lives.

In our daily devotional times together we have found great blessing, not only in reading and studying scripture, but also in reading again one of the "words" that the Lord has given over the years. Of course, some are specifically related to the immediate circumstances, but usually they are not, and often have a relevance to the present time. I suppose songs or hymns might be used in a similar way, yet their repeated use does not invalidate them. I am very blessed as I read or sing some of the great old hymns, and have no doubt that they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

This whole experience over these years has not only heightened our regard for the scripture in seeing how it relates to us, but also in powerfully strengthening our relationship to, and our awareness of God. To think that God, the great, mighty, omnipotent creator and sustainer of all things, the Holy One, should talk to us personally is awesome. As we have meditated on this, we have been overwhelmed by His nearness.

I know that some regard preaching with conviction as prophetic, or a prophetic ministry. I realise that God does choose to speak on a specific subject through an individual who may speak out on some deep God given conviction. In such a case that person would need to introduce what they are saying by such phrases as—"I feel God is saying.....", or "I believe this is what God is telling us today".

Indeed, I personally have often spoken out of deep impressions, convictions, burdens, and insights, but do not feel that I have excercised the gift of prophecy at the moment. There have been a few occasions when I have found myself speaking out words which I had not prepared, but which subsequently have proved to be from God. However, I recognise the need for me to "earnestly desire the best gifts, especially.....prophecy".

However, I am not writing this introduction to my wife's leadings, convictions, or feelings, but rather to the supernatural experiences she has in being given actual words, words she has not thought up, and did not anticipate or prepare.

At times when we have shared what we believe to have come from God, it has been questioned, or even violently opposed, and human support has been knocked away. It is then that we have proved the Lord's faithfulness in meeting our needs, confirming His promises, and deepening our experience of Him. We have noted the many clear statements throughout the Bible where the Lord actually gave specific words to His faithful prophets - not ideas, not impressions or hunches, but the actual words. Often they did not, and could not, understand what they were saying, as the apostle Peter explained in 1 Peter 1:10-12. In mentioning this, I hasten to add that Evelyn has never had a word that she could not understand, nor a prophecy of some future event, and certainly I am not suggesting that these "words" are equivalent to scripture.

There have been those who have regarded these "words" as a challenge to the unique place of scripture. We wish to affirm unreservedly our high regard for scripture as the inspired, progressive, self revelation of God to mankind down through human history.

Certainly prophecy needs to be tested, and that primarily by scripture. Of course, all we do or teach should be scriptural. The very exercise of testing anything with scripture deepens our love for, and respect for the written Word of God.

I recognise that there is a need for other tests of prophecy such as, "Where is it coming from?", "Who is giving it?" or "Is it manipulative and the product of some purely human attitude or objective?".

A very salutary study is to look at prophecy in the Bible. The false prophets were often accepted, whilst the true prophets of God suffered scorn, isolation, persecution, and even death. At times we have found a strange comfort from the hard things that have been said down through the centuries to those who have prophesied. It is certainly interesting to note the clear distinction in scripture between records of events as told by the various authors, and the actual words given to them by God.

Evelyn has set out her experience of "listening to God" in her testimony which follows, and I can only confirm unreservedly all she says. These "words", which I believe to be prophecy have all been very appropriate when they were given. Some have been very personal, and specifically related to our situation, and it would be inappropriate to include them. However, we pray that these which we have included will be a blessing and encouragement to others, as God is unchanging and consistent in fulfilling His promises recorded in Scripture. Many have suggested that we make these more available, and it is in response that we are doing this.

We also trust that our experience will help and encourage others to be open to hearing God for themselves, and especially for those in church leadership to "earnestly desire" this gift, and make way for its exercise in their churches.