(November 26, 2023) Robert McQuillan shares a great testimony of God’s caring miracle-wise…

Interesting articles this month (links below) by Angeline Selvakumari, Mama Lava, Richard Winter and Brian Bell on firmly standing our ground – spiritual battlefield ground – against Satan’s deceptions, troubles around us, false teachings, not walking behind Jesus but in Him.

Yes, in a nutshell we must continue to hold the fort (as Brian reminded us).

Decision
Last month I recalled some of my memories regarding learning to stand firm on my battlefield back in the 70s. Those enlightening experiences were in respect of Abbots Cross Congregational Church in Northern Ireland; and now another related priceless memory comes back to me regarding standing firm…

I’d been appointed youth leader and had a top committee team of very  keen young guys‘n’gals who were committed to the growth of our youth knowing the Lord. Brian (above) was one of my team, as was Philip Campbell (whom I highlighted back in February) and Ken Nelson. This testimony involves Ken.

Our team decided to run a week of evangelising, especially zeroing in on young people in our area. So we booked the church hall and invited a well-known evangelist as guest speaker. I designed an appropriate leaflet and organised the printing. All was looking good for pick-up day and intended distribution over that weekend.

Disaster!
The day before collection I was about to drive home when I suddenly had one of those precious Holy Spirit whispers in my ear… ‘Go home via the printer.’ Short and sweet as it were… and for a moment I felt unsure, knowing going out of my way would keep me late. But I did, wondering why/what.

Incidentally, back then in the troubled 70s, we could easily experience days of terror and bombings.  Now the printer was just a small one-man, one-machine business in a converted terrace house and as I approached the building one glance told me it had been bombed! The entrance was a shamble.

Stopping the car, I got out and went over to find the owner (let’s call him Chris) surveying the destruction inside. Somehow I knew that I was about to receive bad news. And I did!

As Chris turned to me, I sought to comfort him as best I could. Then he told me sadly, ‘Sorry, but everything is gone… destroyed… including your leaflets. My machine is destroyed too… I can’t do any printing.’

Disappointment
What do I do, I thought as I drove home praying, feeling sad and disappointed, and knowing that there was no way I could get leaflets printed elsewhere in time, especially at the inexpensive price I’d been quoted. Nothing came to me, not even a word from the Lord as I was expecting. What’s going on, I queried, thinking how disappointed the youth team would be.

It so happened my route took me by the church where I knew some of those kids would be praying and preparing for our big week ahead. Feeling so disappointed, I decided to call by break the bad news.

As I parked I saw Ken Nelson (who with his wife, though just young marrieds, happily held the Youth Group’s Saturday night Bible study, prayer and fellowship time in their home).  Reluctantly I shared my bad news with Ken, adding that the following day I’d try to find someone who could urgently print the needed leaflets.

Never will I never forget his response… it blew me away! Ken said very simply and quietly, ‘Go back to that same printer, it’ll be okay.’

Dumbfounded
I looked at him dumbfounded. ‘But the premises, the printer, and the leaflets are destroyed!’ Ken just smiled and repeated what he’d said. I smiled too… weakly, feeling furtherly disappointed and left to head home.

Next day I spent all morning making phoning various printers requesting a rush job. No one could help! Despite praying earnestly, more disappointment hit me hard.

It was lunchtime that young Ken’s words came back to me and sheepishly I headed back to the printer’s wrecked premises. I confess that I wasn’t what I should have been – a leader full of faith and strong belief, more like grief and unbelief!

Hesitantly I walked up the driveway to the damaged entrance noticing Chris standing inside, head down. With Christian compassion I expressed my concern for him. In turn he again apologised that he couldn’t help us.

But then… as I walked back down the driveway it happened!

Delighted
I was abruptly stopped in my tracks when I heard a joyful, resounding, ‘Robert! Come back… quickly!’ I can only explain what happened next this way… although I had been so disappointed, had initially ignored Ken’s word, had tried to fix things by myself, I instantly knew that God had performed some miracle His way! But what?

Turning and rushing back in expectation, I saw Chris pulling aside the remains of a badly damaged desk to extract a parcel that was a mess with its torn wrapper and covering of dust. ‘Robert… you won’t believe this, but here’s your leaflets! Young man, this is a miracle! They were sitting on the desk yesterday waiting you picking them up today. Now I saw the bomber place one of his bombs on top of them before I was pushed out. Then the tremendous explosions! Everything else has been destroyed – but not these leaflets! I don’t understand!’

Hastily I examined the contents and apart from a little dust the leaflets were okay. What else could I humbly say but ‘Thanks be to God – He is good, miraculously good!’ I smiled and straightaway prayed for Chris, and thanked God. Then, as once more I walked down the driveway, Chris surprised me further by calling after me: ‘By the way… no charge seeing they’re rather damaged.’

Was I delighted! Boy, did I have good news for the youth team that night! And Ken? He just smiled and said quietly, ‘I told you it’d be all right and not to be concerned.’

Leaflets were distributed around the local area and we had packed nights. Young people were saved and our group grew  more and more each succeeding week by week.

Incidentally, much later Ken Nelson went on in God to become the pastor of a country church, Philip Campell likewise, and Brian Bell is a wise diaconate member of that church and a great article contributor for me. Personally I’m still proud of them… and their committed wives!

Discovery
In reality Ken’s encouragement the previous night had been a prophetic word! I should have stood firm in my faith instead of  trying to fix things up myself. But oh what joy it was to discover the miracle in the ruins!

And I learned the power of seven great truths –
1. Stand firm in faith.
2. Trust Almighty God… completely.
3. Give every ‘battlefield’ over to Him!
4. Know that He always has an answer.
5. Abide at peace in godly hope.
6. Honour prophetic words.
7. Believe in miracles.

As for all of us, may we heed Paul’s 1 Corinthians 16:13 direction to ‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.’ Or as the Message reads, ‘Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute.’

Jesus demonstrated that miracles happen. Book of Acts confirmed that with power dedicated Christians stood firm fulfilling the great commission, growing Jesus’ church, boldly holding the fort until He returns.

God is still the miracle-worker and His Holy Spirit will help us! Whichever generation we’re in, we’re meant to be ‘Acts 29’ in action!

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Dr Robert and Pr Maureen McQuillan’s links: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook. Links mentioned above: Recognise Your Battlefield / How’s Your Spiritual Dress Code / Walking in Christ / He’s Coming Soon 
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