John Edwards Goes Out

I was driving to work just like any usual day, feeling quite good about my car because I'd just had the motor reconditioned, the air-conditioner restored and a sound system with graphic equalizer installed.

Then unexpectedly God spoke to me, “…give it away…”

I ignored the thought and kept driving. But it came again: “Give it away.”

“Ok Lord – I’ll give it away on the weekend,” I said.

“No – after work today will be fine,” He replied. And I knew who I had to give it to.

Then when I got to work, the Lord started speaking to me again.

“Its time you gave notice in your job.”

“What do you want me to do Lord?” I asked.

Just then He showed me a picture of Australia with pathways criss-crossed all over it.

“Just go wherever I tell you to go, and preach the Gospel,” He said.

“How am I going to live without an income? I’m not going to chuck in a perfectly good job and go on the dole, or become another statistic on the unemployment figures,” I said.

“You won’t have to. Just trust me – I’ll provide everything,” He replied.

So I gave notice in my job and then, after work, I drove to my friend’s house who I felt led to give my car to.

I knocked on his door – but he wasn’t home.

“Well there you go,” I thought, “this wasn’t God, after all.”

And I was just going to go home and forget the whole thing.

“Pity about the job – but atleast I’ve still got the car,” I thought.

So I got back in my car – but it wouldn’t start!

Slightly annoyed, I popped the bonnet and got out to try and find the problem. And while I was delayed, my friend returned home.

“Oh John, what are you doing here?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know!” I thought. I didn’t quite know how to tell him I was there to give him my car, so I said nothing about it.

He invited me in, and the first thing he said to me was, “John, my wife and I have been praying – we’re really asking God to give us a car.”

That was so good to hear! (A confirmation). So I threw him the keys and said, “She’s all yours then.”

He thought I was only joking and threw the keys back.

“I’m not joking – you’ve been praying for a car – so its yours!” And I threw him the keys again.

“Very funny,” he said, and handed me back the keys.

Eventually I said, "Look. Come out to the car. I'll need to show you a few things." I took him out to the car and let him sit in it. “You are joking aren’t you?” he looked up at me.

And I caught a bus and train home.

I gave all my money away and was about to sell my house and pay-off the loan and give away whatever money was left from that as well, but the Lord stopped me. Keep the house, He said. That meant I had to come up with the money every week to maintain the loan repayments – from the only source of faith. But I told the Lord if I ever missed one repayment on the house, I was going back to work.

Next, God showed me four towns to go to, and he told me to take 5 weeks to do it. The only problem was, I didn’t know anybody in three of these towns, no-body knew I was coming, I didn’t know where I would stay, if I’d get to preach anywhere and where on earth I’d get money from.

But the time came where I just had to step-out in faith and go. I was really looking forward to proving literally the scripture:

"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat" (Matt.10:9-10)

I packed a tent, a sleeping bag and went, leaving all behind.

The next morning, in the town of Esk, Qu

Get your free registration and log in to view entire article