New Seasons, Obvious Changes

"To God be the glory, great things He has done!" These are appropriate words for the close of a summit last Sunday night. In the course of two weeks, we have seen some truly incredible things happen in people's lives. Their testimonies were quite moving, and though normally a reserved congregation, many were eager to publicly praise the Lord for what He did in their lives.

New seasons mean obvious changes. Based on the evident life changes people expressed in their testimonies, I believe that God has certainly moved this church into a new season.

One woman expressed how she had been bitter with her husband due to his busy schedule. Rather than showing patience and love to her four children, she indulged in anger and selfishness. During the course of the summit, she found herself crying out to God. When she openly acknowledged her need of Him, He gave her grace to patiently love her children. He even blessed her with the salvation of her seven-year-old!

Bitterness is a common struggle in many churches, and this church was no different. Many shared about the bitterness they wrestled with, and how God had led them out of that torturous prison they had made for themselves.

One woman expressed bitterness toward God for her children's ungodly lifestyles. Another woman shared how she was led to thank God for her overwhelmingly busy schedule at college and work. A young married man confessed the bitterness he and his wife had harbored toward God after he was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.

One story is especially powerful in conveying what God has done. On the second night of testimonies, a man confessed that he had been stubborn the night before. The Spirit had been leading him to share, but he rebelliously sat in the pew and refused to pour out his story to the church body.

Facing the piercing conviction that believers know, he asked God to give him a second chance to share. When God answered, he obediently stood at the microphone and shared transparently: "Eleven days ago, God found me cozy with the world."

What a statement! This man openly shared what his life had looked like as a husband, father, and co-worker. He had been an abundant provider for the physical needs of his family but severely lacking in spiritual provision as the leader of the home. He has now stepped up and begun leading his family spiritually.

At work he had been just like everyone else, laughing at the same dirty jokes, forwarding the crass e-mails everyone else was looking at. He looked quite different at work on Monday than he did at church on Sunday.

When God broke him, he sat down at his computer and sent an e-mail to all of his co-workers and associates and anyone else who had experienced his hypocrisy. He asked their forgiveness for not acting like a Christian, and he let them know that things are going to be different now. New seasons mean obvious changes.

The close of a summit only means that our part as a team is finished. It doesn't mean that God is through working in this church. We will pack up and move to our next destination, starting back at step one; but the people of this church get to continue on to steps 16, 17, and beyond.

God is obviously working in this congregation. What else is He going to do? We praise Him for the great things He has done, but we pray that these past days will be only the first drops of the downpour that will fall. Great things the Lord has done, but even greater things are to come!

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