God Still Moves...

By Crockett Davidson

As preachers many of us have gone to camps, conferences, leadership seminars and seen a wide variety of invitations offered. I have served at many of these types of events and seen many different people come forward. We always seem to ask ourselves, “why doesn’t this happen in our churches”? What would it look like if our elders came forward, our deacons, our leaders of so many different ministries? Then we have to ask the question, “What would it look like if an entire congregation came forward and rededicated their lives to Christ”? It would be a small shadow of Pentecost, but awesome nonetheless. We pray for God to move that way again and for most of us Sunday after Sunday passes by and people make decisions, but nothing that big. We get into the habit of thinking that it is not possible or that it will never happen in our churches. For those who doubt and think that God cannot bring conviction in a mighty way, I have great news. GOD STILL MOVES!!

We On Sunday, February 3rd, we were kicking off our new series called Tattoo. I found myself in my office during Sunday School praying that God would do great things through this message. I prayed, “God, let this sermon impact their lives like it has mine and do something so amazing in this church that only you could receive glory for it.” I continually asked God to remove me from this message and to help us all see Jesus. Because when people see Jesus they will follow him. While I was preaching I noticed that I was so tired from the night before. Caroline has been teething and when teeth come in, the house comes down. Natalie and I were up from 2:30 to 5 trying to help her and calm her down. I was so tired while I preaching I could actually hear my voice but questioned what I was saying (all preachers know exactly what I am talking about). We offered the invitation and I was waiting on the floor hoping that I didn’t really mess this up. I saw a family coming up from the side of the sanctuary that was wanting to reaffirm their relationship with God and so I began to talk with them as the music was playing and I looked behind me and there was a mass of people coming to the front. I began to hug one after another and I saw tears, broken hearts, people who were completely in love with their Savior coming to stand by His side. As I was hugging all these people I noticed that almost the entire church had come forward and was now standing on the stage, the floor, in the aisles - they were everywhere. My first thought was “God still moves in big ways.” Our God is a God that still brings conviction and healing at the same time. I was so overwhelmed by what I was witnessing that tears of joy filled my eyes.

We took the entire church’s confession at one time. There is something so powerful when an entire church says, “We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, our Lord and Savior.” I was left with nothing else to say except, “I don’t know how to end this but say I love you and see you next week!” Natalie stayed home that Sunday because of the night that we had both had, and when I got home she asked me how it was. I told her that the entire church gave their lives to Christ. She looked at me and said, “NO WAY!” She then looked at me and asked who came forward that we knew? I looked at her and said with joy “everyone.”

God still moves in powerful ways. It brings me so much joy that I serve at a church that is not afraid to follow that leading or that conviction. Jesus said, “When I am lifted up I will draw all men to me.” I am glad that First Christian is a church that is drawn to the cross and is not afraid to stand beside their Savior. I LOVE THIS CHURCH!!!