Embracing God’s Presence in Crisis and Transition

Date: 5 October 2025

Speaker: Alan Scotland

In this heartfelt sermon, preacher Alan Scotland shares his experiences and insights on
encountering God’s presence during times of crisis and transition, drawing from a powerful
moment at a convention with 8,000 attendees where the Holy Spirit moved profoundly,
leading to an unprecedented outpouring of generosity. He reflects on the tangible sense of
God’s presence that silenced the congregation and overwhelmed the leadership, emphasizing
that God’s work surpasses human words or plans.

Alan uses Isaiah Chapter 6 to frame his message, focusing on the prophet’s vision of God
during a time of national crisis following King Uzziah’s death. He highlights Isaiah’s
humility and honesty in recognizing his own shortcomings (“Woe to me, I am a man of
unclean lips”) and God’s cleansing and commissioning of the prophet for a new purpose.
Alan parallels this with the church’s current season of leadership transition, urging the
congregation to stay close to God, maintain pure hearts, and embrace the new direction God
is leading them into.

He emphasizes the importance of unity across generations, encouraging mutual respect
between older and younger members as the church moves forward. Alan shares personal
anecdotes, including a challenging moment when he surrendered a church building to avoid
conflict, trusting God’s guidance, which led to unexpected provision. He warns against
letting crises or challenges hinder faith, urging the congregation to keep their attitudes and
words aligned with God’s will.

Alan concludes by honouring the church’s legacy, acknowledging the leadership transition,
and calling for collective support for the new direction. He stresses that the future is not about
survival but fruitfulness, encouraging the church to trust God’s presence and provision in
every season.

Key Points:

1. God’s Presence in Crisis: God reveals Himself powerfully in times of crisis, as seen
   in Isaiah’s vision and Alan’s convention experience.
2. Humility and Cleansing: Like Isaiah, believers must acknowledge their weaknesses
   and allow God to cleanse and prepare them for His purpose.
3. Unity in Transition: The church must embrace generational unity and mutual respect
   during leadership changes to fulfil God’s plan.
4. Faith Over Conflict: Trusting God’s voice, even in difficult decisions like
   surrendering a building, leads to divine provision.
5. Fruitful Future: The church’s future is one of fruitfulness, not mere survival, as it
   aligns with God’s will and remains faithful.

Closing Prayer: Alan prays for God’s blessing and peace over the church, affirming its
calling to trust in God’s provision and move forward together in unity.