Evangelist Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks
Founder
The Ministry of S.A.R.A.H.
(SERENITY*ATONEMENT*RESTORATION*& HEALING)
LYONS, GEORGIA
Prayer:
Heavenly Father I have thanked you all year for the many blessings you have bestowed upon me that I didn’t even deserve. Father I am thanking you right now for bringing me to this appointed place of worship to serve and honor you for the last time in this year of 2002. God please grant me the wisdom and the words you want me to use as encouragement for the sisters and brothers who are going to receive Divine encouragement through me. Thank you Father for allowing me this opportunity to deliver the last message of this year.
We turn aside from the things that ordinarily occupy our waking hours and we wait for the strike of midnight that will usher us into the year 2003 in Your presence.
Have grace and mercy upon us Lord and turn our scars into stars!
Through your divine word let the people who read this receive the many blessings you have in store for them.
Amen
SCRIPTURE:
John 17:20 -22(nlv) ....The Prayer of Jesus....
"I AM PRAYING NOT ONLY FOR THESE DISCIPLES BUT ALSO FOR ALL WHO WILL EVER BELIEVE IN ME BECAUSE OF THEIR TESTIMONY. (21)MY PRAYER FOR ALL OF THEM IS THAT THEY WILL BE ONE, JUST AS YOU AND I ARE ONE, FATHER-THAT JUST AS YOU ARE IN ME AND I AM IN YOU, SO THEY WILL BE IN US, AND THE WORLD WILL BELIEVE YOU SENT ME.
(22) I HAVE GIVEN THEM THE GLORY YOU GAVE ME, SO THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, AS WE ARE ONE."
TEXT:
Even though....so that they will be one, just as you and I are one......
This is a night to count our many blessings because even though we have faced many trials and tribulations, WE ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF THE PROPHETS and as God said to Abraham in Acts 3:25, " THROUGH YOUR DESCENDANTS ALL THE NATIONS ON THE EARTH WILL BE BLESSED."
And, yes, I know that often life has seemed unfair and more than you could bear....It was just yesterday that some of our faith may have been shaken and we had to get down on our knees and cry out to God to deliver us from all sin and manners of evil....there’s a familiar gospel tune that says, "Troubles in my way, I have to cry sometime. Troubles in my way- I have to cry sometime. I laid awake at night, but that’s alright. ’Cause Jesus, He will fix it, after awhile!"
So, even though nothing seems to be going right, tears may endure for a moment, but joy....comes in the morning! Amen?? And according to Psalms 27:14 (nlv) when we WAIT FOR THE LORD’S HELP...BE STRONG AND BRAVE AND WAIT FOR THE LORD’S HELP. SO WHAT SHOULD WE SAY ABOUT THIS? IF GOD IS WITH US, NO ONE CAN DEFEAT US. (Romans 8:31 nlv)
We are here tonight anxiously awaitng the coming of 2003 because GOD’S MERCY IS GREAT AND HE LOVED US VERY MUCH. Even though IT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF GOOD DEEDS WE DID TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD and even though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God....HE SAVED US THROUGH THE WASHING THAT MADE US NEW PEOPLE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE HAVE BEEN SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE AND HE GAVE US NEW LIFE WITH CHRIST. (Titus 3:5-6/Eph. 2:4-5 nlv)
And when you really think about it, isn’t it amazing that so many of us still doubt God?? We feel uncertain about God because things just don’t seem to be happening fast enough?....well, even though we do think like that, in Luke 12:29-31 nlv, the bible says DON’T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL EAT OR WHAT YOU WILL DRINK, AND DON’T KEEP WORRYING. ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE TRYING TO GET THESE THINGS, AND YOUR FATHER KNOWS YOU NEED THEM. BUT SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM, AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU NEED WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU.
YOU SEE THE LORD IS NOT SLOW IN DOING WHAT HE PROMISED THE WAY SOME PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SLOWNESS. BUT GOD IS BEING PATIENT WITH YOU. HE DOESN’T WANT ANYONE TO BE LOST, BUT HE WANTS ALL PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES. (2 Peter 3:9 nlv)
I have been reminded that God promised us only 3 scores and 10 ( meaning 70 years to live.) And for anyone past 70 years old, God has let your golden moments to roll over a little longer and you are on blessed, but borrowed, time! Even though that is true, considering God’s patience and not wanting anyone to be lost, I believe some unsvaed people past 70 years old are still alive today because for some of us, it takes a little longer to get the devil out of us! Amen???
But even though there are people like that, we have around us many people whose lives reflect what faith means. People in their 80’s and 90’s and 100 years and older!! SO LET US RUN THE RACE THAT IS BEFORE US AND NEVER GIVE UP. WE SHOULD REMOVE FROM OUR LIVES ANYTHING THAT WOULD GET IN THE WAY AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY HOLDS US BACK. (Hebrews 12:1 nlv)
Even though we are here for a watch night service, many of us are here hoping to live to see Jan. 1, 2003 because we know that tomorrow is not promised to us....BUT WE ARE HOPING FOR SOMETHING WE DO NOT HAVE YET AND WE ARE WAITING FOR IT PATIENTLY. (Romans 8:25 nlv)
And even though 2002 might not have been all that you wanted it to be, GOD HAS SHOWN YOU HOW TO BE JOYFUL BECAUSE YOU HAVE HOPE. GOD HAS TAUGHT YOU TO BE PATIENT WHEN TROUBLE COMES AND TO PRAY AT ALL TIMES. (Romans 12:12 nlv)
And even though, just like the bad weather we have experienced at the close of 2002, we have faced the storms of life , WITH GOD’S POWER WORKING IN US, GOD HAS DONE MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN ANYTHING WE HAVE ASKED OR IMAGINED. (Eph. 3:20-21 nlv)
Even though somebody came to a watchnight service not knowing what to expect or because they felt it was the right thing to do...(1Peter 4:10-11 nlv) EACH OF HAVE RECEIVED A GIFT TO USE TO SERVE OTHERS AND ITS ONE OF GOD’S GIFTS OF GRACE CALLED STEWARDSHIP."
Even though I am not a world famous evangelist, God has used me as His messenger today to remind you of Colossians 3:12-17 (nlv) which says, GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU AND MADE YOU HIS HOLY PEOPLE. HE LOVES YOU. SO ALWAYS DO THESE THINGS:
1-SHOW MERCY TO OTEHRS
2-BE KIND
3-HUMBLE
4-GENTLE
5-PATIENT
6-GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER
7-AND FORGIVE EACH OTHER
8-IF SOMEONE DOES WRONG TO YOU
9-FORGIVE THAT PERSON BECAUSE THE LORD FORGAVE YOU
DO ALL THESE THINGS; BUT MOST IMPORTANT, LOVE EACH OTHER..
(In Jesus Prayer in John 17:21 , he said, " MY PRAYER FOR ALL OF THEM (talking about us...) IS THAT THEY WILL BE ONE....
BEING ONE IS BEING IN UNITY!!!
Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity. LET THE PEACE THAT CHRIST GIVES, CONTROL YOUR THINKING, BECAUSE YOU WERE ALL CALLED TOGETHER IN ONE BODY TO HAVE PEACE.
In 2003, always be thankful. LET THE TEACHING OF CHRIST LIVE IN YOU RICHLY. USE ALL WISDOM TO TEACH AND INSTRUCT EACH OTHER BY SINGING PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS WITH THANKFULNESS IN YOUR HEARTS TO GOD. EVERYTHING YOU DO OR SAY SHOULD BE DONE TO OBEY JESUS YOUR LORD.
AND IN ALL YOU DO, GIVE THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS.
(let all of God’s people say, Amen!!!)
ALTAR CALL:
The time is now- If you are not experiencing God’d peace and joy today, ask God to show you why you aren’t.
His desire is that you rest fully in Him and have hope for tomorrow.
Begin a brand new life as a baptized believer...come now and let us extend the right hand of fellowship.
HYMN 275:
Amazing sight! the Saviour stands
And knocks on every door;
Ten thousand blessings in His hands,
To satisfy the poor.
Behold he saith, I bleed and die
To bring you to my rest;
Hear sinners, while I’m passing by.
And be forever blest.
Will you despise my bleeding love
And choose the way to hell?
Or in the glorious realms above,
With me forever dwell?
Say, will you hear my gracious voice
And have your sins forgiven?
Or will you make that wretched choice
And bar yourselves from heaven?
