"Starting Over In 2001" Series

31 December 2000

WATCH-NIGHT

References: 2 Peter 3:10, 13 (But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; … heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are thein shall be burned up. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth,…); Acts 17:28 (…In him we live, move and have our being); Isaiah 54:17 (… no weapon formed against thee shall prosper); 2 Kings 20:1-6 (God added 15 more years to Hezekiah’s life); (SDSCP) Sin, Death, Sorrow, Crying, and Pain); John 3:1-17 (those that are made over new in this life … will enjoy the benefits of eternal life); 2 Cor. 5:17 (Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new).

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Revelation 21:4-5 (KJV)

II. THE LARGER CONTEXT:

Now, before we begin, allow me to share with you some HISTORICAL TRUES regarding THE BOOK OF REVELATION. For example, in the Book of Revelation, we find both a CENTRAL THOUGHT AND A CENTRAL PERSON. The central thought is REVELATION, and its central person is Jesus Christ. More specifically, the Word of God comes alive through Christ. FOR CHRIST gives it authenticity, reality, and compulsion. In fact, in our text tonight … Jesus sends an angel to reveal God’s … futuristic … plans … to his servant John.

The judgments are now past; the terrible plagues upon the earth are ended. AND …We begin … HERE … with a view of heaven coming down to earth; a time when that FAMOUS prayer … of the Saints of God …. WHICH SAYS … “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” will be answered.

III. THE SMALLER CONTEXT:

Therefore, in our particular text, THIS EVENING, we find John revealing … to us … information regarding “a new heaven … and a new earth.”

More specifically, … my brothers and my sisters … the Revelator … informs us … that after this Old Heaven, and Earth … Has Been Destroyed … and Ultimately … Annihilated … By Fire .. (2 Peter 3:10, 13)…. God is going to create a new heaven … and a new earth. In other words, God, … himself … is going to start over! For the SCRIPTURE READS:

IV. READ THE PERICOPE: REVELATION 21:4-5

V. READ THE TEXT: Revelation 21:4 -5 (And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there

shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither

shall there be any more pain: for the former things are

passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold,

I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for

these words are TRUE AND FAITHFUL).

VI. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that JUST AS GOD IS GOING

TO START OVER FUTURISTICALLY, HE ALSO assures us

(individually) OF A NEW BEGINNING, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO

spiritually START-OVER in 2001.

VII. SERMONIC THEME: “STARTING OVER in 2001”

VIII. PROPOSITION:

It has been said that … GOD’S CHURCH … AND ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN …ARE GOING THROUGH … FOR WE ARE … all … EXPERIENCING SOME FORM OF SPIRITUAL PERSECUTION. This is TRUE … REGARDLESS OF WHERE … WE … the Saints of God … ARE LOCATED GEOGRAPHICALLY …

REGARDLESS OF OUR ETHNICITIES OR FINANCIAL STATUS IN LIFE …

WE ARE GOING THROUGH … PRIMARILY BECAUSE … SATAN (OUR ADVERSARY) AND HIS EMPS ARE AT WAR AGAINST US …

THERE’S NO WONDER … JOB SAYS IN JOB 14:1 … THAT A MAN BORN OF A WOMAN IS OF A FEW DAYS AND FULL OF TROUBLE …

STILL SOMEONE ELSE HAS SAID … THAT WEAPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT … BUT JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING …

NOW … ALTHOUGH … we are LIVING IN THE END-TIME! … AND TIMES ARE STUFF!!

… THE Word SAYS …. (In Isaiah 54:17) that … no weapon formed against… US… shall prosper …

FOR THE GOD that we serve … desires to COMFORT AND TO KEEP US …. FOR IT’S HIS WILL THAT NONE SHOULD PERISH … FOR IF I CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH , and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is Lord …

I shalt be SAVED … FOR … JESUS desires to wipe away tears from my eyes that (SDSCP) … SIN, DEATH, SORROW, CRYING, AND PAIN … HAVE CAUSED in my life.

**THEREFORE … I SUBMIT TO YOU … THIS EVENING … 3 EXAMPLES … OF GOD’S WILLINGNESS …to allow us to START-OVER by wiping away tears … caused by …SIN, DEATH, SORROW, CRYING, AND PAIN … HAVE CAUSED … IN THE YEAR … 2000 …