WHAT KIND OF CHILD (Year) WILL THIS BE?

Among the common New Year tradition is the image of an old man and a baby. In Brittany, a common image used is that of an incarnation of Father Time (or the "Old Year") wearing a sash across his chest with the previous year printed on it passing on his duties to the Baby New Year (or the "New Year"), an infant wearing a sash with the new year printed on it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Day

This is symbolical of the saying, “Out with the old, in with the new.” For me personally, New Year is just a sign that we are one year closer to the Second Coming of Jesus.

As the New Year draws nigh, we are ready and eager to leave the old things behind (esp. the bad news) and we look forward for the new things (esp. the good news) that 2011 will bring us.

Unless we are guided by the Word of God, we will just go through the whole cycle of defeat again as in every year. In the world, every year things are not getting better but worse. The world is heading towards judgment day. We must heed the Scriptures so that God’s blessing and favor will always be upon us Children of God.

I would like to share 3 things that we could do as our New Year’s resolution. We can find this in the story of Zacharias and John the Baptist. This is symbolical of the old passing and the new arriving. John the Baptist represents the New Year in my message for you today. Zacharias and Elisabeth represent the Barren Year of 2010.

Luke 1:5-25 (NKJV) Luke 1:57-66 (NKJV)

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

John the Baptist was the one chosen by God to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus at His first coming. Spiritually we are the Church in the Days of Elijah what will herald the Second Coming. Three things must be seen in our lives and hopefully in 2011.

1. CHILD/YEAR OF PRAYER

Luke 1:8-13 (NKJV)

⁸ So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

To usher in the New Year, prayer is first and foremost the priority above everything else. We normally welcome the New Year with noisemakers, parties and merriment. But these do not bring the blessing of God in our lives. 2010 may be a barren year for you, prayer will make 2011 a fruitful one.

2. CHILD/YEAR OF POWER

Luke 1:8-13 (NKJV)

¹⁴ "And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. ¹⁶ "And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Prayer will always bring the power of God into our lives once again. Without prayer we are powerless. God is now preparing a people to meet the Lord at His coming. Before that glorious day comes, the Church will be endued with supernatural power as in the Early Church. A time of restoration will occur. This power serves to turn fathers to the children and the disobedient to wisdom. Power that does not bring obedience to God is never from Him but from satan.

But we must first believe in this. There should be no room for doubt. If we fall into unbelief, we will turn mute (silent) and not be able to speak until we obey God’s word. Be careful against unbelief:

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." ¹⁹ And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. ²⁰ "But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."

The power of God was evident when barren Elisabeth conceived.

Luke 1:24-25 (NKJV)

²⁴ Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵ "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

The word CONCEIVED came from the Greek word sullambanō (συλλαμβάνω - sool-lam-ban'-o ) which means to clasp, that is, seize (arrest, capture, catch, take).

To get the power of God is not just to receive it by passive faith but you have to conceive it in your spirit by willfully, actively and forcefully capturing it. How many times has the Lord answered our prayers but we never experienced the power simply because we did not lay hold on His promise with relentless perseverance. We always thought that the answer to our prayers will just simply fall on our laps. We must grab hold onto His Word as Jacob did as He wrestled with God and said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” God always hear our prayers. The real question is: “ARE WE DESPERATE ENOUGH TO RUN AFTER GOD’S POWER TO PROVIDE FOR OUR NEEDS?”

Matt 11:11-15 (NKJV)

"Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ "And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

The Greek word for “Suffers Violence” is biazō (βιάζω -bee-ad'-zo) meaning to say “to force, that is, (reflexively) to crowd oneself (into), or (passively) to be seized: - press.

We must seize the answer and not just receive it The Kingdom of God is for those who are “violent (forceful)” enough to take it, not for the fearful and doubters but for bold believers.

3. CHILD/YEAR OF PRAISE

Luke 1:57-66 (NKJV)

⁵⁷ Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. ⁵⁸ When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her…⁶⁴ immediately his (Zacharias’) mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. ⁶⁵ Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶ And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Prayer brings the power, and power will always bring the praise. If we believe and not doubt, we will always have reasons to praise God because we will see His power at work in our lives as the result in prayer being answered. This New Year’s eve, let us praise God not just for what He has done in 2010 but also for the great things He will do in 2011. Believe it and be not silent but rejoice!

Psalms 115:17 (NKJV) - The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence.

Psalms 21:13 (NKJV) - Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.

Conclusion:

WHAT KIND OF YEAR WILL THIS BE? WHAT KIND OF PERSON WILL YOU BE? WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WILL WE BE in 2011?

If we understood the message of John the Baptist, 2011 will be a Year of Prayer, a Year Of Power and a Year of Praise. You will be a Child of Prayer, Power & Praise! Our church will be a House of Prayer, a House of Power, and a House of Praise to the glory of God the Father through Jesus Christ!

Glory to God in the Highest!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!

From our family to yours,

Ps Edward, Sis. Marlene, David John and Sally Joy