======================================================================== WATCH NIGHT by K.P. Yohannan ======================================================================== Summary: This sermon reflects on the transition from the past year to the new year, acknowledging the unexpected events, blessings, and challenges faced by individuals. It emphasizes the importance of gratitude for life, the need to make conscious choices, and the power of God's mercy and grace in every moment. The sermon encourages letting go of past mistakes, seeking forgiveness, committing to spiritual growth through reading the Bible and active church participation, and being faithful in all aspects, including finances, to receive God's blessings. Duration: 21:14 Topics: "Gratitude", "Spiritual Growth" Scripture References: Philippians 3:13, Psalm 103:8, Proverbs 3:5, Malachi 3:10, Deuteronomy 8:18 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This sermon reflects on the transition from the past year to the new year, acknowledging the unexpected events, blessings, and challenges faced by individuals. It emphasizes the importance of gratitude for life, the need to make conscious choices, and the power of God's mercy and grace in every moment. The sermon encourages letting go of past mistakes, seeking forgiveness, committing to spiritual growth through reading the Bible and active church participation, and being faithful in all aspects, including finances, to receive God's blessings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Obviously this is a very special evening. This is the last day of the year. 2018 and after midnight we are walking into 2019. We know what happened during this year. All the places you travelled. All the places you travelled that you didn't expect to go. And the many blessings you received that you did not know you will have it. And the problems you faced that you never knew you are going to face. And some of you, your parents, they were with you when the year began but along the way some of them passed away. Some of you didn't expect to pass your college or school exam but you passed and you are happy. Some of you, you failed and you are unhappy. Some of you are still looking for a job and you didn't find it. And some of you, you never thought you will find a job but you got a good one. And so many surprises. And then there are questions that came up, you don't know what to do. But one thing for sure, you are alive. There is nobody dead sitting here. Hey, everyone is alive. So you are alive. That is a miracle. Okay, I want you to take your fingers and close your nose. Keep your mouth closed. Keep your mouth closed. He started coughing. And some of you cheated. You opened your mouth. Why? Without oxygen you can't live very long. We have an engineering college. Some years ago, some strong young people went for holiday. They were smart people. But unfortunately, they went into some water for swimming. And next thing we know, they lost their life. And that's the reason we tell people, don't go to a lake. How many of you know swimming? Even if you know swimming, please don't go to a lake. But those young people never imagined they will lose their life. So you know many people like that. They were happy and joyful the previous year. And they walked in 2018 with enthusiasm. But today, they are not here. They walked in 2018 with enthusiasm. But today, they are not here. A young man who used to go to our hospital. Very strong. From a good family. Suddenly, he had a stroke. Too late to come to the hospital. And he was dead. What do you do? So many things happen in our life that we don't expect. But here is something I need to ask you to think. You travel for days to get here. You got two legs. Two hands. You can see. Your brain is working. Working? Yes. You are alive. God's mercy and grace. His kindness. Every second of our life is in His hands. Every second of our life is in His hands. Then when we go through difficult times. We ask the question, why? That is a big question. As you study the Bible. You will find. God never does evil things. He will always think good about us. But there is a devil and demons that attack the people. And He is the God of this world. But those who follow the Lord. What God does. He uses even the difficult circumstances. To make things better for them. But that's a reality. God. People say He is almighty and He can do anything. That is true. But that is not true. God said let there be billions of galaxies came into existence. He created the whole world. But He could not stop Adam and Eve from doing wrong. You know about that. God is so powerful. But when it comes to your life. Your choices. The decisions you make. God tells us. His plan. He speaks to us. Through your priest. Through the bishop. Through your church. But. You have to make your decision. That's all. Your choice. You got the doctor. You are coughing. Or you are limping. Whatever your problem. And you sit down. And the doctor says. Open your mouth. Then he says let me look at your ear. Then he says let me look at your nose. Then he takes a hammer. And then he hits on your knees. Then he takes his stethoscope and checks your heart. And your pressure. Then he asks you a lot of questions. Then he says. Doctor. What is the problem? And doctor says. Oh don't worry. I can give you some medicine. You will be ok. You are happy. And the doctor writes. And one problem. When a doctor writes a prescription. Even God cannot read it. I speak the truth. There is a doctor between us. He is a true doctor. When he writes the medicine. I try to read it. I am not illiterate. But I cannot read what he is writing. What did I know? And you buy the medicine. And you bring it to the doctor. The doctor says. Yes that is the right medicine. And you take it home. Recently. There was a lady in our hospital. A very rich lady. And a very educated lady. But she was so afraid of taking medicine. So one evening. The nurses brought her a big pill. And she was afraid to eat it. And they gave her a glass of water. You know what she did? She took the pill in her hand. And the nurses were watching. She did it. And poured the water. And the nurses went home. But there was somebody in the room watching her. And he realized she was hiding the pill. And she put it under the pillow. And this man went out. He told the nurse. She did not eat the medicine. She is hiding it under the pillow. And the nurses came. Sure enough it was there. If she does that what happens? Of course she ate the medicine. And she did well. She got healed. Why am I telling you this? God tells us about our life. Everything we need to know to live an abundant life. The medicine is here. This is food. But if you don't read it. If you don't take it. If you don't obey it. How can God bless? How can you be helped? God is powerful. All powerful. But when it comes to your life. He is helpless. It depends on your decision. So the year 2018 is just about to end. You are going into the new year. I have no doubt you have many questions. Many problems. And you are studying hard for some exams. And you are trying to solve the problems in your home maybe. You want to do lot of things and you only know. And maybe you have some habits that you want to break it and be free from it. This new year can be the best year of your life. The two things must happen. One you must not live in the past. Saint Paul said I forget all things that are behind me. Many mistakes been made. Many problems been made. You may have many disappointments. Many things to be sad about. But you tell Jesus. You tell God about it. And He will show you the way. The past failures and difficulties should not hold you back from your future. Why? God said I will not remember your past. I will not remember your past sins. When you ask forgiveness He forgives and forgets. And He wants your life to be blessed. Don't look back. You look forward. But there are some problems. Maybe you owe some people some money. You need to ask forgiveness from some people for hurting them. Maybe you bought some books from somebody, borrowed but you never returned. Maybe you said some lies to your parents. Maybe you did something that you know it was wrong. And you need to make that right. Why is that? Zacchaeus we read about in the Bible. Jesus talked to him. Jesus went to his house. And Jesus said Salvation has come to his house. A new beginning. New hope. You know when did Jesus say that? It was also the time when Zacchaeus in his heart he said Lord I will pay back whatever I have taken illegally from people. That is the kind of attitude we should have. And God is merciful. And the second thing you should do See unless people do exercise their body becomes weak. You need to have a commitment to have a spiritual exercise in your life. If you don't own a Bible on your own if your Bible that is not yours buy a Bible to your name write your name in it read every day half hour or 40 minutes and think about it and pray learn God's word and this will show you how to live. Another thing be faithful to your local church. Never miss Sunday worship. It's a commitment you will make to partake of the Holy Communion and be active with the things of the church. And another thing you should do for God to bless you be faithful with your finances. When I was 16 years old an older man told me this you must give tithe of all the money God gives you. He was 36 years old I was barely 17 He said I have no money He said someday you will get money maybe 1 rupee 10 paisa of that belong to the Lord If you get 10 rupees 1 rupee belong to the Lord If you get 100 rupees 10 rupees belong to the Lord If you get 1000 rupees 100 rupees belong to the Lord Then he began to say bigger bigger number I was thinking someday I may have 1 crore rupees In my heart I said No no no I don't want to give that much See how the devil works But I thank God When I heard his talk I did exactly what he told me to do Because the Bible says the tithe belong to the Lord to the local church The tithe belongs to the Lord and to the local church If you have not been faithful If you can you make it for all the times you did not pay the tithe I have written a book about it All of you young people You have a long life before you For God to bless you Be faithful to him Our time is running away I must conclude But the week here is going to be the best week of your life You will find how to live this life into the new year And our prayers are with you And God's blessings be with you Let us work together Pray together Be a family And we will experience God's blessings And may the Lord bless all of you Amen ======================================================================== Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/b_jlTChJ6iw.mp4 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/kp-yohannan/watch-night/ ========================================================================